Harvard Divinity School

Harvard Divinity School
 
 

Religious and Spiritual Life

 

 

Multifaith Calendar

2007-08 Holy Days and Seasons: A Religious Holidays Calendar

Students entering Memorial Church for the Commencement worship serviceThis calendar is offered by the Religious and Spiritual Life staff as a resource to the Harvard Divinity School community. As we seek to increase our awareness of and respect for the growing religious diversity among us, we hope it will facilitate thoughtful planning of our schedules and activities by drawing attention to some of the holy days and seasons that members of our campus may be observing. Administrators and faculty members may find the calendar helpful as a reminder of the occasional religious observances that may result in student absences.

This calendar is not an exhaustive list either of religious traditions or of the holidays observed in those traditions. If we have not included a religious tradition or major religious holiday of significance to you, please notify the Religious and Spiritual Life staff so that it might be included in future editions of this calendar.

While we have made extensive efforts to verify the accuracy of the information included here, some inaccuracies may remain. Please bring to our attention any you notice. The dates of some holidays, particularly those that are calculated according to a lunar calendar and rely on sightings of the New Moon (e.g., Islamic holidays), vary according to region; other observances and dates (e.g., Buddhist holidays) vary greatly across cultures and strands of a tradition.

See below for acknowledgments and a key to abbreviations.

Holy Days and Seasons: 2007-2008

August | September | October | November | December | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December

August 2007

Glossary

Sun Dance (AI)

Green Corn Ceremony (or Stomp Dance) (AI)

Hopi Snake Dance (AI)

Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

2 Thu. Lammas/Lughnasa (W/P)

11 Sat. Laylat al-Isra'wa al Mi'raj (Is)

15 Wed. Assumption of Mary (C) (RC)

15 Wed. Falling Asleep of the Holy Mother of God (C) (O)

28 Tue. Laylat al-Bara'ah (Is)

September 2007

Glossary

Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

Jicarilla Apache Ghost Dance (AI)

4 Tue. Krishna Janmashtami (Hd)

8 Sat. Paryusana Festival (begins) (Ja)

12 Wed. Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown) (J)

12 Wed. Ghambar Paitishem (begins) (Z)

13 Thu. Rosh Hashanah (J)

13 Thu. Ramadan (begins) (Is)

15 Sat. Das Laxana Festival (begins) (Ja)

15 Sat. Paryusana Festival (ends) (Ja)

15 Sat. Samvatsari (Ja)

15 Sat. Ganesh Chaturthi (Hd)

16 Sun. Ghambar Paitishem (ends) (Z)

21 Fri. Yom Kippur (begins at sundown) (J)

22 Sat. Yom Kippur (J)

22 Sat. Das Laxana Festival (ends) (Ja)

23 Sun. Mabon (W/P)

26 Wed. Sukkot (begins at sundown) (J)

27 Thu. Sukkot (first day) (J)

28 Fri. Sukkot (second day) (J)

October 2007

Glossary

Cherokee Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

4 Thu. Simchat Torah (begins at sundown) (J)

5 Fri. Simchat Torah (J)

9 Tue. Laylat al-Qadr (Is)

12 Fri. Ghambar Ayathrem (begins) (Z)

13 Sat. Navaratri (Hd)

13 Sat. 'Id al-Fitr (Is)

16 Tue. Ghambar Ayathrem (ends) (Z)

19 Fri. Birth of the Bab (begins at sundown) (Bi)

20 Sat. Installation of Granth Sahib Ji as Guru (Sk)

20 Sat. Birth of the Bab (Bi)

21 Sun. Dusserah (Vijaya Dashami) (Hd)

31 Wed. Samhain (W/P)

31 Wed. Reformation Day (C, P)

November 2007

Glossary

1 Thu. All Saints Day (C)

2 Fri. All Souls Day (C, RC)

9 Fri. Diwali/Mahavir Nirvana (Ja)

9 Fri. Diwali (Dipavali) (Hd)

11 Sun. Birth of Baha'u'llah (begins at sundown) (Bi)

12 Mon. Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bi)

24 Sat. Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sk)

24 Sat. Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Ja)

25 Sun. Day of Covenant (begins at sundown) (Bi)

26 Mon. Day of Covenant (Bi)

27 Tue. Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha (begins at sundown) (Bi)

28 Wed. Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha (Bi)

December 2007

Glossary

Shalako Kachina Ceremony (AI)

