2018 - 2019 18-month interfaith calendar 18-Month Interfaith Calendar To foster and support inclusive communities, Diversity Awareness Partnership is pleased to present the 2018-2019 18-Month Interfaith Calendar. This publication is a handy guide to observances celebrated across 25 religious traditions in the St. Louis region. When planning your organization’s schedule, refer to our Interfaith Calendar to honor the holidays your friends, neighbors, and colleagues celebrate. Considerations In order to be more accommodating for people who practice different religions, consider the following:

FOOD Food and drink are central to many traditions’ rituals and practices. Consider vegetarian, vegan, non-alcoholic, and decaf options, which can accommodate a wide variety of religious and ethical choices.

HOURS Some holidays may require individuals to worship or pray during different hours than they may the rest of the year. Consider flexibility that takes into account the work and objectives of your student or employee, rather than the typical time frame when this is normally accomplished.

TIME OFF Many organizations have standard holidays for all employees or students that are built around the worldview of a particular religion - Christianity, for example. Consider allowing practitioners of other religions to float these holidays or make shifts in their schedules. Again, the priority should be the quality of the work, not where or when it takes place.

DEADLINES/WORK FLOW During holidays that require prayer at late/early hours or that require fasting, some individuals may experience decreased stamina. Examine project schedules or work deadlines to see if they can be adjusted, if need be.

PRAYER Some religions require daily or periodic prayer that requires solitude and quiet. Consider designating a space for individuals to pray that is clean, well-furnished, and accessible. ATTIRE For some religions, dress is part of an outward and ongoing commitment to that faith tradition. Make sure that your organization’s attire policy is communicated clearly to employees.

2 Online resources oca.org/fs/paschal-cycle interfaith-calendar.org/2018.htm drexel.edu/provost/policies/religious_observances_calendar/ scouting.org/Home/Media/Relationships/ReligiousCalendar.aspx Notes This calendar strives to be as inclusive as possible. However, we are always open to adding more holidays and more religions. Please contact us directly if there’s something you’d like for us to consider adding for next year’s calendar.

All content in this calendar represents information that was available at the time of production. To the greatest extent possible, holidays based on lunar phases or other variables that change every Gregorian calendar year have been factored into observance dates. The spelling of certain observances may vary as well, based on different ways of representing words from other languages.

All Baha’i, Jewish, and Muslim holidays begin at sunset unless otherwise noted.

We encourage all places of worship to be accessible to persons with disabilities by making necessary accommodations. Contact DAP for additional information on how your organization can become more inclusive in this way. Color Key Baha’i Muslim Buddhist Orthodox Christian Catholic Christian Pan-African Christian Protestant Christian Confucian Rastafarian Ethiopian Orthodox Christian Scientologist Hindu Shinto Hispanic Christian Sikh Interfaith Swedenborgian Christian Jain Taoist Jehovah’s Witnesses Wiccan/Pagan Jewish Zoroastrian Mormon

3 January 2018 1 Monday 8 Monday 19 Friday Solemnity of Mary, Mother of Seijin no Hi | Shinto Timkat | Ethiopian Orthodox God | Catholic Christian Holiday honoring those who have Christian Celebration of the Blessed Virgin reached, or will reach, the age of Commemorating the baptism of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ twenty within the current year Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist Shogatsu/Gantan-sai | Shinto 13 Saturday New Year’s Day celebration Maghi | Sikh 21 Sunday Commemoration of a battle in World Religion Day | Baha’i 2 Tuesday which forty Sikhs died for Guru Day dedicated to the unity and Gobindh Singh oneness of the world’s religions New Year | Buddhist (until 1/4/2018) Triodion begins | Orthodox Buddhist New Year, as celebrated 14 Sunday Christian (until 4/8/18) in Mayahana countries Makar Sankranti | Hindu Time period leading up to Lent Celebration marking the turning of 5 Friday the sun toward the north; festival in reverence to deity Surya, god of Twelfth Night | Christian 22 Monday the sun Conclusion of the Twelve Days of Vasant Panchami | Hindu and marking the coming Festival of spring honoring the of the Epiphany 17 Wednesday goddess of learning Blessing of the Animals | The Birth of the Tenth Sikh Master | Sikh Christian/Hispanic Christian 25 Thursday Honoring the birth of Guru Gobind Observance of showing respect Conversion of St. Paul | Christian Singh for domestic animals that are Event in the life of Paul the Apostle, significant to people after which he became a follower 6 Saturday of Jesus Epiphany/Three Kings’ Day | 18 Thursday Christian Week of Prayer for Christian 30 Tuesday Feast to celebrate the visit of the Unity | Christian (until 1/25/2018) Tu Bishvat | Jewish (until 1/31/18) Three Wise Men to baby Jesus Ecumenical observance focused on Celebration of the coming of spring prayer for church unity 7 Sunday Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Christian The Birth of the Tenth Sikh Master Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ “During the second part of the 17th Century, Guru Gobind Singh inspired the realization of the Khalsa: pure-hearted Ethiopian Christmas | Rastafarian saint-soldiers focused on a life of truth and spiritual freedom. Celebration of the birth of Jesus Imbued with selfless service towards all of Creation, humanity Christ is to be celebrated through the guru’s word, embodying values of oneness and guiding one to embrace an unyielding Baptism of the Lord Jesus | Divine Love. Gobind’s clarity of thought and conviction Christian of deep-seated faith demonstrates a timeless, universal Commemorating the baptism of approach towards spirituality. Donning the turban and flowing Jesus in the Jordan River by beard like his forefathers, Guru Gobind’s legacy lives on St. John the Baptist through the identity of every Sikh today.” -Jaipal Singh

