Religious Holidays

Religious Holidays and Observances, are specific days of the year set aside to celebrate something that is religion based.  There are many different religions in the world, and many have different special days relative to their religion. 

Many days like Religious Freedom Day, apply to ALL religions, and promote the idea that we should all be free to celebrate our individual religion. In many Countries around the World, this is not the case, and there is persecution, and even death for practicing your chosen religion. In late 2013, it has been reported that Christians are now, the most persecuted religion around the world. (Previously, it had been the Jews)

Some religious days, are established to celebrate the life of a person within an individual Religion that made an impact.  Some special days like World Prayer Day, can apply to any religion, or any individual. Anyone can pray whether they are religious or not. Often, in a moment of crisis, or danger many will turn to God for help.

What is Religion?

According to Dictionary.com, Religion is defined as: 

1. A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.
2. A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion.
3. The body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions.
4. The life, or state of a monk, nun etc.: to enter religion.
5. The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

What is Faith?

In the Bible, in Hebrews 1:1 Faith is defined as:

1. Now Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

In the Merriam Webster Dictionary, Faith is defined as:

1. Strong belief or trust in someone or something
2. Belief in the existence of God: strong religious feelings or beliefs
3. A system of religious beliefs

Religious Holidays By Month

January 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Catholic Schools Week - January 29 - February 4, 2023 (Begins on the last Sunday in January)
• International Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - January 18-25

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - January 1 (Catholic)
• St. Basil's Day - January 1 (Orthodox Christian)
• Epiphany, or Three Kings Day - January 6 (12th Day after Christmas)
• Orthodox Christmas Day - January 7
• Baptism of the Lord - January 8, 2023 (Sunday after Epiphany)
• Play God Day - January 9
• Feast of the Ass (Donkey) - January 14 (Celebrates all the donkeys of the Bible)
• Orthodox New Year - January 14
• Take a Missionary to Lunch Day - January 14
• World Religion Day - January 15, 2023 (Third Sunday in January)
• Religious Freedom Day - January 16
• National Sanctity of Human Life Day - January 18
  

February 2023 Religious Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Spiritual Teachers Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Brotherhood / Sisterhood Week - February 19-25, 2023 (Third Week in February)
• Catholic Schools Week - January 29 - February 4, 2023 (Begins on the last Sunday in January)
• Isra and Mi'raj (Muslim Holiday) - Evening of February 17, 2023 to Evening of February 18, 2023
• Jewish Book Week - February 25 - March 5, 2023
• Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
• Losar - February 19-23, 2023 - The Tibetan New Year, typically a three-day festival that mixes sacred and secular practices that include prayers, ceremonies, hanging prayer flags, as well as sacred and folk dancing and partying. The first day is the most important. (Buddhist)
• Orthodox Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
• Shrovetide - February 19-21, 2022 (Shrove Tuesday, and the Two Days Preceding it)
• Tu B'Shevat (Arbor Day) - Evening of February 5 - Evening of February 6, 2023
• World Interfaith Harmony Week - February 1-7 (First Week of February)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Candlemas - February 2
• Imbolic - February 2 (Pagan)
• Four Chaplains Day - February 3
• World Day of the Sick - February 11
• Race Relations Day - February 14
• Valentine's Day - February 14 
• Nirvana Day - February 15 (Buddhist)
• Fat Thursday - February 16, 2023 (Catholic)
• Maja Shivaratri (Hindu Holiday) - February 18, 2023
• Orthodox Meatfare Sunday - February 19, 2023
• Paczki Day - February 21, 2023 (Always Shrove Tuesday - 47 Days Before Easter)
• Shrove Tuesday / Mardi Gras - February 21, 2023
• Ash Wednesday - February 22, 2023 (First Day of Lent)
• Clean Monday - February 27, 2023 (Orthodox Christian)
• Orthodox Green Monday - February 27, 2023

