Religious Observances

Marks the beginning of the Christmas season and honours the memory of St. Lucia, an early Christian martyr.

Observed for eight days in honour of the historic victory of the Maccabbees against religious oppression

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Las Posadas in Mexico.

Celebrate the harmony and joy of Go Caroling Day on December 20th, uniting communities with festive songs and holiday spirit.

Christmas Eve marks the culmination of the Advent period before Christmas that started on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Eve.

Christmas is one of the most popular holidays in the world and marks the birth of Jesus Christ.

The Feast of Saint John the Evangelist's Day and Apostle.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Holy Innocents Day

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Asarah B'Tevet.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of St. Sylvester's Day.

On January 1 the Greek Orthodox church commemorates Saint Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia.

A major Christian celebration, Epiphany is celebrated on January 6th and commemorates the presentation of the infant Jesus to the Magi, or three wise men.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of National Religious Freedom Day

Find out the dates, history and traditions of World Religion Day.

In the Orthodox tradition, Epiphany is the day that Jesus was baptised

This feast day for a 3rd century saint is also known as Students Day in Russia and Ukraine.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of National Bible Day

Find out the dates, history and traditions of World Hijab Day.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Candlemas.

A Jewish festival called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally 'New Year of the Trees'.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Fastelavn

Marks the beginning of lent. Marking the forehead with ash represents regret for past sins.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during the month of Ramadan that Muslims fast.

Great Lent marks the start of the Easter cycle in the Orthodox Christian Church

Originally a harvest and fertility festival, Holi also commemorates a legend from Hindu Mythology

Purim remembers the deliverance of the Jewish people from a plot to destroy them as recorded in the Book of Esther.

The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.

Also known as Holy Thursday, Maundy Thursday commemorates the last supper and established the ceremony known as the Eucharist.

Passover (Pesach), is an eight day Jewish holiday that remembers the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt

Good Friday occurs on the Friday before Easter. The day commemorates the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Lazarus Saturday.

Easter Sunday is the most important date in the Christian church. In the bible, it is the day when Mary Magdalene found that an empty tomb in the cave in which Jesus had been placed.

Easter is the most significant religious holiday for the world's roughly 300 million Orthodox Christians. In the bible, it is the day when Mary Magdalene found that an empty tomb in the cave in which Jesus has been placed after his crucifixion.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Lag BaOmer.

Each year since 1957, the president has signed a proclamation encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

Find out the dates, history and traditions of Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon 

This day observes the departure of Jesus from earth after his resurrection. It is perhaps the earliest observed celebration in Christianity.

Shavuot is one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. Also known as the Feast of Weeks

Celebrates the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the seventh Sunday after Easter

Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice is the most important feast in the Muslim calendar. It celebrates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael in submission to Allah's command, before he was stopped by Allah.

Corpus Christi is celebrated on the second Thursday after Whitsun. Corpus Christi means the Body of Christ and refers to the elements of the Eucharist