Martyrdom of the Bab (The Bahá’í Faith)
2025-07-09
Commemorates the anniversary of the execution of the Bab (Siyyid Ali-Muhammad), the Herald of the Baha’i Faith by firing squad on July 9, 1850 in Tabriz Iran
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
More information:
https://www.bahai.us/commemoration-of-the-martyrdom-of-the-bab/

Guru Purnima Honoring Line of Teachers (Vedanta)
2025-07-10
July 3rd marks the Guru Purnima Honoring Line of Teachers in the Vedanta tradition.
Learn More:
https://www.vedanet.com/guru-purnima-spreading-the-message-of-indias-gurus/

Asalha Puja (Buddhism)
2025-07-10
Asalha Puja means to pay homage to the Buddha on the full moon day of the 8th lunar month (approximately July). It commemorates the Buddha’s first teaching: the turning of the wheel of the Dhamma (Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta) to the five ascetics at the Deer Park (Sarnath) near Benares city, India. Where Kondanna, the senior ascetic attained the first level of enlightenment (the Sotapanna level of mind purity).
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Feast of Kalimat / Words (Baha'i)
2025-07-12
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.

Feast of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (Catholic)
2025-07-14
Informally known as Lily of the Mohawks, St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the first Native American saint in the United States. It is said that after her death, the marks on her face from smallpox faded away. St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the patroness of ecology and the environment, as well as people in exile and Native Americans.
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Birth of Guru Harkrishan (8th Guru) (Sikh)
2025-07-23
Guru Harkrishan is the eighth and youngest of the Sikh Gurus. In 1663, Guru Harkrishan was in Delhi when the cholera and smallpox epidemic broke out. He served and tended to the sick with complete love and devotion at the young age of seven. Soon after, he became sick himself and passed away at the age of eight.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

Pioneer Day (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
2025-07-24
Pioneer Day commemorates the arrival of the first group of Latter-day Saint pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley, on July 24, 1847. In Utah it is an official state holiday, and the associated celebration, including a parade, is referred to as Days of ’47. It is a time for recognizing all people who have contributed to building the state, regardless of religion or background.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/2010/07/to-the-point/what-is-the-significance-of-pioneer-day-is-it-celebrated-all-over-the-church?lang=eng

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Bv60HRR38

Jashan-e Amardad (Zoroastrian)
2025-07-25
Jashan-e Amardad is a celebration ceremony, a Jashan, performed on Amardad day of Amardad month, in honor of Amardad, a Pehlavi name derived from the ancient Avestan term “Ameretat” from the Gathas of Zarathushtra. Ameretat, according to Zarathushtra, is that attribute of Ahura Mazda which represents “deathlessness” and “immortality.” Together with Haurvatât, it is the ultimate goal and represents the completion of our evolutionary development and the final achievement of our life on earth. It reminds a Zoroastrian that when mankind collectively will live their lives with complete righteousness in their thoughts, words, and deeds, our world will achieve immortal/eternal happiness and peace, and will become completely free of all evil – it will become perfect – like the kingdom of God on Earth! In later Zoroastrian religious history, the wise men/priests associated Amardad to be the steward/guardian of the plant kingdom in the world. Plants/vegetation on Earth is the longest living of all of God’s creation, and hence the Zoroastrians associate it with God’s attribute of eternity/immortality. Due to our immense reverence for nature and plants, protecting nature from pollution and keeping it pure and prosperous for everyone in the world is our religious duty.

Feast of Kamal / Perfection (Baha'i)
2025-07-31

Lammas (Pagan)
2025-08-01
Lammas also called Loafmas or Lughnassadh, after a Celtic God Lugh, is celebrated July 31st or August 1st. The days shorten but the weather is still warm. This is the first harvest and celebrates the grains harvested for the baking of bread.
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Tisha B’Av (Jewish)
2025-08-02 18:00 - 2025-08-03 21:00 (America/New_York)
Tisha B’Av is the annual fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem and the subsequent exile of the Jews from the land of Israel. Over the centuries, other tragic events have come to be commemorated on this day, including the massacres of the Crusades, the Jewish expulsion from Spain, and the Holocaust. Today in many modern Jewish communities, Tishah B’Av stands as a day to reflect on the suffering that still occurs in our world.
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Holiday Greeting: On Tisha B’Av we do not exchange greetings; we do not say “hello” or “how are you” and the like.
Observant Jews will fast, mourn and pray on this day.

Muktad or Fravardegan (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2025-08-05 - 2025-08-14
Today marks the first of ten days of commemoration, at the end of the Zoroastrian year. During this time, the community commemorates and remembers fravarshis (departed souls) with fresh flowers and a lighted oil lamp. Homes and temples are thoroughly cleaned; for it is believed that the fravashis visit the physical world during this time, to bless and protect the living.
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Raksha Bandham (Hindu)
2025-08-08
Also called Rakhi or Rakhi Purnima, this day celebrates the bonds between sisters and brothers. Sisters of all ages tie a sacred thread, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, symbolically protecting them, and in return they receive a gift from their brothers. Traditionally, brothers also promise to take a share of the responsibility for ensuring the well-being of their sisters.
More information can be found here and here.

