Interfaith Calendar for UIndy
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| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Aug | Lughnasadh/Lammas | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Midpoint between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| Varies | Bon Festival/Obon | Japanese Buddhism | 3 days of honoring the spirits of the ancestors | https://traditionalkyoto.com/culture/obon-festival/ | |
| 15-Aug | Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholicism | Mary, free of original sin, assumed body and soul into heavy | Learn more with Catechism of the Catholic Church | |
| (14th/15th Night of the 7th month in the lunar calendar) | Ghost Festival/Zhongyuan Jie/ Gui Jie/Yulan Festival | Taoism/Buddhism | Spirits of the dead/ancestors visit the living, who make offerings and prayers to them (along with temples) | https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ghost_Festival | |
| 16-Aug | Muktad | Zoroastrianism | Last 10 days of the religious year; involves welcoming the fravashis/spirits of the righteous departed back to earth with rituals and offerings. | https://zoroastrians.net/2018/07/24/explanation-of-muktad-rituals-and-prayers/ |
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ofR01Fn7s
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 20 – 23 | Mabon | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Autumn Equinox | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| August/September, depending on lunar calendar | Paryushan | Jainism | 8-day festival encouraging folks to reflect and affirm their commitment to Jain principles, ends with focus on forgiveness | https://yja.org/paryushan | |
| After Paryushan | Das Lakshan | Jainism (Sect – Digambar) | 10-day festival celebrating the 10 virtues of Jainism, folks reflect and affirm their commitment to Jain principles, ends with focus on forgiveness | https://yja.org/paryushan | |
| September 15 – 17 | Rosh Hashanah (Head of Year) | Judaism | Jewish New Year; Going to Shul, blowing the Shofar/ram horn, big dinner, eating sweet fruits and honey, saying “L’shana Tova” | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ofR01Fn7s | |
| September 24 – 25 | Yom Kippur | Judaism | Judaism – Day of Atonement; fasting for 25 hours (if able), abstaining from commodities (leather, perfume, etc.), 2 special prayers (Kol Nidrei, Kaparot) | ||
| September 29 – October 1 | Sukkot | Judaism | Major pilgrimage festival; building temporary Sukkah, daily shake of a lulav and estrog | ||
| 28-Sep | Confucius’ Birthday | Confucianism | Paying respect to “China’s First Teacher,” mostly celebrated in Qufu (his birthplace) and Taipei Taiwan (at the Confucius Temple); incoludes, music, dancing, chanting, incense | ||
| Eighth lunar month | Mid-Autumn Festival | Taoism | Celebration of the Moon Goddess, celebrated when moon is at its largest/fullest |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Catholicism | Feast day of the Blessed Virgin |  just for example |
|
| January 10 | Bodhi Day | Buddhism | Siddhartha Gautama vowed to meditate under the Bodhi tree until attaining enlightenment | Making Bodhi Day Meaningful – Alan Peto | |
| January 14 | Maghi | Sikhism | Commemoration of the Chali Mukte, the Forty Liberated Ones, who died warding off an attack by an army after Guru Gobind Singh | Exception from classes to attend these divans | Gateway to Sikhism |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11-Nov | All Saints Day | Catholicism | Celebrates and honors all saints of the church, known or unknown | USCCB | |
| 4-Nov | Bandhi Chhor Divas | Sikhism | Celebration of the return of the sixth Nank from detention in the Gwalior Fort. In the evening, illuminations are done with earthen oil lamps, candles, or fireworks. | https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-way-of-life/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-gurupurab/ | |
| 8-Nov | Kartak Purnima | Jainism | Follows Diwali in Oct/Nov. Considered an auspicious time for pilgrimage to sacred sites |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December, 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Catholicism | The day when Mary was conceived, immaculately, free of original sin. | Catholic church | |
| December 20-25 | Yule | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Winter Solstice | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| December, 26 | Zartosht No-Diso | Zoroastrianism | A day of solemn reflection to commemorate the death of prophet Zarathushtra/Zoroaster | Exception from classes to attend these divans | https://www.w-z-o.org/zartosht-no-diso-the-zoroastrian-remembrance-of-the-death-of-zarathushtra/ |
| December, 25 | Christmas | Christian | Commemorates the birth of Jesus | USCCB | |
