Jashan-e Amardad (Zoroastrian)
2026-07-25
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.

Asalha Puja (Buddhism)
2026-07-29
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 Kamal / Perfection (Baha'i)
2026-08-01
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.

Lammas (Pagan)
2026-08-01
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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Muktad or Fravardegan (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2026-08-05 - 2026-08-14
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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Feast of the Assumption (Catholic)
2026-08-15
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)
2026-08-15
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

Pateti (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2026-08-16
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 Asma / Names (Baha'i)
2026-08-20

Khordad Sal (Parsi Zoroastrian)
2026-08-20
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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Raksha Bandham (Hindu)
2026-08-28
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.

Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib (Eternal Guru) (Sikh)
2026-09-01
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)
2026-09-08

Paryushan (Jain)
2026-09-08 - 2026-09-15
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.

Erev (eve of) Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
2026-09-11 18:00 - 23:59 (America/New_York)
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.

Paitishahem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2026-09-12 - 2026-09-16
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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Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
2026-09-12 - 2026-09-13
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.
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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.

Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Orthodox Christianity)
2026-09-14
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.

GurGaddi of Guru Angad Sahib (2nd Guru) (Sikh)
2026-09-18
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.
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Holiday Greeting: “Vadhaaiaa Ji” – Congratulations!
Students and/Co-Workers may visit their local Gurdwara at some point during the day

Yom Kippur (Jewish)
2026-09-20 19:00 - 2026-09-21 19:00
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. The focus of this holiday is on contemplation repentance. Jews are taught that sins between people can only be atoned for after personal reconciliation. It is considered to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year. Fasting begins at sundown and ends after nightfall the following day. Most Jews attend synagogue on this day and the preceding evening. This holiday closes out the period of the High Holy Days.
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Holiday Greeting: G’mar chatimah tovah (May you be sealed in the Book of Life) – AND – tzom kal (easy fast)
Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. Individuals may be absent from school or work. Students will likely miss school for this holiday. Many who are 13 or older, will also likely be fasting. Work is traditionally prohibited.

Durga Puja (Vedanta)
2026-09-21 - 2026-09-25
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/

Autumn Equinox - Mabon (Pagan)
2026-09-23
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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Sukkot (Jewish)
2026-09-25 - 2026-10-02
Sukkot is a seven-day festival marking the fall harvest in ancient Israel. This holiday is also a time in which Jews commemorate forty years of wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. Celebrated by the building of a sukkah (or temporary dwelling) outdoors, where families and friends spend time throughout the holiday. Work is traditionally prohibited on the first and second days.
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Some students may miss school, the first and second day of the festival. Commonly observed by synagogue attendance or family gatherings. Work is traditionally prohibited.

Feast of Mashiyyat / Will (Baha'i)
2026-09-27

Jashan-e Mihragan (Zoroastrian)
2026-10-02
This autumnal community celebration involves prayers of thanksgiving and blessings of the community.
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Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
2026-10-02 - 2026-10-04
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)
2026-10-03 19:00 - 2026-10-04 19:00
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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Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi (Catholic)
2026-10-04
Today, Catholics celebrate Francis of Assisi, who abandoned a life of luxury for a life devoted to Christian poverty, interreligious dialogue and peacemaking. He is the founder of an order of priests, and it is Francis who originated the practice of commemorating the birth of Jesus with the nativity scene. He is the patron saint of animals and the environment.
More Information can be found here.
Some catholic parishes celebrate this feast day with prayer services held outdoors and a special blessing of animals.

Navaratri (Hindu)
2026-10-11 - 2026-10-20
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.

Ayathrem Gahambar (Zoroastrian)
2026-10-12 - 2026-10-16
Ayathrem (literally: bring home the herds) Gahambar celebrates getting ready for winter. 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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