Quick Facts Summary: a five-day ‘festival of lights’ celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists2018 Date: 6th or 7th November (regional variations) and two days either sideCelebrated by: Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Indians Linked Holidays: Tihar and Swanti (Nepalese variations of Diwali), Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikhism), Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism), Galungan (Balinese Hinduism), Kali Puja (Hinduism)Background […]
Quick Facts Summary: a three-day Christian commemoration of the saints and all the faithful departed.2018 Date: 31st October, 1st November, 2nd NovemberCelebrated by: Western Christians, Western CultureLinked Holidays: Hallowe’en (Western), Samhain (Pagan)Background and Theological Significance Hallowtide, also called Allhallowtide or the Hallowmas season, is a triduum (three day observance) in the liturgical year of the […]
Quick Facts Summary: a nine-night Hindu festival that celebrates the goddess Durga and the triumph of good over evil2018 Date: 10th – 19th October (ten days inclusive)Celebrated by: HindusLinked Holidays: Vijayadashami/ Dussehra, Durga Puja (Hinduism)Background and Theological Significance Navaratri (from the Sanskrit, नवरात्रि, meaning ‘nine nights’) is a Hindu festival that occurs annually in the […]
Quick Facts Summary: a Christian feast day commemorating the beloved saint and religious founder St Francis of Assisi 2018 Date: 4th OctoberCelebrated by: Christians (predominantly Roman Catholics, Anglicans and some Protestants), animal rights activists, many other individualsLinked Holidays: World Animal Day (international), feast days of Christian saintsBackground and Theological Significance The Feast of St Francis […]
Quick Facts Summary: a celebration of the discovery of the True Cross in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches2018 Date: 27th SeptemberCelebrated by: Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christians, Ethiopia and Eritrea (as a National Holiday)Linked Holidays: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Christianity)Background and Theological Significance Meskel (from the Ge’ez መስቀልmeaning ‘cross’) […]
Quick Facts Summary: a celebration of the autumnal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere and the vernal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere2018 Date: 23rd September (exact timing depends on location)Celebrated by: Numerous cultures worldwide, modern pagansLinked Holidays: March Equinox, Wiccan Wheel of the Year festivals, Harvest FestivalBackground and Theological Significance The September Equinox is the equinox […]
Quick Facts Summary: A Hindu festival that honours the god Ganesha2018 Date: 13th – 23rd September (eleven days inclusive)Celebrated by: Hindus, parts of India (as a National Holiday)Linked Holidays: Anant Chaturdashi, Ganesh Jayanti (Hinduism) Background and Theological Significance Ganesh Chaturthi (in Hindi, गणेश चतुर्थी) also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi, is an important celebration in the […]
Summary: The Jewish New Year celebration2018 Date: 9th – 11th September (sunset to sunset)Celebrated by: Jews, the State of IsraelLinked Holidays: Yom Kippur, Jewish High Holy DaysRosh Hashanah (in Hebrew, רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, meaning ‘the head of the year’) is the Jewish New Year festival that marks the beginning of the civil year. Rosh Hashanah is […]
