2005
June 3: Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival (U.S., Native America): A three-day festival that features nearly 2000 artists from over 100 tribes, nations, and bands and is designed to promote and preserve the rich tradition of Native American culture.
June 13: Shavuot (Jewish): Commemorates the revelation of the Ten Commandments, the foundation of Jewish Law, to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It is one of three Pilgrim Festivals (along with Passover and Sukkot) in the Jewish calendar.
June 19: Juneteenth (U.S., African American): A holiday that originated around the time of the Civil War. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation declared freedom for all slaves. Many Texas slave owners refused to tell their slaves this news and kept them in slavery until Union troops arrived in Houston in June 1865.
July 4: Independence Day (U.S.): Marks when the Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives of the 13 colonies in 1776. The U.S. proclaimed autonomy from England and formation of the United States of America.
July 14: Bastille Day (France): Commemorates the event that launched the French Revolution. The Bastille held political prisoners and became a symbol of oppression by the monarchy. On this date in 1789 the Bastille was stormed and prisoners freed.
July 19: Asalhapuja (Buddhist): Celebration of Buddha’s first sermon and the setting of the Wheel of Truth into the world.
July 24: Pioneer Day (Latter-Day Saints, Mormon): Honors the pioneers who came across the U.S. plains to Utah in 1847, led by Brigham Young, and commemorates the first settlement in the Salt Lake Valley.
August 15: Assumption of the Virgin Mary (Christian): Roman Catholic Christian observance commemorating the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.
August 27: Janmashtami (Hindu): A new moon festival during the month of Bhadrapada, celebrated with fasting in honor of the Hindu deity Lord Krishna.
August 31: Solidarity Day (Poland): Commemorates the formation, in 1980, of the first Polish labor union, Solidarnosc (solidarity), at the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk. Solidarity was granted legal status on April 17, 1789, clearing the way for the downfall of the Polish Communist Party.
September 1: Shab-e-Miraj (Islamic, Muslim): Commemorates the Ascension of Muhammad, the holy prophet of Islam. Begins at sundown the previous day.
September 28: Confucius’s Birthday (China, Taiwan): Commemorates the birth in 551 B.C.E. of the teacher Confucius, who was one of the most influential men in Chinese history. He stressed five virtues: charity, justice, propriety, wisdom and loyalty.
October 4: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish): Marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and commemorates the creation of the world. The beginning of a period of penitence and spiritual renewal that begins at sundown the night before and ends 10 days later with Yom Kippur.
October 4 – November 3: Ramadan (Islamic, Muslim): The ninth and holiest month of the Islamic year. A time of spiritual and physical purification commemorates the revelation of the Qur’an to the prophet Muhammad by the archangel Gabriel on Lailat ul-Qadr. Fasting during this month is one of the five fundamental religious duties of Islam.
October 13: Yom Kippur (Jewish): This Jewish Day of Atonement is the holiest and most solemn day on the Jewish calendar. Most or all of the day is commonly spent in worship and contemplation, as well as fasting, from sundown the previous day until nightfall on this day.
October 18: Sukkot (Jewish): An 8-day festival, Feast of Booths, commemorates the divine protection given to the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt and during their 40 years in the desert. A festival of giving thanks and celebrating the fall harvest.
October 20: Karva Chauth (Hindu): A fast honoring the god Shiva and goddess Parvati. It is given special consideration by Hindu women to ensure the welfare, prosperity, and longevity of their husbands.
November 1: All Saints’ Day (Christian): A day to honor all saints of the church, even those not known by name.
November 1: Diwali (Hindu): Festival of lights marking the beginning of the new year and one of the most important festivals. Lights, bonfires, and fireworks welcome gods, ancestors, family, and friends.
November 2: All Souls’ Day (Christian): All Souls' Day is a day commemorating the faithful departed or those baptized Christians believed to be in purgatory.
December 8: Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary (Christian): This feast is the celebration of the conception of Mary, the Mother of God, by St. Anne. It has been celebrated since the seventh century. The Immaculate Conception is one of the four Marian Dogmas and states that Mary was born without the stain of original sin.
