Palm Sunday is the final Sunday of Lent, the beginning of Holy Week, and commemorates the triumphant arrival of Christ in Jerusalem, days before he was crucified. In the Gospels, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding a young donkey, and to the lavish praise of the townspeople who threw clothes, or possibly palms or small branches, in […]
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ, when, prior to his arrest and crucifixion, he established the practice of communion, which is considered a sacrament among most Christian communities. Later that evening, he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. More information from the Catholic Church More information from The Church […]
On Vaisakhi in 1699, the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the initiated community of Sikhs, the Khalsa, through the Amrit ceremony and became initiated himself too. Vaisakhi holds great significance in the history of the community. Sikhs acquire their formal, distinct identity from this day onward. The identity includes the unique physical appearance and […]
Mahavir Jayanti is the anniversary of birth of the 24th and last Tirthankara for the followers of Jain religion and culture, or Lord Mahavir. The festival is celebrated to champion the cause of peace and harmony, and also spread the teachings of Lord Mahavira. A procession is carried out in the form of “rath yatra” […]
Today is Puthandu (also called Puthuvarudam or Tamil New Year). Many Hindus consider today the solar new year and mark the occasion by thanking God/Universe for another new year and new beginnings. Traditional celebrations include an elaborate feast with 6 different tastes - sweet, sour, spice (hot), salt, bitter and ‘thuvarpu’ (like Umami). This is […]
Good Friday is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. More information from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints More information from the Catholic Church More information from the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church This is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat for Catholics over the […]
Passover, known in Hebrew as Pesach, commemorates the liberation of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. A feast called a seder is held on the first two nights. During the seder, the Exodus story is read aloud and freedom from slavery is celebrated. This is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays. More Information Holiday Greeting: Pesach […]
Generally, Theravada countries such as Sri Lanka , Thai land, Cambodia, Laos, and Burma celebrate the full moon day at the end of April as Theravada new year. Buddha’s enlightenment is also celebrated on that day. It is celebrated again during Wesak, on the full moon day of May, as Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment and death. […]
A festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. After He died on the cross, his body was placed in a tomb, where it remained for three days, separated from His spirit, until on Sunday, when he was resurrected. It is the most important day of the Christian calendar. More information […]
1st Day of Festival of Ridvan-**(There are three holy Days as part of the Festival, the first day, the ninth and the twelfth.) The annual Baha'i Festival commemorates the 12 days when Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Faith, publicly proclaimed his mission as God's messenger. Begins at sundown on April 19 and ends at sunset […]