4 February 2018 2 Friday 12 Monday 18 Sunday Presentation of Christ in the Clean Monday | Orthodox National Founding Day United Temple | Christian Christian States | Scientology Remembrance of the infant Jesus Start of Lent for Orthodox Founding of the first Church of being brought to the temple in Christians, refers to the leaving Scientology in the U.S., the Church Jerusalem behind of sinful attitudes and of Scientology of Los Angeles in non-fasting foods 1954 Imbolc | Wiccan/Pagan Halfway between the Winter 13 Tuesday Solstice and the Spring Equinox, 25 Sunday celebrates the passage from Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) | Orthodox Sunday | Orthodox winter to spring Christian Christian Carnival day on the eve of Ash First Sunday of Lent, at which time Wednesday restoration of icons in the church is 3 Saturday celebrated Setsubun-Sai | Shinto | Hindu Celebration of the traditional Festival honoring Lord Shiva and his beginning of spring and the end of marriage to the goddess Parvati 26 Monday winter Intercalary Days | Baha’i (until 3/1/18) 14 Wednesday Insertion of days into the calendar 4 Sunday St. Valentine’s Day | Christian in order to maintain the solar Four Chaplains Sunday | Feast day of St. Valentine, calendar, considered ‘days outside Interfaith celebrating love and affection of time’ Commemoration of U.S. Army chaplains who gave their lives to Ash Wednesday | Christian 28 Wednesday save others during World War II Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent; ashes are marked Ta’anit Esther | Jewish on worshipers’ foreheads as a sign Fast on Purim eve, commemorating 8 Thursday of repentance the fast of the Jewish people in the Day | Buddhist story of Purim Also known as Day, Race Relations Day | Christian remembering the death of Buddha Purim | Jewish (until 3/1/18) Day recognizing the importance of Celebration of the deliverance of when he reached Nirvana; Nirvana interracial relations and learning day is believed to be the festival the Jewish minority in Persia from that marks the end of the cycle of genocide birth and . 16 Friday | Buddhist, 11 Sunday Confucian, Taoist Transfiguration Sunday | New Year’s celebration marking the start of the lunar new year; begins Christian a fifteen-day festival for Chinese Feast day celebrating the people of all religions, who give transfiguration of Jesus thanks for family and remember ancestors

5 March 2018 2 Friday 20 Tuesday 29 Thursday Nineteen Day Fast | Baha’i (until Ostara | Wiccan/Pagan Maundy Thursday | Christian 3/20/18) Welcoming of spring and Remembrance of Jesus’ last meal Fast to be observed by adults of celebration of the goddess-as- with his disciples the Baha’i faith in good health from maiden (Vernal Equinox) sunrise to sunset Naw-Ruz | Baha’i, Zoroastrian 30 Friday /Holy Friday | Hola Mohalla | Sikh Also known as the Persian New Created by Guru Gobind Singh as Year, marks the start of the New Christian, Orthodox Christian an occasion for Sikhs to show their Year Remembrance of the crucifixion martial arts skills and host mock and death of Jesus battles 25 Sunday Pesach/ | Jewish (until Annunciation of the Blessed Spring Lantern Festival | Taoist 4/7/18) Marks the final day of the Chinese Virgin Mary | Christian 8-day celebration of the deliverance New Year celebrations Feast day commemorating Mary of the Jews from slavery in Egypt being told by the angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus 3 Saturday 31 Saturday Holi | Hindu | Christian Lord’s Evening Meal | Jehovah’s Spring festival known as the Celebration of the entry of Jesus to Witnesses “festival of colors” or the “festival Jerusalem, which marks the start Memorial commemoration of the of love.” The festival signifies the of Holy Week death of Jesus Christ victory of good over evil Magha Puja Day | Buddhist 26 Monday Celebration of the teachings by 13 Tuesday Rama Navami | Hindu Lord Buddha to an assembly of holy L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday | Celebration of the birth of Lord men Scientology Rama Marks the birth of L. Ron Hubbard, Hanuman Jayanti | Hindu founder of Scientology 28 Wednesday Celebration of Hanuman, an embodiment of Lord Rama, Khordad Sal | Zoroastrian 17 Saturday devotion and selfless works are Remembrance of the birth of the encouraged St. Patrick’s Day | Christian prophet Zarathustra Feast Day of St. Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox Christian Ramayana Week | Hindu (until Celebration of the resurrection of 3/26/18) Lazarus by Jesus Nine-day festival that marks the auspicious celebration of the appearance of Hindu Lord, Sri Ram

