18-month Interfaith Calendar

April 20181 Sunday12 Thursday29 SundayHoly day commemorating theresurrection of Jesus ChristHolocaust Day, established toremember the six million Jewskilled by the Nazis during the 1930sand 1940sDay of recognition for the historicand symbolic event of Baha’u’llah’sexile from BaghdadEaster ChristianPalm Sunday OrthodoxChristianCelebration of the entry of Jesus toJerusalem which marks the start ofHoly WeekYom HaShoah Jewish13 FridayLailat al Miraj MuslimMahavir Jayanti JainCommemorates the ProphetMuhammad’s nighttime journeyfrom Mecca to ‘the farthestmosque’ in JerusalemCelebration of the birth ofMahavira, founder of Jainism as areligion14 Saturday3 Tuesday5 ThursdayQingming Festival Taoist,ConfucianAlso known as Tomb Sweeping Day,commemorates the onset of springand is an occasion to rememberancestors6 FridayFounding of the Church MormonCommemoration of the appearanceof the angel Moroni in 1830 toJoseph Smith, who subsequentlyfounded the Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day SaintsBaisakhi/Vaisakhi Sikh, HinduIn Sikhism the day commemoratesthe founding of the Khalsa, adistinctive Sikh brotherhoodNinth Day of Ridvan Baha’iVisakha Puja (Buddha Day) BuddhistCommemorates the birth,enlightenment, and death ofGuatama Buddha in the Theravadatradition30 MondayTheravada New Year Buddhist(until 5/2/18)Buddhist New Year21 SaturdayFirst Day of Ridvan Baha’i (until4/21/18)Commemorates the beginningof the Baha’i faith in 1863 whenBaha’u’llah first declared hismission, marks first of a twelve-dayperiodGrounation Day RastafarianHoly day celebrated in honorof Haile Selassie’s 1966 visit toJamaica8 SundayEaster/Pascha OrthodoxChristianHoly day commemorating theresurrection of Jesus ChristStar of DavidSymbol of Judaism or JewishsymbolImage credit: Wikimedia7

May 20181 Tuesday10 ThursdayCelebration of the conjoining of thegoddess with the energy of thegod in sacred marriage, the basisof all creationRemembrance of the departureof Jesus from Earth after hisresurrection, celebrated 40 daysafter EasterLailat al Bara’ah Muslim13 SundayBeltane Wiccan/PaganAlso known as the Night of Recordsand the Night of Forgiveness,commemorating when Goddescends from heaven and forgivesthe people of their sins2 WednesdayTwelfth Day of Ridvan Baha’iFinal day of the twelve-day festivalwhich celebrates the beginning ofthe Baha’i faithLag B’Omer JewishHoliday that occurs on the 33rd dayof the Omer, the 49-day periodbetween Passover and Shavout3 ThursdayNational Day of Prayer InterfaithU.S. day of observance encouragingprayer among all faithsAscension of Jesus ChristianWorld Falun Dafa/Falun GongDay BuddhistCelebration of the spiritualdiscipline introduced in China in199216 WednesdayRamadan begins Muslim (until6/15/18)Month devoted to thecommemoration of Muhammad’sreception of the divine revelationrecorded in the Qur’an17 ThursdayAscension of Jesus OrthodoxChristianRemembrance of the departureof Jesus from Earth after hisresurrection, celebrated 40 daysafter Easter19 Saturday6 SundayChongmyo Taeje ConfucianConfucian memorial ceremony tohonor the kings and queens of theYi, or Joseon, Dynasty9 WednesdayObservance of the Publication ofDianetics ScientologyObservance of the publication ofDianetics: the Modern Science ofMental Health in 1950 which wasthe forerunner of Scientology8Shavuot Jewish (until 5/21/18)Celebration of the descent ofMoses from Mt. Sinai with the TenCommandments20 SundayPentecost ChristianCommemorates the Descent of theHoly Spirit upon the Apostles21 MondayWorld Day for Cultural Diversityfor Dialogue & Development InterfaithUnited Nations-sactionedinternational holiday that celebratesthe richness of the world’s cultureswhile promoting interculturaldialogue23 WednesdayDeclaration of the Bab Baha’iCelebration of the Bab, AliMuhammad’s, announcement in1844 that he was the “gate” to thecoming of the promised one of allreligions25 FridayAfrican Liberation Day PanAfricanCommemoration of the formationof the Organization of AfricanUnity/African Union27 SundayTrinity Sunday ChristianCelebrates doctrine of the Trinity,remembering and honoring God theFather, the Son, and the Holy SpiritPentecost Orthodox ChristianCommemorates the Descent of theHoly Spirit upon the Apostles29 TuesdayAscension of Baha’u’llah Baha’iRemembrance of the death ofBaha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’ifaith31 ThursdayCorpus Christi CatholicChristianCelebration of the presence of thebody and blood of Jesus Christin the Eucharist- also known astransubstantiation

