Quick Facts Summary: A Sikh festival celebrating the birth of the founder of the faith Guru Nanak 2020 Date: 30th November Celebrated by: Sikhs, Nanakpanthis, parts of India (as a National Holiday) Linked Holidays: Gurpurab festivals, Vaisakhi (Sikhism) Background and Theological Significance Guru Nanak Gurpurab, also known as Guru Nanak Jayanti and Guru Nanak’s Prakash […]
Diwali: Festival of Light
Quick Facts Summary: a five-day ‘festival of lights’ celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists 2020 Date: 14th November (regional variations) and two days either side Celebrated 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) […]
Hallowtide: Facing Death
Quick Facts Summary: a three-day Christian commemoration of the saints and all the faithful departed. 2020 Date: 31st October, 1st November, 2nd November Celebrated by: Western Christians, Western Culture Linked 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 […]
Hungry Ghost Festival: Ancestors of Community
Quick Facts Summary: A festival month in East Asia in which people leave food and offerings for ancestors and others who have are suffering in the afterlife. 2020 Date: September 2nd. The Seventh month of the East Asian Lunar Calendar. Celebrated by: Buddhists, Taoists, Chinese and East Asian societies. Linked Holidays: Sweeping Tomb Festival, Phi […]
Vassa and Kathina: Retreat From the World
Quick Facts Summary: Vassa is an annual three-month retreat undertaken by Buddhist monks, whilst Kathina is a festival of celebration that occurs immediately after it 2020 Date: 6th July – 1st October (Vassa); 2nd October – 20th September 2021 (Kathina) Celebrated by: Theravada Buddhists Linked Holidays: Asalha Puja (Buddhism), Lent (Christianity) Background and Theological Significance […]
The Martyrdom of the Bab: Integrity of Faith
Quick Facts Summary: a Baha’i commemoration of the execution of the Báb 2020 Date: 8th July Celebrated by: Baha’i Faith, Bábism Linked Holidays: Birth of the Báb, Declaration of the Báb (Baha’i Faith) Background and Theological Significance The Martyrdom of the Báb is the annual commemoration in the Baha’i Faith of the execution of the […]
Feast of SS Peter and Paul
Quick Facts Summary: a Christian feast day commemorating the martyrdom of St Peter and St Paul 2020 Date: 29th June Celebrated by: Christians (especially Roman Catholics), the City of Rome Linked Holidays: Feast days of the Twelve Apostles Background and Theological Significance The Feast of SS Peter and Paul is an annual celebration in the […]
Ratha Yatra (Puri): An Unstoppable Juggernaut
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Hindu Chariot procession, specifically the procession of Lord Jaganath, his elder brother and younger sister, to Lord Jaganath’s birthplace and the temple of their Aunt in Puri in the Indian state of Odisha 2019 Date: July 4th, date varies Celebrated by: Hindus, Indians especially in the East of the subcontinent. […]