6 April 2018 1 Sunday 12 Thursday 29 Sunday | Christian Yom HaShoah | Jewish Ninth Day of Ridvan | Baha’i Holy day commemorating the Holocaust Day, established to Day of recognition for the historic resurrection of Jesus Christ remember the six million Jews and symbolic event of Baha’u’llah’s killed by the Nazis during the 1930s exile from Baghdad Palm Sunday | Orthodox and 1940s Christian Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) | Celebration of the entry of Jesus to 13 Friday Buddhist Jerusalem which marks the start of Commemorates the birth, Holy Week Lailat al Miraj | Muslim enlightenment, and death of Commemorates the Prophet Guatama Buddha in the Muhammad’s nighttime journey tradition 3 Tuesday from Mecca to ‘the farthest Mahavir Jayanti | Jain mosque’ in Jerusalem Celebration of the birth of 30 Monday Mahavira, founder of Jainism as a 14 Saturday Theravada New Year | Buddhist religion (until 5/2/18) Baisakhi/Vaisakhi | Sikh, Hindu Buddhist New Year In Sikhism the day commemorates 5 Thursday the founding of the Khalsa, a Qingming Festival | Taoist, distinctive Sikh brotherhood Confucian Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, commemorates the onset of spring 21 Saturday and is an occasion to remember First Day of Ridvan | Baha’i (until ancestors 4/21/18) Commemorates the beginning of the Baha’i faith in 1863 when 6 Friday Baha’u’llah first declared his Founding of the Church | mission, marks first of a twelve-day Mormon period Commemoration of the appearance of the angel Moroni in 1830 to Grounation Day | Rastafarian Joseph Smith, who subsequently Holy day celebrated in honor founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Haile Selassie’s 1966 visit to of Latter-day Saints Jamaica

8 Sunday Easter/Pascha | Orthodox Christian Holy day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Star of David Symbol of Judaism or Jewish symbol

Image credit: Wikimedia 7 May 2018 1 Tuesday 10 Thursday 21 Monday Beltane | Wiccan/Pagan Ascension of Jesus | Christian World Day for Cultural Diversity Celebration of the conjoining of the Remembrance of the departure for Dialogue & Development | goddess with the energy of the of Jesus from Earth after his Interfaith god in sacred marriage, the basis resurrection, celebrated 40 days United Nations-sactioned of all creation after Easter international holiday that celebrates the richness of the world’s cultures Lailat al Bara’ah | Muslim while promoting intercultural 13 Sunday Also known as the Night of Records dialogue and the Night of Forgiveness, World Falun Dafa/Falun Gong commemorating when God Day | Buddhist descends from heaven and forgives Celebration of the spiritual 23 Wednesday the people of their sins discipline introduced in China in Declaration of the Bab | Baha’i 1992 Celebration of the Bab, Ali Muhammad’s, announcement in 2 Wednesday 1844 that he was the “gate” to the 16 Wednesday coming of the promised one of all Twelfth Day of Ridvan | Baha’i Ramadan begins | Muslim (until Final day of the twelve-day festival religions 6/15/18) which celebrates the beginning of Month devoted to the the Baha’i faith commemoration of Muhammad’s 25 Friday reception of the divine revelation African Liberation Day | Pan- Lag B’Omer | Jewish recorded in the Qur’an African Holiday that occurs on the 33rd day Commemoration of the formation of the Omer, the 49-day period of the Organization of African between Passover and Shavout 17 Thursday Unity/African Union Ascension of Jesus | Orthodox Christian 3 Thursday Remembrance of the departure 27 Sunday | of Jesus from Earth after his Trinity Sunday | Christian Interfaith resurrection, celebrated 40 days Celebrates doctrine of the Trinity, U.S. day of observance encouraging after Easter remembering and honoring God the prayer among all faiths Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

19 Saturday Pentecost | Orthodox Christian Shavuot | Jewish (until 5/21/18) Commemorates the Descent of the 6 Sunday Celebration of the descent of Holy Spirit upon the Apostles Chongmyo Taeje | Confucian Moses from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Confucian memorial ceremony to Commandments honor the kings and queens of the 29 Tuesday Yi, or Joseon, Dynasty Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i 20 Sunday Remembrance of the death of Pentecost | Christian Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i 9 Wednesday Commemorates the Descent of the faith Observance of the Publication of Holy Spirit upon the Apostles Dianetics | Scientology Observance of the publication of 31 Thursday Dianetics: the Modern Science of Corpus Christi | Catholic Mental Health in 1950 which was Christian the forerunner of Scientology Celebration of the presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist- also known as transubstantiation

8 June 2018 8 Friday 18 Monday 20 Wednesday Feast of the Sacred Heart of Dragon Boat Festival | Taoist Waqf al Arafa- Hajj Day | Muslim Jesus | Catholic Christian Chinese festival commemorating Observance during Hajj, the Islamic Occasion to pay homage to Christ’s fealty and filial piety and pilgrimage to Mecca, when pilgrims all-encompassing love for humanity recognizing the life and death of pray for forgiveness and mercy Chinese Scholar, Qu Yuan 10 Sunday 21 Thursday Race Unity Day | Baha’i 19 Tuesday Litha | Wiccan/Pagan Day to promote racial harmony and Celebration of the sacred New Church Day | understanding marriage, in which the energy Swedenborgian Christian of the gods is poured into the Annual commemoration of the services of life (Summer Solstice) Laylat al Qadr | Muslim (until vision document “The True Christian 6/11/18) Religion,” in 1770 Also known as the ‘Night of Power’ or ‘Night of Destiny’, commemorates the night the Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad

