The Pluralism Project at Harvard University

Maidyarem Gahambar – December 31, 2010 – January 4, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

This mid-winter festival celebrates the creation of animals; Zoroastrians celebrate by feasting with an emphasis on the equitable sharing of food.

Tu B'Shvat - January 20, 2011 (Judaism)

Traditionally known as the New Year of the Trees, this holiday is now regarded as a day to celebrate the environment.

Swami Vivekananda Jayanti - January 26, 2011 (Hinduism)

This holiday is celebrated in remembrance of the birth of Swami Vivekananda. He is widely considered to have brought Hinduism to America at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions.

Jashan Sadeh - January 30, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

Jashan Sadeh is a celebration to remember the Zoroastrians’ discovery of fire, a holy symbol very important for the connection between humans and the gods.

Imbolc - February 2, 2011 (Paganism)

The holiday Imbolc, also known as Brigid or Candlemas, is celebrated by Pagans on or around February 3 to welcome the first signs of spring.

Setsunbun-sai - February 3, 2011 (Shinto)

This holiday is celebrated with a popular bean-throwing festival to mark the end of winter and the eve of the first day of spring.

Nirvana Day - February 8, 2011 (Buddhism)

This day celebrates the Buddha’s entry into nirvana. In religions of Indian origin, nirvana means “blowing out,” i.e. the cessation of greed, hate, delusion, attachment, and desire - all the fuel of rebirth. In Buddhist philosophy, it refers both to Truth of the “far shore,” and to the state of great spontaneity, tranquility, and purity that accompanies the realization of the Truth.

Vasanta Panchami - February 8, 2011 (Hinduism)

Vasanta Panchami is the spring festival honoring Sarasvati where celebrations may include music and dancing. Sarasvati, the goddess of learning, arts, and music, is often depicted seated on a white swan and holding a vina, a stringed musical instrument.

Maha Shivratri - February 14, 2011 (Hinduism)

Maha Shivaratri is a night devoted to the worship of the Hindu god Shiva.

Ayyam-i-Ha - February 26-March 1, 2011 (Baha'i)

These intercalary days are added to the Baha'i calendar so that it equals a solar year. It is a time of preparation for the 19-day fast to come and for acts of hospitality and charity.

Nineteen Day Fast - March 2-21, 2011 (Baha'i)

Baha'is observe a period of fasting during the month of 'Ala or "Loftiness," which begins at sunset on March 1 and ends at sunset on March 20. The Baha'i fast involves abstaining from food, drink, and tobacco from sunrise to sunset each day. The purpose of the fast is to remember one's dependency on God and to learn detachment from material things.

Great Lent (Eastern) – March 7-April 16, 2011 (Christianity)

This time of preparation for Easter in the Eastern Orthodox tradition includes abstaining from particular foods, fasting, and special services.

Ash Wednesday (Western) - March 9, 2011 (Christianity)
Lent (Western) - March 9-April 23, 2011 (Christianity)

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent, a time of reflection and penance in preparation for the celebration of Easter.

Holi - March 19–20, 2011 (Hinduism)

Holi is a festive spring celebration dedicated to Krishna (to Kama in some parts of India) that involves throwing colored powder or water.

Spring Higan - March 20, 2011 (Buddhism)

Higan is a weeklong Japanese Buddhist festival when people offer respect to the dead. It is celebrated twice each year, once in the spring and again in the fall.

Mawlid al-Nabi (The Birth of the Prophet) - March 20, 2011 (Islam)

On the twelfth day of the third month, Rabi' al-Awwal, many Muslims commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Celebrations may include sharing food, attending lectures, participating in marches, and reading the Qur'an and devotional poetry. Some Muslims do not celebrate, feeling that this observance is an innovation that distracts from the true source of revelation. For others, it is a means to teach their communities about the Prophet Muhammad’s way of life, which all Muslims seek to emulate.

