G-Directorate Calendar
- 2024
- December 1: First Sunday of Advent (Christianity) – Season of expectant waiting and
preparation of the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.
December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) – Celebrates the solemn belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhist) – Commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma (Shakyamuni), attained enlightenment.
December 11: Srīmad Bhagavad Gītā Jayantī (Hindu) – Lord Krishna revealed the Bhagvad Gītā to Prince Arjuna while on the Kurukshetra battlefield.
December 12: Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Roman Catholic) – A feast day that commemorates when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatz in 1531.
December 21: Yule (Pagan/Wiccan) – Winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, time to meditate on cycle of life, death and rebirth.
December 25: Christmas (Christian) – Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 26: Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian) – Commemorates death of Zarathustra.
December 26- January 2*: Hanukkah (Jewish) – Festival of Lights commemorating rededication of Sec- ond Holy Temple in Jerusalem at time of Maccabean Revolt.
Spring 2025
January 1: Oshogatsu (Shinto) – Celebration of New Year, commemorated by going to shrine, thanking the kami (spirits), asking for good fortune and letting resolutions known in presence of kami.
January 6: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) – Birthday of tenth and last Guru.
January 6: Epiphany (Christian) – Feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ.
January 7: Christmas (Orthodox Christian) – Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in
Orthodox Churches.
January 13: Maghi (Sikh) – Commemorates the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte (the Pure Ones), who laid down their lives warding off an attack by an imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh.
January 14: Makara Sankranthi (Hindu) – Celebration of the Sun god.
January 27*: Lailat al Miraj (Islam) – Commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and given the instruction for Muslims to pray 5 times daily.
February 1: Imbolc (Pagan/Wiccan) – Marks the beginning of Spring.
February 2: Vasant Panchami (Hindu) – Holy day dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, patron Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology.
February 3: Setsubun (Shinto) – Marks the end of winter and beginning of Spring.
February 12: Sangha Day (Buddhist) – Also known as Magha Puja. Celebration in honor of the Buddhist community, especially regarding monastics.
February 13*: Tu B’shevat (Jewish) – New Year of the Trees.
February 15: Buddha’s Passing (Buddhist) – Also known as Nirvana Day. Mahayana festival commemo-rating the death of the Buddha at the age of 80 and his attainment of parinirvana.
February 25-28*: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í) – days of preparation for the Fast, marked by hospitality and charity to poor and sick.
February 26: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) – Celebration of the wedding night of Lord Shiva and his Consort Goddess Parvati.
February 28: Losar (Buddhism) – Tibetan New Year.
March 1- March 29*: Ramadan (Islam) – Month of fasting to commemorate first revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad.
March 1-19*: Nineteen Day Fast (Bahá’í) – Sunrise to sunset fast also marked with prayer to reinvigorate soul and bring closer to God. (Fasting)
March 2: Forgiveness Sunday (Orthodox Christian) – Last day before the start of Great Lent.
March 5: Ash Wednesday (Christian) – Day of fasting that commemorates first day of Lent.
March 14*: Purim (Jewish) – Commemorates the story of Esther.
March 14-15: Holi (Hindu) – Holiday associated with exuberant flinging of colored powders, celebrates the advent of spring and the enduring message that good will always be victorious over evil; light will al-ways overcome darkness.
March 14-16: Hola Mohalla (Sikh) – A festival initiated by Guru Gobind Singh, originally as a day of mock battles and poetry contests.
March 20*: Ostara (Pagan/Wiccan) – Celebrates Spring, also known as the vernal equinox.
March 21*: Nowruz (Bahá’í, Zoroastrian) - Marks the first day of Spring.
March 27: Lailat al Qadr (Islam) – Night of Power.
March 30*: Eid al-Fitr (Islam) – Marks the end of Ramadan, holy month of fasting.
April 6: Rama Navami (Hindu) – Celebration of birth of Prince Rama, avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya.
April 10: Mahavir Jayanthi (Jain) – Celebrates birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
April 12: Hanuman Jayantï (Hindu) – Celebration of birthday of Hanuman, foremost devotee of Sri Rama and Sita.
April13: Palm Sunday (Christian) – Feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
April 13-20*: Passover (Jewish) – Commemorates liberation of Israelites by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under leadership of Moses. (Work is prohibited on first and last two days)
April 14: Vaisakhi (Sikh) – Marks the establishment of the Khalsa (religious community of Sikhs) by Guru Gobind Singh.
April 17: Holy Thursday (Christian) – Commemorates the Maundy and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Washing of feet is a traditional component.
April 18: Good Friday (Christian) – Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.
April 20: Easter (Christian) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
April 20: Pascha (Orthodox Christianity) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
April 21-May 2*: Ridván (Bahá’í) – Twelve-day festival when founder Bahá’u’lláh declared his mission.
April 24*: Yom Ha’shoah (Jewish) – Holocaust Memorial Day.
May 1: Beltane (Wiccan/Pagan) – Honors life and fertility.
May 5: Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhist) – Holiday that commemorates the birth of the Buddha.
May 16*: Lag B’Omer (Jewish) – Celebrates anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, au-thor of the Zohar (text of Jewish mysticism).
May 23*: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) – Commemorates declaration of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh the founder of the Bahá’í Faith.
May 28*: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) – Anniversary of death of founder.
May 29: Ascension Day (Christianity) – Celebrates the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God.
June 2-3*: Shavuot (Jewish) – Festival commemorating giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. (Work
restrictions)
June 7*: Eid al-Adha (Islam) – Commemorates Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son to God.
June 8: Pentecost (Christian) – Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension.
June 20: Litha (Pagan/Wiccan) – Celebrates the Summer solstice.
July 6*: Ashura (Islam) – For Shias, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at Karbala.
July 9*: Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’í) – date the Báb was executed.