2017 2018 18-month Interfaith - Center for Diversity ...
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2017 & 2018 18-month Interfaith Calendar
2
Did you know?
the St. Louis community celebrates hundreds of different
religious holidays.
Diversity Awareness Partnership’s Interfaith Calendar is distributed
annually and features observances celebrated across 26 religious
traditions. Take one with you to meetings, keep it in your office,
bring it to your class, or just have it handy at home. Please use this
calendar as a guide to better understand, acknowledge, and respect
friends’, neighbors’, employees’ and co-workers’ holidays.
To be more accommodating, please consider the following:
FOOD
Halal and Kosher restrictions may apply. Consider vegetarian,
non-alcoholic, and non-caffeinated options. During some holidays,
individuals will be fasting.
HOURS
Consider allowing flexibility in work/school hours, as some holidays
may require individuals to attend their place of worship during the
day.
ABSENCE
Some individuals may request to use vacation or personal days for
holidays that are not recognized as company or school-wide days off.
DEADLINES
Consider allowing flexibility for deadlines around important holidays,
as some individuals may be participating in celebrations or fasting,
which could cause decreased stamina.
PRAYER
Consider designating a space for employees or students to pray, as
some holidays may require increased prayer throughout the day/
evening.
NOTES:
This calendar aims to be as inclusive as possible. Please contact us if
you would like the 2018 Interfaith Calendar to include a holiday that is
not currently listed.
All content in this calendar is based on information available at the
time of production. To the greatest extent possible, holidays based on
lunar phases or other variables that change yearly have been 3
factored into observance dates. The spelling of certain observances
may vary as well.
The length of some holidays and the extent to which they are
observed may vary according to denominational affiliations or regions.
All Baha’i, Jewish and Muslim holidays begin at sunset the previous
day.
We encourage all places of worship to be accessible to persons with
disabilities by making necessary accommodations. Contact DAP for
additional information.
More about religions/holidays:
http://www.interfaith-calendar.org/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/multifaith-calendar/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/
USE THE FOLLOWING COLORS AS A GUIDE TO FIND CELEBRATIONS BY
SPECIFIC RELIGIONS/DENOMINATIONS:
Rastafarian Scientologist
Buddhist Catholic Christian
Sikh Swedenborgian Christian
Hindu Christian
Wiccan/Pagan Orthodox Christian
Jain Mormon
Confucian Protestant Christian
Jewish Jehovah’s Witnesses
Shinto Hispanic Christian
Pan-African Anglican Christian
Baha’i Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Muslim
Interfaith
Zoroastrian
Taoist
Interested in ordering calendars for your home, office, school or
place of worship? Request more at dapstl.org today.
4
JANUARY
1 SUNDAY Ethiopian Christmas | 15 SUNDAY
Mary, Mother of God Rastafarian World Religion Day
| Catholic Christian Celebration of the birth of | Baha’i
Celebration of Mary, the Jesus Christ Day dedicated to the unity
mother of Jesus Christ and oneness of all world
Fast of Tevet 10 | Jewish religions
Feast of St. Basil (until 1/8)
| Orthodox Christian Day of fasting, mourning, Week of Prayer for
Commemoration of St. Basil and repentance Christian Unity
the Great, who wrote a | Christian (until 1/22)
great Eucharist liturgy that 8 SUNDAY Ecumenical observance
bears his name Baptism of the Lord focused on prayer for
Jesus | Christian church unity
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai Commemoration of the
| Shinto beginning of the public 17 TUESDAY
New Year’s Day celebration ministry of Jesus Blessing of the Animals
| Christian
5 THURSDAY 9 MONDAY Observance of showing
Twelfth Night | Christian Seijin no Hi | Shinto respect for domestic
Conclusion of the 12 Days Holiday honoring those animals that are significant
of Christmas who have reached, or will to people
reach the age of twenty
Guru Gobind Singh’s within the current year 19 THURSDAY
Birthday | Sikh Timkat | Ethiopian
Honoring the birth of the 12 THURSDAY Orthodox Christian
founder of Khalsa Mahayana New Year Celebration of the baptism
| Buddhist (until 1/15) of Jesus in the Jordan River
6 FRIDAY Buddhist New Year, as
Epiphany/Three Kings celebrated in Mahayana Triodion Begins |
Day | Christian countries Orthodox Christian
Feast to celebrate the visit (ends 4/16)
of the Magi to the Christ 13 FRIDAY Time period leading up to
child Maghi | Sikh Lent
Commemoration of a battle
Feast of Theophany in which forty Sikhs died 25 WEDNESDAY
| Orthodox Christian for Guru Gobindh Singh Ji Conversion of St. Paul
Feast to recall the | Christian
revelation of the Holy 14 SATURDAY Event in the life of Paul the
Trinity in the baptism of Makar Sankranti | Hindu Apostle, after which he
Jesus Celebration marking the became a follower of Jesus
turning of the sun toward
7 SATURDAY the north; observed by 28 SATURDAY
Orthodox Christmas flying kites, feeding the Chinese New Year |
| Orthodox Christian poor and offering libations Buddhist, Confucian,