15 Friday Eid al Fitr | Muslim (until 6/17/18) Festival that marks the end to the fasting month of Ramadan

16 Saturday Guru Arjan Dev’s Martydom | Sikh Honoring the first Sikh martyr whose death resulted in changes in the faith’s tradition Ramadan

“Every year, fasting in the month of Ramadan is spiritually uplifting. The daily routines are drastically changed: waking up in the wee hours, cooking special dishes every night for breaking fast, and praying late in the nights. Eid al Fitr, celebrating with family and friends, always reminds me of my cherished childhood memories of this holiday. Festive meals are the hallmarks of Eid al Adha, the day after Hajj. On these holidays, congregational prayers are the hallmark of the day. Being with thousands of people just simply multiplies the celebratory mood. I also see many Muslims wearing exquisite dresses from different countries. I can never get used to the grin on the faces of children when I give them monetary gifts.” -Ghazala Hayat

9 July 2018 9 Monday Martydom of the Bab | Baha’i Observance of the day Ali Muhammad was executed in 1850 by Persian political and religious powers

13 Friday Obon/Ulambana | Buddhist, Shinto (until 7/15/18) Also known as Ancestor Day, a time to relieve the suffering of ghosts by making offerings to deceased ancestors 21 Saturday Roman Catholicism Tish’a B’av | Jewish (until 7/22/18) “I love being rooted in my Roman Catholic faith tradition! Day of fasting in the remembrance Knowing that I am not on my journey as an individual but of the destruction of the Temple in rather in a community that expands around the globe and 586 BCE and 70 CE across 20 centuries is truly powerful. The long tradition - both in theory and practical action - of Catholic Social Teaching, 23 Monday has been incredibly formative for me in wrestling with the Birth of the Emperor Haile question of how I am to move through the world. The rhythms Selassie | Rastafarian of the liturgical calendar, the embodied experience of the Birthday of the revered Messianic sacraments, the beauty of liturgy have shaped and continue to figure among Rastafarians shape me. The mystical and intellectual writings of our saints connect me to those who have gone before me in faith.” 24 Tuesday -Rhonda Miska | Mormon Observation of the arrival of the first settlers at Great Salt Lake, USA

27 Friday Day | Buddhist Also known as Dhamma Day, the day that marks the beginning of

10 August 2018 1 Wednesday 17 Friday 25 Saturday Lammas | Wiccan/Pagan Marcus Garvey’s Birthday | Chinese Ghost Festival | Taoist, Celebration of the early harvest Rastafarian Buddhist Celebration of the birth of Marcus Celebration in which the deceased Fast in Honor of Holy Mother of Garvey are believed to visit the living Jesus | Orthodox Christian Beginning of the 14-day period 19 Sunday 29 Wednesday of preparation, leading up to the Beheading of St. John the Baptist Dormition of Mary Waqf al Arafa/Hajj Day | Muslim (until 8/21/18) | Christian Observance during Hajj, the Islamic Remembrance of the death of John 6 Monday pilgrimage to Mecca, when pilgrims the Baptist Transfiguration of the Lord | pray for forgiveness and mercy Orthodox Christian Raksha Bandhan | Hindu Observance of the transfiguration Festival honoring the loving ties of Jesus on Mt. Tabor in the 22 Wednesday between brothers and sisters in family presence of his disciples Eid al Adha | Muslim (until 8/25/18) Also known as the Sacrifice Feast, 15 Wednesday commemorating the Prophet Assumption of the Blessed Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Virgin Mary | Catholic Christian his son as an obedience to God Commemorating the assumption of Mary, mother of Jesus, into heaven

Dormition of the Virgin Mary | Orthodox Christian Observance of the death, burial, and transfer to heaven of the Virgin Mary

OM Sacred sound and spiritual symbol of Hinduism

Image credit: Wikimedia 11 September 2018 1 Saturday 13 Thursday 24 Monday Religious year begins | Orthodox Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu Sukkot | Jewish (until 9/31/18) Christian Festival honoring the god of Feast Tabernacles, which Start of the religious calendar year prosperity, prudence, and success celebrates the harvest and the protection of the people of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness 2 Sunday 14 Friday dwelling in tents Krishna Janmashtani | Hindu Paryushana Parva | Jain Commemoration of the birth of Festival signifying human 27 Thursday Krishna emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement, Meskel | Ethiopian Orthodox and a celebration of the natural Christian 8 Saturday qualities of the soul Commemoration of the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helen Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Christian 18 Tuesday Celebration of the birth of Mary, | Jewish (until 28 Friday the mother of Jesus 9/19/18) Confucius’ Birthday | Confucian Also known as the Day of Observance of the birth of 9 Sunday Atonement with central themes of Confucius atonement and repentance Auditor’s Day | Scientology Scientology Auditors are 29 Saturday acknowledged on this day for their 21 Friday Hoshanah Rabbah | Jewish (until dedication in helping their fellow men and women Ashura | Muslim 10/30/18) Optional one-day fast marking Commemoration of the last of the the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali reading of the Torah 10 Monday (Shi’a Islam) and marking the day | Jewish (until that Moses fasted in graditude for liberation of the Israelites (Sunni 30 Sunday 9/11/18) Islam) Shemini Atzeret | Jewish (until Jewish New Year, marked by a call to repentance 10/2/18) Completion of the annual cycle of 22 Saturday the reading of the Torah 11 Tuesday Mabon | Wiccan/Pagan Observance of the Autumnal Ethiopian New Year’s Day | Equinox Rastafarian First day of the new year for the Ethiopian calendar

