January

Christianity.

Judaism

Secular

Punjabi

Telugu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra

Tamil

February

Christianity

  • Candlemas: 2 February– Feast of the Presentation of the Lord; 40 days after Christmas; end of Christmas/Epiphany Season

Historical

  • Lupercalia: 15 February– the Roman end-of-winter festival

Paganism

  • Imbolc: 1 February– first day of spring in the Celtic calendar

Secular

March

Paganism

Christianity

  • Saint David’s Day: 1 March– the fixed date to honour Saint David, patron saint of Wales, celebrated by Welshmen and women everywhere throughout the world
  • Saint Patrick’s Day: 17 March– the fixed date to honor Saint Patrick has sometimes been moved by Church if it coincides with Holy Week, but the secular world usually always celebrates it on 17 March

Judaism

Secular

Secular and multiple religions

Hinduism

  • Holi(Hindu holiday in honour of Lord Vishnu)
  • Dhulendi: 6 March
  • Ram Navami: 28th March– Birthday of Lord Rama is celebrated all over India. The epic Ramayana is recited in temples and homes.

April

Judaism

  • Passover: late March or in AprilSee “movable”

Secular

Christianity

  • Easter: typically in April, but sometimes in March or May, see “movable”
  • Good Friday: the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, see “movable”

Hinduism

South and Southeast Asian

  • Traditional New Year: 14 April(Usually between 12th-14th April. Date is reckoned based on sun’s entry into the constellation Aries)  – In many South and Southeast Asian cultures the festival is based on harvesting of crops and a new beginning marked by the sun’s entry into the constellation Aries.

May

Judaism

Paganism

  • May Day: 1 May– a traditional spring holiday in many cultures.

Secular

June

Judaism

Hinduism

Islam

  • EID UL FITR(5 June 2019)

Secular

July

Hinduism

August

Christianity

Judaism

Hinduism

Islam

Secular

September

Judaism

  • Rosh Hashanah: usually September, sometimes early October
  • Yom Kippur: late September, early October
  • Sukkot: sometimes late September, usually October

Secular

October

Christianity

  • All Hallows’ Eve(Halloween): 31 October – a Christian-titled holiday that is often celebrated with traditions originating from a mixture of secular and Celtic pagan influences.
  • Dia de los muertos(Day of the Dead): 31 October–2 November Celebrated in mostly catholic Mexico but with origins that predate European contact.

Judaism

Hinduism

Paganism

  • Samhain: 31 October–1 November– first day of winter in the Celtic calendar (and Celtic New Year’s Day)

Secular

November

Christianity

Secular

Hinduism

  • Diwali: mid-October–mid-November– see “movable”

December

Buddhism

  • Bodhi Day: 8 December– Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi).

Christianity

  • Advent: four Sundays preceding Christmas Day
  • Saint Barbara’s Day: 4 December– The Feast of St. Barbara is celebrated by Artillery regiments across the Commonwealth and some western Catholic
  • Krampusnacht: 5 December– The Feast of St. Nicholas is celebrated in parts of Europe on 6 December. In Alpine countries, Saint Nicholas has a devilish companion named Krampus who punishes the bad children the night before.
  • Saint Nicholas‘ Day: 6 December
  • Feast of the Immaculate ConceptionDay: 8 December – The day of Virgin Mary’s Immaculate Conception is celebrated as a public holiday in many Catholic countries.
  • Saint Lucia’s Day: 13 December– Church Feast Day. Saint Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.
  • Las Posadas: 16–24 December– procession to various family lodgings for celebration & prayer and to re-enact Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem[3]
  • Longest Night: A modern Christian service to help those coping with loss, usually held on the eve of the Winter solstice.
  • Nikoljdan:  December– the most common slava, St. Nicholas’s feast day.
  • Christmas Eve: 24 December– In many countries e.g. the German speaking countries, but also in Poland, Hungary and the Nordic countries, gift giving is on 24 December.
  • Christmas Day: 25 Decemberand 7 January – celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike.[4][5][6]
  • Anastasia of Sirmiumfeast day: 25 December
  • Twelve Days of Christmas: 25 December–6 January
  • Saint Stephen’s Day: 26 December– In Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic a holiday celebrated as Second Day of Christmas.
  • Saint John the Evangelist‘s Day: 27 December
  • Holy Innocents‘ Day: 28 December
  • Saint Sylvester‘s Day: 31 December

Hinduism

  • Pancha Ganapati: a modern five-day Hindu festival celebrated from 21 through 25 December in honor of Ganesha.

Historical

  • Malkh: 25 December
  • Mōdraniht: or Mothers’ Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival.
  • Saturnalia: 17–23 December– An ancient Roman winter solstice festival in honor of the deity Saturn, held on 17 December of the Julian calendar and expanded with festivities through to 23 December. Celebrated with sacrifice, a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival.
  • Dies Natalis Solis Invicti(Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): 25 December – late Roman Empire

Humanism

  • HumanLight: 23 December– Humanist holiday originated by the New Jersey Humanist Network in celebration of “a Humanist’s vision of a good future.”[7]

Judaism

  • Hanukkah: usually falls anywhere between late November and early January. See “movable”

Paganism

  • Yule: Paganwinter festival that was celebrated by the historical Germanic people from late December to early January.
  • Yalda: 21 December– The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means ‘birthday eve.’ According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on 22 December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning ‘night gazing’. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra.
  • Koliada: Slavicwinter festival celebrated on late December with parades and singers who visit houses and receive gifts.

Secular

Salgirah: 13 December – celebration of Shia Ismaili Muslims of their Imam (Aga Khan IV)