ɫ : Multifaith List of Holy Days

ɫ

UofC " This Is Now

Search Calendar:


Site Navigation
Welcome
Important Notice and Disclaimer
Fee Payment Deadlines
Academic Schedule
Multifaith List of Holy Days
Tentative Future Dates
Examinations Schedule
Undergraduate Degrees with a Major
Combined Degrees
Minor Programs
Student Services
Undergraduate Admissions
Academic Regulations
Tuition and General Fees
English for Academic Purposes Program
Faculty of Arts
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Environmental Design
Faculty of Graduate Studies
Haskayne School of Business
Faculty of Kinesiology
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Medicine
Faculty of Nursing
Qatar Faculty
Schulich School of Engineering
Faculty of Science
Faculty of Social Work
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Co-operative Education/Internship
Continuing Education
Awards and Financial Assistance
COURSES OF INSTRUCTION
About the ɫ
Where
Who's Who
Glossary of Terms
Contact Us
Archives
ɫ Calendar 2012-2013 Academic Schedule Multifaith List of Holy Days
Multifaith List of Holy Days

This calendar includes festivals or holy days for the following faiths:

Aboriginal Spirtuality
Baha'i
Buddhism
Christianity
Hinduism
Islam
Judaism
Shinto
Sikkism
Zoroasterianism

Please note, if an asterisk “*” follows the name of a festival, the festival begins at sundown the day before this date. When two asterisks “**” follow the name of a festival, the date of celebration may vary from community to community based on local customs or according to moon sightings.

Explanatory notes about dates for some faiths:

Aboriginal Spirituality: Each band may have unique spiritual observances which, while not a Religious Holy Day, may require accommodation.

Buddhism: In the Western world, festivals are generally celebrated on the Sunday nearest the actual date.

Christianity: The Gregorian calendar has been adopted by all Christian churches of the West. Most Eastern churches, however, continue to use the Julian calendar for religious purposes, though only a few use it exclusively. Nearly all Eastern churches still determine Easter according to the "Old Style" or Julian system, but most have adopted the "New Style" or Gregorian calendar for Christmas or Pentecost. At the present time, the Julian and Gregorian calendars are approximately 15 days out of phase.

Hinduism: Specific dates may vary year to year based on the solar or lunar calendars. Dates can also vary depending on the time differential between Canada and India.

Islam: Muslim holidays are based on a Lunar Calendar and observances may vary by a day before or after from the dates given, depending on the community. Every Friday 12:15 - 2:00 pm there are Congregation prayers.

Judaism: Sabbath starts Friday sundown and lasts 25 hours. All holy days start sundown the night preceding the holiday.

July, 2012
ٲٱ Faith Festival
July 3 Buddhism Asalha Puja Day **
July 4 Islam Lailat at Bara'ah * **
July 9 Baha'i Martyrdom of the Bab *
July 13-16 Buddhism-Shinto Obon**
July 15 Christianity Saint Vladimir Day
July 20 Islam Ramadan Begins * **
July 23 Rastafari Emperor Haile Selassi I birthday
July 24 Christianity (Mormon) Pioneer Day
July 25 Christianity Saint James the Great Day
July 29 Judaism Tisha B'Av *
August, 2012
Date Faith Festival
August 1 Christianity (Orthodox) Fast in Honor of Holy Mother of Jesus
August 1

Christianity

Lammas
August 2 Hinduism Raksha Bandhan **
August 6

Christianity (Orthodox)

Transfiguration of the Lord
August 10 Hinduism Krishna Janmashtami **
August 14 Islam Lailat al Kadr * **
August 15

Christianity (Catholic)

Assumption of Virgin Mary
August 15

Christianity (Orthodox)

Dormition of the Theotokos
August 19-21 Islam Eid al Fitr * **
August 29

Christianity

Beheading of John the Baptist
September, 2012
Date Faith Festival
September 1 Christianity (Orthodox) Ecclesiastical Year begins
September 8 Christianity Nativity of Mary
September 14

