Ethnic and Religious Holidays

Following is a list of ethnic and religious holidays celebrated throughout our eight-county jurisdiction. If you know of a cause for celebration not listed here, please e-mail sbarnes@gswcf.org.

January
Emancipation Day (African-American, United States)
Japanese New Year (Japan)
Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday (Sikh)
Epiphany (Christian)
Three Kings’ Day (Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic)
Al Hijra – Muslim New Year
Lohri (Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh)
Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)
World Religion Day (Baha’i)
Tu b’Shvat or Tu B’Shevat* (Jewish, Israel)
India Republic Day

February
Black History Month (African-American)
Carnival (Brazil)
Mardi Gras (United States)
Constitution Day (Mexico)
Ash Wednesday (Protestant, Roman Catholic)
Chinese Lunar New Year (China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam)
Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnam)
National Foundation Day (Japan)
Lantern Festival (Taiwan)
Race Relations Day
Flag Day (Mexico)

March
Greek-American Heritage Month
Irish-American Heritage Month
The Doll Festival (Japan)
World Day of Prayer
Palm Sunday (Protestant, Roman Catholic)
St. Patrick’s Day(Ireland, United States)
Naw Ruz (Baha’i, Persia)
New Year’s Day (India)
Purim (Jewish)
Easter (Protestant, Roman Catholic)
Feast of Annunciation (Christian)

April
Organization of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Vesak – Buddha’s Birth (Buddhist)
Sinhala and Tamil New Year (Sri Lanka)
Passover *begins at sundown (Jewish)
Easter (Orthodox) or Pascha

May
Asian Pacific American History Month
Jewish-American Heritage Month
Ascension Day (Christian)
Beltane (Celtic)
National Day of Prayer (United States)
Yom Hashoah/Holocaust Memorial Day (Jewish)
Cinco de Mayo (Mexico)
Victory Day (Russia)
Isreal’s Independence Day (Yom Ha’Atzma’Ut)
Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)

June
Shavuot *begins at sundown (Jewish)
Martyrdom Day of Guru Arjan (Sikh)

July
Canada Day (Canada)
Fil-American Friendship Day (Phillippines, United States)
Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
Pioneer Day (Mormon)
Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola (Spain, Roman Catholic)

August
Bon Festival/Feast of Lanterns (Japan)
Tisha B’av* (Jewish)
Pakistan’s Independence Day
India’s Independence Day
Liberation Day (Korea, South Korea)

September
National Hispanic Heritage Month (Mexico)
Israel Miraji Ascent of Prophet Muhammad
Ramadan (Islamic, Muslim, Moslem)
Mexico’s Independence Day
San Gennaro Day (Italian-American)
Autumnal Equinox (Japan)
Lailat-Ul-Quadr (Islamic, Muslim)
Rosh Hashanah* (Jewish New Year)

October
German-American Heritage Month
National Italian-American Heritage Month
Polish-American Heritage Month
Eid-Al-Fitr (Islamic, Muslim)
Yom Kippur* (Jewish)
Sukkot* (Jewish)
Cirio de Nazare (Brazil)
Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
Simchat Torah (Jewish)
Diwali (Buddhist, Hindu)
Reformation Day (Christian)
Halloween

November
National American Indian Heritage Month
All Saints’ Day (Christian, Roman Catholic)
Dia de los Muertos (Mexico, Latin America)
All Souls’ Day (Roman Catholic)
Birthday of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)

December
St. Nicholas Day (International)
Bodhi Day – Buddha’s Enlightenment (Buddhist)
Eid al-adha (Islamic, Muslim)
Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)
Santa Lucia Day (Sweden)
Las Posadas (Mexico)
Hanukkah* (Jewish)
Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, International)
Boxing Day (Canada, United Kingdom)
Kwanzaa (African-American)

*Holy days usually begin at sundown the day before this date.