Religious Holidays & Observances Calendar

Listed below are many of the religious holidays observed by members of the STLCC community.

The Interfaith Partnership of Greater St. Louis assisted with reviewing the religious observances included in this calendar. Here you will find dates and descriptions of major religious holidays for the Bahá’i Faith, Buddhism, Christian Science, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Orthodox Christianity, Protestant Christianity, Roman Catholicism, and Sikhism. Brief descriptions of each holiday are also included. Many communities begin observances at sundown, which are noted. Lunar holidays may vary based on sighting the new moon.

Please note that this list is not exhaustive and individual practices may vary.

Spring 2023

January

Date	Holiday
Jan. 5	PARKASH UTSAV DASVEH PATSHAH • Sikhism Commemorates the birth of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru
Jan. 6	EPIPHANY • Christianity Ends the Christmas season; celebrates the journey of the Magi (three kings) to Bethlehem.
Jan. 6	THEOPHANY • Orthodox Christianity Also known as the Feast of Epiphany, Theophany commemorates the Baptism of Jesus by his cousin St. John the Baptist and the manifestation of the Holy Trinity.
Jan. 7	MAHAYANA NEW YEAR • Buddhism
Jan. 7	ORTHODOX CHRISTMAS DAY • Orthodox Christianity
Jan. 14	MAKAR SANKRANTI • Hinduism Celebration of the sun, often commemorated with kites and bonfires.
Jan. 22	LUNAR NEW YEAR • Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism Important in Buddhist, Daoist and Confucian traditions, the Lunar/Chinese New Year celebrates the beginning of the Chinese Calendar.
Jan. 26	VASANT PANCHAMI • Hinduism Festival marking the beginning of spring.

February

Date	Holiday
Feb. 2	THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST • Orthodox Christianity Celebrated by Orthodox Christians (and by Roman Catholics and Protestants as "The Purification of the Holy Virgin"), this feast commemorates Jesus' presentation in the Temple as a baby.
Feb. 5	TU B'SHVAT begins at sundown • Judaism New Year’s Day for trees; Jewish celebration of Environmental awareness.
Feb. 15	NIRVANA DAY • Buddhism Celebrates when the Buddha passed away, thereby achieving complete Nirvana. Sometimes celebrated Feb 15.
Feb. 18	SHIVA RATRI/ MAHASHIVARATRI • Hinduism Festival of the god Shiva.
Feb. 18	LAILAT AL-MIRAJ begins at sundown • Islam Celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension into heaven.
Feb. 21	SHROVE TUESDAY/ MARDI GRAS • Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox Christianity Last feast day before the beginning of Lent.
Feb. 22	ASH WEDNESDAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Marks the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of fasting leading up to Easter. Many Christians wear the sign of the cross in ashes on their forehead.
Feb. 25	AYYÁM-I-HA begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith The "intercalary days" leading up to the last month of the Baháʼí year, marked by spiritual preparation for a month of fasting and celebration.
Feb. 27	CLEAN MONDAY • Orthodox Christianity The beginning of Great Lent for Eastern Christian churches.

March

Date	Holiday
March 1	BEGINNING OF THE BAHÁʼÍ FAST begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith During Alá, the last month in the Baháʼí calendar, Baháʼís take up a daily fast from sunrise to sunset.
March 6	SANGHA DAY (MAGHA PUJA) • Buddhism (Theraveda) Spontaneous assembly of the Buddha’s followers and the continued sangha, or Buddhist community.
March 6	HOLI • Hinduism Festival of spring, colors and love.
March 6	PURIM begins at sundown • Judaism Purim, or the "Feast of Lots," celebrates the escape of the Jews from a violent plot in ancient Persia.
March 7	HOLA MOHALLA • Sikhism Spring festival that includes displays of martial skills, music and poetry.
March 20	NAW-RÚZ begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Ancient Iranian festival celebrating the beginning of spring and the new year.
March 22	RAMADAN begins at sundown • Islam Month of daily fasting commemorating the revelation of the Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims end the fast each day of Ramadan with an iftar dinner at sunset, often with family and friends. During Ramadan, you can wish Muslims "Ramadan Mubarak," or a blessed Ramadan.
March 25	THE ANNUNCIATION • Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Christianity In Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Christianity, commemorates the Angel Gabriel's announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would become pregnant with Jesus through the power of God.
March 30	RAMA NAVAMI • Hinduism Celebrates the birth of Rama, an ancient Indian king and incarnation of the god Vishnu.

