January 1
New Year’s Day

Shogatsu (Shinto)
Also called Gatan-sai; Celebration of a new year

January 3
Mahayana Buddhist New Year (Buddhist)
Celebration of the New Year

January 5
Twelfth Night (Christian)
Marks the end of the Christmas season
Guru Gobindh Singh Ji birthday (Sikh)
Honors the birth of the founder of Khalsa 

January 6
Epiphany (Christian)
Commemoration of the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus
Holy Theophany (Armenian)
Celebration of Christmas
Three Kings Day- Dia de los Santos Reyes (Latino)
Celebrates the arrival of the three wise men to the Nativity of Jesus
Christmas Day (Rastafarian)
Celebrates the birth of Christ

January 7
Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox Christian)
Celebration of Christmas
Baptism of the Lord Jesus (Christian)
Commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River 

January 12 
Vivekananda’s Birthday (Hindu)
Celebrates the birth of Hindu leader Swami Vivekananda

January 13
Maghi (Sikh)
A festival to commemorate the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, the Forty Liberated Ones, who laid down their lives warding off an attack by an imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh.

January 14
Makara Sankranti/Pongal (Hindu)
Harvest festival

January 19 
Ashura, Al Hijra (Islamic)
Fast day recognizing the creation, Noah’s departure from the ark, and the saving of Moses from the pharaoh

January 20
First of Muharram (Islamic)
The first day of the Muslim year; commemorates the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina

January 20
World Religion Day (Baha’i)*
Day dedicated to the unity and oneness of all world religions

January 21
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Observance of the birthday of the slain U.S. civil rights leader 

January 22
Mahayana Buddhist New Year (Buddhist)
Celebration of the New Year
Tu B'shvat (Jewish)*
Celebrates the ripening of the first fruits of the year and the coming of spring

January 26
India Republic Day

February 2008

February 2 - 5
Carnival (Brazil)

February  5
Mardi Gras (USA)
Constitution Day (Mexico)

February 7
Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist)
Celebrating and honoring the New Year in Asian Countries
Tet Nguyen Dan (Vietnam)

February 11
Vasant Panchami (Hindu)
Festival dedicated to the goddess Saraswati

February 12
Lantern Festival (Taiwan)

February 14
Valentine's Day

February 15
Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
Observes the death of Buddha

February 18
President's Day (USA)
Celebration of George Washington's birthday; honors all U.S. presidents

February 24
Flag Day (Latino)
Honors the Mexican flag

February 26
First Day of Ala' (Baha'i)
Also called the Nineteen Days of Fasting; month of fasting and meditation between sunrise and sunset; ends March 16

March 2008

March 1
Women’s History Month begins
Commemorates the achievements of women; Ends March 31

March 2
Meatfare Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
Preparation for the resurrection of Christ; last day to eat meat before the start of Orthodox Lent

March 6
Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
A day of celebration honoring Lord Shiva and his marriage to Goddess Parvati

March 8
International Women's Day

March 9
Cheesefare Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
Also called Forgiveness Sunday, a remembrance of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise

March 17
St. Patrick's Day (Catholic Christian)(Ireland, USA)
Honors the patron saint of Ireland

March 20
Mawlid an Nabi (Islamic)
Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad, founder of Islam
Fast of Esther (Jewish)
Commemorates the fast of Queen Esther in order to save the Jewish people of ancient Persia

March 21
Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
Commemorates the day Buddha recited the Fundamental Teaching to his disciples
Good Friday (Christian)
Honors the day of Jesus' crucifixion
Benito Juarez' Birthday (Latino)
Honors the famous Mexican president and national hero

Purim (Jewish)
Commemorates the rescue of the Jewish people in ancient Persia
New Year's Day (India)

March 23
Easter (Christian)
Celebrates the Resurrection of Christ

April 2008

April 1
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month begins
Month-long celebration of Asian and Pacific American culture and heritage; Ends April 30

April 6
Ramayana begins (ends April 14) (Hindu)
Celebrates the epic text the Ramayana

April 13
Baisakhi (Sikh)
Celebration honoring the birth of Khalsa

April 14
Ramanavami (Hindu)
Celebration of Rama's birth
Vaisakhi (Hindu)
Solar New Year

April 20
Pesach (Jewish)*
Passover; commemorates the exodus of the people from ancient Egypt; ends April 27
Theravadin Buddhist New Year (Buddhist)
Three-day celebration honoring the New Year
Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
Commemorates the day Jesus entered Jerusalem

April 21
First Day of Ridvan (Baha'i)
Celebrates the Prophet Baha'u'llah; ends May 2

April 25
Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian)
Marks the day of Jesus' crucifixion

April 27
Easter (Orthodox Christian)
Celebrates the resurrection of Christ
 

May 2008

May 1
Labor Day (Worldwide but USA)

May 2
Yom HaSho'ah (Jewish)*
Holocaust Remembrance Day

May 5
Cinco de Maio (Mexico)
Celebrates the Mexican victory over France

May 9
Victory Day (Russia)

May 11
Mother's Day
Pentecost (Christian and Orthodox Christian)
Observation of the day when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples as tongues of fire and rushing wind

May 18
Isreal's Independence Day (Yom Ha'Atzma'Ut)

May 20
Buddha Day—Visahka Puja (Buddhist)
Festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha

May 23
Declaration of the Bab (Baha'i)
Recognition of Ali Muhammad's declaration that he is the anticipated "Coming One" of all religions
Lag B'Omer (Jewish)*
The 33rd day of counting the Omer, honors the end of an epidemic

May 26
Memorial Day (USA)
Honors members of the Armed Services who were killed in war
 

June 2008

June 9
Shavout (Jewish)*
Celebration of Moses' descent from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments

June 15
Corpus Christi (Catholic Christian)
Celebration of the Eucharist

June 22
All Saints (Orthodox Christian)
Marks the close of the Easter season; honors the deaths of all martyrs

June 29
Feast Day of Saint Peter and Paul (Catholic Christian)
Remembrance of the suffering of the Apostles Peter and Paul

July 2008

July 4
Independence Day (USA)
The USA mational holiday

July 13
Obon-Ulambana (Buddhist)
The gates of Hell are opened on this day; ghosts may visit the world for 15 days

July 14
Bastille Day (France)
The French National holiday

July 31
Lailat al Miraj (Islamic)
Festival honoring the night journey and ascent of the Prophet Muhammad

August 2008

August 1
Lammas (Catholic Christian)
First fruits celebration

August 10
Tisha B'av (Jewish)*
A day of mourning to commemorate the tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people

August 14
Pakistan's Independence Day (Pakistan)

August 15
Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary (Catholic Christian)
Commemorates the day Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken directly to heaven
India's Independence Day (India)
Liberation Day (Korea, South Korea)

August 18
Lailat al Bara'ah (Islamic)
Night of Forgiveness

August 24
Krishna Jayanti (Hindu)
Celebrates the birth of the god Krishna


September 2008

September 1
Religious year begins (Orthodox Christian)
The start of the Ecclesiastical year

September 2
Ramadan begins (Islamic)
Commemoration of Muhammad's reception of the divine revelation recorded in the Qur'an; the holiest period of the Islamic year, ends September 29.

September 3
Labor Day (USA)

September 7
Independace Day (Brazil)

September 8
Nativity of Virgin Mary (Christian)
Celebrates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus
 
September 11
Patriot Day (USA)
Honors those who lost their lives in the U.S. terrorist attacks of 2001

September 26
Jummatul Wida (Islamic)
Celebrates the last Friday of Ramadan 

September 27
Lailat ul Qadr (Islamic)
Night of destiny; first revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad

September 30
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)*
Celebration of the New Year

October 2008

October 1
Eid al Fitr (Islamic)*
Fast marking the close of Ramadan

October 4
St. Francis Day (Catholic Christian)
Recognition of the saint's service to people and appreciation of the natural world

October 9
Yom Kippur (Jewish)*
Day of Atonement; holiest day of the year

October 13
Columbus Day (USA)
Commemorates the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus

October 14
Sukkot (Jewish)*
A pilgrimage and harvest festival; commemorates the exodus from Egypt

October 20
Birth of the Bab (Baha'i)
Celebrates the birth of Baha'I founder Mirza Ali-Muhammad

IOctober 21
Semini Atzeret (Jewish)*
The Eighth Day of Assembly, culminates the celebration of renewal and thanksgiving
Cirio de Nazare (Brazil)

October 22
Simchat Torah (Jewish)*
Rejoicing of the Law 

October 28
Diwali (Hindu, Sikh)
Festival of lights; lunar new year

October 31
All Hallows Eve (Catholic Christian)
Celebration before the feast of All Saints when the spirit and living world become more intertwined

November 2008

November 1
All Saints’ Day (Christian)
Celebrates all the saints

November 2
All Souls’ Day (Catholic Christian)
Commemorates the faithful departed 
Day of the Dead (Latino)
Honors Mexico’s dead 

November 4
Election Day (USA)

November 11
Veteran's Day
Commemorates the signing of the Armistice ending World War I; honors all who have served in American wars

November 12
Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)
Celebrates the birth of the Baha'i messiah

November 15
Republic Day (Brazil)
Celebrates the instalation of the republican regime in Brazil

November 27
Thanksgiving (USA)

November 28
Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (Baha'i)
Celebrates the rising of the spirit of Abdul-Baha to the heavenly dwelling
 

December 2008

December 7
Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
Honors soldiers and citizens who lost their lives during the Pearl Harbor attack
Waqf al Araga (Islamic)
Islamic observance day during Hajj when the pilgrims pray for forgiveness and mercy
 

December 8
Immaculate Conception of Mary (Catholic Christian)
Honors the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was preserved from original sin all of her life

December 9
Eid ul-Adha (Islamic)
Four day festival of sacrifice occurring on the last day of the Hajj

December 12
Virgin of Guadalupe Feast Day (Mexico)
Honors the legendary appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531

December 21
Hanukkah begins (Jewish) *
Festival of lights and rededication; continues through December 27

December 24
Christmas Eve (Christian)
A celebration the night before the commemoration of the birth of Jesus

December 25
Christmas (Christian)
Celebrates the birth of Jesus

December 26
Kwanzaa begins (African American)
Seven day celebration of family, heritage and harvest, ends January 1

December 29
Al-Hijra
The first day of the Muslim year; commemorates the migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina

December 31
New Year's Eve