Cincy MultiFaith Calendar

Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
2024-10-23 - 2024-10-25
Coming at the conclusion of Sukkot are the two holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah . In Israel and among more liberal Jews they are combined into one holiday on the day after the conclusion of Sukkot . Among more traditional Jews outside of Israel, they are observed separately from one another on two consecutive days. Shemini Atzeret means the “Eighth Day of Assembly,” while Simchat Torah means “Rejoicing in Torah.”They mark the conclusion of the annual reading cycle of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses that make up the Jewish Bible. Jews celebrate the Torah by dancing and singing, followed by reading the last word of Deuteronomy and the first word of Genesis in one breath to represent the cyclical relationship between the Jewish People and Torah.
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There are no special customs or greetings for Shemini Atzeret, but there are additional prayers in the usual services on this day.

Simchat Torah (Jewish)
2024-10-24 - 2024-10-25
Coming at the conclusion of Sukkot are the two holidays of Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah . In Israel and among more liberal Jews they are combined into one holiday on the day after the conclusion of Sukkot . Among more traditional Jews outside of Israel, they are observed separately from one another on two consecutive days. Shemini Atzeret means the “Eighth Day of Assembly,” while Simchat Torah means “Rejoicing in Torah.”They mark the conclusion of the annual reading cycle of the Torah, the Five Books of Moses that make up the Jewish Bible. Jews celebrate the Torah by dancing and singing, followed by reading the last word of Deuteronomy and the first word of Genesis in one breath to represent the cyclical relationship between the Jewish People and Torah.
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Jashan-e Abangan (Zoroastrian)
2024-10-26
Jashan-e Abangan is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Avan day of Avan month, in
honor of Abangan or Avan, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Ardvi Sura”. Avan
means Water. Water, a life-giving element for all creation in our world, is highly revered by
Zoroastrians, and we consider it our religious duty to keep the world’s waters clean and pure, and never
do any such act that would defile the waters. Avan is associated with Khordad.

1984 Anti-Sikh Pogrom (Sikh)
2024-10-31 - 2024-11-04
Over the course of three days, 8,000 – 17,000 Sikhs were killed and about 50,000 were displaced after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was killed by her two Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Upon public knowledge of her death, Indian citizens (primarily Hindu nationalists) determinedly murdered, raped, burned, and tortured innocent Sikhs in more than 100 cities in 18 states across India. Government officials in Delhi handed out weapons and even fuel and ordered residents to attack and kill Sikhs. Even police and army personnel stepped aside letting mobs run wild beating and burning Sikhs alive in the streets. The Indian government has yet to recognize these events as state sanctioned killing and genocide. After decades of advocacy and pursuit of justice, one then member of the Indian government, Sajjan Kumar, was sentenced for his role in these crimes against humanity. These recent assaults on the community have shocked and greatly impacted the collective conscience.
More Information:
Publications
India: No Justice for 1984 Anti-Sikh Bloodshed

Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Samhain (Pagan)
2024-10-31 - 2024-11-01
Samhain is celebrated October 31st. This is the third harvest when all crops should be in. Anything not harvested was left in the fields. Samhain is a Gaelic word that means “Summer’s End”, so Samhain was the beginning of winter. For the Celtic people of Europe and the British Isles, this was the end of the year as they began and ended their calendar with Samhain. So, for Pagans, it is New Year’s Eve. Samhain is also known as “the day between the years.” The day before Samhain was the last day of the old year, and the day after Samhain is the first day of the new year, so Samhain itself is literally the day between the years. Being between the years was a very magical time when the veils between past, present, and future may be lifted. It was a time of no time, when order and structure were abolished, and chaos could reign. For three days, because all Celtic holidays lasted for three days, men dressed as women, and women as men, children knocked on neighbor’s doors for food and treats, practical jokes were pulled. For pastoral people Samhain was when the herds and flocks were moved to the lower winter pastures, and when the herds were culled and animals slaughtered – a time of great anxiety – for it was necessary to slaughter enough to provide meat for the winter months ahead, but not too many to endanger the herd. And that brings us back to Yule, the completion of one full turn on the Wheel of the Year and the beginning of another.
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Diwali (Hindu / Jain)
2024-10-31
One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual “victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance.” Light is a metaphor for knowledge and consciousness. During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated, often with rows (avali) of clay lamps (deepa), for which the festival is named. The preparations and observances typically last five days.
Diwali, also known as Deepawali or Mahavir Nirvana, is of special significance in Jainism, as it also marks the anniversary of Nirvana (final release or liberation) of Mahavir, the 24th and the last Jain Tirthankara. It is celebrated at the same time as the Hindu festival of Diwali or Deepawali.
More information about the Jain celebrations of this holiday can be found here.
More information about Hindu celebrations of this holiday can be found here.

