9th month on Islamic calendar, devoted to the commemoration of
Muhammad's reception of the divine
revelation recorded in the Qur'an. The event begins when authorities in
Saudi Arabia sight the new moon of the 9th month. It is the holiest period
of the Islamic Year. There is strict fasting from sunrise to sunset.
Rama Krishna Jayanti (Sri Krishna Jayanati)
- Hindu celebration of the birthday of Sri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Krishna.
Sweets, fruits and milk products are available in abundance.
Ramanavmi
- Hindu celebration of the birth of Lord Rama, hero of the religious epic poem, The Ramayana.
The day involves telling of stories and going to the temple.
Reformation Day
- Protestant Christian anniversary of their tradition and its emphasis
on the place of the Bible and religious freedom. On October 31, 1517
c.e. Martin Luther posted a belief statement on Wittenberg Church door.
Ridvan
- Baha'i commemoration of the twelve day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was
God's messenger for this age. Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the
festival.
Rogation Sunday
- Christian occasion to ask God to bless the land for growing crops and to also ask
forgiveness of sins.
Rohatsu
- Buddhist celebration of the enlightenment of Buddha.
Rosh Hashanah
- Jewish New Year. A time of introspection, abstinence, prayer and penitence.
The story
of Abraham is read, the ram's horn is sounded, and special foods are prepared and shared.
S
- Sacred Heart
- Christian (Roman Catholic) occasion to pay homage to Christ's all encompassing love for
humanity. Solemn worship is observed.
- Sadeh (Jashan-e Sadeh)
- Zoroastrian mid winter celebration in which a bonfire is often used to
express defiance of the cold of winter.
- Saint Andrew's Day
- Christian observance of the coming of Christianity to the area now know as Scotland.
The martyrdom of St Andrew is remembered as the season of Advent is about
to begin.
- Saint Benedict Day
- Catholic Christian recognition of the father of the The Benedictine Order.
It was the first Order of the Western Church Monastic tradition and lived
by the Benedictine Rule.
- Saint Blaze Day
- Christian, primarily Catholic and Orthodox, honored of a 4th century saint by blessing
the throats of believers.
- Saint Brighid of Kildare
- Christian recognition of Brighid who displayed unusual compassion. She was
brought up as a Druid and became Christian.
- Saint Columba of Iona
- Christian recognition of Columba who began the famous community of
Iona off the coast of Scotland in 563.
- Saint David of Wales
- Celtic Christian saint known for his wisdom and missionary work.
- Saint Francis Day
- Christian recognition of service to people and appreciation of the natural
world, as practiced by St Francis and the Franciscan Monastic Order
which he founded.
- Saint George Day
- Christian remembrance of a person who, in the 4th century, was a martyr and became
an ideal of martial valor and selflessness. Legend of killing a dragon is connected with
this patron saint of England.
- Saint James Day
- Christian recognition of the martyrdom of the Apostle James the Great in 44 c.e
- Saint John the Baptist
- Christian remembrance of the birth of St. John the Baptist who announced the coming of Jesus.
- Saint John the Evangelist
- Christian remembrance of the birth of St. John the Evangelist of the early church.
- Saint Joseph's Day
- Christian remembrance of Joseph, husband of Mary the mother of Jesus.
- Saint Luke's Day
- Christian remembrance of Luke, disciple of Jesus.
-
- Saint Matthew Day
- Christian remembrance Matthew - apostle, evangelist and martyr of the first century.
- Saint Michael and All Angels
- Christian celebration of angels as companions who help fight off the power of evil
and who are present at the hour of death.
- Saint Nicolas Day
- Christian celebration of the birth of Saint Nicolas, patron saint of children and role model for
gift giving. Many churches
named for this saint who is also the Dutch version of Santa Claus.
- Saint Patrick's Day
- Christian celebration of Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland in early
days of the faith.
- Saint Peter Day
- Catholic Christian honoring of the disciple chosen by Jesus to give
leadership to the church.
- Saint Philip the Apostle & St James the Less
- Catholic Christian remembrance of two disciples of Jesus.
- Saint Stephen's Day
- Christian remembrance of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr.
- Saint Thomas Day
- Christian remembrance of the Apostle of Jesus who traveled east toward
India and is now the Patron Saint of India and Pakistan.
- Saint Valentine's Day
- Christian celebration of the love of God presented in Jesus and in the
lives of Christian believers. St Valentine was a 3rd century martyr.
This day is widely observed in the USA as a secular celebration of love.
- Samhain
- Wicca celebration of endings and beginnings and of remembering the
dead.. Revering of elders is also observed.
- Setsubun-sai
- Shinto celebration of the change of seasons with the coming of spring with shouts
of "Devils
out, Good Fortune in". Bean throwing protects against demons.
- Shavuot
- Jewish celebration of Moses' descent from Mt Sinai with the ten commandments. Plants and
flowers are used in decorations.
- Shemini Azteret
- Jewish completion of the annual cycle of reading of the Torah.
- Shivarat (Mahasivaratri)
- Hindu worship of Shiva with flowers.
- Shogatsu (Gantan-sai)
- Shinto New Year's Day celebration.
- Shree Krishan Jayanti (Janmastami)
- Hindu celebration of the physical courage and mental brilliance of
Krishna,
great savior and founder of dharma, the religious and moral law of Hinduism.