12 Wednesday Hijri-New Year | Muslim Marks the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year

12 October 2018 1 Monday 19 Friday 28 Sunday Simchat Torah | Jewish (until Dussehra/Durga Puja | Hindu Milvian Bridge Day | Christian 10/2/18) Commemoration of the last of the Day of solemn reflection on Day to celebrate the reading of the Days of Judgment the relationship of the spiritual Law community and the powers of the 20 Saturday civil government 4 Thursday Birth of the Bab | Baha’i St. Francis Day/Blessing of the Honoring of the founder of the Babi 31 Wednesday Animals | Catholic Christian religion, forerunner to Baha’u’llah All Hallow’s Eve | Christian Feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, and the Baha’i faith Praying and fasting prior to the patron saint of animals and ecology, feast day of All Saints Day often celebrated with special Guru Granth Sahib Installation | blessing of animals Sikh Reformation Day | Protestant Remembrance of the eternal Christian installation of the holy books by Anniversary of the tradition of 7 Sunday Granth Sahib Protestantism, marked by Martin Founding of the International Luther’s nailing of his 95 Theses Association of Scientologists | on a church door in Wittenberg, Scientology Germany Scientologists rededicate themselves to the aims of Scientology: a world without criminals, suffering, and war

8 Monday Thanksgiving- Canada | Interfaith Celebration of the harvest and other blessings in the past year

9 Tuesday Navratri | Hindu (until 10/17/18) Festival of the divine mother (lasting 9 nights) honoring Durga, Days of Awe wife of Shiva, and seeking her blessing “The Jewish holidays that are most meaningful for me are the 10 days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, also known Birthday of Guru Ram Das | Sikh as the Days of Awe. This is a time when I take responsibility Commemoration of the birth of one for any words or action I may have taken during the year of the foremost 10 gurus of Sikhism that may have hurt or offended anyone. On Yom Kippur, I hope that my transgressions will be forgiven by God and that I will be granted a happy healthy new year. But first, I must ask forgiveness of any individual I may have offended or mistreated before I can approach God for forgiveness. These 10 days become a time of introspection with the goal of recognizing how I can improve my behavior and treat everyone with dignity and respect.” -Jean Cavender

13 November 2018 1 Thursday 15 Thursday 24 Saturday All Saints Day | Christian Nativity Fast Begins | Orthodox Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Day for honoring and remembering Christian (until 12/24/18) Bahadur | Sikh Christian saints Period of abstinence and penance Commemoration of the death of in preparation for the birth of Jesus Guru Tegh Bahadur Samhain | Wiccan/Pagan Celebration of endings and beginnings 16 Friday 25 Sunday International Day for Tolerance | Christ the King Sunday | Interfaith Christian 2 Friday United Nations observance day to Feast celebrating the all-embracing All Souls Day | Catholic Christian generate public awareness of the authority of Christ, over and above Commemoration of the souls of dangers of intolerance governmental authority Christians who have died

Coronation of Emperor Haile 20 Tuesday 26 Monday Selassie | Rastafarian an Nabi | Muslim Day of the Covenant | Baha’i Celebration of the coronation of the Celebration of Prophet Celebration of the covenant given messianic figure of the Rastafari Muhammad’s birthday in the last will and testament of movement Baha’u’llah 22 Thursday 7 Wednesday Thanksgiving | Interfaith 28 Wednesday | Sikh, Jain, Hindu (until Celebration of the harvest and Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha | Baha’i 11/10/18) community Celebration of the rising of the The Festival of Lights marking the spirit of Abdu’l’Baha to heavenly end of the Hindu year 23 Friday dwelling Guru Nanak Dev Sahib’s birthday 8 Thursday | Sikh Jain New Year | Jain Honoring of the birth of the founder of Sikhism Beginning of the Jain year

Vikram New Year | Hindu Beginning of the Hindu year

12 Monday Birth of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i Celebration of the birth of the founder of the Baha’i faith