All Souls Day (Catholic)
2024-11-02
All Souls Day is a solemn celebration in the Roman Catholic Church commemorating all of those who have died and are now in Purgatory, being cleansed of their venial sins and the temporal punishments for the mortal sins that they had confessed, and being made pure before entering into the presence of God in Heaven.
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Catholics often attend prayer services today at which special prayers are said or memorials given for those loved ones who have died during the previous year. Special prayers for the dead are said throughout the month of November.

Twin Holy Days (Bahá’í)
2024-11-02 - 2024-11-03
Commemorates the birth of The Bab, Herald of the Baha’i Faith & founder of the Babi Faith, in 1819.
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
More information:
https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/about-the-birth-of-the-bab/
Twin Holy Birthdays / Twin Manifestations of God

Feast of Qudrat / Power (Baha'i)
2024-11-03
Wherever they live, Baha’is gather every 19 days for what we call a Feast. This is a members-only event comprising three parts:
1. A spiritual portion that’s the time for prayer and reflection;
2. A business portion for consultation about administrative issues (plans for forming classes, organizing to perform community service, observing holy days, or any ideas or projects community members wish to discuss. It’s also a time when local members can ask their Local Assembly to forward their concerns to the National Assembly;
3. A social portion that can consist of anything from just glasses of water to a full-course dinner.

Birth of Guru Nanak (1st Guru & Founder) (Sikh)
2024-11-15
“Guru Nanak came to this world in 1469 in the then-Punjab region and was the founder of Sikhism. Guru Nanak was a divinely appointed Master. His teachings are not for a particular age. His thoughts and sayings are timeless.In the person of Guru Nanak, we meet with an unparalleled completeness of religious life.Guru Nanak was a philosopher and prophet in one. His soul soared to celestial heights and brought from there armloads of Amrit, the divine food for our souls.Guru was a perfect Yogi and ideal householder. For the whole of his life, he worked for the good of others. He was a gifted, far‐sighted reformer, who advocated on behalf of the socially depressed, attacking the economic and political problems of his day. Through his Langar, no distinction of caste, race, or creed was ever observed. Such is the ideal organization which Guru Nanak designed for human society. He ever dwelt in God, and God ever dwelt in him. Guru Nanak was for the whole world. He conveyed his message of Love, Service, and Worship to all people of all places. And everywhere, he succeeded in lighting the holy flame in the hearts of the people.”
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day.

Feast of Qawl / Speech (Baha'i)
2024-11-22

Martrydom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru) (Sikh)
2024-11-24
This day commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675), the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus. He is remembered not only for his defense of the Sikh faith, but also of Hinduism and of religious liberty, the most fundamental human rights.
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Jashan-e Adargan (Zoroastrian)
2024-11-24
Jashan-e Adargan is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Adar day of Adar month, in honor of Adar or Atarsh, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Athro”. Adar means Fire, which being a life-giving element for all creation in our world, is highly revered by Zoroastrians.
Fire represents the Highest Righteousness to a Zoroastrian reminding her/him to mindfully live a righteous life. Adar is associated with Ardavahisht.

Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í)
2024-11-25
The festival commemorates Bahá’u’lláh’s appointment of His eldest son, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, as the Center of His Covenant.
Work is not prohibited, children may attend school.
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Ascension of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá
2024-11-27
Today Baha’is celebrate the life of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the eldest Son of Bahá’u’lláh, known to Bahá’ís as the Perfect Exemplar and the Mystery of God, a living embodiment of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings. He passed away on this date in 1921.
You can learn more here.

First Sunday of Advent (Catholic / Christian Protestant)
2024-12-01
For Catholics, the new Liturgical Year commences with the first Sunday of Advent. In this new liturgical year, the Church not only wishes to indicate the beginning of a year, but the beginning of a renewed commitment to the faith by all those who follow Christ, the Lord. Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. Advent means ‘Coming’ in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world.
More Information from the Catholic Church
More information from the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Many christians celebrate the Advent season with special hymns and prayers. Some also create, at home or church, wreaths of evergreens with four candles, one for each week of the season. A new candle is lit each week, symbolizing the approaching light of Jesus, who came into the world at Christmas.

Buddha’s Enlightenment Day (Buddhism)
2024-12-08
Bodhi Day is observed in many mainstream Mahayana traditions including the traditional Zen and Pureland Buddhist schools of China, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.
Services and traditions vary amongst Buddhist sects, but all such services commemorate the Buddha’s achievement of Nirvana, and what this means for Buddhism today. Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake, and readings.

Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Catholic)
2024-12-08
Today, Catholics celebrate the day that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was conceived by her mother Anna. Catholics believe that Mary was conceived without original sin, and so throughout her life her soul was immaculate, or without the stain of sin.
More information can be found here.

