Welcome to TIO’s Religious Calendar
February - march 2026
For Native Americans, February marks the season of hunger and cleansing, when winter begins to loosen its grip and the people give thanks for endurance through the long cold. Among the Iroquois, the Midwinter Ceremony continues, bringing renewal as new fires are lit and dreams are shared. For many Plains and Woodland tribes, this is also the Moon of the Raccoon or Snow Moon, a time to honor the wisdom of animals and prepare for the Earth’s reawakening. It is a month of quiet prayer, purification, and hope for the returning light.
March marks Pooní, the Moon of Snow Blindness or Worm Moon, when the ground begins to soften and the first signs of renewal appear. It is the time when winter’s cold weakens, and the people prepare for planting and new beginnings. Thanksgiving ceremonies are held to honor the returning light, the flowing rivers, and the awakening Earth. Among the Plains and Woodland tribes, this is a season of cleansing, renewal, and gratitude for the balance between rest and rebirth.
february 2026
Sunday, February 1
World Hijab Day
Founded by Nazma Khan, this day aims to promote religious tolerance and understanding by inviting women (non-Hijabi Muslims/non-Muslims) to experience wearing the hijab for a day.
Imbolc (Feast of Torches or Lughnassad) [through February 2] – Pagan (Wiccan)
As inhabitants of this Earth, we are at the mercy of the seasons. From harvesting food to tending to livestock, the weather and hours of sunlight determine how and when we conduct ourselves to survive. And while modern practices such as greenhouses, factory farming and hydroponics create conditions less dependent on temperatures, the need to agriculturally align ourselves with the divisions of our calendar year remains necessary.
Maghi Purnima – Hinduism
Maghi Purnima in India, or Magha Purnima, is the day of the full moon that occurs in the Hindu calendar month of Magha. Many devotees worship the Moon, and some Hindis use this day to commemorate the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha.
Monday, February 2
Saint Brighid of Kildare – Christianity
Saint Brigid was born Brigit and shares a name with a Celtic goddess from whom many legends and folk customs are associated. There is much debate over her birthparents, but it is widely believed her mother was Brocca, a Christian baptized by Saint Patrick, and her father was Dubthach, a Leinster chieftain. Brocca was a slave, therefore Brigid was born into slavery.
Tuesday, February 3
Four Chaplains Sunday – Interfaith
A commemoration of four U.S. Army chaplains—Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Rev. George L. Fox, Fr. John P. Washington, and Rev. Clark V. Poling—who died while saving soldiers from drowning when their troop transport ship, the U.S.A.T. Dorchester, was torpedoed by a Nazi U-boat in 1943. The four chaplains are remembered for their courage and their spirit of interfaith collaboration in service to humanity.
Setsunbun-sai – Shintō
A family celebration of the end of winter; beans are thrown into rooms of a house for good luck, with the shout, “Devils out, Fortune in!”
Saint Blaise Day – Christianity
Saint Blaise is recognized as the saint of throat disease or 'The Blessing of the Throats' in the Roman Catholic Church. He is also the saint of wool combers and is considered one of the 'Holy Helpers' of which there are only fourteen. These helpers were called upon to help during the time of plague; in the hope they'd cure those that were ill.
Lailat al Bara'ah – Islam
Also known as Lailat Al Baraah, Barat, Shab-e-Bara or Night of Forgiveness, during this holy day Muslims seek forgiveness for sins. They spend the night in special prayers. It is regarded as one of the most sacred nights on the Islamic calendar.
Friday, February 6
Mulk – Bahá’í (through February 24)
Beginning of the eighteenth month of the Bahá’í year, the name “Mulk” means “dominion.”
Saturday, February 14
Valentine’s Day – Western Christianity
A celebration of love originally connected to the Roman Christian martyr who died in 269 C.E.
Sunday, February 15
Nirvana Day – Buddhism
In northern Buddhist traditions, this day marks the anniversary of the historical Buddha’s death in ca. 486 B.C.E. and his subsequent entrance into enlightenment or Nirvana. In southern Buddhist traditions, the Buddha’s death is commemorated during Visakha.
Maha Shivaratri – Hinduism
This festival marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life. As the waning moon transforms into the new moon, it is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, and forgiveness.
Tuesday, February 17
Birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva – Buddhism [Pure Land schools] Marking the birth of Maitreya, who will come at the end of time to renew the pristine Buddhist teachings.
Chinese / Vietnamese / Korean New Year – Buddhism / Confucianism / Taoism
The first day after the new moon is a religious and cultural festival for Korean, Vietnamese, and Chinese persons, marking the first day of the year. This year is the Year of the Fire Horse.
Mardi Gras – Christianity
Mardi Gras refers to events of the Carnival celebration, beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three Kings Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday, which is known as Shrove Tuesday. Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday,” reflecting the practice of the last night of eating rich, fatty foods before the ritual Lenten sacrifices and fasting of the Lenten season.
Ramadān begins [through March 19] – Islam
A holy month of fasting and prayer, in which all adult and physically competent Muslims abstain from food, water, and sexual relations from dawn to sunset. Ramadān ends on April 9th.