Celebration of the birth of to the dead Taoist
Jesus Christ Begins a fifteen-day
festival for Chinese people
of all religions, who give
thanks for family and
remember ancestors
february 5
1 WEDNESDAY 11 SATURDAY 25 SATURDAY
Vasant Panchami | Hindu Spring Lantern Festival | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu
Festival of spring honoring Taoist Festival honoring Lord Shiva
the goddess of learning Marks the final day of and his marriage to the
the Chinese New Year goddess Parvati
2 THURSDAY celebrations, Chinese
Imbolc | Wiccan/Pagan equivalent to Valentine’s 26 SUNDAY
Halfway between the Day Intercalary Days | Baha’i
Winter Solstice and the (until 3/1)
Spring Equinox; celebrates 14 TUESDAY Insertion of days into
the passage from winter to Race Relations Day the calendar in order to
spring | Christian maintain the solar calendar,
Day recognizing the considered ‘days outside
Presentation of Christ in importance of interracial of time’
the Temple | Christian relations and learning
Remembrance of the infant Cheesefare Sunday |
Jesus being brought to the St. Valentine’s Day Orthodox Christian
temple in Jerusalem | Christian The Sunday of forgiveness,
Feast Day of St. Valentine, last Sunday before Lent
3 FRIDAY celebrating love and
Setsubun-sai | Shinto affection Transfiguration Sunday |
Celebration of the change Christian
of seasons with the coming 15 WEDNESDAY Feast day celebrating the
of spring with shouts of, Nirvana Day | Buddhist transfiguration of Jesus
“Devils out, Good Fortune Observance of the physical
in!” death and spiritual 27 MONDAY
enlightenment of the Clean Monday - Great
5 SUNDAY Buddha Lent Begins | Orthodox
Four Chaplains Sunday | Christian
Interfaith 18 SATURDAY Start of Lent for Orthodox
Commemoration of U.S. National Founding U.S.A. Christians, refers to the
Army chaplains who gave | Scientologist leaving behind of sinful
their lives to save others Founding of the first Church attitudes and non-fasting
during WWII of Scientology in the U.S., foods
the Church of Scientology
10 FRIDAY of Los Angeles in 1954 28 TUESDAY
Tu B’Shvat | Jewish (until Shrove Tuesday (Fat
2/11) 19 SUNDAY Tuesday) | Christian
Celebration of the coming Meatfare Sunday Carnival day on the eve of
of Spring | Orthodox Christian Ash Wednesday
Observance preparing the
faithful for the celebration
of the resurrection of
Christ
6
March
1 WEDNESDAY 13 MONDAY 25 SATURDAY
Ash Wednesday L. Ron Hubbard’s Annunciation of the
(Beginning of Lent) Birthday | Scientologist Blessed Virgin Mary
| Christian Marks the birth of L. | Christian
Observance to begin the Ron Hubbard, founder of Feast Day commemorating
40 day season of Lent; Scientology Mary being told by the
ashes are marked on angel Gabriel that she
worshippers’ foreheads as Holi | Hindu would be the mother of
a sign of repentance Spring festival dedicated Jesus, the Son of God.
to the god of pleasure
2 THURSDAY 28 TUESDAY
Nineteen Day Fast Hola Mohalla | Sikh Khordad Sal | Zoroastrian
| Baha’i (until 3/20) Week-long event including Remembrance of the birth
Fast to be observed by mock fights, kirtan, music of Prophet Zarathustra
adult Baha’is in good health poetry, and community
from sunrise to sunset meals Week of the Ramayana
| Hindu (until 4/5)
5 SUNDAY 17 FRIDAY Festival celebrating Lord
Orthodox Sunday | St. Patrick’s Day Rama, in which the Ram
Orthodox Christian | Christian Lila is staged and the
First Sunday of Lent, at Feast Day of St. Patrick Ramayana is recited
which time restoration who brought Christianity to
of icons in the church is Ireland
celebrated.
20 MONDAY
10 FRIDAY Ostara | Wiccan/Pagan
Ta’anit Esther | Jewish Welcoming of spring
(until 3/11) and celebration of the
Fast on Purim eve, goddess-as-maiden (Vernal
commemorating the fast Equinox)
of the Jewish people in the
story of Purim 21 TUESDAY
Naw-Ruz | Baha’i
12 SUNDAY Observance of the Vernal
Magha Puja Day Equinox
| Buddhist
Celebration of the Norooz | Zoroastrian
teachings by Lord Buddha New Year
to an assembly of holy men
Purim | Jewish (until
3/13)
Celebration of the
deliverance of the Jewish
minority in Persia from
genocideApril 7
4 TUESDAY Pesach/Passover 16 SUNDAY
Qingming Festival | | Jewish (until 4/18) Easter/Pascha |
Taoist, Confucian Eight day celebration of the Christian, Orthodox
Also known as Tomb deliverance of the Jews Christian
Sweeping Day, important from slavery in Egypt Holy day commemorating
day showing respect for the resurrection of Jesus
ancestors 11 TUESDAY Christ
Lord’s Evening Meal
5 WEDNESDAY | Jehovah’s Witnesses 21 FRIDAY
Rama Navami | Hindu Memorial commemoration First Day of Ridvan
Celebration of the birth of of Christ’s death | Baha’i (until 5/2)
Lord Rama Commemoration of the
Hanuman Jayanti | Hindu twelve-day period in 1863
6 THURSDAY Celebration of Hanuman, an when Baha’u’llah declared
Founding of the Church embodiment of Lord Rama. that he was God’s
| Mormon Devotion and selfless messenger for this age.
Commemoration of the works are encouraged.
appearance of the angel, Grounation Day |
Moroni, in 1830 to Joseph Theravadin New Year Rastafarian
Smith; subsequently | Buddhist (until 4/14) Holy day celebrated in
founding the Church of Buddhist New Year, as honor of Haile Selassie’s
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day celebrated in Theravadin 1966 visit to Jamaica.