Image credit: Freepik 14 December 2018

2 Sunday 21 Friday 28 Friday Advent | Christian (until Yule | Wiccan/Pagan Holy Innocents | Christian 12/24/18) Celebration of the Winter Solstice Day of solemn memory of male Season observed as a time to children killed by King Herod in the prepare for the birth of Jesus same attempt to destroy Jesus Christ 24 Monday | Christian 30 Sunday Day before Christmas, often 3 Monday celebrated with a midnight Mass/ Holy Family’s Day | Catholic | Jewish (until Liturgy of Jesus’ birth Christian 12/10/18) Celebration honoring Jesus, his Festival of Lights commemorating mother Mary, and her husband the recapture and rededication of 25 Tuesday Joseph as a family the Jerusalem Temple Christmas /Feast of Nativity | Christian, Orthodox Christian Freedom Day | Scientology Celebration of the birth of Jesus Day celebrating the official 6 Thursday Christ recognition of the Church of St. Nicholas Day | Christian Scientology in the United States in Celebration of St. Nicholas, patron 1974 saint of children and role model for 26 Wednesday gift-giving Zarathosht Disco | Zoroastrian Anniversary of the death of Prophet 31 Monday Zarathustra Watch Night | Christian 8 Saturday Occasion to thank God for bringing | Buddhist | Pan-African (until people safely through another year, Celebration of the Enlightenment of and to prepare for the next year Buddha 1/1/19) Holiday celebrating family, community, and culture among Immaculate Conception of Mary | people of African descent Catholic Christian Celebrates the belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Zoroastrianism 12 Wednesday Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe | “Zoroastrianism, the worship of Ahura Mazda, is considered Catholic Christian the first monotheistic religion. An element of the doctrine Honoring of legendary appearance that really resonates with me is the concept that every of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City person has free will to support either Spenta Mainyu (good) in 1531 or Angra Mainyu (bad). Thus, we are all part of the cosmic struggle between right (justice) and wrong. It is a choice every individual must make. The moral code developed by 16 Sunday Zarathustra resonates in many of the other religions that Posadas Navidenas | Hispanic followed, including Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Another Christian (until 12/25/18) central tenet of the religion is peace with nature and Nine-day religious observance protecting the earth, water, air, plants, and animals. This during which families participate in nightly Christmas processions that tenet holds greater symbolism to me as environmental issues re-create the Holy Pilgrimage of have become paramount in our time.” Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus -Soonu Dhunjisha on their way to Bethlehem

15 January 2019 1 Tuesday 13 Sunday 19 Saturday Solemnity of Mary, Mother of Maghi | Sikh Timkat | Ethiopian Orthodox God | Catholic Christian Commemoration of a battle in Christian Celebration of the Blessed Virgin which forty Sikhs died for Guru Commemorating the baptism of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ Gobind Singh Ji Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist Shogatsu/Gantan-sai | Shinto 14 Monday New Year’s Day celebration Makar Sankranti | Hindu 20 Sunday Celebration marking the turning of World Religion Day | Baha’i 5 Saturday the sun toward the north; festival Day dedicated to the unity and in reverence to deity Surya, god of oneness of the world religions Twelfth Night | Christian the sun Conclusion of the Twelve Days of Christmas and marking the coming Tu B’Shvat | Jewish (until 1/21/19) of the Epiphany Seijin no Hi | Shinto Celebration of the coming of spring Holiday honoring those who have or will reach the age of twenty The Birth of the Tenth Sikh within the current year Master | Sikh 21 Monday Honoring the birth of Guru Gobind Mahayana New Year | Buddhist Singh 17 Thursday (until 1/23/19) Blessing of the Animals | Buddhist New Year, as celebrated in Mayahana countries Hispanic Christian 6 Sunday Observance of showing respect Epiphany/Three Kings Day | for domestic animals that are 25 Friday Christian significant to people Feast to celebrate the visit of the Conversion of St. Paul | Christian Three Wise Men to Baby Jesus Event in the life of Paul the Apostle, 18 Friday after which he became a follower of Jesus Week of Prayer for Christian 7 Monday Unity | Christian (until 1/25/19) Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Ecumenical observance focused on Christian prayer for church unity Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

Ethiopian Christmas | Rastafarian Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ

Baptism of the Lord Jesus | Christian Commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist

Image credit: Freepik 16 February 2019 2 Saturday 14 Thursday 19 Tuesday Presentation of Christ in the Race Relations Day | Christian Spring Lantern Festival | Taoist Temple | Christian Day recognizing the importance of Marks the final day of the Chinese Remembrance of the infant Jesus interracial relations and learning New Year celebrations being brought to the temple in Jerusalem St. Valentine’s Day | Christian Feast day of St. Valentine, 26 Tuesday Imbolc | Wiccan/Pagan celebrating love and affection Intercalary Days | Baha’i (until Halfway between the Winter 3/1/19) Solstice and the Spring Equinox, National Founding Day United Insertion of days into the calendar celebrates the passage from in order to maintain the solar States | Scientology winter to spring calendar, considered ‘days outside Founding of the first Church of of time’ Scientology in the U.S., the Church 3 Sunday of Scientology of Los Angeles in 1954 Setsubun-sai | Shinto Celebration of the traditional beginning of spring and the end of 15 Friday winter Nirvana Day | Buddhist Also known as Parinirvana Day, Four Chaplains Sunday | remembering the death of Buddha Interfaith when he reached Nirvana; Nirvana Commemoration of U.S. Army day is believed to be the festival chaplains who gave their lives to that marks the end of the cycle of save others during WWII birth and rebirth.