Purim - March 20, 2011 (Judaism)

According to the Jewish Post of New York Online, “Purim is the most festive of Jewish holidays, a time of prizes, noisemakers, costumes and treats. The Festival of Purim commemorates a major victory over oppression and is recounted in the Megillah, the scroll of the story of Esther. Purim takes place on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish calendar.”

Spring Equinox - March 20, 2011 (Paganism)

The Spring Equinox marks the time at which the day and the night are of equal lengths.

Jamshedi Navroz - March 21, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

Navroz is the Zoroastrian New Year. Contemporary Zoroastrians observe three distinct religious calendars: Fasli, Shenshai, and Kadmi. Accordingly, three New Year celebrations are observed. Jamshedi Navroz takes its name from King Jamshed, and occurs at the time of the Spring Equinox.

Shyunki Taisai - April 5, 2011 (Shinto)

This is a Shinto spring ceremony. According to the Tsubaki Garand Shrine of America, “This is the most formal Ceremony, and one of the two times each year that the doors of the inner shrine (goshinden no tobira) are opened. Then after the most formal kencha...and food offerings, the shinto priests pray for everyone's health, happiness, safety and mutual prosperity (kyoson kyoei). Then the song will be offered to Okami.”

Sri Rama Navami - April 12, 2011 (Hinduism)

Sri Rama Navami is the annual festival celebrating the birth of Rama and his marriage to Sita. It is observed on the ninth day (navami) of the waxing fortnight of the lunar month of March/April.

Baisakhi - April 14, 2011 (Sikhism)

Baisakhi, the Sikh New Year, is the most important celebration of the Sikh year. All across America, Sikhs will assemble at gurdwaras to celebrate, chant, and share a communal meal.

Mahavira Jayanti - April 17, 2011 (Jainism)

Mahavira Jayanti is the Birthday of Mahavira, the religious seer of the 6th century BCE, whose teachings of compassion and renunciation have formed the basis of the Jain tradition. In India, this day is a national holiday. Jains mark the occasion by bathing the image of Mahavira and performing dance-dramas on the fourteen dreams of Mahavira’s mother before he was born.

Holy Week (Western) - April 17-24, 2011 (Christianity)
Great and Holy Week (Eastern) - April 17-24, 2011 (Christianity)

This is the week preceding Easter in which the drama of the Christian story is recalled, from Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to his crucifixion on Good Friday and the period of waiting for his resurrection.

Passover - April 19-26, 2011 (Judaism)

Passover, or Pesakh in Hebrew, is a major Jewish holiday, also called “the festival of unleavened bread.” During the eight days of the festival, Jews commemorate God's deliverance of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. They eat unleavened bread, or matzah, as did their ancestors who fled from Egypt. At the special ritual meal called the seder, the traditional narrative of Passover - found in the Passover Haggadah - is recounted.

Ridvan - April 21 - May 2, 2011 (Baha'i)

This 12-day period commemorates the last 12 days in exile the Baha'u'llah spent in the garden of Ridvan. Many Baha'is do not work on three of these days - the first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan.

Akshaya-tritiya - April 23, 2011 (Jainism)

This holiday celebrates the breaking of the first yearlong fast of Tirhankara Lord Rishabha. Jains who have been fasting on alternate days for a half or a full year break their fast on this day.

Easter (Western) - April 24, 2011 (Christianity)
Pascha (Eastern) - April 24, 2011 (Christianity)

This most important day in the Christian liturgical year marks the resurrection of Jesus. It is celebrated within various Christian denominations with religious services, shared meals, and activities for children.

Maidyozarem Gahambar - April 30 - May 4, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

This festival, one of six seasonal festivals celebrated annually by Zoroastrians, celebrates the winter crop harvest.

Beltane - May 1, 2011 (Paganism)

Beltane is celebrated across the country by Pagan groups. It is a cross-quarter day, falling halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice, and marks the beginning of traditional summer.

Yom ha-Shoah - May 1, 2011 (Judaism)

Yom ha-Shoah or Holocaust Remembrance Day has been added to the yearly Jewish calendar in order to remember the Holocaust, or Shoah, and thus to insure that such a crime against humanity will never be repeated. Most importantly, it is a day to remember what was lost.