Saints countries
22 SATURDAY
8 SATURDAY 13 THURSDAY Yom HaShoah | Jewish
Lazarus Saturday Maundy Thursday (until 4/23)
| Orthodox Christian | Christian Holocaust Day established
Celebration of the Remembrance of Jesus’ to remember the six million
resurrection of Lazarus by last meal with his disciples Jews killed by the Nazis
Jesus
14 FRIDAY 29 SATURDAY
9 SUNDAY Baisaki/Vaisaki | Sikh, Ninth Day of Ridvan
Palm Sunday | Christian, Hindu | Baha’i
Orthodox Christian Festival commemorating Work is prohibited on this
Celebration of the entry of the establishment of the day, and the community
Jesus to Jerusalem which Khalsa, or the nation of gathers for prayer and
marks the start of Holy Sikhs. Hindu beginning of celebration
Week the New Year
10 MONDAY Good Friday, Holy Friday
Mahavir Jayanti | Jain | Christian, Orthodox
Festival honoring Lord Christian
Mahavira on the founder’s Remembrance of the
birthday crucifixion and death of
Jesus8
May
1 MONDAY 10 WEDNESDAY 25 THURSDAY
Beltane | Wiccan/Pagan Visakha Puja (Buddha Ascension of Jesus
Celebration of the Day) | Buddhist | Christian
conjoining of the goddess Commemorates the birth, Remembrance of the
with the energy of the god enlightenment, and death departure of Jesus from
in sacred marriage, the of Gautama Buddha in the Earth after his resurrection.
basis of all creation Theravada tradition Celebrated 40 days after
Easter.
2 TUESDAY 13 SATURDAY
Twelfth day of Ridvan World Falun Dafa Day/ African Liberation Day |
| Baha’i Falun Gong | Buddhist Pan-African
Work is prohibited on this Celebration of the spiritual Holiday celebrating the
day, and the community discipline introduced in formation of the OAU /
gathers for prayer and China in 1992 African Union.
celebration
Lag B’Omer | Jewish 27 SATURDAY
4 THURSDAY (until 5/14) Ramadan Begins |
National Day of Prayer Observation of the Muslim (until 6/25)
| Interfaith counting of the day - the Month devoted to the
U.S. day of observance link - between Pesach and commemoration of
encouraging prayer among Shavout Muhammad’s reception
all faiths of the divine revelation
21 SUNDAY recorded in the Qur’an
7 SUNDAY World Day for Cultural
Chongmyo Taeje | Diversity for Dialogue & 29 MONDAY
Confucian Development | Interfaith Ascension of Baha’u’llah
Confucian memorial United Nations day to | Baha’i
ceremony to honor the deepen understanding Remembrance of the death
kings and queens of the Yi, of the values of cultural of Baha’u’llah, the founder
or Joseon, Dynasty diversity and to learn to
live more peacefully 30 TUESDAY
9 TUESDAY Shavuot | Jewish (until
Observance of the 23 TUESDAY 5/31)
Publication of Dianetics Declaration of the Bab Celebration of Moses’
| Scientologist | Baha’i descent from Mt. Sinai with
Observance of the Recognition of the the Ten Commandments
publication of Dianetics: declaration by Ali
the Modern Science of Muhammad that he is the Dragon Boat Festival |
Mental Health in 1950, anticipated “Coming One” Taoist
which was the forerunner of all religions Chinese festival
of Scientology commemorating fealty and
filial piety. Three activities
conducted during the
Festival are eating zongzi,
drinking realgar wine, and
racing dragon boats.June 9
4 SUNDAY 21 WEDNESDAY 23 TUESDAY
Pentecost | Christian Litha | Wiccan/Pagan Sacred Heart of Jesus
Remembrance of when Celebration of the sacred | Catholic Christian
the Holy Spirit came to the marriage, in which the Occasion to pay homage to
disciples in the forms of energy of the gods is Christ’s all-encompassing
tongues of fire and rushing poured into the service of love for humanity
wind life (Summer Solstice)
26 MONDAY
11 SUNDAY Laylatul Qadr | Muslim Eid al-Fitr | Muslim (until
Trinity Sunday | Christian The Night of Destiny, 6/28)
Day to honor the belief in the first revelation of Breaking of the month-
one God with a threefold the Qur’an to Prophet long Ramadan fast and a
nature Muhammad festival of thanksgiving
Race Unity Day | Baha’i
Day to promote racial
harmony and understanding
15 THURSDAY
Corpus Christi | Catholic World Day for Cultural
Christian
Celebration in recognition
of the Eucharist (body of
Diversity for Dialogue &
Christ)
Development
16 FRIDAY
In 2001, UNESCO adopted the Universal
Guru Arjan Dev’s
Declaration on Cultural Diversity and in
Martydom | Sikh
Time of remembering December 2002, the UN General Assembly
those who have suffered declared May 21 to be the World Day for Cultural
for this faith Diversity for Dialogue and Development. The day
provides us with an opportunity to deepen our
19 MONDAY understanding of the values of cultural diversity.
New Church Day People around the world celebrate this day by
| Swedenborgian joining the campaign “Do One Thing for Diversity
Christian and Inclusion” which aims to: raise awareness
Annual commemoration of worldwide about the importance of intercultural
the vision document “The dialogue, diversity and inclusion; build a world
True Christian Religion,” in community of individuals committed to support
1770 diversity with real and everyday-life gestures;
combat polarization and stereotypes to improve
understanding and cooperation among people
from different cultures.10
July
9 SUNDAY
Asalha Puja Day/Dharma
Day | Buddhist
Sacred day that marks the
Buddha’s first teaching
Buddhism
following enlightenment Buddhism is a religion to about 300
million people around the world. The
Martydom of the Bab word comes from ‘budhi’, ‘to awaken’.
