Cincy MultiFaith Calendar

Hanukkah (Jewish)
2021-11-29 - 2021-12-06
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.

First Sunday of Advent (Catholic / Christian Protestant)
2021-11-28
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.

Ascension of Baha'u'llah (The Bahá’í Faith)
2021-11-28
Baha’is observe the anniversary of the death in exile of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith outside of Akka (Acre) in northern Israel.
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
For more information:
https://bahaiteachings.org/prophet-passes-away-ascension-bahaullah

Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í)
2021-11-25
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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Jashan-e Adargan (Zoroastrian)
2021-11-24
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.

Martrydom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (9th Guru) (Sikh)
2021-11-24
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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Qawl / Speech (Baha'i)
2021-11-22
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)
2021-11-19
“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.

Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bahá’í)
2021-11-07
Commemorates the birth of the Founder of the Baha’i Faith November 1817 on the Gregorian Calendar.
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
More information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_Bah%C3%A1%CA%BCu%27ll%C3%A1h

Birth of Bab (Bahá’í)
2021-11-06
Commemorates the Herald of the Baha’i Faith & founder of the Babi Faith.
Work is to be suspended and children excused from school.
More information:
https://www.bahaiblog.net/bahai-calendar/about-the-birth-of-the-bab/

Diwali (Hindu / Jain)
2021-11-04
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.

Qudrat / Power (Baha'i)
2021-11-03

All Souls Day (Catholic)
2021-11-02
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.

All Saints Day (Catholic)
2021-11-01
Also called All Hallows’ Day, this is a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have been welcomed into heaven.
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First Night of Passover (Jewish)
2021-03-27 17:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
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.
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Holiday Greeting: Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover)
No food that is leavened (e.g., bread, cake) or contains wheat is eaten. Matzah (unleavened bread) is often consumed instead. Work is traditionally prohibited on the first, second, seventh, and eighth days. Absences may vary based on religious observance of the holiday.

Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian)
2021-03-26
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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Jamshedi Navroze (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2021-03-21
The spring equinox festival celebrated by Parsi Zoroastrians with family and friends. Celebrations may also include the Sofreh-e-Haft Seen table.
Holiday Greeting: Navroze Mubarak
Children may miss school to celebrate with families
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Nowruz (Zoroastrian / Persian New Year)
2021-03-21
The arrival of spring is celebrated by the coming together of family in new clothes. Weeks before Nowruz, homes are given a spring cleaning and festive foods are prepared. Also, the Sofreh-e-Haft Seen table is set up.
(what follows is included in the detailed description)
The Seen table is laid out with seven foods each beginning with the letter “S”: Sabzeh (growing sprouts of wheat symbolizing rebirt); Samanoo (a wheat pudding signifying rejuvenation); Seeb (apples symbolizing fruit of the earth); Seer (garlic for health); Senjed (lotus fruit represeting love and Beauty); Serkeh (vinegar for age and patience) and Somagh (orange sumac berries symbolizing sunrise which banishes the darkness). Other items on the table include a mirror, candles, painted eggs, a bowl of water, goldfish, coins, hyacinth, pastries and a religious book.
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Holiday Greeting: Happy New Year or Nowruz Mubarak
Children may miss school to celebrate with families

Ostara – Spring Equinox (Pagan)
2021-03-20
Spring Equinox or Ostara is celebrated March 21st or 22nd. At the spring equinox, the hours of daylight are exactly equal to the hours of night. It is the middle of spring. This holiday celebrates the blooming of the earth. It was named after the German goddess of spring, Ostara, known to the Anglo Saxons as Eostre, whose symbols were the egg, the rabbit, and the chick.
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Baha / Splendor (Baha'i)
2021-03-20

Naw-Ruz (The Bahá’í Faith)
2021-03-20
Baha’i New Year coincides with spring equinox. Ancient Persian festival celebrating “new day”. For Bahai’s it marks end of the annual 19 day Fast. Starts at sundown on the 20th and ends at sunset on the 21st.
Holiday Greeting: Happy Naw Ruz or Happy New Year

Explanation of the Baha’i calendar. Baha’i dates begin and end at sunset. Also, the first day of each month is the Feast Day (starts in the evening). The Baha’i calendar isn’t aligned with either the Gregorian or the lunar calendar.

http://– https://www.bahai.us/events/holy-days/

Feast of St. Joseph (Catholic)
2021-03-19
This is the feast day of Joseph, a carpenter who was the stepfather of Jesus and husband of Mary. He is the patron saint of the Universal Church. Traditionally it is believed he died in the presence of Jesus and Mary, before Jesus began his public ministry. For this reason, St. Joseph is also the patron saint of a holy death.
More information can be found here.

Hamaspathmaidyem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2021-03-16 - 2021-03-20
Commemoration and remembrance of all departed souls. Homes and temples are thoroughly cleaned; for it is believed that the souls of departed loved ones (fravashis) visit the physical world during this time, to bless and protect the living.
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Sri Ramakrishna Birth Anniv (Vedanta)
2021-03-15
March 15th marks the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna. Ramakrishna (1836-1886) is regarded as an incarnation of God.
For More Information:
Sri Ramakrishna

Hola Mahalla (Sikh)
2021-03-14
Hola Mohalla takes place on the first day of the lunar month of Chet, which generally falls in March. This tradition was established by the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1701 for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills in controlled battles. Hola Mohalla became an annual event and continues to be celebrated with martial exhibitions, music and poetry competitions, and horseback riding.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Devout Sikhs may be absent this day to celebrate with family and the community at their local Gurdwara.

Month of Fasting Begins (Baha'i)
2021-03-01
Baha’is observe a 19-day month of fasting that culminates at sunset on the day of the spring equinox, which lands either on March 20 or 21. Baha’is abstain from food and water during the day between sunrise and sunset. The Fast is a time to pray and reflect on developing our spiritual qualities.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen-Day_Fast

ala / Loftines (Baha'i)
2021-03-01

Purim (Jewish)
2021-02-26
Purim, one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, commemorates the events in the Book of Esther. It celebrates the survival of the Jews who, in the 5th century BCE, were marked for death by their Persian rulers. Traditions include costumes, retelling the story through skits and songs, festivals geared towards children, and giving care packages to those in need. It is tradition to eat special cookies called Hamentaschen
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Holiday Greeting: Purim Sameach (Happy Purim)
There are no restrictions for students/families.

Ayyam-i-Ha or Intercalary Days (The Bahá’í Faith)
2021-02-25 - 2021-02-28
Ayyam-i-Ha or ” Days of Ha” are devoted to spiritual preparation for the upcoming 19 Day Fast, hospitality, charity, and gift giving. They are celebrated during the four days (five days in a leap year) before the last month of the Baha’i year.
Holiday Greeting: Happy Ayyam-i-Ha

Saka Nankana Sahib (Sikh)
2021-02-21
The Nankana massacre (or Saka Nankana) took place in Nankana Sahib gurdwara on 20 February 1921, at that time of British India, in modern-day Pakistan. More than 260 Sikhs were killed, including children as young as seven, by the Mahant and his mercenaries. The event forms an important part of Sikh history. In political significance, it comes next only to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of April 1919. The saga constitutes the core of the Gurdwara Reform Movement started by the Sikhs in the early twentieth century.
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