Pateti (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2025-08-15
Pateti (literally: penitence) is the last day of the Parsi Zoroastrian year. It is a day for a person to reflect on their thoughts, words and deeds of the previous year and to repent for those that were not good. The repentance allows dedicating the new year to good thoughts, words and deeds in a process of ethical growth.
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Feast of the Assumption (Catholic)
2025-08-15
The feast day of the Assumption of Mary celebrates the Christian belief that God assumed the Virgin Mary into Heaven, body and soul, following her death.
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Navroze / New Year (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2025-08-15
Weeks before Navroze, homes are given a cleaning and festive foods are prepared. The arrival of the new year is celebrated by prayers at the Fire temple (Atashbehram) followed by a special meal shared with family.
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Holiday Greeting: Navroze Mubarak
Children may miss school to celebrate with families

Feast of Asma / Names (Baha'i)
2025-08-19

Khordad Sal (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2025-08-20
Birth anniversary of Zarathushtra (Zoroaster), the founder of Zoroastrianism. Zoroastrians gather in Fire temples for prayers and then celebrate with a family feast.
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Paryushan (Jain)
2025-08-21 - 2025-08-28
Paryushan is a time (period) for self-analysis and soul searching, for reflecting and contemplating on past conduct, in light of the teachings of Jainism and re-dedication to leading a spiritually cleaner life in the future. An important day is the last day of Paryushan (Shwetambar sect), or Saṃvatsarī (Sanskrit: संवत्सरी) (Forgiveness Day), when Jains forgive and seek forgiveness for their mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly from all the living beings.
During this period, Jains would typically greet each other by saying “Michhami Dukkadam” which essentially signifies forgiveness (both forgiving and seeking forgiveness).
More information can be found here.
To connect with the Jain community in Cincinnati and Dayton visit this website.

Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib (Eternal Guru) (Sikh)
2025-09-01
This day celebrates Gobind Singh Ji’s passing on guruship to Scripture, henceforth known as the Guru Granth Sahib.
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Traditional Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!

Feast of Izzat / Might (Baha'i)
2025-09-07

Paitishahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2025-09-12 - 2025-09-16
Paitishahem (literally: bringing in the harvest) Gahambar is a harvest seasonal festival. 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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GurGaddi of Guru Angad Sahib (2nd Guru) (Sikh)
2025-09-12
Guru Angad Dev Ji was originally a humble Sikh named Lehna. Upon meeting the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, his life transformed and he never left the Guru’s side serving the community for many years to follow. When the time came, Guru Nanak approached Lehna and said you have now become a part of me, Ang, and henceforth you shall carry on the Guru’s work as Angad. Guru Angad was responsible for establishing the script of the Guru, Gurmukhi, which is commonly known today as the Punjabi script.
More Information
Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Orthodox Christianity)
2025-09-14
The Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross is celebrated each year on September 14. The Feast commemorates the finding of the True Cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine.
You can learn more about this celebration here.

Autumn Equinox - Mabon (Pagan)
2025-09-22
Autumn Equinox or Mabon is celebrated September 21st or 22nd. This is second harvest and is the witches Thanksgiving. This is a time of appreciation, reflection, and preparation for winter.
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Navaratri (Hindu)
2025-09-22 - 2025-10-02
The festival literally means “nine nights” in Sanskrit and occurs over ten days and nine nights. It is celebrated differently in various parts of India with prayer, elaborate pandals (platforms), fasting, folk dances, displays of dolls, sharing of sweets, and bonfires. The festival celebrates the triumph of good over evil and the restoration of righteousness, accomplished through the victory of the Goddess Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.
More information can be found here.

Erev (eve of) Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
2025-09-22 18:00 - 23:59
This evening is the beginning of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This holiday begins the period of the High Holy Days, which are widely observed by Jews around the world. It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life. Traditions include eating apples dipped in honey and blowing the shofar (ram’s horn). Most Jews attend synagogue on these two days and the preceding evening.
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Holiday Greeting: Shana Tova (Happy New Year) – AND – Shana Tova U’Mtukah (Have a happy and sweet New Year)
No dietary restrictions, but most students will miss school for this holiday. Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. Work is traditionally prohibited.

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
2025-09-23 - 2025-09-24
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. This holiday begins the period of the High Holy Days, which are widely observed by Jews around the world. It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life. Traditions include eating apples dipped in honey and blowing the shofar (ram’s horn). Most Jews attend synagogue on these two days and the preceding evening.
More Information
Holiday Greeting: Shana Tova (Happy New Year) – AND – Shana Tova U’Mtukah (Have a happy and sweet New Year)
No dietary restrictions, but most students will miss school for this holiday. Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. Work is traditionally prohibited.

Feast of Mashiyyat / Will (Baha'i)
2025-09-26

Durga Puja (Vedanta)
2025-09-28 - 2025-10-02
Durga is one of the names of the Divine Mother — the power of Brahman Absolute.
Learn More:
https://www.vedanet.com/the-meaning-of-durga/