| Baha’i It has its origins about 2,500 years
Observance of the day Ali ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known
Muhammad was executed as the Buddha, was himself awakened
in 1850 by Persian political (enlightened) at the age of 35. There
and religious powers are many different types of Buddhism,
because the emphasis changes from
13 THURSDAY country to country due to customs
Obon/Ulambana and culture. However the essence of
| Shinto/Buddhist all Buddhist teaching is the Four Noble
Celebration of the ritual of
Truths: 1) Suffering exists 2) Suffering
saving the deceased from
arises from attachment to desires 3)
torments after death
Suffering ceases when attachment
to desires cease 4) Freedom from
23 SUNDAY suffering is possible by practicing
Birth of the Emperor
the eightfold path. The Eightfold
Haile Selassie I
Path includes: right view, right
| Rastafarian
thought, right speech, right action,
Birthday of the revered
right livelihood, right effort, right
Messianic figure among
mindfulness, right contemplation.
Rastafarians
24 MONDAY
Pioneer Day | Mormon
Observation of the arrival
of the first settlers at
Great Salt Lake, USA
31 MONDAY
Tish’a B’av | Jewish (until
8/1)
Day of fasting in the
remembrance of the
destruction of the Temple
in 586 BCE and 70 CEaugust 11
1 TUESDAY Krishna Janmashtami 29 TUESDAY
Lammas | Wiccan/Pagan | Hindu Beheading of John the
Celebration of the early Commemoration of the Baptist | Christian
harvest birth of Krishna Remembrance of the death
of John the Baptist
Fast in Honor of Holy 17 THURSDAY
Mother of Jesus | Marcus Garvey’s 31 THURSDAY
Orthodox Christian Birthday | Rastafarian Waqf al Arafa/Hajj Day
Beginning of the 14 day Celebration of the birth of | Muslim
period of preparation, Marcus Garvey Observance during Hajj,
leading up to the Dormition the Islamic pilgrimage to
of Mary 26 SATURDAY Mecca, when pilgrims pray
Paryushana Parva | Jain for forgiveness and mercy
6 SUNDAY (until 9/4)
Transfiguration of Festival signifying human
the Lord | Orthodox emergence into a new
Christian world of spiritual and
Observance of the moral refinement, and a
transfiguration of Jesus on celebration of the natural
Mt. Tabor in the presence qualities of the soul
of his disciples
7 MONDAY
Raksha Bandhan | Hindu
Festival honoring the loving
ties between brothers and
sisters in a family
15 TUESDAY
Assumption of the
HINDUISM
Blessed Virgin Mary
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion,
| Catholic Christian
with over 1 billion followers or 15% of the global
Observance
population. It has been called the “oldest religion”
commemorating the
in the world, and some practitioners and scholars
assumption of Mary,
refer to it as Sanatana Dharma, “the eternal
mother of Jesus, into
law” or the “eternal way” beyond human origins.
heaven
Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis
of various Indian cultures and traditions, with
Dormition of the Virgin
diverse roots and no founder. Prominent themes
Mary | Orthodox
Christian in Hindu beliefs include (but are not restricted to)
Observance of the death, Dharma (ethics/duties), Samsara (the continuing
burial, resurrection, and cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth), Karma
transfer to heaven of the (action, intent and consequences), Moksha
Virgin Mary (liberation from samsara or liberation in this life),
and the various Yogas (paths or practices).12
September
1 FRIDAY 21 THURSDAY 27 WEDNESDAY
Eid al-Adha | Muslim New Year - Hijri | Muslim Meskel | Ethiopian
(until 9/4) Marks the beginning of the Orthodox Christian
Feast of Sacrifice, new Islamic calendar year Commemoration of the
concluding the Hajj discovery of the True Cross
Rosh Hashanah | Jewish by St. Helen
Religious Year Begins | (until 9/22)
Orthodox Christian Jewish New Year, marked 28 THURSDAY
Start of the religious by a call to repentance. Confucius’ Birthday |
calendar year Confucian
Navratri | Hindu (until Observance of the birth of
4 MONDAY 9/29) Confucius
Chinese Ghost Festival | Festival of the divine
Taoist, Buddhist mother honoring Durga, 29 FRIDAY
Celebration in which the wife of Shiva, and seeking Yom Kippur | Jewish
deceased are believed to her blessing (until 9/30)
visit the living. Day of Atonement
22 FRIDAY
8 FRIDAY Mabon | Wiccan/Pagan
Nativity of the Blessed Observance of the
Virgin Mary | Christian Autumnal Equinox
Celebration of the birth of
Mary, the mother of Jesus 25 MONDAY
Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu
11 SUNDAY Festival honoring the god
Auditors’ Day of prosperity, prudence,
| Scientologist and success
Scientology Auditors are
acknowledged for their
dedication in helping their
fellow men and women
Ethiopian New Year’s
Day | Rastafarian
First day of the new year
for the Ethiopian calendar
YOM KIPPUR
Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the year for Jews.