June 20188 FridayFeast of the Sacred Heart ofJesus Catholic ChristianOccasion to pay homage to Christ’sall-encompassing love for humanity10 SundayRace Unity Day Baha’iDay to promote racial harmony andunderstandingLaylat al Qadr Muslim (until6/11/18)Also known as the ‘Night ofPower’ or ‘Night of Destiny’,commemorates the night theQur’an was first revealed to theProphet Muhammad18 Monday20 WednesdayDragon Boat Festival TaoistWaqf al Arafa- Hajj Day MuslimChinese festival commemoratingfealty and filial piety andrecognizing the life and death ofChinese Scholar, Qu YuanObservance during Hajj, the Islamicpilgrimage to Mecca, when pilgrimspray for forgiveness and mercy19 TuesdayNew Church Day Swedenborgian ChristianAnnual commemoration of thevision document “The True ChristianReligion,” in 177021 ThursdayLitha Wiccan/PaganCelebration of the sacredmarriage, in which the energyof the gods is poured into theservices of life (Summer Solstice)15 FridayEid al Fitr Muslim (until 6/17/18)Festival that marks the end to thefasting month of Ramadan16 SaturdayGuru Arjan Dev’s Martydom SikhHonoring the first Sikh martyrwhose death resulted in changes inthe faith’s traditionRamadan“Every year, fasting in the month of Ramadan is spirituallyuplifting. The daily routines are drastically changed: wakingup in the wee hours, cooking special dishes every nightfor breaking fast, and praying late in the nights. Eid al Fitr,celebrating with family and friends, always reminds me of mycherished childhood memories of this holiday. Festive mealsare the hallmarks of Eid al Adha, the day after Hajj. On theseholidays, congregational prayers are the hallmark of the day.Being with thousands of people just simply multiplies thecelebratory mood. I also see many Muslims wearing exquisitedresses from different countries. I can never get used to thegrin on the faces of children when I give them monetary gifts.”-Ghazala Hayat9

July 20189 MondayMartydom of the Bab Baha’iObservance of the day AliMuhammad was executed in 1850by Persian political and religiouspowers13 FridayObon/Ulambana Buddhist,Shinto (until 7/15/18)Also known as Ancestor Day, atime to relieve the suffering ofghosts by making offerings todeceased ancestors21 SaturdayTish’a B’av Jewish (until7/22/18)Day of fasting in the remembranceof the destruction of the Temple in586 BCE and 70 CE23 MondayBirth of the Emperor HaileSelassie RastafarianBirthday of the revered Messianicfigure among Rastafarians24 TuesdayPioneer Day MormonObservation of the arrival of thefirst settlers at Great Salt Lake,USA27 FridayAsalha Puja Day BuddhistAlso known as Dhamma Day, theday that marks the beginning ofBuddhism10Roman Catholicism“I love being rooted in my Roman Catholic faith tradition!Knowing that I am not on my journey as an individual butrather in a community that expands around the globe andacross 20 centuries is truly powerful. The long tradition - bothin theory and practical action - of Catholic Social Teaching,has been incredibly formative for me in wrestling with thequestion of how I am to move through the world. The rhythmsof the liturgical calendar, the embodied experience of thesacraments, the beauty of liturgy have shaped and continue toshape me. The mystical and intellectual writings of our saintsconnect me to those who have gone before me in faith.”-Rhonda Miska