Feast of Masail/ Questions (Baha'i)
2024-12-11

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Hispanic / Catholic)
2024-12-12
This is a popular feast day in the Americas, especially among Hispanic Catholics, and celebrates Mary, Jesus mother, who is the patron saint of the Americas. This feast celebrates when, on the 9th and 12th of December 1531, in Mexico City, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego.
More information can be found here.

Yalda (Zoroastrian)
2024-12-20
Yalda is a winter solstice celebration. Friends and family gather on this longest and darkest night of the year to eat and celebrate late into the night, around a fire which burns all night long. Red colored fruits like pomegranates and watermelons consumed. The red color in these fruits is symbolic of the light of the early morning.
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Martyrdom of the Elder Sahibzadas (Princes) at the Battle of Chamkaur (Sikh)
2024-12-21
The traditional title of this day is Shaheedi-Vaddey Sahibzaadey. The word “Sahibzaada” means “son” in Punjabi, and these two final events of the year refer to the martyrdom of all four of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons. All four of his sons gave up their lives fighting tyranny and oppression like their father, Guru Gobind Singh, and grandfather, Guru Tegh Bahadur, before them. The elder two sons, Baba Ajit Singh and Baba Jujhar Singh, died fighting in the Battle of Chamkaur at the age of 18 and 14 years old in 1705. The martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s all four sons is an integral part of the Sikh history and it is commemorated with great energy at the end of the year.
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Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Yule (Pagan)
2024-12-21 - 2025-01-01
Yule or Winter Solstice is celebrated around December 21st or 22nd and is the first pagan holiday celebrated after the ending of the old year. This is the longest night and shortest day of the year, and most likely the oldest holiday known to humankind. It celebrates the birth of the sun – the Divine Child is born. Symbols: The Yule Log, evergreen trees, stars.
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Hanukkah (Jewish)
2024-12-25 - 2025-01-02
Hanukkah, also known as Hanukah, Chanukah, and Chanukkah can be spelled many different ways in English. It is an eight-day celebration known as the Festival of Lights marked by the lighting of candles using a special candle holder called a menorah or chanukiah. This holiday is where Jews celebrate their victory over a tyrant Greco-Syrian king and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. As the story goes, a small quantity of oil to light the Temple’s menorah miraculously lasted eight days. Traditions include a game involving spinning dreidels (tops), eating potato latkes (pancakes) and other oily foods, and gift giving.
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Holiday Greeting: Happy Hanukkah!
Commonly observed by synagogue attendance, community or family gatherings.

Christmas (Christian Protestant/ Catholic/ The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/ Hispanic)
2024-12-25
Christmas is the holiday during which Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, who they believe is the Son of God and Mary. The Christmas season is a time to reflect and act upon the blessings and opportunities Christians have received through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is written in Christian scripture that God “so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (Holy Bible, Book of John, Chapter 3, verse 16), and so Christians express their love toward one another and toward God and His precious Son by giving to others.

More Information from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
More information from the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Holiday Greeting: Merry Christmas
Celebration: Christians often celebrate this holiday by attending a prayer service at church, singing hymns, and exchanging gifts.

Zarathosht-no-Diso (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2024-12-26
Death anniversary of Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) the founder of Zoroastrianism. It is a day of special prayers, with lectures and discussions held on the life and works of the prophet. There is no mourning in the Zoroastrian religion, only remembrance and prayers for Farohars (souls) of the departed.
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Martyrdom of the Younger Sahibzadas (Princes) and Mata Gujri Ji (Sikh)
2024-12-26
The traditional title of this day is Shaheedi-Chhotey Sahibzaadey. “The younger of the four Sahibzaadey, Baba Zorwar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, were martyred together at the young age of 6 and 9 years old by the Mughals in Sirhind in 1705. They were captured with their grandmother, Mata Gujri, and were immediately imprisoned in the freezing temperatures of December. They rejected all bribes by the Mughals and instead chose to remain steadfast in their faith even if it led to being entombed alive. They did not waiver and choose the easy option of living a lavish life upon conversion. Their lives serve as a reminder that age has no bearing in living a principled life.”
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Students and/or Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Feast of Sharaf / Honor (Baha'i)
2024-12-30

Gahambar Maidyarem (Zoroastrianism)
2024-12-31 - 2025-01-04
Maidyarem (literally: Winter) Gahambar is a seasonal feast celebrated on the winter solstice. It is considered a religious duty to participate in a communal jashan prayer ceremony; as well as, fraternize and share a simple meal with fellow co-religionists from all walks of life, rich and poor.
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Epiphany of the Lord (Catholic & Episcopal)
2025-01-06
Celebrated 12 days after Christmas, the Epiphany of the Lord is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus.
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