- Shrove Tuesday
- Christian carnival day on the eve of Ash Wednesday which begins Lent, a time of
fasting and devotions. Pancakes are often served. It is also known as Fat Tuesday in
some places.
- Shubun-sai
- Shinto vernal equinox observance.
- Simchat Torah
- Jewish day to celebrate the reading of the Law. Synagogue services involve readings,
processions and blessing of the children.
- Slichot
- Jewish worship service to begin making repentance for wrongs done the past year.
- Spring Ohigon
- Buddhist time of meditation on the teachings of Buddha at the equinox.
- Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti
- Hindu celebration of the life of Sri Ramakrishna whose life was a constant
contemplation of God. He exemplified the best in seers of India.
- Sukkot
- Jewish Feast of Tabernacles which celebrates the harvest and the
protection of the people of Israel as they wandered in
the wilderness dwelling in tents. Temporary dwelling places have leaves
for a roof so the sky can be seen. In temperate climates, night is spent
in the Succoth.
T
- Tammuz, Seventeenth of
- Jewish traditional day of fasting to mourn over Jerusalem and the destruction of the
Temple. Not universally observed.
- Thanksgiving
- Interfaith celebration of the created earth. Celebrated in the USA.
- Theophany (Feast of...)
- Orthodox Christian celebration of the Baptism of Jesus, at which
time the Trinity was revealed to the world.
- Tiragan
- Zoroastrian celebration in honor of Tishtat - the Dog Star. Recognizes dogs as helpers
of humanity. May involve splashing people with water.
- Tishah B'av
- A Jewish day of fasting in remembrance of the destruction of the Temple in
586 b.c.e. and
70 c.e.
- Tohji-Taisai
- Shinto Grand Ceremony of the Winter Solstice.
- Transfiguration of Jesus
- Christian commemoration of the experience on Mt Tabor when Jesus' physical appearance
became brilliant as his connection with traditional Jewish holy figures became evident to
the disciples.
- Trinity Sunday or Day
- Christians honor the belief in one God with a threefold nature.
- Triodion
- Orthodox Christian time period leading up to Lent. The liturgy involves
hymns, odes and scriptures.
- Tu B'Av
- Jewish celebration of romance between couples.
- Tu B'shevat
- Jewish celebration of the coming of spring by preparation of foods
native to Israel. It is also known as "New Year for Trees" - a
method for determining the age of trees for tithing purposes.
- Tulsedas Jayanti
- Hindu remembrance of the poet Tulsedas as one who brought spiritual uplift to the masses
of people.
- Twelfth Night
- Christian observance of the close of Christmastide.
U
- Ugadi (ugAdhi)
- Hindu New Years Day for Telugu people and those of Andhra Pradesh. It is said that
Lord Braham began the creation on this day. It is one of at least eight
New Year observances in regions on India.
- Ullambana
- Buddhist celebration of the ritual of saving the deceased from torments
after death.
V
- Vaisakhi (Baisakhi)
- Hindu solar new year. For Sikhs the day remembers Guru Gobind Singh
and the founding of the militant fraternity of Sikhs named Kahlsa. The
day is
observed by temple worship, feasting and dancing.
- Vasant Panchami
- Hindu celebration dedicated to Saraswati, goddess of learning.
- Visakha Puja
- Buddhist marking of the birth, enlightenment and death (attainment
of Nirvana) of Lord Buddha.
- Vivekananda Jayanti
- Hindu celebration of the birthday of Swami Vivekenanda who was dedicated to bridging the
gap between east and west.
W
- Waqf al Arafa
- Islamic observance day during Hajj when pilgrims pray for forgiveness and mercy.
- Watch Night
- Christian occasion to thank God for bringing people safely through another year.
Developed by the African American community in the USA at the time of
Emancipation (1863).
- Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
- Christian observance with prayer for the restoration of unity between
the churches of the faith.
- Wesak
- Holiest of Buddhist holy days. It celebrates Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death. It
is a public holiday in some countries.
- Whitsunday
- Alternate name for Pentecost, the Christian celebration of the coming of
the Holy Spirit on the community of the faithful. White robes are used
in worship.
- Winter Lent
- Orthodox Christian season of preparation for the Nativity of Christ.
- World Communion Sunday
- Protestant Christian observation of the unity of Christians in celebration of the last
supper of Jesus with the disciples.
- World Religion Day
- Baha'i sponsored day dedicated to the unity and oneness of all world religions.
Y
- Yom Hashoah
- Jewish Holocaust Day. The day has been established to remember the six million Jews
killed by the Nazis in 1933-45. It is observed by many non-Jews as well.
- Yom Kippur
- Jewish Day of Atonement. This holiest day of the Jewish year is observed with strict
fasting and ceremonial repentance.
- Yule
- A Christian celebration of the light dawning in Jesus. Also a Norse
pagan celebration of the winter-born king, symbolized by the
rebirth of the sun. A present day Wicca event.
Z
- Zarathosht Diso
- Zoroastrian anniversary of the death of Prophet Zarathushtra.
Many sources are used for these definitions. They include books, web sites,
individuals, and journal articles. Check other on line, print, or personal
sources when in doubt. Regional and sectarian use of terms differ
considerably.
Suggestions about definitions are welcomed. send
email.
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