March 2023 Religious Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Spiritual Wellness Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Consider Christianity Week - March 26 - April 1, 2023 (Begins the Second Sunday before Easter)
• Holi - Evening of March 6 - Evening of March 7, 2023 (Hindu)
  
• Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
  
• National Catholic Sisters Week - March 8-14
  
• Orthodox Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
• Passiontide - March 26 - April 8, 2023 (The Last Two Weeks of Lent - Passion Week and Holy Week)
• Ramadan - Evening of March 22, 2023 - Evening of April 20, 2023 (Dates may vary depending on location) - (Muslim Holiday)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• St. David's Day - March 1
• Shabbot Across America / Canada - March 3, 2023
• World Day of Prayer - March 3, 2023 (First Friday in March)
• Holy Experiment Day - March 4
• Ta' Anit Esther - March 6, 2023 (Jewish)
• Good Samaritan Involvement Day - March 13
• St. Patrick's Day - March 17
• Goddess of Fertility Day - March 18
• Mothering Sunday - March 19, 2023 (21 Days before Easter)
• Saint Joseph's Day - March 19
• Atheists Pride Day - March 20 and June 6
• Spring Equinox - March 20, 2023 (Pagan)
• International Day of Nowruz - March 21
• Nowruz - March 21
• The Annunciation - Known also as The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the Feast of the Annunciation (Christianity) - March 25
• Orthodox Forgiveness Sunday - March 26, 2023
• Knights of Columbus Founders Day - March 29

April 2023 Religious Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Holy Humor Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Consider Christianity Week - March 26 - April 1, 2023 (Begins the Second Sunday before Easter)
• Eid-Al-Fitr - Evening of April 21, 2023 through the Evening of April 22, 2023 (Muslim)
• Festival of Ridvan - April 20 - May 2, 2023
• Golden Rule Week - April 1-7
  
• Holy Week - April 2-8, 2023 (Begins on Palm Sunday and Ends on Holy Saturday)
• Just Pray No! Worldwide Weekend of Prayer and Fasting - April 15-16, 2022
  
• Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
• Orthodox Holy Week - April 9-15, 2023
  
• Orthodox Lent - February 22 - April 8, 2023 (Begins on Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday)
• Passion Week - April 2-8, 2023 (Starts on the Fifth Sunday in Lent; the Week before Holy Week)
  
• Passiontide - March 26 - April 8, 2023 (The Last Two Weeks of Lent - Passion Week and Holy Week)
• Passover (also known as Pesach) - Evening of April 5 - Evening of April 13, 2023
• Pesach (also known as Passover) - Evening of April 5 - Evening of April 13, 2023 (movable date)
  
• Ramadan - Evening of March 22, 2023 - Evening of April 20, 2023 (Dates may vary depending on location) - (Muslim Holiday)
• Yom HaAtzmaut - Evening of April 25, 2023 to Evening of April 26, 2023
• Yom HaShoah - Evening of April 17, 2023 to Evening of April 18, 2023
• Yom HaZikaron - Evening of April 24, 2023 to Evening of April 25, 2023

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Atheist Day - April 1
• Palm Sunday - April 2, 2023 (The Sunday one week prior to Easter)
• Holy Monday - April 3, 2023 (6 Days Before Easter)
• Holy Tuesday - April 4, 2023 (Tuesday of Holy Week)
• Victims of Violence Holy Day - April 4
• First Day of Passover - April 5, 2023
• Holy Wednesday - April 5, 2023 (4 Days Before Easter)
• Holy Thursday - April 6, 2023
• Maundy Thursday - April 6, 2023
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Day - April 6
• Good Friday - April 7, 2023
• Buddha Day - April 8 (Buddhist - Historical Birth Date)
• Holy Saturday - April 8, 2023
• Easter Sunday - April 9, 2023
• Orthodox Palm Sunday - April 9, 2023
• Easter Monday - April 10, 2023 (The Monday after Easter)
• Last Day of Passover - April 13, 2023
• Orthodox Good Friday - April 14, 2023
• Father Damien Day - April 15
• Orthodox Holy Saturday - April 15, 2023
• Orthodox Easter - April 16, 2023
• Orthodox Easter Monday - April 17, 2023
• National Ask An Atheist Day - April 20, 2023 (Third Thursday in April)
• "In God We Trust Day" - April 22
• Beltane (Pagan) - April 30
• Walpurgis Night - April 30 (Pagan)