Wesak - May 17, 2011 (Buddhism)

The anniversary of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) is a major Buddhist celebration, although the name and date of observance differs in the various traditions. In Theravadan Buddhism, this holiday celebrates simultaneously three great events - the birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana (bodily death and final liberation) of Siddhartha Gautama. For all Buddhists, the Buddha's birthday is an opportunity to visit the temple, think deeply about the meaning of Buddhahood, and once again commit oneself to Buddhist ideals.

Declaration of the Bab - May 23, 2011 (Baha'i)

This holiday, which marks the beginning of the Baha'i faith in 1844, is a time for festive celebration.

Ascension of Baha'u'llah - May 29, 2011 (Baha'i)

This holiday marks the anniversary of the death of Baha'u'llah, the prophet of the Baha'i Faith. Solemn, commemorative services are held in communities across the United States.

Shavuot – June 8–9, 2011 (Judaism)

Originally an agricultural holiday, this day now also commemorates the anniversary of the revelation of the Torah.

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji - June 16, 2011 (Sikhism)

Arjan, the first Sikh martyr, is remembered for his contributions to the scriptures and for emphasizing that the Sikh way is open to all.

Summer Solstice - June 21, 2011 (Paganism)

The celebration of the summer solstice is a religious holiday that may be celebrated with a bonfire and other festivities to honor the longest day of the year.

Isra' and Mi'raj - June 29, 2011 (Islam)

The “night journey” (isra') and "ascent" (mi'raj) of the Prophet Muhammad refer to the Islamic tradition when the angel Gabriel escorted Muhammad from the Ka'bah of Makkah to the sanctuary of Jerusalem. Muhammad led previous prophets in prayer and then ascended through the seven heavens. In the uppermost heaven, Muhammad was blessed with a vision of God.

Maidyoshem Ghambar - June 29–July 3, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

This seasonal festival celebrates the planting of the summer crop.

Nagoshi no O Hari - June 30, 2011 (Shinto)

Nagoshi no O Hari is one of two days during the yearly cycle for purification of the source of misfortune.

World Tibet Day - July 6, 2011 (Buddhism)

This day marks the annual celebration of World Tibet Day and is celebrated in cities across the United States to increase awareness about Tibet. This event coincides with, and honors, the birthday of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Martyrdom of the Bab - July 9, 2011 (Baha'i)

The Martyrdom of the Bab is one of the major Baha'i holy days, on which Baha'is refrain from work and attend a worship program.

Lammas - August 1, 2011 (Paganism)

“Lammas, or Lughnassad, occurs in late July and early August. It is marks the middle of summer and the beginning of the harvest. It is the first of three harvest festivals and is usually associated with ripening grain. It heralds the coming of autumn. The Goddess manifests as Demeter, Ceres, Corn Mother, and other agricultural Goddesses. The God manifests as Lugh, John Barleycorn, and vegetation Gods. Colors are Golden Yellow, Orange, Green, and Light Brown. It is a festival of plenty and prosperity.”

Ramadan (30 days) – August 1–August 31, 2011 (Islam)

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. During this month, Muslims observe a fast from dawn to sunset. The fast of Ramadan encourages self-restraint, consciousness of God, compassion, and collective worship.

Tisha B'Av - August 9, 2011 (Judaism)

The Judaism 101 website explains that “Tisha B'Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av, is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which coincidentally have occurred on the ninth of Av.”

Fravardeghan Days - August 14–18, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

Fravardeghan Days, also known as Muktad (memorializing ancestors) are ten days in preparation for Naw Ruz, observed by Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar.

First Day of Paryushana-parva - August 26, 2011 (Jainism)
Samvatsari - September 1, 2011 (Jainism)

This period is a time of intensified dedication to Jainist ideals and is regarded as the holiest time of the year. Festivals include fasting, Jina worshipping, and public reading from the Kalpasutra of the life-story of Lord Mahavira. This holiday is celebrated for eight days by the Shvetambara sect, concluding on Samvatsari.