14 THURSDAY Its central theme is atonement and reconciliation.
Elevation of the Holy Repentance in Judaism is done through a process
Cross | Orthodox called Teshuva (return), which in its most basic
Christian form consists of regretting having committed
Celebration of when St.
the sin, resolving not to commit that sin in the
Helen found the Holy Cross
future and to confess that sin before God. Jewish
people traditionally observe this holy day with
an approximate 25-hour period of fasting and
intensive prayer, often spending most of the day
in synagogue services.october 13
1 SUNDAY 9 MONDAY 20 FRIDAY
Ashura | Muslim Thanksgiving - Canada | Birth of the Bab | Baha’i
Optional one-day fast Interfaith Honoring of the founder of
marking the martyrdom of Celebration of the harvest the Babi religion, forerunner
Husayn ibn Ali (Shi’a Islam) and other blessings in the to Baha’u’llah and the Baha’i
and marking the day that past year faith
Moses fasted in gratitude
for liberation of the Birthday of Guru Ram Guru Granth Sahib
Israelites (Sunni Islam) Das | Sikh Installation | Sikh
Commemoration of Remembrance of the eternal
4 WEDNESDAY the birth of one of the installation of the holy
St. Francis Day (Blessing foremost 10 gurus of books, Granth Sahib.
of Animals) | Catholic Sikhism
Christian Jain New Year | Jain
Feast day of St. Francis Dussehra/Durga Puja Start of the New Year for
of Assisi, patron saint of | Hindu Jainists.
animals and ecology. Often Commemoration of the last
celebrated with a special of the Days of Judgment 28 SATURDAY
blessing of animals Milvian Bridge Day
11 WEDNESDAY | Christian
Sukkot | Jewish (until Hoshanah Rabbah | Day of solemn reflection
10/11) Jewish (until 10/12) on the relationship of the
Feast of Tabernacles, Commemoration of the last spiritual community and
which celebrates the of the Days of Judgement the powers of the civil
harvest and the protection government
of the people of Israel 12 THURSDAY
as they wandered in the Shemini Atzeret | Jewish 29 SUNDAY
wilderness dwelling in (until 10/13) Reformation Day
tents Completion of the annual | Protestant Christian
cycle of the reading of the Anniversary of the tradition
7 SATURDAY Torah of Protestantism and its
Founding of the emphasis on the place
International Association 13 FRIDAY of the Bible and religious
of Scientologists Simchat Torah | Jewish freedom
| Scientologist (until 10/14)
Scientologists rededicate Day to celebrate the 31 TUESDAY
themselves to the reading of the Law All Hallow’s Eve | Christian
aims of Scientology: a Celebration combining
world without criminals, 19 THURSDAY prayers and merriment
suffering, and war Diwali | Hindu, Jain, Sikh involving children and
Celebration marking the families
end of the Hindu year14
november
1 WEDNESDAY 16 THURSDAY 26 SUNDAY
All Saints’ Day | Christian International Day for Day of the Covenant
Day for honoring and Tolerance | Interfaith | Baha’i
remembering Christian United Nations observance Celebration of the covenant
saints day to generate public given in the last will and
awareness of the dangers testament of Baha’u’llah
Samhain | Wiccan/Pagan of intolerance
Celebration of endings and 28 TUESDAY
beginnings 23 THURSDAY Ascension of the Abdu’l-
Thanksgiving | Interfaith Baha | Baha’i
2 THURSDAY Celebration of the harvest Celebration of the rising of
All Souls’ Day | Catholic and community the spirit of Abdu’l’Baha to
Christian the heavenly dwelling
Commemoration of the 24 FRIDAY
faithful departed Martyrdom of Guru Tegh
Bahadur | Sikh
Coronation of Emperor Commemoration of
Haile Selassie the death of Guru Tegh
| Rastafarian Bahadur
Celebration of the
coronation of the messianic
figure of Rastafarian
4 SATURDAY
Guru Nanak Dev Sahib’s
Birthday | Sikh
Honoring of the birth of the
founder of Sikhism
All Saints’ and all
12 SUNDAY
Birth of Baha’u’llah
| Baha’i
souls’ Day
Celebration of the birth of All Saints’ Day is a holy day for Christians to
the founder of Baha’i honor and remember all the saints (those
who have attained the beatific vision in
15 WEDNESDAY Heaven), known and unknown. Following
Nativity Fast begins | All Saints’ day is All Souls’ day, a day for
Orthodox Christian (until Christians to remember and pray for the
12/24) dead, particularly one’s family members.