August 20181 WednesdayLammas Wiccan/PaganCelebration of the early harvestFast in Honor of Holy Mother ofJesus Orthodox ChristianBeginning of the 14-day periodof preparation, leading up to theDormition of Mary6 MondayTransfiguration of the Lord Orthodox ChristianObservance of the transfigurationof Jesus on Mt. Tabor in thepresence of his disciples15 WednesdayAssumption of the BlessedVirgin Mary Catholic Christian17 Friday25 SaturdayCelebration of the birth of MarcusGarveyCelebration in which the deceasedare believed to visit the living19 Sunday29 WednesdayObservance during Hajj, the Islamicpilgrimage to Mecca, when pilgrimspray for forgiveness and mercyRemembrance of the death of Johnthe BaptistMarcus Garvey’s Birthday RastafarianWaqf al Arafa/Hajj Day Muslim(until 8/21/18)Chinese Ghost Festival Taoist,BuddhistBeheading of St. John the Baptist ChristianRaksha Bandhan Hindu22 WednesdayEid al Adha Muslim (until8/25/18)Festival honoring the loving tiesbetween brothers and sisters infamilyAlso known as the Sacrifice Feast,commemorating the ProphetAbraham’s willingness to sacrificehis son as an obedience to GodCommemorating the assumption ofMary, mother of Jesus, into heavenDormition of the Virgin Mary Orthodox ChristianObservance of the death, burial,and transfer to heaven of the VirginMaryOMSacred sound and spiritualsymbol of HinduismImage credit: Wikimedia11

September 20181 Saturday13 Thursday24 MondayStart of the religious calendar yearFestival honoring the god ofprosperity, prudence, and success2 Sunday14 FridayFeast Tabernacles, whichcelebrates the harvest and theprotection of the people of Israel asthey wandered in the wildernessdwelling in tentsReligious year begins OrthodoxChristianKrishna Janmashtami HinduCommemoration of the birth ofKrishna8 SaturdayNativity of the Blessed VirginMary ChristianCelebration of the birth of Mary,the mother of Jesus9 SundayAuditor’s Day ScientologyScientology Auditors areacknowledged on this day for theirdedication in helping their fellowmen and women10 MondayRosh Hashanah Jewish (until9/11/18)Jewish New Year, marked by a callto repentance11 TuesdayEthiopian New Year’s Day RastafarianFirst day of the new year for theEthiopian calendar12 WednesdayHijri-New Year MuslimMarks the beginning of the newIslamic calendar year12Ganesh Chaturthi HinduSukkot Jewish (until 9/30/18)Paryushana Parva JainFestival signifying humanemergence into a new world ofspiritual and moral refinement,and a celebration of the naturalqualities of the soul18 TuesdayYom Kippur Jewish (until9/19/18)Also known as the Day ofAtonement with central themes ofatonement and repentance21 FridayAshura Muslim27 ThursdayMeskel Ethiopian OrthodoxChristianCommemoration of the discovery ofthe True Cross by St. Helen28 FridayConfucius’ Birthday ConfucianObservance of the birth ofConfucius29 SaturdayHoshanah Rabbah Jewish (until10/30/18)Optional one-day fast markingthe martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali(Shi’a Islam) and marking the daythat Moses fasted in graditude forliberation of the Israelites (SunniIslam)Commemoration of the last of thereading of the Torah22 SaturdayCompletion of the annual cycle ofthe reading of the TorahMabon Wiccan/PaganObservance of the AutumnalEquinox30 SundayShemini Atzeret Jewish (until10/2/18)

