Religious Celebrations

Ramadan: In the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar year, Ramadan, known as the fasting month, is observed by Muslims all over the world. The month is intended to celebrate the first revelation sent down on Laylat al-Qadr, commonly known as “The Night of Power”.

Eid-al-Fitr  is a worldwide Muslim religious holiday that marks the end of Ramadan’s monthly dawn to sunset fast.

Eid-al-Adha is observed on the 10th day of the last month of the Calendar of Islam. The day commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice to Ishamel.

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Holi is a color festival, celebrated in India. The festival celebrates the killing of Holika, Hrinyakashyapu’s, and it is important for the end of the winter and the start of the summer.

Krishna Janmashtami is the day of Lord Krishna’s birthday, and Hindus celebrate it with great devotion and enthusiasm.

Dusshera or Vijayadashmi is recognised as the Indian festival celebrated in the Hindu calendar on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin. The day is the end of Navratri’s nine-day fasting period of Hindu culture and also coincides with diving of Goddess Durga’s idol.

Diwali  is India’s major celebration. Usually, it is held in October and November on a new moon night. It is celebrated mainly to mark the return of 14 years of exile to Lord Rama.   

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Vaisakhi/ Baisakhi is the traditional Sikh harvest festival. It commemorates in the late 17th century the founding of the Khalsa.  

Guru Hargobind Jayant celebrates the birthday of Guru Hargobind.

Diwali is India’s major celebration. Usually, it is held in October and November on a new moon night. It is celebrated mainly to mark the return of 14 years of exile to Lord Rama.   

Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab/ Guru Nanak Dev Ji Jayant commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh guru. This is one of Sikhism’s most sacred festivals.

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Nirvana Day commemorates Buddha’s death.

Wesak Day is a major Buddhist holiday celebrated with wonderful celebratory ceremonies. It is also known as “Buddha’s Birthday”. On this day, Buddhists commemorate Lord Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and his passing away (Parinirvana) on one day.

Asala – Dharma Day celebrates Buddha’s first Dharma teachings. Dharma means “Truth”.

Bodhi Day (8 December 2020) commemorates the achievement of Gautama’s Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya (India).

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Ridván is a twelve (12) day celebration, and it commemorates the 12 days spent by the Bahá’u’lláh in the Ridván Garden in Baghdad during 1863.

Birth of the Báb: Báb was the founder and source of the revelation of the Bahá’í, whose name is translated as “the Gate”.

Birth of Bahá’u’lláh: This holy day Baha’is celebrates the birth of Baha’u’llah, who is the founder of the Baháʼí Faith.

Day of the Covenant is the day when Baháʼís celebrate the designation of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá as the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant.

Photo by Jorge Fernández Salas on Unsplash

Purim: According to the Hebrew Bible, the Book of Esther, the commemoration of the defense of Jews from Haman, it is celebrated this day.

Passover is the major Jewish religious festival. In commemoration of Egypt’s famous biblical history of Exodus, the festival released Jewish slaves from bondage. It is celebrated for seven (7) days.

Yom Kippur/ Day of Atonement is the holiest celebration for Jews. According to Jewish tradition, on this day, God marks the Books of Life and Death for the coming year. Also, it is a day of collective repentance for the sins of the past year.

Hanukkah is known as the Light Festival and the Feast of Dedication, and it is held worldwide by the Jewish community.  The festival lasts eight nights, and every night Jews lit a candle on the Menorah.

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Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Ascension Day celebrates the Ascension of Jesus in Heaven.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated as the heavenly birth of Mary.  

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Image by Luciano Ramos Solari from Pixabay

Epiphany is one of the Christian festivals of great importance, as it illustrates how God comes to His creation and reveals His redemption to the world.

Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated as the heavenly birth of Mary.

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Image by Yevhen Paramonov from Pixabay

Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Ascension Day celebrates the Ascension of Jesus in Heaven.

Reformation Day is celebrated in memory of the Reformation. On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther addressed a petition against the granting of indulgences, also known as the 95 theses, to Albrecht, Archbishop of Mainz and Magdeburg.

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Image by Tobias Albers-Heinemann from Pixabay

Epiphany is one of the Christian festivals of great importance, as it illustrates how God comes to His creation and reveals His redemption to the world.

Presentation of the Lord or Presentation of Christ in the Temple recalls the occasion in which Virgin Mary came to the Temple in Jerusalem in accordance to the law of Jerusalem both for purification and for presenting her son Jesus to God as her firstborn, forty (40) days after the birth.

Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Image by falco from Pixabay

Ascension Day celebrates the Ascension of Jesus in Heaven.

Pentecost celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on Apostles and other Jesus Christ followers.

Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Image by Gabriel Ballerini from Pixabay

Christmas is a Christians’ annual holiday, the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Christians believe Jesus is the Son of God; the Messiah sent to save the world.

Epiphany is one of the Christian festivals of great importance, as it illustrates how God comes to His creation and reveals His redemption to the world.

Easter is a Christian celebration in commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is and is considered as the revival of Christianity.

Ascension Day celebrates the Ascension of Jesus in Heaven.

Image by Afrikit from Pixabay

Please Note: Due to the number and diversity of religious celebrations within each faith community, the above religious celebrations should be taken only as guidance, and as representing only a part of the religious celebration in each faith group.