Period of abstinence and Celebrations vary around the world, but
penance in preparation for can include special altars with images of
the birth of Jesus the departed and food/drink they enjoyed,
visiting the gravesites of one’s relatives, and
saying special prayers for all the departed.december 15
3 SUNDAY 16 SATURDAY 28 THURSDAY
First Sunday of Advent Posadas Navidenas | Holy Innocents | Christian
| Christian (until 12/24) Hispanic Christian (until Day of solemn memory of
Beginning of time preparing 12/25) male children killed by King
for the birth of Jesus Nine-day religious Herod in the attempt to
Christ. Marked with special observance during which destroy Jesus
prayers and lighting an families participate
additional candle each in nightly Christmas 30 SATURDAY
week processions that re-create Freedom Day
the Holy Pilgrimage of | Scientologist
6 WEDNESDAY Mary, Joseph and the Day celebrating the official
St. Nicholas Day baby Jesus on their way to recognition of the Church
| Christian Bethlehem of Scientology in the United
Celebration of St. Nicholas, States in 1974
patron saint of children and 21 THURSDAY
role model for gift-giving Yule | Wiccan/Pagan 31 SUNDAY
Celebration of the Winter Watch Night | Christian
8 FRIDAY Solstice Occasion to thank God
Bodhi Day | Buddhist for bringing people safely
Celebration of the 24 SATURDAY through another year
Enlightenment of Buddha Christmas Eve | Christian
Day before Christmas, Holy Family | Catholic
Immaculate Conception often celebrated with a Christian
of Mary | Catholic midnight Mass/Liturgy of Celebration honoring
Christian Jesus’ birth Jesus, his mother Mary,
Day of celebrating the and her husband Joseph as
belief that Mary, mother of 25 SUNDAY a family
Jesus, was preserved from Christmas, Feast of
original sin all her life Nativity | Christian,
Orthodox Christian
12 TUESDAY Celebration of the birth of
Feast of Our Lady of Jesus Christ
Guadalupe | Catholic
Christian 26 TUESDAY
Honoring of a legendary Zarathosht Diso
appearance of the Virgin | Zoroastrian
Mary near Mexico City in Anniversary of the death of
1531 CE Prophet Zarathustra
Hanukkah | Jewish (until Kwanzaa | Pan-African
12/20) (until 1/1/18)
Festival of Lights Holiday celebrating family,
commemorating the community, and culture.
recapture and rededication
of the Jerusalem Temple16
JANUARY 2018
1 MONDAY 7 SUNDAY 18 THURSDAY
Mary, Mother of God Orthodox Christmas, Week of Prayer for
| Catholic Christian Ethiopian Christmas Christian Unity
Celebration of Mary, the | Orthodox Christian, | Christian (until 1/25)
mother of Jesus Christ Rastafarian Ecumenical observance
Celebration of the birth of focused on prayer for
Feast of St. Basil Jesus Christ church unity.
| Orthodox Christian
Commemoration of St. Basil Baptism of the Lord 19 FRIDAY
the Great, who wrote a Jesus | Christian Timkat | Ethiopian
Eucharist liturgy that bears Commemoration of the Orthodox Christian
his name. beginning of the public Celebration of the baptism
ministry of Jesus of Jesus in the Jordan River
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai
| Shinto 8 MONDAY 21 SUNDAY
New Year’s Day celebration Seijin no Hi | Shinto World Religion Day
Holiday honoring those | Baha’i
2 TUESDAY who have reached, or will Day dedicated to the unity
Mahayana New Year reach the age of twenty and oneness of all world
| Buddhist (until 1/4) within the current year religions
Buddhist New Year, as
celebrated in Mahayana 13 SATURDAY Triodion Begins
countries Maghi | Sikh | Orthodox Christian
Commemoration of a battle (until 4/8)
5 FRIDAY in which forty Sikhs died Time period leading up to
Twelfth Night | Christian for Guru Gobind Singh Ji Lent
Conclusion of the 12 Days
of Christmas 14 SUNDAY 22 MONDAY
Makar Sankranti | Hindu Vasant Panchami | Hindu
Guru Gobind Singh’s Celebration marking the Festival of spring honoring
Birthday | Sikh turning of the sun toward the goddess of learning
Honoring the birth of the the north; observed by
founder of Khalsa flying kites, feeding the 25 THURSDAY
poor and offering libations Conversion of St. Paul
6 SATURDAY to the dead | Christian
Epiphany/Three Kings Event in the life of Paul the
Day | Christian 17 WEDNESDAY Apostle which led him to
Feast to celebrate the visit Blessing of the Animals become a follower of Jesus
of the Magi to the Christ | Christian
child Observance of showing 30 TUESDAY
respect for domestic Tu B’Shvat | Jewish (until
Feast of the Theophany animals that are important 1/31)
| Orthodox Christian to people Celebration of the coming
Feast to recall the of Spring
revelation of the Holy
Trinity in the baptism of the
Lord.February 2018 17
2 FRIDAY 13 TUESDAY 18 SUNDAY
Imbolc | Wiccan/Pagan Shrove Tuesday (Fat National Founding U.S.A. |
Halfway between the Tuesday) | Christian Scientologist
Winter Solstice and the Carnival day on the eve of Founding of the first Church
Spring Equinox; celebrates Ash Wednesday of Scientology in the U.S.,
the passage from winter to the Church of Scientology
spring 14 WEDNESDAY of Los Angeles in 1954
Race Relations Day
Presentation of Christ in | Christian Cheesefare Sunday |
the Temple | Christian Day recognizing the Orthodox Christian
Remembrance of the infant importance of interracial The Sunday of forgiveness,
Jesus being brought to the relations and learning last Sunday before Lent
temple in Jerusalem
St. Valentine’s Day 19 MONDAY
3 SATURDAY | Christian Clean Monday - Great
Setsubun-sai | Shinto Feast Day of St. Valentine, Lent begins | Orthodox
Celebration of the change celebrating love and Christian
of seasons with the coming affection Start of Lent for Orthodox
of spring with shouts of, Christians, refers to the
“Devils out, Good Fortune Maha Shivarastri | Hindu leaving behind of sinful
in!” Festival honoring Lord Shiva attitudes and non-fasting
and his marriage to the foods
4 SUNDAY goddess Parvati
Four Chaplains Sunday | 25 SUNDAY
Interfaith Ash Wednesday Orthodox Sunday |
Commemoration of U.S. (Beginning of Lent) Orthodox Christian
Army chaplains who gave | Christian First Sunday of Lent, at
their lives to save others Observance to begin the which time restoration
during WWII 40-day season of Lent; of icons in the church is
ashes are marked on celebrated.