October 20181 MondaySimchat Torah Jewish (until10/2/18)Day to celebrate the reading of theLaw4 ThursdaySt. Francis Day/Blessing of theAnimals Catholic ChristianFeast day of St. Francis of Assisi,patron saint of animals and ecology,often celebrated with specialblessing of animals7 SundayFounding of the InternationalAssociation of Scientologists Scientology19 Friday28 SundayCommemoration of the last of theDays of JudgmentDay of solemn reflection onthe relationship of the spiritualcommunity and the powers of thecivil governmentDussehra/Durga Puja Hindu20 SaturdayBirth of the Bab Baha’iHonoring of the founder of the Babireligion, forerunner to Baha’u’llahand the Baha’i faithGuru Granth Sahib Installation SikhRemembrance of the eternalinstallation of the holy books byGranth SahibMilvian Bridge Day Christian31 WednesdayAll Hallow’s Eve ChristianPraying and fasting prior to thefeast day of All Saints DayReformation Day ProtestantChristianAnniversary of the tradition ofProtestantism, marked by MartinLuther’s nailing of his 95 Theseson a church door in Wittenberg,GermanyScientologists rededicatethemselves to the aims ofScientology: a world withoutcriminals, suffering, and war8 MondayThanksgiving- Canada InterfaithCelebration of the harvest andother blessings in the past year9 TuesdayNavratri Hindu (until 10/17/18)Festival of the divine mother(lasting 9 nights) honoring Durga,wife of Shiva, and seeking herblessingBirthday of Guru Ram Das SikhCommemoration of the birth of oneof the foremost 10 gurus of SikhismDays of Awe“The Jewish holidays that are most meaningful for me are the10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, also knownas the Days of Awe. This is a time when I take responsibilityfor any words or action I may have taken during the yearthat may have hurt or offended anyone. On Yom Kippur, Ihope that my transgressions will be forgiven by God andthat I will be granted a happy healthy new year. But first, Imust ask forgiveness of any individual I may have offendedor mistreated before I can approach God for forgiveness.These 10 days become a time of introspection with the goalof recognizing how I can improve my behavior and treateveryone with dignity and respect.”-Jean Cavender13

November 20181 ThursdayAll Saints Day ChristianDay for honoring and rememberingChristian saints15 Thursday24 SaturdayPeriod of abstinence and penancein preparation for the birth of JesusCommemoration of the death ofGuru Tegh Bahadur16 Friday25 SundayUnited Nations observance day togenerate public awareness of thedangers of intoleranceFeast celebrating the all-embracingauthority of Christ, over and abovegovernmental authority20 Tuesday26 MondayMawlid an Nabi MuslimDay of the Covenant Baha’iCelebration of ProphetMuhammad’s birthdayCelebration of the covenant givenin the last will and testament ofBaha’u’llahNativity Fast Begins OrthodoxChristian (until 12/24/18)Martyrdom of Guru TeghBahadur SikhSamhain Wiccan/PaganCelebration of endings andbeginnings2 FridayAll Souls Day Catholic ChristianCommemoration of the souls ofChristians who have diedCoronation of Emperor HaileSelassie RastafarianCelebration of the coronation of themessianic figure of the Rastafarimovement7 WednesdayDiwali Sikh, Jain, Hindu (until11/10/18)The Festival of Lights marking theend of the Hindu year8 ThursdayJain New Year JainBeginning of the Jain yearInternational Day for Tolerance Interfaith22 ThursdayThanksgiving InterfaithCelebration of the harvest andcommunity23 FridayChrist the King Sunday Christian28 WednesdayAscension of Abdu’l-Baha Baha’iCelebration of the rising of thespirit of Abdu’l’Baha to heavenlydwellingGuru Nanak Dev Sahib’s birthday SikhHonoring of the birth of the founderof SikhismVikram New Year HinduBeginning of the Hindu year12 MondayBirth of Baha’u’llah Baha’iCelebration of the birth of thefounder of the Baha’i faith14Image credit: Freepik