2 Sun. Advent (first Sunday) (C)

4 Tue. Hanukkah (begins at sundown) (J)

5 Wed. Hanukkah (first day) (J)

8 Sat. Bodhi Day (Bd)

8 Sat. Immaculate Conception (C, RC, OC)

12 Wed. Hanukkah (last day) (J)

20 Thu. 'Id al-Adha (Is)

21 Fri. Yule (W/P)

25 Tue. Christmas (C) (O,P,RC)

26 Wed. Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Z)

31 Mon. Ghambar Maidyarem (begins) (Z

January 2008

Glossary

Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony (AI)

Hopi Holy Cycle (AI)

4 Fri. Ghambar Maidyarem (ends) (Z)

5 Sat. Guru Gobind Sing Ji's Birthday (Sk)

6 Sun. Epiphany (C)

6 Sun. Theophany (O)

10 Thu. First of Muharram (Is)

19 Sat. 'Ashura (Is)

February 2008

Glossary

February Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony (AI)

Hopi Holy Circle (AI)

2 Sat. Imbolc (W/P)

6 Wed. Ash Wednesday (C) (P,RC)

11 Mon. Vasant Panchami (Hd)

15 Fri. Nirvana Day (Bd)

March 2008

Glossary

March Eagle Dances (AI)

6 Thu. Mahashivaratri (Hd)

9 Sun. Sri Rama Krishna (Hd)

10 Mon. Lent (begins) (O)

16 Sun. Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem (begins) (Z)

20 Thu. Mawlid al-Nabi (Is)

20 Thu. Holy Thursday (C) (P,RC)

20 Thu. Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem (ends) (Z

20 Thu. Naw-Ruz (begins at sundown) (Bi)

20 Thu. Purim (begins at sundown) (J)

21 Fri. Good Friday (C) (P,RC)

21 Fri. Ostara (W/P)

21 Fri. Naw-Ruz (Bi)

21 Fri. Naw-Ruz (Z)

21 Fri. Purim (J)

22 Sat. Holi (Hd)

23 Sun. Easter (C) (P,RC)

26 Wed. Birthday of Prophet Zarathustra (Z)

April 2008

Glossary

Eagle Dances (AI)

6 Sun. Anniversary of the Founding of the Church (LDS)

14 Mon. Ramanavami (Hd)

14 Mon. Vaisakhi (Sk)

18 Fri. Mahavin Jayanti (Ja)

19 Sat. Passover (Pesach) (begins at sundown) (J)

20 Sun. Passover (first day) (J)

20 Sun. Ridvan (begins at sundown) (Bi)

21 Mon. Passover (second day) (J)

21 Mon. Ridvan (first day) (Bi)

25 Fri. Holy Friday (C) (O)

27 Sun. Passover (last day) (J)

27 Sun. Pascha (C) (O)

30 Wed. Ghambar Maidyozarem (begins) (Z)

May 2008

Glossary

Hopi Kachina Dances (AI)

1 Thu. Ascension (C)

1 Thu. Beltane (W/P)

2 Fri. Yom Hashoah (J)

2 Fri. Ridvan (last day) (Bi)

4 Sun. Ghamban Maidyozanem (ends) (Z)

6 Tue. Vaisakhi (Hd)

11 Sun. Pentecost (C)

20 Tue. Wesak (Bd)

22 Thu. Declaration of the Bab (begins at sundown) (Bi)

23 Fri. Declaration of the Bab (Bi)

28 Wed. Ascension of Baha'u'llah (begins at sundown) (Bi)

29 Thu. Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Bi)

June 2008

Glossary

Hopi Kachina Dances (AI)

5 Thu. Ascension (C) (O)

8 Sun. Shavuot (begins at sundown) (J)

9 Mon. Shavuot (first day) (J

10 Tue. Shavuot (second day) (J)

15 Sun. Pentecost (C) (O)

16 Mon. Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sk)

21 Sat. Litha (W /P)

27 Fri. Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum (LDS)

29 Sun. Ghambar Maidyoshem (begins) (Z)

July 2008

Glossary

Mescalero Apache Mountain Spirit Dances (AI

Sun Dance (AI)

Green Corn Ceremony (or Stomp Dance) (AI

Hopi Snake Dance (AI)

3 Thu. Ghambar Maidyoshem (ends) (Z)

8 Tue. Martyrdom of the Bab (begins at sundown) (Bi)

9 Wed. Martyrdom of the Bab (Bi)

18 Fri. Dharma Day (Bd)

24 Thu. Pioneer Day (LDS)

August 2008

Glossary

August Sun Dance (AI)

Green Corn Ceremony (or Stomp Dance) (AI

Hopi Snake Dance (AI)

Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

2 Sat. Lammas/Lughnasa (W/P)

15 Fri. Assumption of Mary (C) (RC)

15 Fri. Falling Asleep of the Holy Mother of God (C) (O)

18 Mon. Laylat al-Bara'ah (Is)

20 Wed. Das Laxana Festival (begins) (Ja)

27 Wed. Das Laxana Festival (ends) (Ja)

28 Thu. Krishna Janmashtami (Hd)

28 Thu. Paryusana Festival (begins) (Ja)

31 Sun. Laylat al-Isra'wa al-Mi'raj (Is)

September 2008

Glossary

September Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

Jicarilla Apache Ghost Dance (AI)

2 Tue. Ramadan (begins) (Is)

3 Wed. Ganesh Chaturthi (Hd)

5 Fri. Paryusana Festival (ends) (Ja

5 Fri. Samvatsari (Ja)

12 Fri. Ghambar Paitishem (begins) (Z)

16 Tue. Ghambar Paitishem (ends) (Z)

23 Tue. Mabon (W/P)

28 Sun. Laylat al-Qadr (Is)

29 Mon. Rosh Hashanah (begins at Sundown) (J)

30 Tue. Rosh Hashanah (first day) (J)

30 Tue. Navaratri (Hd)

October 2008

Glossary

October Cherokee Green Corn Ceremony (AI)

1 Wed. Rosh Hashanah (second day) (J)

2 Thu. Eid al-Fitr (Is)

8 Wed. Yom Kippur (begins at Sundown) (J)

9 Thu. Yom Kippur (J)

9 Thu. Dusserah (Vijaya Dashami) (Hd)

12 Sun. Ghambar Ayathrem (begins) (Z)

13 Mon. Sukkot (begins at sundown) (J)

14 Tue. Sukkot (first day) (J

15 Wed. Sukkot (second day) (J)

16 Thu. Ghambar Ayathrem (ends) (Z)

19 Sun. Birth of the Bab (begins at Sundown) (Bi)

20 Mon. Birth of the Bab (Bi)

20 Mon. Installation of Gnanth Sahib Ji as Guru (Sk)

21 Tue. Simchat Torah (begins at sundown) (J)

22 Wed. Simchat Torah (J)

28 Tue. Diwali/Mahavir Nirvana (Ja)

28 Tue. Diwali (Dipavali) (Hd)

31 Fri. Samhain (W/P)

31 Fri. Reformation Day (C, P)

November 2008

Glossary

1 Sat. All Saints Day (C)

2 Sun. All Souls (C) (RC)

11 Tue. Birth of Baha'u'llah (begins at sundown) (Bi)

12 Wed. Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bi)

13 Thu. Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sk)

24 Mon. Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sk)

25 Tue. Day of Covenant (begins at s undown) (Bi)

26 Wed. Day of Covenant (Bi)

27 Thu. Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha (begins at sundown) (Bi)

28 Fri. Ascension of' Abdu'l-Baha (Bi)

30 Sun. Advent (first Sunday) (C)

December 2008

Glossary

Shalako Kachina Ceremony (AI)

8 Mon. Bodhi Day (Bd)

8 Mon. Immaculate Conception (C,RC)

9 Tue. Eid al-Adha (Is)

21 Sun. Yule (W/P)

21 Sun. Hanukkah (begins at sundown) (J)

22 Mon. Hanukkah (first day) (J)

25 Thu. Christmas (C) (O,P,RC)

26 Fri. Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Z)

29 Mon. Hanukkah (last day) (J)

29 Mon. First of Muharram (Is)

Religious Traditions Key

  • AI American Indian/Indigenous North American
  • Bi Baha'i
  • Bd Buddhism
  • C Christianity
    • O Orthodox
    • P Protestant
    • RC Roman Catholic
  • Hd Hinduism
  • Is Islam
  • Ja Jain
  • J Judaism
  • LDS Latter Day Saints
  • Sk Sikhism
  • W/P Wicca/Pagan
  • Z Zoroastrianism

Acknowledgments

Some of the information herein is provided by The Multifaith Calendar (1986-2006), a publication of the Multifaith Action Society, 604.469.1164. Used with permission. Copies of The Multifaith Calendar can be purchased by calling Unity Arts, 800.465.3287, or by sending email to mfcalendar@pacificcoast.net. Additional thanks to the editors of the Interfaith Calendar; the Chicago and Illinois Regional Office of the National Conference for Community and Justice and their Interfaith Calendar; the Anti-Defamation League; Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary of Brookline, Massachusetts; Multifaith Resources, California; the New England Hindu Temple; the Baha'i Community of Greater Boston; the New York Office of the National Conference for Community and Justice; the National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.; James Yellowbank and the Anawim Center; and several scholars of religion, who provided information and advice.

 

 
 

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