8 THURSDAY worshippers’ foreheads as
Nirvana Day | Buddhist a sign of repentance 26 MONDAY
Observance of the physical Intercalary Days | Baha’i
death and spiritual 16 FRIDAY (until 3/1)
enlightenment of the Chinese New Year | Insertion of days into
Buddha Buddhist, Confucian, the calendar in order to
Taoist, maintain the solar calendar,
11 SUNDAY Begins a fifteen-day thought of as ‘days outside
Transfiguration Sunday | festival for Chinese people of time’
Christian of all religions, who give
Feast day celebrating the thanks for family and 27 TUESDAY
transfiguration of Jesus remember ancestors Ta’anit Esther | Jewish
(until 3/1)
Meatfare Sunday Fast on Purim eve,
| Orthodox Christian commemorating the fast
Observance preparing the of the Jewish people in the
faithful for the celebration story of Purim
of the resurrection of
Christ18
march 2018
1 THURSDAY 17 SATURDAY 28 WEDNESDAY
Purim | Jewish (until 3/2) St. Patrick’s Day | Khordad Sal | Zoroastrian
Celebration of the Christian Remembrance of the birth
deliverance of the Jewish Feast Day of St. Patrick of the prophet Zarathustra
minority in Persia from who brought Christianity to
genocide Ireland 29 THURSDAY
Maundy Thursday
2 FRIDAY 18 SUNDAY | Christian
Nineteen Day Fast Week of the Ramayana Remembrance of Jesus’
| Baha’i (until 3/20) | Hindu (until 3/26) last meal with his disciples
Fast to be observed by Festival celebrating Lord
adult Baha’is in good health Rama, in which the Ram 30 FRIDAY
from sunrise to sunset. Lila is staged and the Good Friday, Holy Friday
Ramayana is recited | Christian, Orthodox
Hola Mohalla | Sikh Christian
Week-long event including 20 TUESDAY Remembrance of the
mock fights, kirtan, music Ostara | Wiccan/Pagan crucifixion and death of
poetry, and community Welcoming of spring Jesus
meals and celebration of the
goddess-as-maiden (Vernal Pesach/Passover
Spring Lantern Festival | Equinox) | Jewish (until 4/7)
Taoist 8-day celebration of the
Marks the final day of Naw-Ruz | Baha’i deliverance of the Jews
the Chinese New Year Observance of the Vernal from slavery in Egypt
celebrations, Chinese Equinox
equivalent to Valentine’s 31 SATURDAY
Day. Norooz | Zoroastrian Lord’s Evening Meal
New Year | Jehovah’s Witnesses
3 SATURDAY Memorial commemoration
Holi | Hindu 25 SUNDAY of Christ’s death
Spring festival dedicated to Annunciation of the
the god of pleasure Blessed Virgin Mary Magha Puja Day
| Christian | Buddhist
13 TUESDAY Feast Day commemorating Celebration of the
L. Ron Hubbard’s Mary being told by the teachings by Lord Buddha
Birthday | Scientologist angel Gabriel that she to an assembly of holy men
Marks the birth of L. would be the mother of
Ron Hubbard, founder of Jesus, the Son of God. Hanuman Jayanti | Hindu
Scientology Celebration of Hanuman, an
Palm Sunday | Christian embodiment of Lord Rama.
Celebration of the entry of Devotion and selfless
Jesus to Jerusalem which works are encouraged
marks the start of Holy
Week Lazarus Saturday
| Orthodox Christian
26 MONDAY Celebration of the
Rama Navami | Hindu resurrection of Lazarus by
Celebration of the birth of Jesus
Lord Ramaapril 2018 19
1 SUNDAY 12 THURSDAY 30 MONDAY
Easter | Christian Yom HaShoah | Jewish Theravadin New Year
Holy day commemorating (until 4/13) | Buddhist (until 5/2)
the resurrection of Jesus Holocaust Day established Buddhist New Year, as
Christ to remember the six million celebrated in Theravadin
Jews killed by the Nazis countries
Palm Sunday | Orthodox
Christian 14 SATURDAY
Celebration of the entry of Baisaki/Vaisaki | Sikh/
Jesus to Jerusalem which Hindu
marks the start of Holy Festival commemorating
Week the establishment of the
Khalsa, or the nation of
3 TUESDAY Sikhs. Hindu beginning of
Mahavir Jayanti | Jain the New Year
Festival honoring Lord
Mahavira on the founder’s 21 SATURDAY
birthday First Day of Ridvan
| Baha’i (until 5/2)
5 THURSDAY Commemoration of the
Qingming Festival | twelve-day period in 1863
Taoist, Confucian when Baha’u’llah declared
Also known as Tomb that he was God’s
Sweeping Day, important messenger for this age
day showing respect for
ancestors Grounation Day |
Rastafarian
6 FRIDAY Holy day celebrated in
Founding of the Church honor of Haile Selassie’s
| Mormon 1966 visit to Jamaica
Commemoration of the
appearance of the angel, 29 SUNDAY
Moroni, in 1830 to Joseph Ninth Day of Ridvan
Smith; subsequently | Baha’i
founding the Church of Work is prohibited on this
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day day, and the community
Saints gathers for prayer and
celebration
8 SUNDAY
Pascha | Orthodox Visakha Puja (Buddha
Christian Day) | Buddhist
Holy day commemorating Commemorates the birth,
the resurrection of Jesus enlightenment, and death
Christ of Gautama Buddha in the
Theravada tradition20
may 2018
1 TUESDAY 10 THURSDAY 21 MONDAY
Beltane | Wiccan/Pagan Ascension of Jesus World Day for Cultural
Celebration of the | Christian Diversity for Dialogue &
conjoining of the goddess Remembrance of the Development | Interfaith