December 20182 SundayAdvent Christian (until12/24/18)Season observed as a time toprepare for the birth of JesusChrist21 FridayYule Wiccan/PaganCelebration of the Winter Solstice24 MondayChristmas Eve Christian3 MondayHanukkah Jewish (until12/10/18)Day before Christmas, oftencelebrated with a midnight Mass/Liturgy of Jesus’ birthFestival of Lights commemoratingthe recapture and rededication ofthe Jerusalem Temple25 Tuesday6 ThursdayCelebration of the birth of JesusChristSt. Nicholas Day ChristianCelebration of St. Nicholas, patronsaint of children and role model forgift-giving8 SaturdayBodhi Day BuddhistCelebration of the Enlightenment ofBuddhaImmaculate Conception of Mary Catholic ChristianCelebrates the belief in theImmaculate Conception of theBlessed Virgin Mary12 WednesdayFeast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic ChristianHonoring of legendary appearanceof the Virgin Mary near Mexico Cityin 153116 SundayPosadas Navidenas HispanicChristian (until 12/25/18)Nine-day religious observanceduring which families participate innightly Christmas processions thatre-create the Holy Pilgrimage ofMary, Joseph, and the baby Jesuson their way to BethlehemChristmas /Feast of Nativity Christian, Orthodox Christian26 WednesdayZarathosht Disco ZoroastrianAnniversary of the death of ProphetZarathustraKwanzaa Pan-African (until1/1/19)28 FridayHoly Innocents ChristianDay of solemn memory of malechildren killed by King Herod in thesame attempt to destroy Jesus30 SundayHoly Family’s Day CatholicChristianCelebration honoring Jesus, hismother Mary, and her husbandJoseph as a familyFreedom Day ScientologyDay celebrating the officialrecognition of the Church ofScientology in the United States in197431 MondayWatch Night ChristianOccasion to thank God for bringingpeople safely through another year,and to prepare for the next yearHoliday celebrating family,community, and culture amongpeople of African descentZoroastrianism“Zoroastrianism, the worship of Ahura Mazda, is consideredthe first monotheistic religion. An element of the doctrinethat really resonates with me is the concept that everyperson has free will to support either Spenta Mainyu (good)or Angra Mainyu (bad). Thus, we are all part of the cosmicstruggle between right (justice) and wrong. It is a choiceevery individual must make. The moral code developed byZarathustra resonates in many of the other religions thatfollowed, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Anothercentral tenet of the religion is peace with nature andprotecting the earth, water, air, plants, and animals. Thistenet holds greater symbolism to me as environmental issueshave become paramount in our time.”-Soonu Dhunjisha15

January 20191 Tuesday13 SundayCelebration of the Blessed VirginMary, the mother of Jesus ChristCommemoration of a battle inwhich forty Sikhs died for GuruGobind Singh JiSolemnity of Mary, Mother ofGod Catholic ChristianShogatsu/Gantan-sai ShintoNew Year’s Day celebration5 SaturdayTwelfth Night ChristianConclusion of the Twelve Days ofChristmas and marking the comingof the EpiphanyThe Birth of the Tenth SikhMaster SikhHonoring the birth of Guru GobindSingh6 SundayEpiphany/Three Kings Day ChristianFeast to celebrate the visit of theThree Wise Men to Baby Jesus7 MondayOrthodox Christmas OrthodoxChristianCelebration of the birth of JesusChristMaghi Sikh14 Monday19 SaturdayTimkat Ethiopian OrthodoxChristianCommemorating the baptism ofJesus in the Jordan River bySt. John the BaptistMakar Sankranti Hindu20 SundayCelebration marking the turning ofthe sun toward the north; festivalin reverence to deity Surya, god ofthe sunDay dedicated to the unity andoneness of the world religionsSeijin no Hi ShintoHoliday honoring those who haveor will reach the age of twentywithin the current year17 ThursdayBlessing of the Animals Hispanic ChristianWorld Religion Day Baha’iTu B’Shvat Jewish (until 1/21/19)Celebration of the coming of spring21 MondayMahayana New Year Buddhist(until 1/23/19)Buddhist New Year, as celebratedin Mayahana countriesObservance of showing respectfor domestic

Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Buddhist Confucian Christian Catholic Christian Jain Interfaith Hispanic Christian Hindu Mormon Jewish Jehovah’s Witnesses Muslim Scientologist Orthodox Christian Rastafarian Protestant Christian Pan-African Taoist Swedenborgian Christian Sikh Shinto Zoroastrian Wiccan/Pagan. 4 . Founding of the first Church of .