Welcome to TIO’s Religious Calendar

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december - january

December 2023

Sunday, December 3

• Advent – Christianity [Ends December 24]
  A Zoroastrian and Iranian festival celebrated to honor the yazata Mithra, which is responsible for friendship, affection and love.

Wednesday, December 6

• Saint Nicholas Day – Christianity

  Also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas, this holiday is observed on December 5th or 6th in Western Christian countries, and on December 19th in Eastern Christian countries using the old church Calendar. It is the feast day of Saint Nicholas of Myra, celebrated with particular regard to Saint Nicholas' reputation as a bringer of gifts.

Thursday, December 7

• Chanukah (Hanukka) begins [through December 15] – Judaism
  The Jewish Festival of Lights commemorates the Maccabean victory over Syrian-Greek oppressors and the recapture and re-dedication of the Jerusalem Temple in 165 B.C.E. Special readings and praise songs focus on liberty and freedom. The eight-candle Menorah is lit at sundown, and gifts are given.

Friday, December 8

• Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) – Buddhism
  Celebration of the time when Prince Gautama (also later known as Shakyamuni Buddha) took his place under the Bodhi tree, vowing to remain there until he attained supreme enlightenment.

• Feast of the Immaculate Conception – Catholic Christianity
  A Roman Catholic holiday celebrating the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin for her entire life.  

Tuesday, December 12

• Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe – Catholic Christianity
  Commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531 C.E. Juan Diego, a native American living during the Spanish conquest of Mexico, saw a vision of the Virgin Mary. He was told to build a church in her honor exactly where he stood, and in that spot the Basilica of Guadalupe was erected. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world travel to that church every year and venerate the icon of the Virgin that is there, imprinted on Diego's cloak; it is believed that Our Lady of Guadalupe can intercede with God so that faithful believers' prayers can be answered, and miracles can occur. She is also the patron saint of Mexico.

• Masá’il – Bahá’í
  The beginning of the fifteenth month of the Bahá’í year; its name means “questions.”

Saturday, December 16

• Posadas Navideñas begins [through December 25] – Christianity (Western churches)
  A Latino/Latina Christian feast of the Lodgings, commemorating the journey of Mary and Joseph toward Bethlehem in preparation for the birth of Jesus.

• Simbáng Gabi begins [through December 24] – Christianity (Roman Catholic and Philippine Independent churches)
  A nine-day series of night Masses observed by Filipino/Filipina Roman Catholics and members of the Philippine Independent Church in anticipation of Christmas and in honor of the Virgin Mary.

• Dhanu Sankranti – Hinduism
  "Dhanu Sankranti is a holiday celebrated in Indian mythology. The celebration of this holiday occurs when the sun crosses over to the zodiac sign Sagittarius. In Indian mythology, Sagittarius is also known as the Dhanu Rashi. In a Hindu calendar year, the sun crosses over to different zodiac signs a total of twelve times. This phenomenon is called Sankrati. This means that there are twelve Sankratis in a Hindu calendar year." --Elisa Meyer

Thursday, December 21

• Winter Feast – Native American spirituality
  A time when Native Americans of the Woodland tribes share food with the spirits of winter.

• Yaldā – Zoroastrianism
  The “night of birth” which marks the longest night of the year, after which days begin getting longer—thus symbolizing the victory of light and goodness over dark and evil. This festival is celebrated with storytelling, poetic readings, family reunions, and feasting.

• Yule – Wicca  [through January 1]
  A celebration symbolizing the rebirth of the sun by the Goddess. A present-day Wicca event that ritually marks the shedding of the dross of the past year and contemplating one’s future spiritual development.

• Tohji-Taisai [Grand Ceremony of the Winter Solstice] – Shintō
  This day marks the end of the sun’s decline (the yin period) and the beginning of its growth (the yang period). In Japanese spirituality, the sun is expressive of Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and guiding spirit of the Japanese people.

Friday, December 22

• Tohji-Taisai – Shintō
  With the Sun being of great importance in Japan, this celebrates the end of the Yin period of the Sun as it begins to decline in strength while the Yang period increases in power.

Saturday, December 23

• Birthday of the Prophet Joseph Smith – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  Commemorating the birth of Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1805 C.E. in Vermont. He translated what became known as the Book of Mormon and became the first president of the LDS Church when it was founded in 1830 in Fayette, New York.

Sunday, December 24

• Christmas Eve – Christianity (Western and Eastern churches)
  Celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. It is observed with worship, carols, candle lighting, manger scenes and festive meals.

Monday, December 25

• Christmas Day/Feast of the Nativity – Christianity (Western and Eastern churches)
  Celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, observed by prayers, exchanging of gifts, and family parties.

Tuesday, December 26

• Kwanzaa begins – African American heritage [through January 1]
  A seven-day festival that celebrates values highly regarded by people of African American ancestry. The values include umoja (unity), kujichagulia (self-determination), ujima (collective work and responsibility), ujamaa (cooperative economics), nia (purpose), kuumba (creativity), and imani (faith). Each of these principles, collectively known as the Nguzo Saba, is represented by a red or green candle, each of which is lit on successive days using a central black candle.

• Synaxis (Sobor) of the Theotokos – Christianity (Eastern churches)
  According to Eastern Orthodox Christians, this feast day is perhaps the most ancient celebration of Mary in the Christian tradition. It commemorates Mary as the human being through whom Jesus’ incarnation as the human Son of God was made possible. The terms “synaxis” and “sobor” refer to a liturgical gathering and often indicate special occasions for divine worship.