May 2023 Religious Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Jewish American Heritage Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Festival of Ridvan - April 20 - May 2, 2023
  
• Lag B'omer - Evening of May 8 - Evening of May 9, 2023 (18th Day of the Month of Lyar in Jewish Calendar)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• National Day of Prayer - May 4, 2023 (First Thursday in May)
• National Day of Reason - May 4, 2023 (First Thursday in May) - Set up in 2003 by Humanists/Atheists on the same day as the National Day of Prayer for a secular alternative.
• Day of Vesak - May 5, 2023 (Buddhist)
• Joseph Brackett Day - May 6
• Ascension Day (of Jesus) - May 18, 2023
• End of the World or Rapture Party Day - May 21
• Declaration of the Bab Day (Bahai Faith) - May 23
• Pentecost - May 28, 2023
• Whit Sunday - May 28, 2023 (Seventh Sunday after Easter) Also known as Pentecost or Whitsunday
• Ascension of Baha'u'Llah - May 29 (Baha'i)
• Pentecost Monday - May 29, 2023 
• Whit Monday - May 29, 2023 

June 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Hug An Atheist Day - June 2, 2023 (First Friday in June)
• Trinity Sunday - June 4, 2023
• Atheists Pride Day - June 6 and March 20
• Corpus Christi - June 8, 2023 (Catholic)
• Atheists Solidarity Day - June 21
• Summer Solstice - June 21 (Pagan)
• World Peace and Prayer Day - June 21, 2023 (First Day of Summer)
• St. Baptiste Day - June 24
• School Prayer Banned Anniversary - June 25
• Feast of Saints Peter and Paul - June 29

July 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Ashura - Evening of July 27 - Evening of July 28, 2023
• Fast of Tammuz - Evening of July 5, 2023 to Evening of July 6, 2023 (Jewish Holiday)
• Islamic New Year - Evening of July 18, 2023 to Evening of July 19, 2023
• Muharram (Islamic New Year) - Evening of July 18, 2023 to Evening of July 19, 2023
• Tish B'av - Evening of July 26, 2023 - Evening of July 27, 2023 (Jewish)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Saint Swithin's Day - July 15
• Church of Latter Day Saints Pioneer Day - July 24
• Feast of Saint James - July 25
• Army Chaplain Corps Anniversary - July 29
• National Day of Lament - July 29, 2023 (Last Saturday in July)

August 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Tu B'av - Evening of August 1, 2023 to Evening of August 2, 202
  

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• International Forgiveness Day - August 6, 2023 (First Sunday in August)
• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - August 15 (Catholic)
• God's Preeminence Day - August 20, 2023 (Third Sunday in August)
• Be an Angel Day - August 22
• Raksha Bandhan - August 30, 2023 (Hindu Holiday)

September 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Global Week of Student Prayer - September 24-30, 2023
• Janmashtami - Evening of September 6, 2023 - Evening of September 7, 2023 (Hindu Holiday)
• Rosh Hashanah - Evening of September 15, 2023 to Evening of September 17, 2023
• Sukkot - Evening of September 29, 2023 to Evening of October 6, 2023 (Jewish)
• Yom Kippur - Evening of September 24, 2023 to Evening of September 25, 2023 (Jewish)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Virgin Mary Day - September 8
• The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - September 14
  
• National Back to Church Sunday - September 17, 2023 (Third Sunday in September)
• Ganesh Chaturthi - (Hindu Holiday) - September 18, 2023
• Mabon - September 22
• See You at the Pole - September 27, 2023 (Fourth Wednesday in September)
• Blasphemy Day - September 30

