Other World Faith Celebrations

Armenian Martyrs' Day: April 24

Observe the extermination of some 1.5 million Armenians between 1915-1923 in Turkey.

Asian Heritage Month: The Month of May

Month-long celebration of the history and achievements of Asian-Americans.

Black History Month: The Month of February

Dedicated to the study of Black life and culture.

Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week:

Promotes cooperation and justice among all religious, racial, and ethnic groups in the U.S., sponsored by the National Conference.

Canada Day: July 1

Acknowledges the creation of the Dominion of Canada on July 1, 1867. Observed with formal celebrations across the country, it is recognised as the nation's principal national holiday.

Chinese, Korean, Japanese New Year:

A festive holiday celebrated for about two week. Each year is symbolized be a different animal.

El Cinco De Mayo: May 5

Celebrated in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans, commemorates the battle of Guadalupe in 1862, when a small Mexican army defeated a larger French force.

Citizenship (Constitution) Day: September 17

The rights and responsibilities of citizenship are stressed on this day marking the passage of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

International Women's Day

In 1908, on the last Sunday in February, socialist women in the United States initiated the first Women's Day when large demonstrations took place calling for the vote and the political and economic rights of women. The following year, 2,000 people attended a Women's Day rally in Manhattan. Later that year women garment workers staged a general strike. 20-30,000 shirtwaist makers struck for 13 cold, winter weeks for better pay and working conditions. In 1910 socialists and feminists went to the second International Conference of Socialist Women in Copenhagen to propose that Women's Day become an international event.

Flag Day: June 14

Commemorates acceptance of the stars and stripes as the U.S. flag in 1777. A legal holiday in some states.

Martyrdom Day(Guru Arjan Dev Ji):

Anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji in 1606 C.E., the fifth guru who had built the famous Golden Temple of Amritsar.

Martyrdom Day(Guru Teg Bahadur Ji):

Anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji in 1675 C.E., the ninth guru.

National American Indian Heritage Month: November

Designated by Congress in 1990, the observance, held during the traditional Indian harvest season, honors the distinct and important contributions of the first Americans to the nation and the world..

National Hispanic Heritage Month: September

Month-logn celebration of the history and achievements of Hispanic-Americans. Runs from September 15th to October 15th.

National Women's History Month: March

Designated by U.S. Congress as a time to salute women's role in history; includes International Women's Day (March 8).

Saint Patrick's Day: March 17

United Nations Day: October 24

Marks the anniversary of the U.N. Charter ratified in 1945.

Baha'u'llah's Birthday: November 12

Baha'i Observance

Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Baha'i faith in 1817.

Birth of the Bab: October 20

Baha'i Observance

Anniversary of the birth of one of the twin Prophet Founders of the Baha'i Faith.

Martyrdom of the Bab: July 9

Baha'i Observance

Anniversary of the martydom of the Bab, the forerunner of Baha'u'llah, in 1850.

Naw-Ruz: March 21

Baha'i Observance

Baha'i and Iranian New Year.

Ridvan:

Baha'i Observance

Commemorates the declaration of Baha'u'llah to his followers in 1863. Work is suspended for the 1st, 9th, and 12th days.

Bikaramajit:

Hindu Observance

Hindu New Year.

 Diwali:

Hindu, Sikh, and Jain Observance

Festival of Lights; one of four seasonal celebrations in India. Jains celebrate Diwali as the time when Mahavir left for heaven (Mahavir Nirvana). Sihks celebrate Diwali in commemoration of the return to Amritsar of the sixth guru after his release from detention.

Dusserah:

Hindu, and Jain Observance

Essentially a celebration of good over evil; related to early stories of struggles between a goddess and a demon.

Holi:

Hindu Observance

Spring festival, a carnival occasion featuring bright colors, pilgrimages, and bonfires.

Krishna Janmashtami:

Hindu Observance

Celebrates the birth of Krishna.

Rakhi:

Hindu and Jain Observance

Celebration of love and friendship; traditionally women tied a "rakhi" (amulet) to sisters, brothers and friends to ward off evil.

Ramnavami:

Hindu Observance

Anniversary of the birth of Rama, incarnation of Vishnu (the Preserved) in Hinduism.

Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti:

Hindu Observance

Celebrates the birthday of Sri Ramakrishna teacher of Swami ViveKananda.

Vasant Panchami (Sri Pancami):

Hindu Observance

Advent of spring; sacred to Saraswati, goddess of learning.

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji:

Sikh Observance

Observes the birth in 166C.E. of the tenth guru, who created the Khalsa (the army of the Pure Ones) and passed on the guruship to the Sikh Holy Scriptures-Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Guru Nanak's Birthday:

Sikh Observance

Observes the birth of the founder of the Sikh religion in 1469 C.E.

Installation of Granth Sahib Ji as Guru:

Sikh Observance

Anniversary of passing on of guruship to the Holy Scriptures by the tenth guru (1708 C.E.).

Maghi:

Sikh Observance

Commemorates a battle in which forty sikhs (the Immortal Ones) laid down their lives for their guru (Guru Gobind Singh Ji).

Mahavir Jayanti:

Sikh Observance

Birthday of Lord Mahavir.

Paryushana Parva:

Sikh Observance

Festival of fasting, friendship, and forgiveness.

Vaisakhi:

Sikh Observance

Anniversary of the creation of the Khalsa (the army of the Pure Ones) in 1699).

Bodhi Day: December 8

Buddhist Observance

Buddhist celebration of the Enlightenment of Buddha, ca.596 B.C.E.

Nirvana Day: February 15

Buddhist Observance

Commemorates the death of Buddha.

Wesak: April 8

Buddhist Observance

The anniversary of Buddah's birthday in the Mahayana tradition; the commemoration of Buddah's birth, enlightenment, and death, celebrated on the day of the full moon of the 6th month in the Theravada tradition.

'Id al-Adha:

Islamic Observance

Islamic festival of sacrifice, commemorates the faith of Abraham; also a memorial to the dead.

Eid al-Fitr:

Islamic Observance

Islamic festival of the breaking of the fast of Ramadhan.

Ma'uled Al-Nabi:

Islamic Observance

Birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, ca 570 C.E..

Muharram:

Islamic Observance

Islamic New Year.

Ramadhan:

Islamic Observance

Ramadhan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar during which Muslims fast. The month of Ramadhan is also belived to be the time when the Holy Qur'an was sent down from heaven, a declaration of direction, and a means of salvation. During Ramadhan, it is common for Muslims to go to the Masjid (Mosque) and spend several hours praying and studying the Qur'an. When the fast ends (on the first day of the month of Shawwal it is celebrated for three days in a holiday called Eid al-Fitr (the feast of Breaking Fast). Friends and family gather to pray in congregation.

Juneteeth

African-American Observance.

"Juneteeth", commemorates June 1, 1865, the day most slaves learned they were free-more than two years after President Lincoln had declared them free.

Kwanzaa: December 26

African-American Observance

Seven-day celebration of African-American values and traditions and their continued vitality. "Kwanzaa", in Kiswahili, means "first friuts of the harvest".

Pioneer Day: July 24

Mormon Observance

Mormon observance of the arrival of brigham Young at the site of Salt Lake City, Utah.