April

Date	Holiday
April 2	PALM SUNDAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity The Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem. Many churches hold processions with palm leaves.
April 4	MAHAVIR JAYANTI • Jainism Celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last of the Tirthankara (Jain sages).
April 5	PESACH (PASSOVER) begins at sundown • Judaism Passover, or the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," celebrates the Israelites' Exodus from Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Celebrated with a seder dinner. Jews abstain from leavened bread during Passover, instead eating matzah. Simple greetings on Passover can be "Happy Passover," or "Happy Pesach." Ends April 12 or April 13.
April 6	THERVADA NEW YEAR • Buddhism (Theravada)
April 6	MAUNDY THURSDAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus and the Apostles.
April 7	GOOD FRIDAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Commemorates Jesus’s crucifixion.
April 8	FLOWER FESTIVAL • Buddhism (Mahayana) In the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, the Flower Festival celebrates the Buddha’s birthday.
April 9	EASTER • Roman Catholic & Protestant, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
April 9	ORTHODOX PALM SUNDAY • Orthodox Christianity
April 14	VAISAKHI • Sikhism Celebrates the founding of the Sikh community. Vaisakhi is also celebrated as a harvest festival by most non-Sikhs from the Punjab region of India. You can wish Sikhs a "Happy Vaisakhi."
April 16	PASCHA/ ORTHODOX EASTER • Orthodox Christianity
April 17	LAILAT AL-QADR begins at sundown • Islam The "Night of Power" commemorates the night when the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. Celebration date varies between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
April 20	FIRST DAY OF RIDVÁN begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Ridván commemorates the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger. The first, ninth, and twelfth days are celebrated as holy days.
April 21	EID AL-FITR begins at sundown • Islam Celebration of the end of the holy month of Ramadan; a major holiday for Muslims. To wish someone a happy Eid, you can say "Eid Mubarak."
April 28	NINTH DAY OF RIDVÁN begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith

May

Date	Holiday
May 1	TWELFTH DAY OF RIDVÁN • Baháʼí Faith
May 18	ASCENSION DAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Celebrates the ascension of Jesus into Heaven; 40 days after Easter.
May 23	MARTYRDOM OF GURU ARJAN DEV JI • Sikhism Commemorates the fifth Sikh Guru and first Sikh martyr, killed in 1606.
May 23	DECLARATION OF THE BÁB begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Commemoration of the Báb's announcement of Himself as God's herald.
May 25	SHAVUOT begins at sundown • Judaism The "Feast of Weeks" commemorates the reception of the Torah at Mt Sinai.
May 28	ASCENSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Commemoration of the death of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Baháʼí Faith.
May 28	PENTECOST • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Also known as Whit Sunday, the festival celebrating the Holy Spirit's descent on Jesus's followers and the birth of the Christian Church.

Fall 2023

August

Date	Holiday
Aug. 11	RAKSHA BANDHAN • Hinduism Celebrates the loving ties between siblings.

