Multi-faith calendar

This is a day with equal parts light and dark. Marks a time to give thanks for the harvest, preparation for what’s to come, and acknowledging the change of seasons.

New year’s Day in the Jewish calendar (5786), anniversary of the creation of the world and the first of the Ten days of Awe.

Begins at sunset on Sept. 22, 2025 and ends at nightfall on Sept. 24, 2025.

A 9 day festival occurring twice a year in which Jains revere the Nav-pads, ‘nine-posts,’ the 9 supreme posts in the universe.  This involves a special type of fasting.

National day of remembrance for the victims of the Canadian residential school system.

The Day of Atonement is the year’s holiest day and a day of fasting.  Jews ask forgiveness from and forgive others, as to re-establish oneness with God, as well as confessing their sins and asking God for forgiveness.

Begins at sunset on Oct. 1, 2025 and ends at nightfall on Oct. 2, 2025.

A pilgrimage feast and a time of thanksgiving for God’s presence in creation and among the Jewish people.

Begins at sunset on Oct. 6, 2025.

Shmini Atzeret, the Eighth Day of Assembly, is a holiday that concludes Sukkot and marks the beginning of winter in Israel.

Begins at sunset on Oct. 13, 2025 and ends at nightfall on Oct. 14, 2025.

Simhat Torah, Rejoicing of the Law, celebrates the beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle at the synagogue.

Celebrates Guru Gobind Singhi Ji (10th Guru) passing the Guruship to the Holy Scriptures.

Commemorated the return of Guru Hargobind Ji (6th Guru) to the holy city of Amritsar after negotiating the release of himself and 52 princes held for political reasons.

Diwali is a popular festival known as the Festival of Lights, celebrated continuously for five days, associated with a story about the destruction of evil by Lord Vishnu in one of his many manifestations.  Also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains.

On this day the 24th Tirthankara attained nirvana and release from the cycle of rebirth.

The Herald of the new age for Bahá’ís.

Báha’u’lláh is the founder of the Bahá’í faith.

Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the founder of the Sikh faith, an accomplished poet and the first of the Ten Gurus in 1469 CE.

The ninth of the Ten Gurus, Guru Tegh Bahadur is remembered for his defense of the Sikh faith, but also for being willing to give up his life for religious liberty of all faiths (1621-1675).

Bodhi Day/Rohatsu, or Awakening Day, commemorates the day in which Siddartha Gautama sat underneath the Bodhi tree, or sacred fig tree, and attained enlightenment.

The festival of rededication also known as the Festival of Lights. It marks the expulsion of the invading Seleucid Greeks in second century BCE.

Celebrates the birth of Christ, the promised messiah.  More importance is given to this holiday in Western Christianity.

Death of Prophet Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrian faith who lived somewhere between 6000 – 2000 BCE.

Because the beginning is marked by sighting the moon, the actual date is not always predictable (3 days form the first full moon in January).

Celebrated by the Armenian Orthodox Church.

A harvest festival that marks the increase of the sun twinned with the Punjab celebration Lohri, which marks the passing of the winter solstice.

A North Indian celebration associated with Saraswati and Lakshmi, the Goddess of Learning and the Goddess of Wealth as well as the colour yellow.

Nehan-e is the Mahayana memorial of the historical Buddha’s passing away.

“The Great Night of Shiva” is a major festival in Hinduism, but one that is solemn and marks a remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world and honors the God Shiva.

The first day after the new moon, a religious and cultural festival for Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans of Buddhist and other backgrounds.

The month of fasting, self-examination and devotion during which physically able Muslims do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset.

Losar is a 15 day celebration, with the main celebration on the first 3 days.

The festival of lots is a holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish exiles in Persia, from the destructive plot by Haman.

Begins at sunset on Mar. 2, 2026 and ends at nightfall on Mar. 3, 2026

The Festival of Colours that welcomes Spring, generally celebrated over two days, with people throwing colourful powder and coloured water on each other.

A 3 day festival celebrated around the time of the Hindu festival of Holi that incorporates martial arts demonstrations and simulated battles.

A nine day festival dedicated to nine forms of Goddess Shakti.

Marks the end of Ramadan (observance begins at sunset of the previous day).  A special service is celebrated at mosques.

The first day of spring marks the beginning of longer days and more sunshine.  This is a time for change, growth and renewal.

Norooz, “new day,” is New Year’s Day in the Fasli seasonal calendar celebrating the renewal of the world, the creation of fire and the day Zarathustra received his revelation.

New Year’s Day, the first day of the year in the Bahá’í Era, in which practitioners break-fast and celebrate during the evening.

Celebrates the birth of the Lord Mahavira, “Great Hero,” the 24th and last Tirthankara of his time: a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over life’s stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow.

Passover commemorates the story of Exodus in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.

Begins at sunset on Apr. 1, 2026 and ends at nightfall on Apr. 9, 2026.

Because the beginning is marked by sighting the moon, the actual date is not always predictable (3 days from the first full moon in April).

The celebration of the Easter Triduum opens with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, reaches its climax in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening prayer on Easter Sunday.  Christians celebrate the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ.  It is the high point of the liturgical year.

Commemorates the Passion of Christ and his submission to death by crucifixion.

Commemorates the Passion of Christ and his submission to death by crucifixion.

Celebrates the resurrection of Christ.

Celebrates the resurrection of Christ.

Marks the first day of the year in the Nanakshahi Era.  It also commemorates the day in 1699 that Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the 10th guru, removed the clerical system from Sikhism and affirmed the direct connection between Sikhs and the Divine.

The Festival of Ridván—meaning “the King of Festivals”—runs for 12 days to commemorate the 12 days Báha’u’lláh spent in the garden of Ridván outside Baghdad.  The 1st, 9th, and 12th days are holy days on which work is suspended.