Wednesday, February 18
Ash Wednesday – Christianity (Western churches)
The beginning of Lent, a forty-day period (excluding Sundays) in which Christians pray, repent, fast and reflect on Jesus’ final journey to Jerusalem. It is a preparatory period for Holy Week and Easter; on this day, believers often receive an ashen cross on their foreheads to mark their repentance and mortality.
Thursday, February 19
Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti – Hinduism
A celebration of the birth of the teacher of Swami Vivekananda, who introduced Hinduism to the United States at the first Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893.
Sunday, February 22
Cheesefare Sunday [Forgiveness Sunday] – Christianity (Eastern churches)
This feast marks the last day of eating dairy products prior to Holy Pascha (also known as Easter). The Great Fast or Great Lent begins at sundown and is marked by forty days of vegetarian fasting, intense prayer, and almsgiving in preparation for Holy Week. The following day is known as Clean Monday.
Wednesday, February 25
Ayyám-i-Há [through March 1] – Bahá’í
Ayyam-i-Ha, or the Intercalary Days, is a period dedicated to socializing, being hospitable, giving generously to the poor and needy, and preparing for the upcoming month of fasting. Depending on the year, Ayyam-i-Ha will vary in its duration, and it is composed of the excess of days that fall outside of the 19 months of 19 days: the Badi Calendar.
March 2026
Sunday, March 1
Saint David of Wales Day – Christian
This day is a celebration of not only St. David, but also Wales as a whole. St. David was revered for his teachings, founded several monastic settlements and churches, and is believed to have performed miracles during his life. Traditional festivities include wearing daffodils and leeks, recognized symbols of Wales and Saint David, respectively, eating traditional Welsh food including cawl and Welsh rarebit, and women wearing traditional Welsh dress.
Monday, March 2
‘Alá – Bahá’í
The beginning of the nineteenth and final month, meaning “loftiness,” and also of a 19-day fast in preparation for Naw Rúz [through March 20]. Adult believers in good health abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk.
Purim [through March 3] – Judaism
Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/early spring). It is a celebration of the Jews’ rescue from an evil plot to destroy them while they were living in Persia, the events of which are recorded in the Hebrew biblical book of Esther. The holiday includes reading the Megillah (the scroll of Esther), exchanging gifts, and special pastries called hamantashen.
Tuesday, March 3
Lantern Festival – Taoism
This festival marks the end of the new year’s celebration in China, with the entrance of the first full moon. Children venture out to temples with paper lanterns, solving riddles written on the lanterns.
Wednesday, March 4
Hola Mohalla — Sikhism
"Hola Mohalla is a Sikh festival that takes place on the first of the lunar month of Chet. It follows Holi by one day; Hola is the masculine form of the feminine sounding Holi. In contrast to Holi, when people shower each other in colored powder Hola Mohalla is an occasion for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in simulated battles.
Saturday, March 14
Memorial of Shan-tao (Zendō) – Buddhism
Anniversary of the death of a Chinese Pure Land Buddhist priest who died in 681 C.E. He taught that enlightenment could occur simply through repetition of the name of Amitabha or Amida Buddha (nianfo or nembutsu), and is honored as the Fifth Patriarch of that Buddhist school.
Monday, March 16
Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem, Fravardegan, or Muktad [through March 2o] – Zoroastrianism
A celebration of the creation of human beings and a commemoration of souls who have died. Prayers are offered to the fravashis (the divine spark within each human, which lives forever), asking for their blessings and protection.
Tuesday, March 17
Saint Patrick’s Day – Christianity (Western churches)
A commemoration of the missionary bishop who evangelized Ireland in the fifth century C.E.
Thursday, March 19
Feast of Saint Joseph– Christian
Celebrated every year on March 19th, this is the principal feast day of Saint Joseph, husband of the Virgin Mary and earthly father of Jesus Christ. It has the rank of a solemnity in the Catholic Church. It is also the day Italy celebrates Father’s Day and when those with the name is Joseph or Josephine, celebrate their onomastico.
Friday, March 20
Ostara — Pagan
Ostara takes place on the Spring Equinox. In 2024, this is March 20th in the Northern hemisphere and September 21st in the Southern hemisphere. Ostara marks the moment in the wheel of the year where the balance between light and dark is restored. Pagan celebrations during this holiday have themes of balance, renewal, and rebirth.
Wednesday, March 25
Feast of the Annunciation – Christianity (Western and Eastern churches)
This festival marks the visit of the Archangel Gabriel to Mary of Nazareth and Mary’s faithful response to God’s plan by consenting to be Jesus’ mother.
Thursday, March 26
Rama Navami – Hinduism
Rama Navami is a Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and is observed on the ninth day of the Chaitra month, typically in March or April. It's a time for devotion, rituals, and remembering Rama's virtues and the triumph of good over evil. He is often held as an emblem within Hinduism for being an ideal king and human through his righteousness, good conduct, and virtue.
Sunday, March 29
Palm Sunday – Christian
Palm Sunday always occurs one week before Easter Sunday. However, the day of Easter depends upon the movement of the moon. Easter falls on the first Sunday after the Full Moon, occurring on or after March 21. If the Full Moon is on a Sunday, Easter is observed on the following Sunday.