October 2023 Religious Holidays

Month: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Church Library Month
• Church Safety and Security Month
• Clergy Appreciation Month

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Birth of the Bab - Evening of October 19 - Evening of October 20, 2023
  
• Shemini Atzeret - Evening of October 6, 2023 to Evening of October 7, 2023
• Simchat Torah - Evening of October 7, 2023 to Evening of October 8, 2023 (Jewish)
• Sukkot - Evening of September 29, 2023 to Evening of October 6, 2023 (Jewish)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day - October 4
• Clergy (or Pastor) Appreciation Day - October 8, 2023 (Second Sunday in October
• Sunday School Teacher Appreciation Day - October 19
• Separation of Church and State Day - October 28
  
• All Hallows' Eve - October 31
• Samhain - October 31 (Paganism)

November 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Birth of Baha'u 'Llah - Evening of November 11 - Evening of November 12, 2023
  
• Church / State Separation Week - November 19-25, 2023 (Always Thanksgiving Week)
• National Bible Week - November 19-26, 2023 (Week of U.S. Thanksgiving from Sunday to Sunday)

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• All Saint's Day - November 1
• All Soul's Day - November 2
• Diwali - November 12, 2023 (Hinduism)

December 2023 Religious Holidays

2023 Weeks: (Sorted Alphabetically)

• Advent - December 3 - December 24, 2023
• Hanukkah - Evening of December 7, 2023 through Evening of December 15, 2023 (Jewish)
  
• Kwanzaa - Evening of December 26, 2023 - January 1, 2024
  

2023 Days: (Sorted by Date)

• Advent Sunday - December 3, 2023 (Fourth Sunday Prior to Christmas Day)
• St. Nicholas Day - December 6
• Feast of the Immaculate Conception - December 8 (Catholic)
• Zionism Day - December 16
• Festivus - December 23
• Human Light Celebration - December 23
• Christmas Eve - December 24
• Christmas - December 25
• Holy Innocents Day - December 28

One Minute Sermon

I Love this video from Tamara Lowe: (How many TV show titles can you pick up on?)

Different World Religions

Here are some of the Religions that are popular in the world today.  We will do a devoted page on each of these, and talk about the different holidays and observances that each Religion celebrates:

• Baha'i
• Buddhism
• Candomble
• Christianity
• Christian Science
• Confucianism
• Hinduism
• Islam
• Jainism
• Judaism
• Paganism
• Shamanism
• Shintoism
• Sikhism
• Taoism
• Unitarianism
• Zoroastrianism

Non Religious:

• Agnosticism
• Atheism
• Secular Humanism

Religious Music

Above, is one of my favorite Christian bands, Switchfoot.  There are many different types of religious music and dance, and we will take a more detailed look into many of them.

Each type of religion often has their own traditions, and songs.  There is much diversity, for example, Christian music can range from the traditional hymns like "Amazing Grace" (our Dad's favorite song), to praise and worship music, to contemporary Christian music like the song above that has crossed over into mainstream music, to Gospel music, that is full of soul and hard to sit still when listening to it. Catholic music is pretty traditional and conservative. 

Religious Quotes

Popular Holiday Music

Many of the Popular Religious Holidays have music that is specific to that holiday. We will have a devoted page for each of these with some of the highlights.

• Christmas Music
• Easter Music
• Halloween Music
• Hanukkah Music

Worldwide Religious Festivals and Events

Information will be coming soon!

We have just recently launched our Festivals and Events summary page, and I'm debating about adding a separate Google Calendar for all the Festivals and Event type things.

Pinterest

Follow our Holidays and Observances Religious Holidays Board on Pinterest - below you will see our 30 most recent pins to this photo board!

Click on the SEE ON PINTEREST bar right above, (link opens in Pinterest) to see all the rest of our photo's on this board, and to Follow the board.  This is one board where I'll constantly be adding new pictures to!!

Also....Check out our Pinterest Board on Bible Journaling, using Art & Calligraphy!