5 Tuesday Chinese New Year | Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist New Year’s celebration marking the start of the lunar new year, begins a fifteen-day festival for Chinese people of all religions, who give thanks for family and remember ancestors

Vasant Panchami | Hindu Festival of spring honoring the goddess of learning 12 Tuesday Triodion begins | Orthodox Christian Time period leading up to Lent

Image credit: Freepik 17 March 2019 2 Saturday 13 Wednesday Hola Mohalla | Sikh Nineteen Day Fast | Baha’i (until L. Ron Hubbard’s Birthday | Created by Guru Gobind Singh as an occasion for Sikhs to show their 3/20/19) Scientology martial arts skills and host mock Fast to be observed by adults of Marks the birth of L. Ron Hubbard, battles the Baha’i faith in good health from founder of Scientology sunrise to sunset Magha Puja Day | Buddhist 17 Sunday Celebration of the teachings by 4 Monday St. Patrick’s Day | Christian Lord Buddha to an assembly of holy Maha Shivaratri | Hindu Feast Day of St. Patrick who men Festival honoring Lord Shiva and his brought Christianity to Ireland marriage to the goddess Parvati Lord’s Evening Meal | Jehovah’s Witness 20 Wednesday Memorial commemoration of the 5 Tuesday Ostara | Wiccan/Pagan death of Jesus Christ Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) | Welcoming of spring and Christian celebration of the goddess-as- Carnival day on the eve of Ash maiden (Vernal Equinox) 25 Monday Wednesday Annunciation of the Blessed Ta’anit Esther | Jewish Virgin Mary | Christian Fast on Purim eve, commemorating Feast day commemorating Mary 6 Wednesday the fast of the Jewish people in the being told by the angel Gabriel that Ash Wednesday | Christian story of Purim she would be the mother of Jesus, Observance to begin the 40-day the son of God season of Lent, ashes are marked Purim | Jewish (until 3/21/19) on worshipers’ foreheads as a sign Celebration of the deliverance of of repentance the Jewish minority in Persia from 28 Thursday genocide Khordad Sal | Zoroastrian Remembrance of the birth of the 10 Sunday prophet Zarathustra Orthodox Sunday | Orthodox 21 Thursday Christian Naw Ruz | Baha’i, Zoroastrian First Sunday of Lent, at which time Also known as the Persian New restoration of icons in the church is Year. Marks the start of the New celebrated Year

Holi | Hindu 11 Monday Spring festival known as the Clean Monday | Orthodox “festival of colors” or the “festival Christian of love”. The festival signifies the Start of Lent for Orthodox victory of good over evil. Christians, refers to the leaving behind of sinful attitudes and non-fasting foods

18 April 2019 2 Tuesday Palm Sunday | Christian 21 Sunday Laylat al Miraj | Muslim (until Celebration of the entry of Jesus Easter | Christian into Jerusalem which marks the Holy day commemorating the 4/3/19) start of Holy Week Commemorates the Prophet resurrection of Jesus Christ Muhammad’s nighttime journey Rama Navami | Hindu from Mecca to ‘the farthest First Day of Ridvan | Baha’i (until Celebration of the birth of Lord mosque’ in Jerusalem Rama 5/2/19) Commemorates the beginning of the Baha’i faith in 1863 when 5 Friday 18 Thursday Baha’u’llah first declared his Qingming Festival | Taoist, Maundy Thursday | Christian mission, marks first of a twelve-day Confucian Remembrance of Jesus’ last meal period Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, with his disciples commemorates onset of spring Lailat al Bara’ah | Muslim and is an occasion to remember Also known as the Night of Records ancestors 19 Friday and the Night of Forgiveness, Theravadin New Year | Buddhist commemorating when God (until 4/21/19) descends from heaven and forgives 6 Saturday Buddhist New Year the people of their sins Founding of the Church | Mormon Good Friday/Holy Friday | Grounation Day | Rastafarian Commemoration of the appearance Holy day celebrated in honor of the angel, Moroni, in 1830 Christian, Orthodox Christian Remembrance of the crucifixion of Haile Selassie’s 1966 visit to to Joseph Smith, subsequently Jamaica founding the Church of Jesus Christ and death of Jesus of Latter-day Saints Passover/Pesach | Jewish (until 28 Sunday Ramayana Week | Hindu (until 4/27/19) Easter/Pasca | Orthodox 4/14/19) 8-day celebration of the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt Christian Nine-day festival that marks the Holy day commemorating the auspicious celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ appearance of Hindu Lord, Sri Ram Lord’s Evening Meal | Jehovah’s Witness Memorial commemoration of the 29 Monday 9 Tuesday death of Jesus Christ Ninth Day of Ridvan | Baha’i Mahavir Jayanti | Jain Day of recognition for the historic Celebration of the birth of Hanuman Jayanti | Hindu and symbolic event of Baha’u’llah’s Mahavira, Founder of Jainism as a Celebration of Hanuman, an exile from Baghdad religion embodiment of Lord Rama, devotion and selfless works are 14 Sunday encouraged Baisakhi/Vaisakhi | Sikh, Hindu In Sikhism the day commemorates 20 Saturday the founding of the Khalsa, a Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox distinctive Sikh brotherhood Christian Celebration of the resurrection of Lazarus by Jesus