with the energy of the god departure of Jesus from United Nations day to
in sacred marriage, the Earth after his resurrection. deepen understanding
basis of all creation Celebrated 40 days after of the values of cultural
Easter diversity and to learn to
2 WEDNESDAY live more peacefully
Twelfth day of Ridvan 13 SUNDAY
| Baha’i World Falun Dafa Day/ 23 WEDNESDAY
Work is prohibited on this Falun Gong | Buddhist Declaration of the Bab |
day, and the community Celebration of the spiritual Baha’i
gathers for prayer and discipline introduced in Recognition of the
celebration China in 1992 declaration by Ali
Muhammad that he is the
Lag B’Omer | Jewish 16 WEDNESDAY anticipated “Coming One”
(until 5/3) Ramadan | Muslim (until of all religions
Observation of the 6/15)
counting of the day - the Month devoted to the 25 FRIDAY
link - between Pesach and commemoration of African Liberation Day |
Shavout Muhammad’s reception Pan-African
of the divine revelation Holiday celebrating the
3 THURSDAY recorded in the Qur’an formation of the OAU /
National Day of Prayer African Union.
| Interfaith 19 SATURDAY
U.S. day of observance Shavuot | Jewish (until 27 SUNDAY
encouraging prayer among 5/21) Trinity Sunday | Christian
all faiths Celebration of Moses Day to honor the belief in
descent from Mt. Sinai with one God with a threefold
6 SUNDAY the Ten Commandments nature
Chongmyo Taeje |
Confucian 20 SUNDAY 29 TUESDAY
Confucian memorial Pentecost | Christian Ascension of Baha’u’llah
ceremony to honor the Observation of the day | Baha’i
kings and queens of the Yi, when the Holy Spirit came Remembrance of the death
or Joseon, Dynasty to the disciples in the of Baha’u’llah, founder of
forms of tongues of fire Baha’i
9 WEDNESDAY and rushing wind
Observance of the 31 THURSDAY
Publication of Dianetics Corpus Christi | Catholic
| Scientologist Christian
Observance of the Celebration in recognition
publication of Dianetics: of the Eucharist (Body of
the Modern Science of Christ)
Mental Health on 1950
which was the forerunner
of Scientologyjune 2018 21
8 FRIDAY 19 TUESDAY 21 THURSDAY
Sacred Heart of Jesus New Church Day | Litha | Wiccan/Pagan
| Catholic Christian Swedenborgian Christian Celebration of the sacred
Occasion to pay homage to Annual commemoration of marriage, in which the
Christ’s all-encompassing the vision document “The energy of the gods is
love for humanity True Christian Religion,” in poured into the service of
1770 life (Summer Solstice)
10 SUNDAY
Race Unity Day | Baha’i
Day to promote racial
harmony and understanding
11 MONDAY
Laylatul Qadr | Muslim
The Night of Destiny,
the first revelation of
ISLAM
the Qur’an to Prophet The Arabic term Islam literally means
Muhammad “surrender,” or “submission.” Islam’s
believers (known as “Muslims” from the
15 FRIDAY active participle of “Islam”), accept surrender
Eid al-Fitr | Muslim (until to the will of Allah (God). The will of God is
6/17) made known through the Qur’an (the Koran),
Breaking of the month- revealed to his messenger Muhammad.
long Ramadan fast and a Muhammad, it is claimed was the last of the
festival of thanksgiving great prophets which included Adam, Noah,
Moses, Jesus and others. The basic belief
16 SATURDAY of Islam is expressed in the shahadah, the
Guru Arjan Dev’s Muslim confession of faith, “There is no god
Martydom | Sikh but God; Muhammad is the prophet of God.”
Time of remembering
those who have suffered
for this faith
18 MONDAY
Dragon Boat Festival |
Taoist
Chinese festival
commemorating fealty and
filial piety. Three activities
conducted during the
Festival are eating zongzi,
drinking realgar wine, and
racing dragon boats.22
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRAINING
Diversity & Inclusion Training is delivered through presentations,
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importance of diversity and inclusion among employees by exposing
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The DAP Connect Program has one purpose - to help you diversify
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GIVE RESPECT, GET RESPECT YOUTH PROGRAM
The Give Respect, Get Respect Youth Program is a collaboration
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EXPLORE CAREER IMMERSION PROGRAM
Diversity Awareness Partnership is investing in St. Louis high school
students through an externship program. Together, DAP and local
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS
Diversity Awareness Partnership provides in-depth professional
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MISSION
Diversity Awareness Partnership is a catalyst to increase
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VISION
Diversity Awareness Partnership’s vision is inclusive
communities where diversity is respected and embraced,
and equity is the norm.
Diversity Awareness Partnership
40 N. Rock Hill Road
Webster Groves, MO 63119
www.dapstl.orgCALENDAR SPONSORS
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