Mawlid
Culture/religion: Islamic
Date: October 29
Mawlid commemorates the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad on 12 Rabi’ al-awwal, the twelfth day of the third month in the Islamic calendar. In predominantly Muslim countries, Mawlid al-Nabi is a public holiday.
Many Muslims do not celebrate this holiday, as they feel it puts too much emphasis on the prophet as human and distracts from the true divine source of revelation. On the other hand, many Muslims see this festival as a way of teaching their community about the prophet’s way of life.
Some Muslims celebrate in private homes, while others decorate mosques with lights and hold large festive gatherings.
Sources:
Birthday of the Prophet: Mawlid al-Nabi, The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
Reformation Day
Culture/religion: Christianity
Date: October 31
Reformation Day commemorates Dr. Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. This act triggered the movement in world history known as the Reformation.
The Reformation was the great rediscovery of the doctrine of justification, that is, the good news of the salvation of all sinners by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone. It was also a protest against the corruption within the Roman Catholic Church.
Sources:
The Connection between Halloween and Reformation Day, Christianity.com