• Zaratosht Diso [Anniversary of the death of the prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster)] – Zoroastrianism
  Estimates of when he lived vary from the sixth to the second millenium B.C.E., but this date memorializes the death of the prophet Zoroaster, whose hymns (gathas) are preserved in the Zoroastrian scriptures.

• St. Stephen’s Day – Christianity (Eastern churches)
  Remembrance of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Thursday, December 28

• Holy Innocents’ Day – Christianity
  A day of solemn memory for the male children of Bethlehem killed by King Herod in an attempt to destroy Jesus.  

Sunday, December 31

• Ghambar Maidyarem – Zoroastrianism [through January 4]
  A celebration for the creation of animals, and a time for the equitable sharing of food with others.

• Sharaf – Bahá’í
  The beginning of the sixteenth month of the Bahá’í year; its name means “honor.”

• Watch Day – Christian
  A celebration where Christians to review the year that’s getting ready to pass, confess their sins, and offer prayers for the New Year. This is holiday goes all the way back to Biblical times and is observed by millions of Christians around the world.

January 2024

Monday, January 1

• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Catholic Christian
  This holy day falls exactly one week after Christmas, the end of the octave of Christmas. It is a celebration of Mary’s faith in God and willingness to become the mother of Jesus. The feast was introduced near the end of that century; it is the oldest Marian feast in the Roman liturgical calendar.

• Feast Day of St. Basil – Orthodox Christian
  St. Basil is considered one of the giants of the early Church. He was responsible for the victory of Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East. The feast day of St Basil is celebrated on the 2nd of January in the Roman Catholic church and on January 1st in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

• Shogatsu/Gantan-sai – Shintō
  Shogatsu (New Year) is one of the most important holidays in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1st - 3rd, and families typically gather to spend the days together. It is a tradition to visit a shrine or temple during Shogatsu

• Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus – Orthodox Christian
  The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. The feast day has been held on different dates, but is now usually on January 1st, eight days after Christmas. It commemorates the naming of the child Jesus as recounted in the Gospel.

Friday, January 5

• Twelfth Night – Christianity
  Twelfth Night is a Christian festival on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, marking the coming of the Epiphany. A superstition in some English-speaking countries suggests it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night.

Saturday, January 6

• Dia de los Reyes – Christianity
  Three Kings Day, or Dia de los Reyes, is the version of Epiphany celebrated in Mexico.

• Feast of the Epiphany – Christianity
  Epiphany goes by various names in different cultures. Little Christmas, Three Kings Day, or Twelfth Night all remain the official end of the season's "Twelve Days of Christmas" --counting from Christmas evening on December 25 to the Ephiphany on January 6.

Sunday, January 7

• Feast of the Nativity – Eastern Orthodox Christian
  Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate their Christmas on January 7. They typically call this day the Feast of the Nativity. The reason Eastern churches celebrate the Feast of the Nativity on January 7, is because they still follow the Julian calendar.

• All Souls Day

Monday, January 8

• Seijin-no-hi – Shintō
  Coming-of-Age Day, a Japanese national holiday in which families travel to shrines and announce to the gods that their children have reached adulthood. Prayers are offered for the children’s wellbeing and lifelong health.

Saturday, January 13

• Lohri – Hinduism
  Lohri marks the end of the winter solstice and the northwards movement of the Sun. This festival falls a day after Makar Sankranti, and from this day; nights become shorter, and the day gets longer. Basically, Lohri is all about welcoming the warmer days which is symbolised by the bonfire. Many people, especially farmers, begin to harvest the crop from this day.

Monday, January 15

• Makar Sankranti – Hinduism
  A festival marking the end of winter solstice and transition of the sun from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. People celebrate Sun's transitition from Dhanu rashi to the Makara rashi (zodiac sign Capricorn), by paying their respects to the Sun God and offering prayers for a good harvest season.

Thursday, January 18

• Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Christian [through January 25]
  The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity.

• Bodhi Day – Buddhism
  Bodhi Day celebrates the day the “Historic Buddha”, aka Siddhartha Gautama, Sakyamuni Buddha, achieved enlightenment. There are really two Bodhi Days each year. The “Secular” Bodhi Day, celebrated on a fixed date in much of the Western World and Japan, is December 8. The other Bodhi Day is based on the lunar calendar so, like Easter, the date changes year to year.

Friday, January 19

• Sultán – Bahá’í
  The first day of Sultán (Sovereignty), the seventeenth month of the Bahá’í year.

Sunday, January 21

• World Religion Day – Bahá’í
  A celebration of the teachings of unity found in all religious traditions.  The observance begins at sundown.

Wednesday, January 24

• Tu B’Shevat – Judaism [through January 25]
  Tu Bi’Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.

Thursday, January 25

• Mahāyāna New Year – Buddhism

  This celebration falls on the first full moon day in January for Buddhists who practice in the Mahāyāna (Great Vehicle) stream. By contrast, in Theravadin countries (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos) the new year is celebrated in April, while Tibetan Buddhists generally celebrate it in March.

Tuesday, January 30

• Jashne Sadeh – Zoroastrianism

  A celebration of the discovery of fire by King Hashang of the Peshdadian dynasty; it is a festival in which a large bonfire is built as an act of defiance to drive back the winter.

Wednesday, January 31

• Birth of Gurū Har Rai – Sikhism
  A celebration of the birth of the seventh of the Sikh gurūs [1630 – 1661 C.E.], according to the Nanakshahi calendar

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