Holi Culture/religion: Hindu Date: March 28 Holi, sometimes called “the festival of love” or “the festival of colors,” is one of the most revered and celebrated festivals in India. This is a day when people come together to forget all resentments and bad feelings toward others. The ritual of Holi begins by lighting a bonfire on the day prior to Holi; a process … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – March 22-28, 2021
Vasant Panchami Culture/religion: Hindu Date: February 16 Vasant Panchami is a festival marking the arrival of the spring season in India and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magha. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati – the Goddess of knowledge, music, learning and arts – who is the wife of Brahma, who created the universe. It is … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – February 15-21, 2021
New Year's Day Culture/religion: National observance Date: January 1 The earliest celebrations of a new year go back 4,000 years to ancient Babylon. The Babylonians marked the new year with the first new moon following the vernal equinox, which would have been a day with equal sunlight and darkness in late March. As time went on, more sophisticated calendars were … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – January 1-10, 2021
Yule (Winter Solstice) Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan Date: December 21 Yule is a Pagan holiday that takes place on the day of the winter solstice. It originated with early Germanic peoples and is considered a time of rebirth, renewal, new beginnings. The winter solstice is when the earth’s axis tilts away from the sun, and the sun reaches its greatest distance from … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – December 21-27, 2020
National Native American Indian Heritage Month Culture/religion: National observance Date: November Native American Heritage Month has evolved from a week-long celebration when president Ronald Reagan proclaimed November 23-30 as “American Indian Week” to a month-long celebration in 1990 when president George H.W. Bush issued a proclamation designating the month of … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – November 1-8, 2020