January
Christianity.
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God: 1 January
- Feast of the Circumcision: 1 January
- Saint Basil‘s Day: 1 January– In Greece, traditionally he is the Father Christmas
- Twelfth Night(Epiphany Eve): 5 January
- Epiphany: 6 January– the arrival of the Three Magi.
- Armenian ApostolicChristmas: 6 January
- OrthodoxChristmas: 7 January – in churches using dates corresponding to the old Julian calendar, 7 January is equivalent to 25 December in the Gregorian calendar
Judaism
Secular
- New Year’s Day: 1 January– First day of the Gregorian Year.
- Old New Year: 14 January: New Year’s Day according to the “old” Julian calendar. Includes a winter ritual of strolling and singing that was later incorporated into the Christmas carol
Punjabi
- Lohri: 13 January
Telugu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra
- Makar Sankranti: 14 January
Tamil
- Pongal: 14 January
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
- Groundhog Day: 2 February
- Darwin Day: 12 February
- Valentine’s Day: 14 February
March
Paganism
- Ostara, Spring equinox: 21 March
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
- International Women’s Day: 8 March
- World Kidney Day: second Thursday of March
Secular and multiple religions
- Nowruz, Persian: (نوروز) : spring equinox(on or near 21 March) – originally the Iranian New Year, celebrated as a secular holiday in Iran and many neighboring countries and as a religious holiday by Alawites, Alevis, Baha’is, Bektashis, Zoroastrians, and most Shi’a Muslims.
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
- April Fools’ Day: 1 April
- Autism Day: 2 April
- Earth Day: 22 April
- Anzac Day: 25 April
Christianity
- Easter: typically in April, but sometimes in March or May, see “movable”
- Good Friday: the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, see “movable”
Hinduism
- Rama Navami: birth of the god Rama
- Hanuman Jayanti: typically a week after Rama Navami, in honour of the birth of Hanuman
- Gangaur: occurring in April, in honour of the victory of Goddess Mahagauri
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
- International Workers’ Day/Labor Day: 1 May
- Star Wars Day: May the 4th
- Cinco de Mayo“May 5”
- Matariki: The “Maori new year” festival running between a week and month from late May, celebrated by kite flying and a range of artistic activities.
- Mother’s Day
- Yom HaZikaron & Yom HaAtzmaut
June
- Inti Raymi: late June– festival of the Sun in Quechua, winter solstice festival in areas of the former Inca Empire, still celebrated every June in Cusco.
- We Tripantu
Judaism
- Shavuot. See “movable”.
Hinduism
- Ratha Yatra: procession of Vishnu
Islam
- EID UL FITR(5 June 2019)
Secular
- World Environment Day: 5 June
- World Humanist Day: 21 June
July
- Yulefest/Midwinter Christmas: late June or July– Australian New Zealand winter ‘Christmas/Yuletide’
Hinduism
- Guru Purnima: a reverential day in honour of all teachers and instructors.
- Devshayani Ekadashi: solemnity of the repose of Vishnu, coincides with the first day of the highly inauspicious Chaturmas
August
Christianity
- Assumption of Mary: 15 August
- Saint Bartholomew’s Day: 24 August
Judaism
Hinduism
- Raksha Bandhan: a festival commemorating filial love.
- Krishna Janmashtami: birth anniversary of Krishna.
- Onam: a festival of Kerala, India.
Islam
- Eid al-Adha: 11 August 2019
Secular
- International Friendship Day: 2 August
- International Lefthanders Day: 13 August
September
Judaism
- Rosh Hashanah: usually September, sometimes early October
- Yom Kippur: late September, early October
- Sukkot: sometimes late September, usually October
Secular
- Labor Day/Labour Day: first Monday of September (US/Canada)
- International Talk Like a Pirate Day: 19 September
- International Day of Peace: 21 September
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
- Navratri: celebrates the conquest of Goddess Durga
- Gandhi Jayanti: an indoctrinated festival; the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, falls on 2 October.
- Diwali: mid-October–mid-November– see “movable”
- Kartik Purnima: An additional commemoration of the Celestial Diwali, or the “Diwali of the Gods”; hence the Sanskrit appellation “Dev Diwali”, in honour of Vishnu, Kartikeyaand Goddess Ganga.
Paganism
- Samhain: 31 October–1 November– first day of winter in the Celtic calendar (and Celtic New Year’s Day)
Secular
- Columbus Day: October 12or the second Monday in October
- Indigenous People’s Day: the second Monday in October
November
Christianity
- All Saints Day: 1 November– in Western Christian churches
- Nativity Fast: forty days leading to Christmas– also St Philip’s fast, Christmas fast, or winter lent or fast (Eastern Christianity).
Secular
- Thanksgiving: fourth Thursday of November (US); second Monday of October (CAN)[2]
- Calan Gaeaf: 1 November– the first day of winter in Wales
- Guy Fawkes Night: 5 November– celebrated in the UK commemorating the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot
- Armistice Day(also (Remembrance Day or Veterans Day): 11 November: memorial day honoring the war dead
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
- International Day of Disabled Persons: 3rd of December
- Boxing Day: 26 December.
- Human Rights Day: 10 December
- Dongzhi Festival– a celebration of Winter
- Hogmanay: night of 31 December–before dawn of 1 January– Scottish New Year’s Eve celebration
- Newtonmas: 25 December – As an alternative to celebrating the religious holiday Christmas, some atheists and skeptics have chosen to celebrate 25 December as Newtonmas, due to it being Isaac Newton’s birthday on the old style
- Kwanzaa: 26 December–1 January– Pan-African festival celebrated in the US
- New Year’s Eve: 31 December– last day of the Gregorian year
- Soyal: 21 December– Zuni and Hopi
- Solstice: On or about 21 December.
- Zamenhof Day: 15 December– Birthday of Ludwig Zamenhof, inventor of Esperanto; holiday reunion for Esperantists
- Watch Night: 31 December
Salgirah: 13 December – celebration of Shia Ismaili Muslims of their Imam (Aga Khan IV)