September

Date	Holiday
Sept. 6	SRI KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI • Hinduism Celebrates the birth of Krishna, an incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Sept. 11	PARYUSHANA PARVA • Jainism Eight-day festival celebrating the human soul and its capacity for moral accomplishment.
Sept. 15	ROSH HASHANAH begins at sundown • Judaism The Jewish New Year, the beginning of ten days of penitence culminating in Yom Kippur. A customary greeting is shanah tovah or "happy new year!"
Sept. 18	GANESH CHATURTHI • Hinduism Celebrates the birth of Ganesh, the elephant deity.
Sept. 19	SAMVATSARI • Jainism "Forgiveness Day," the last day of the Paryushana festival, is the most important holy day for Jains; on it, Jains seek forgiveness for their faults.
Sept. 24	YOM KIPPUR begins at sundown • Judaism The Day of Atonement; a very solemn day devoted to fasting, prayer and repentance. One appropriate thing to say to someone observing Yom Kippur is "Have an easy fast."
Sept. 29	SUKKOT begins at sundown • Judaism A week-long harvest festival commemorating when the Israelites lived in temporary booths (sukkah) during their 40-year journey in the Sinai desert.

October

Date	Holiday
Oct. 7	SIMCHAT TORAH begins at sundown • Judaism On Simchat Torah, Jews celebrate finishing the annual reading of the Torah and begin a new cycle. Celebrations include a procession of the Torah around the synagogue.
Oct. 15	NAVARATRI • Hinduism Nine-day festival celebrating good's victory over evil and Devi, the divine feminine.
Oct. 15	BIRTH OF THE BÁB begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Commemorates the birth of the Báb, predecessor to the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. With the Birth of Bahá’u’lláh, celebrated as the Twin Holy Days.
Oct. 16	BIRTH OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH begins at sundown • Baháʼí Faith Commemorates the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Baháʼí faith.
Oct. 24	VIJAYA DASTAMI • Hinduism The final day of the festival of Navaratri.
Oct. 31	REFORMATION SUNDAY • Protestant Christianity Commemorates the beginning of the Reformation movement in 1517.

November

Date	Holiday
Nov. 1	ALL SAINTS’ DAY • Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity Day to honor all the Saints in the Christian tradition.
Nov. 2	ALL SOULS’ DAY • Roman Catholic Christianity Commemorates all the faithful departed.
Nov. 12	DIWALI • Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism Indian festival of lights commemorating the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. You can wish those celebrating a "Happy Diwali!"
Nov. 15	GUR-GADDI GURU GRANTH SAHIB • Sikhism Celebrates Sri Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of mankind.
Nov. 23	MARTYRDOM OF GURU TEG BAHADUR JI • Sikhism Marks the death of the ninth Sikh guru, who died supporting religious freedom.
Nov. 24	THANKSGIVING DAY SERVICE • Christian Science Christian Scientists traditionally celebrate a Thanksgiving morning prayer service focused on gratitude, in keeping with the example set by Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Church.
Nov. 27	PRAKASH UTSAV GURU NANAK DEV JI • Sikhism Also known as also Gurpurab, the birthday of the founder and First Guru of the Sikhs is one of the most important Sikh holidays.

December

Date	Holiday
Dec. 3	ADVENT SUNDAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity Marks the beginning of Advent, the season leading up to Christmas.
Dec. 8	BODHI DAY • Buddhism Celebrates the day that the Buddha experienced enlightenment.
Dec. 8	SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION • Roman Catholic Christianity Commemorates the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Roman Catholicism.
Dec. 7	HANUKKAH/ CHANUKAH begins at sundown • Judaism Hanukkah commemorates the liberation and "rededication" of the Temple in Jerusalem in 164 B.C.E. Modern celebrations of Hanukkah include the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah.
Dec. 12	FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE • Roman Catholic Christianity Commemorating the 1531 apparition of Mary in Meso-America in the Roman Catholic Tradition, this feast day has particular importance for Latine Catholics.
Dec. 24	CHRISTMAS EVE • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Celebrates the arrival of Mary & Joseph in Bethlehem.
Dec. 25	CHRISTMAS DAY • Roman Catholic & Protestant Christianity, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Celebrates the birth of Jesus. You can with those celebrating a "Merry Christmas!"
Dec. 26	KWANZAA • Black American Cultural Holiday Celebration of Black American culture and heritage. Sometimes the holiday is celebrated in the Caribbean or other areas where there are a great number of descendants of Africans. It was created as a holiday both non-political and non-religious.