| December 7-15 | Channukkah | Judaism | Celebration of defeat of colonizer; lighting a Chanukiah, eating oil-fried foods, family meals, playing dreidel, singing, going to Shul | ||
| 3-Dec | Mauna Agyaras | Jainism | “Mauna” means silence, Jains often take vows of silence on this day. |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Catholicism | Feast day of the Blessed Virgin | just for example |
|
| January 10 | Bodhi Day | Buddhism | Siddhartha Gautama vowed to meditate under the Bodhi tree until attaining enlightenment | Making Bodhi Day Meaningful – Alan Peto | |
| January 14 | Maghi | Sikhism | Commemoration of the Chali Mukte, the Forty Liberated Ones, who died warding off an attack by an army after Guru Gobind Singh | Exception from classes to attend these divans | Gateway to Sikhism |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1-2 | Imbolc | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Midpoint between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| Feb 2-4 | Setsubun | Shintoism | Day before the start of spring on the old Japanese lunar calendar; bringing in good fortune and driving away bad spirits | https://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/2021_Setsubun.html | |
| 15-Feb | Nirvana Day | Buddhism | Commemorates the death of Buddha. “A blowing out as of a flame”. It is a social occasion, most people bring food and gifts | https://calendarholidays.org/when-is/nirvana-day/ | |
| 22-Feb | Ash Wednesday | Catholicism | Marks the first day of lent, Many people fast this day, receive ashes on the forehead | Catholic Church | |
| 28-Feb | al-Isra Wal Miraj | Islam | Commemorates the night when the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have made a miraculous journey from Mecca to the Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, where he then traveled to the heaven, where God commanded him to initiate prayers five times a day | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ | |
| 5-Feb | Lantern Festival | Taoism | Celebrates first full moon of year + birthday of Tinguan (Taoist deity of good fortune) | ||
| February 25 ~ March 1 (depending on time of vernal equinox; starts at sundown the day before which is Feb 24) | Ayyam I Ha | Baha’i Faith | Intercalary Days in which the Baha’is celebrate gift giving, devote themselves to God, and prepare for the nineteen day-fast that lasts up until the new year (March 21) called Nowruz. |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Mar | Clean Monday | Orthodox | beginning of the lenten cycle | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | |
| 3/7 through 4/23 | Lent | Orthodox | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | ||
| 18-Mar | Lailat ul Bara’h | Islam | Night of Forgiveness, seek forgiveness for sins and believe that on this night one’s destiny is fixed for the year ahead | Exception from classes to attend these divans | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ |
| 18-Mar | Holi | Hinduism | Festival marking the coming of spring. There are processions and people light bonfires and cover each other with colored water and powders. | https://www.hindu-blog.com/2021/10/hindu-festivals-2022.html | |
| 19-Mar | Hola Mohalla | Sikhism | Gathering for military exercises/mock battles; valor and defense preparedness | https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-way-of-life/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-gurupurab/ | |
| March 20-23 | Ostara | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Spring Equinox | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| March 26/July 22/August 21 (depending on calendar used) | Khordad Sal | Zoroastrianism | Celebration of the birth of prophet Zarathushtra/Zoroaster | https://www.reonline.org.uk/festival_event/khordad-sal-2/ | |
| March 16-17, 2022/March 6-7, 2023 | Purim | Judaism | Story of Esther/Mordechai/Haman; “Jewish Halloween,” people go to shul and watch play about story, eating triangular cookies, enjoying self | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mmZDYogjCk | |
| March 31 – Follows Falsi Calendar | Nowruz / Persian New Year | Zoroastrianism | Celebration of God, creation, the elements. Involves cleaning and decorating homes as well as worshipping at the Fire Temple and visiting friends, special foods, and rituals. May also be observed by Baha’is, Sufis, Muslims. |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Apr | Ramadan begins | Islam | Adults abstain from food, drink, smoking, from sunrise to sunset to express gratitude of God’s guidance and to atone for past sins. avoid scheduling important deadlines on the first day, be aware that students will be fasting for 30 days. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ | |
| 10-Apr | Palm Sunday | Catholicism | Commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, opens holy week. Everyone gets a palm leaf to take home, most people put them with their personal crosses/crucifixes | https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/147/#zoom=z | |
| 30-Apr | Baisakhi | Sikhism | New Year’s Day in Punjab. Marks the ripening of the Rabi harvest and coincides with the solar equinox. On this day in 1699 the tenth Sikh Guru founded the Sikh brotherhood (Khalsa) so this is seen as a collective birthday for Sikhs | https://www.allaboutsikhs.com/sikh-way-of-life/sikh-festivals/the-sikh-festivals-gurupurab/ | |
| 14-Apr | Holy Thursday | Catholicism | Commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper. Day of the Chrism Mass: all oils for the year are blessed. | ||
| 15-Apr | Good Friday | Catholicism | Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus | ||
| 16-Apr | Easter Sunday | Catholicism | Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Egg hunts, chocolate, etc. | ||
| 17-Apr | Palm Sunday | Orthodox | The Entry into Jerusalem | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | |
| 29-Apr | Lailat ul-Qadr | Islam | Commemorates the “Night of Power” when the Prophet Muhammad first received God’s revelation | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ | |
| 24-Apr | Pascha | Orthodox | Christ’ Resurrection – Beginning of the Pentecostarion | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | |
| April 15-22, 2022/April 5-13, 2023 | Passover | Judaism | Story of Moses/Flight of Israelites from Egypt; Celebrated with group meal, reading of the Haggadah | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ofR01Fn7s | |
| (15th day after Spring Equinox (usually April 4~6) | Qingming/Ching Ming Festival | Confucianism/Taoism | Visiting tombs to clean gravesites, pray to ancestors, and make offerings (traditional food dishes, burning of joss sticks/paper, drinks). Willow branches carried/hung outside doors to ward off evil spirits | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4ofR01Fn7s | |
| 14-Apr | Mahavira Jayanti | Jainism | Celebration of Mahavira’s birth; Jains gather in temples to hear readings of Mahavira’s teachings, images of Mahavira paraded through streets with pomp/ceremony |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 30/May 1 | Beltane | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | Midpoint between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| 2-May | Eid al-Fitr | Islam | Breaking of the fast, celebrates the end of Ramadan, family members gather to feast and exchange presents | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ | |
| 26-May | Ascension of the Lord | Catholicism | the ascent of Jesus into heaven 40 days after the resurrection | ||
| Date varies based on Lunisolar Calendar | Buddha’s Birthday/Buddha Jayanti | Buddhism | Celebration of the birth of Buddha | https://pluralism.org/buddha%E2%80%99s-birthday | |
| May – First Sunday | Chongmyo Taeje | Confucianism | Honoring the kings and queens of the Yi/Joseon Dynasty; held at Chongmyo Shrine in Seoul, Kora |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Jun | Ascension | Orthodox | The Ascension of Christ | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | |
| 5-Jun | Pentecost Sunday | Catholicism | commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Essentially the Catholic church’s birthday. | ||
| 5-Jun | Pentecost | orthodox | The Descent of the Holy Spirit | https://www.oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle | |
| 20-Jun | Litha | Wicca/Neo-Paganism | midpoint between Summer Solstice | https://www.worldhistory.org/Wheel_of_the_Year/ | |
| 2-3 days between May 14 and June 15 | Shavuot | Judaism | Celebration of the giving of the Torah; reading book of Ruth, eating dairy meals, floral decorations | ||
| 3-Jun | Dragon Boat Festival | Taoism | Remembering Qu Yuan’s self-sacrifice for his kingdom, whose last poem involved yoking two dragons to a chariot |
| Date | Religious Observance | Faith Tradition |
Description | Accommodation | To Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 7 – 9 | Eid al-Adha | Islam | Commemorates Abraham’s obedience to God when he told him to sacrifice Ishmael, and Ishmael’s submission to the sacrifice | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ | |
| 29-Jul | al-Hijra | Islam | Islamic new year, marks the end of Mohammads’s journey from Mecca to Medina | https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/ |
Please note, some events occur on the same Gregorian calendar date every year while other will shift forward or backward on the calendar. The dates listed are for 2023.