19 May 2019 1 Wednesday 13 Monday 25 Saturday Beltane | Wiccan/Pagan World Falun Dafa/Falun Gong African Liberation Day | Pan- Celebration of the conjoining of the Day | Buddhist African goddess with the energy of the Celebration of the spiritual Commemoration of the formation god in sacred marriage, the basis discipline introduced in China in of the Organization of African of all creation 1992 Unity/African Union

Yom HaShoah | Jewish Holocaust Day established to 18 Saturday 29 Wednesday remember the six million Jews Visakha Puja (Buddha Day | Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i killed by the Nazis during the 1930s Buddhist Remembrance of the death of and 1940s Commemorates the birth, Baha’u’llah, founder of the Baha’i enlightenment, and death of faith Guatama Buddha in the Theravada 2 Thursday tradition Twelfth Day of Ridvan | Baha’i 30 Thursday Final day of the twelve-day festival Ascension of Jesus | Christian which celebrates the beginning of 21 Tuesday Remembrance of the departure the Baha’i faith World Day for Cultural Diversity of Jesus from Earth after his for Dialogue & Development | resurrection. Celebrated 40 days after Easter National Day of Prayer | Interfaith Interfaith United Nations-sactioned U.S. day of observance encouraging international holiday that celebrates 31 Friday prayer among all faiths the richness of the world’s cultures while promoting intercultural Laylat al Qadr | Muslim (until dialogue 6/1/19) 5 Sunday The Night of Destiny, the first revelation of the Qur’an to Prophet Chongmyo Taeje | Confucian Muhammad Confucian memorial ceremony to 22 Wednesday honor the kings and queens of the Lag Ba’Omer | Jewish Yi, or Joseon, Dynasty Holiday that occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavout 6 Monday Ramadan begins | Muslim (until Declaration of the Bab | Baha’i 6/4/19) Celebration of the Bab, Ali Month devoted to the Muhammad’s, announcement in commemoration of Muhammad’s 1844 that he was the “gate” to the reception of the divine revelation coming of the promised one of all recorded in the Qur’an religions

9 Thursday Observance of the Publication of Dianetics | Scientology Observance of the publication of Dianetics: the Modern Science of Mental Health in 1950 which was the forerunner of Scientology

20 June 2019 5 Wednesday 19 Wednesday 23 Sunday Eid al Fitr | Muslim (until 6/7/19) New Church Day | All Saints Day | Christian, Festival that marks the end to the Swedenborgian Christian Orthodox Christian fasting month of Ramadan Annual commemoration of the Celebrating the memory of all vision document “The True Christian saints 7 Friday Religion,” in 1770 Dragon Boat Festival | Taoist 28 Friday Chinese festival commemorating 20 Thursday Feast of the Sacred Heart of fealty and filial piety and Corpus Christi | Catholic Jesus | Catholic Christian recognizing the life and death of Christian Occasion to pay homage to Christ’s Chinese Scholar, Qu Yuan Celebration of the presence of the all-encompassing love for humanity body and blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist- also known as 9 Sunday transubstantiation Pentecost | Christian, Orthodox Christian Commemorates the descent of the 21 Friday Holy Spirit upon the Apostles Litha | Wiccan/Pagan Celebration of the sacred Race Unity Day | Baha’i marriage, in which the energy Day to promote racial harmony and of the gods is poured into the services of life (Summer Solstice) understanding

Shavuot | Jewish (until 6/10/19) Celebration of the descent of Moses from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments

16 Sunday Guru Arjan Martyrdom | Sikh Honoring the first Sikh martyr whose death resulted in changes in the faith’s tradition

Trinity Sunday | Christian Celebrates doctrine of the Trinity, remembering and honoring God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

Star and Crescent Islamic symbol

Image credit: Wikimedia 21 About DAP

Diversity Awareness Partnership is a catalyst to increase awareness, facilitate engagement and provide education about diversity and inclusion. DAP achieves this through these engagement opportunities:

EDUCATION AND TRAINING Diversity & Inclusion education and training is delivered through presentations, workshops, seminars, community forums and roundtables. D&I trainings raise awareness around the importance of diversity and inclusion among employees by exposing challenges, facilitating dialogue, and providing tangible resources needed to create a more inclusive workplace.

YOUTH ENGAGEMENT We offer youth diversity programs for students in K-12: • Give Respect, Get Respect Program • EXPLORE Career Immersion Program • Diverse-City Art Competition

AWARENESS INITIATIVES Diversity Awareness Partnership provides educational publications addressing a variety of diversity topics. Through the use of digital media and print publications, the message of appreciating and understanding differences is promoted in organizations, schools, corporations and throughout the community.

DAP CONNECT DAP Connect brings together people interested in diversifying and expanding their professional and social networks.

Call (314) 246-3146 or visit www.dapstl.org for more information.

22 Mission Diversity Awareness Partnership is a catalyst to increase awareness, facilitate engagement and provide education about diversity and inclusion.

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, 63119 www.dapstl.org

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