Christianity

Elevation of the Life Giving Cross - Holy Cross Day
September 17-18 Judaism Rosh HaShanah *
September 19

Hinduism

Ganesh Chaturthi **
September 20-29

Jainism

Paryushana Parva **
September 26

Judaism

Yom Kippur *
September 28

Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox)

Mesket
September 29

Christianity

Michael and All Angels
October, 2012
Date Faith Festival
October 4

Christianity (Catholic)

Saint Francis Day
October 1-7

Judaism

Sukkot * (Oct. 1-2 Primary Obligation Days)
October 8

Judaism

Shemini Atzeret *
October 8 Interfaith Thanksgiving - Canada
October 9

Judaism

Simhat Torah *
October 16-23

Hinduism

Navaratri **
October 18

Christianity

Saint Luke - Apostle and Evangelist
October 20

Baha'i

Birth of the Báb *
October 20 Sikhism Installation of Scriptures as Gukru Granth
October 24

Hinduism

Dasera **
October 25

Islam

Waqf al Arafa - Hajj Day *
October 26-29

Islam

Eid al Adha * **

October 28

Christianity

Milvian Bridge Day

October 28

Christianity (Protestant) Reformation Day **

October 31

Christianity

All Hallows Eve
November, 2012

Date

Faith

Festival

November 1

Christianity

All Saint's Day
November 2 Christianity (Catholic) All Soul's Day
November 11 Jainism Jain New Year **
November 11-15 Hinduism Deepavali  **
November 12 Baha'i Birth of Baha'u'llah *
November 13

Hinduism - Jainism - Sikhism

Diwali - Deepavali **
November 15 Islam Hijra - New Year * **
November 15

Christianity (Orthodox)

Nativity Fast through 12-25
November 21 Interfaith Thanksgiving  USA
November 22

Christianity

Yule
November 24 Islam Ashura * **
November 24 Sikhism Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom
November 25

Christianity

Christ the King
November 26 Baha'i Day of the Covenant *
November 28 Baha'i Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha *
November 28 Sikhism Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday
November 30

Christianity

Saint Andrew's Day
December, 2012
Date Faith Festival
December 2 Christianity Advent - First Sunday
December 6

Christianity

Saint Nicholas Day
December 8

Buddhism

Rohatsu (Bodhi Day)  **
December 8

Christianity (Catholic)

Immaculate Conception of Mary
December 9-16

Judaism

Hanukkah *
December 16-25

Christianity

Posadas Navidenas
December 21 Christianity Yule
December 25 Christianity Christmas *
December 25

Christianity (Orthodox)

Feast of the Nativity **
December 26 Zoroastrian Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra **
December 28

Christianity

Holy Innocents
December 30

Christianity (Catholic)

Feast of the Holy Family
December 31

Christianity

Watch Night
January, 2013
ٲٱ Faith Festival
January 1

Christianity (Catholic)

Mary, Mother of God
January 1

Christianity (Orthodox)

Feast of St Basil
January 1 Shinto Gantan-sai (New Years)
January 1

Christianity (Orthodox)

Holy Name of Jesus
January 5

Christianity

Twelfth Night
January 5 Sikhism Guru Gobindh Singh birthday
January 6

Christianity

Epiphany
January 6

Christianity (Orthodox)

Feast of the Theophany
January 6

Christianity

Dia de los Reyes
January 6

Christianity (Armenian Orthodox)

Nativity of Christ
January  7

Christianity (Orthodox)

Nativity of Christ **
January  7

Christianity (Orthodox)

Feast of the Nativity **
January 13

Christianity

Baptism of the Lord Jesus
January 13

Sikhism

Maghi
January 17

Christianity (Hispanic Catholic)

Blessing of the Animals
January 18-25

Christianity

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 19

Christianity (Ethiopian Orthodox)

Timkat
January 20

Baha'i

World Religion Day
January 24

Islam

Mawlid an Nabi * **
January 25

Christianity

Conversion of Saint Paul
January 26 Judaism Tu BiShvat *
January 27-30

Buddhism

Mahayana New Year **
February, 2013
ٲٱ Faith Festival
February 2

Christianity

Candlemas
February 2

Christianity (Anglican)