December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhist): Bodhi Day celebrates the day of the Buddha’s enlightenment. In 596 A.D., Siddhartha Gautama sat for seven days under a Bodhi tree vowing to understand the meaning of life. On the eighth morning, he realized the Four Noble Truths of suffering and the way to overcome them by the Eightfold Path. At this moment he reaches Bodhi and was named Buddha.
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico): Commemorates the day when the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego (circa 1531) and instructed him to pick and bring roses to the bishop. When he opened his tilma in front of the bishop beautiful roses fell out, and a picture of the Blessed Lady appeared on his cloak. That cloak can be seen today at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.
December 15 – January 6: Navidades (Christian; Puerto Rico): Navidades marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas holiday, ending with Three Kings Day.
December 25: Christmas (Christian): Followers of most Christian faiths observe Christmas as the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It is one of the most joyous days of the Christian year. For many Christians the celebration of Christmas begins the evening before, on Christmas Eve. In the fourth century the Roman Catholic Church established December 25 as the official day fro celebration. Eastern Orthodox Christians continue to follow an earlier practice of using the Julian calendar and celebrate Christmas on January 6.
December 26: Boxing Day (International): Boxing Day was originally considered as Christmas for Christian house servants, public servants, and trades people since their professions required them to work on Christmas Day. Small boxes containing gifts or donations were given in appreciation of their work on Christmas Day and throughout the year. Today, it is thought of as a day to throw out boxes and tidy up from Christmas celebrations.
December 26: Junkanoo (Jonkonnu) (Bahamas): Junkanoo is a festival similar to Mardi Gras and celebrated by some African and Caribbean countries. Although exact origins are unknown, its traditions include elaborate costumes, dance performances, and rhythmic music.
December 26 – January 1: Kwanzaa (African American; United States): Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration started in the United States in 1966 to honor Americans of African ancestry. Reminiscent of traditional African harvest festivals, the Kwanzaa celebration is a cultural observance that includes daily storytelling and cultural events related to seven fundamental principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
December 26 – January 2: Hanukkah (Jewish): Hanukkah officially begins at sundown the previous day. It is an eight-day festival commemorating the recapture of the Temple of Jerusalem from Syrian Greeks in 165 B.C. When the temple was restored and cleansed, only one day’s supply of oil was found for the daily lighting of the menorah (ritual candelabra). This small supply lasted eight days, and today an eight-branched menorah is lit to remind Jews of the miracle. This holiday is often misunderstood as the “Jewish Christmas” since it occurs in December.
2006
January 1: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Christian): This feast celebrates Mary as the Mother of God.
January 6: Epiphany (Christian): Also called Twelfth Day or Three Kings Day, the Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas. Epiphany means “dawning of light” and commemorates the visit of three wise men to the baby Jesus, who would later be known as Jesus Christ, the Christians’ Savior. Three Kings Day is a day of celebration in many parts of Europe, Latin America, and South America and is the traditional time of gift giving and the culmination of the Christmas season.
January 6: Christmas (Eastern Orthodox Christian): A celebration of the Nativity of Jesus Christ following the Julian Calendar, which is about two weeks behind the present calendar. Three things are commemorated: the Nativity itself, the adoration of the Magi, and the Baptism of Christ in the River Jordan.
January 10-13: Eid al-adha (Festival of the Sacrifice) (Islamic, Muslim): A day to commemorate Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael in obedience to God’s word (God interceded by replacing a ram for the child). Muslims in many African countries celebrate with a great feast called Tabaski. Begins at sundown the previous day.
January 13: St. Knut’s Day (Christian; Finland, Norway, Sweden): A celebration that marks the night when the wise men reached the baby Jesus in Bethlehem.
January 14: Maghi (Hindu, Sikh): The eve of Maghi is the common Indian festival of Lohri when bonfires are lit in Hindu homes to greet the birth of sons in the families and alms are distributed. For Sikhs, Maghi commemorates the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, literally, the Forty Liberated Ones, who laid down their lives warding off an attack by an imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh.
January 29: Chinese New Year (Confucian/Daoist/Buddhist): The new year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice. In 2006 it is the Year of the Dog – Lunar Year 4704.