Martyrdom of John the Baptist - August 29, 2011 (Christianity)

This holiday commemorates the martyrdom of John the Baptist, a biblical figure important to many Christians.

Eid al-Fitr - August 31, 2011 (Islam)

Eid al-Fitr is the Festival of Fast-Breaking that is observed after the month-long fast of Ramadan. Some Muslims perform acts of charity on this day. It is a time to visit with friends and relatives, with celebrations sometimes extending over a few days. Children may receive gifts, and parents teach about the joys of following the Islamic obligations of fasting, prayer, and reading the Qur'an.

Fall Equinox - September 1, 2011 (Paganism)

Pagans celebrate the Fall Equinox, a time of balance as the season changes from summer to fall.

Ganesha Chaturthi - September 1, 2011 (Hinduism)

Ganesha Chaturthi is the annual festival of Ganesha, the Lord of Beginnings, and is held at the end of the summer. Festivities may include the consecration of clay images of Ganesha and a procession that carries the images to the sea.

Ghambar Paitishem - September 12-16, 2011 (Zoroastrianism)

This is a seasonal festival celebration of the creation of the Earth and the harvesting of the summer crop.

Rosh Hashanah - September 29–30, 2011 (Judaism)

Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is a sacred time to reflect on the year that has gone by and to affirm the year to come.

Navarathri - September 28–October 5, 2011 (Hinduism)

This fall festival, which literally means nine nights, is also known as Durga Puja for the worship of the goddess Durga.

Yom Kippur - October 8, 2011 (Judaism)

Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is a time for the confession of sins of the individual and the community. It is a day of solemn fasting, culminating in forgiveness and reconciliation. Together Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur make up the Days of Awe, a significant time in the Jewish year.

Sukkot - October 13–19, 2011 (Judaism)

Sukkot is the Festival of Booths or Tabernacles. During this holiday, outdoor structures are raised to remind Jews of the huts they lived in while they were in the wilderness.

Birth of the Bab - October 20, 2011 (Baha'i)

This Baha'i holy day commemorates the birth of the Bab, a founder of the Baha'i faith. Baha'is generally do not work on holy days, and their celebrations are open to the public.

Deepavali (Diwali) - October 26, 2011 (Hinduism)

Known as the “festival of lights,” Deepavali is perhaps the most popular Hindu festival. It is dedicated to several deities, and Hindus traditionally adorn their homes and temples with many lights.

Samhain - November 1, 2011 (Paganism)

Samhain is the end of the Pagan year, a time when “the veils between the worlds are thin.”

Eid al-Adha - November 6, 2011 (Islam)

Muslims throughout the world pray with pilgrims in Makkah to observe Eid al-Adha. This is the Feast of the Sacrifice, a four-day observance in memory of God's sparing of Ismail (Ishmael), Abraham’s son. It includes sermons, the giving of presents, and special dinners with friends and relatives.

Birthday of Guru Nanak - November 10, 2011 (Sikhism)

Sikhs commemorate the birthday of Guru Nanak (1469-1539), the first teacher of the community of disciples that became known as the Sikhs. His songs in praise of the formless and transcendent God are a cherished part of the Sikh scripture, the Adi Granth.

Birthday of Baha'u'llah - November 12, 2011 (Baha'i)

This Baha'i holiday commemorates the birth of Baha'u'llah, the divine messenger and founder of the faith. Baha'is attend a worship program on the evening of the 11th and refrain from work on the 12th.

Shichi-Go-San - November 15, 2011 (Shinto)

This is a Shinto celebration for young boys and girls. In this celebration, “the children take part in a ceremony ...whose meaning is gratitude for life’s blessings and the request for future protection and good fortune.”

Day of the Covenant - November 26, 2011 (Baha'i)

This day commemorates the appointment of 'Abdu'l-Baha as the center of the Baha'i faith.

Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha - December 1, 2011 (Baha'i)

This Baha'i holiday commemorates the death of 'Abdu'l-Baha.