Presentation of Christ in the Temple
February 3 Interfaith Four Chaplains Sunday
February 3 Shinto Setsubun-sai
February 10

Christianity

Transfiguration Sunday
February 10

Buddhism, Confucian, Daoist

Chinese New Year
February 12

Christianity

Shrove Tuesday
February 13

Christianity

Ash Wednesday - Lent begins through March 23 
February 14

Buddhism

Nirvana Day **
February 14

Christianity

Valentine's Day
February 15 Hinduism Vasant Panchami **
February 15 Jainism Nirvana **
February 24 Judaism Purim *
February 24

Christianity (Orthodox)

Triodion begins
February 26-March 1 Baha'i Intercalary Days *
March, 2013
Date Faith Festival
March 2-20 Baha'i Nineteen Day Fast *
March 10

Christianity (Orthodox)

Meatfare Sunday
March 10

Christianity

Saint David of Wales
March 10

Hinduism

Maha Shivaratri
March 17

Christianity

St Patrick's Day
March 17

Christianity (Orthodox)

Cheesefare Sunday
March 18

Christianity (Orthodox)

Clean Monday - Lent begins
March 19

Christianity

Saint Joseph's Day
March 21 Baha'i Naw Ruz (New Year) *
March 21

Zoroastrian/Persian

Norouz (New Year)
March 23

Christianity (Orthodox)

Lazarus Saturday
March 24

Christianity (Orthodox)

Orthodox Sunday
March 24

Christianity

Palm Sunday
March 25

Christianity

Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin
March 26-27*

Judaism

Pesach (Passover) First two days *
March 26 Zoroastrian Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zaranhushtra)
March 27

Buddhism

Magha Puja Day **
March 27

Hinduism

Holi **
March 28

Christianity

Maundy Thursday
March 28

Sikhism

Hola Mohalla
March 28 Zoroastrian Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra **
March 29

Christianity

Good Friday
March 31

Christianity

Easter
April, 2013
Date Faith Festival
April 2 Judaism Pesach (Last two days*)
April 7 Judaism Yom HaShoah*
April 11 Hindusim Hindu New Year **  
April 11-20 Hindusim Ramayana*
April 14 Sikhism Baisakhi - New Year
April 15 Judaism Yom Ha'Atzmaut*
April 20 Hindusim Ramanavani**
April 21 Baha'i First Day of Ridvan*
April 23 Christianity St. George Day
April 25

Hindusim

Hanuman Jayanti **
April 25 Jain Mahavir Jayanti**

April 25-28

Buddhism Therevadin New Year**
April 28 Judaism Lag B'Omer*
April 29 Baha'i Ninth Day of Ridvan*
May, 2013
Date Faith Festival
May 2

Baha'i

Twelfth Day of Ridvan*
May 3 Christanity (Orthodox) Holy Friday
May 5 Christanity (Orthodox) Easter/Pascha
May 9 Christanity Ascension Day
May 15-16

Judaism

Shavuot *
May 19

Christanity

Pentecost (Whit Sunday)
May 23

Baha'i

Declaration of the Bab *
May 25 Buddhism Visakha Puja - Buddha Day **
May 26

Christanity

Trinity Sunday
May 29

Baha'i

Ascension of Baha'u'llah *
May 30

Christanity

Corpus Christi
June, 2013
Date Faith Festival
June 5 Islam Lailat al Miraj * **
June 7 Christianity (Catholic) Sacred Heart of Jesus
June 13

Christanity (Orthodox)

Ascension of Jesus
June 16 Sikhism Guru Arjan Dev martyrdom
June 19

Christanity (Swedenborgian)

New Church Day
June 23 Islam Lailat al Bara'ah * **
June 23

Christanity (Orthodox)

Pentecost
June 24 Islam Lailat al Bara'ah *
June 29

Christanity

Saints Peter and Paul
June 30

Christanity (Orthodox)

All Saints