18-MONTH INTERFAITH CALENDAR

2021 - 2022 18-MONTH INTERFAITH CALENDAR

To foster and support inclusive communities, Diversity Awareness Partnership is pleased to present the 2021-2022 18-Month Interfaith Calendar. This publication can be a useful guide to oberservances celebrated and practiced across many religious traditions. When planning your organization’s schedule, refer to our Interfaith Calendar to honor the special practices and important days of the traditions that your colleagues and friends may observe.

Considerations In order to be more accommodating for people with varying religious practices, consider the following:

FOOD Food and drink are central to many traditions rituals and practices. Consider vegetarian, vegan, non-alchoholic, and decaf options. Additionally, think about the abstinence from food and drink, which is common for those who observe fasting in different ways.

HOURS Some holidays or special days may require individuals to worship, pray, or break fast during different or odd hours than they may the rest of the year. Consider a flexible schedule that takes into account the work and objectives of your employee, student, or colleague, rather than enforcing standard work hours.

TIME OFF Many organizations have standard holidays for all that center a specific religion, like Christianity. Consider allowing practitioners of other religions to float these holidays or make shifts in their schedules.

DEADLINES/WORK FLOW During holidays or special days that require prayer at late/early hours or that require fasting, some individuals may experience decreased stamina. Try to show empathy, and possibly examine schedules or work deadlines to see if they can be adjusted.

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 inclusive and broad enough, and provides flexibility should somone need it.

Page 2 Online Resource Interfaith Calendar of primary sacred times for world religions: www. interfaith-calendar.org

Notes This calendar strives to be as inclusive as possible. We are always open to adding more holidays, sacred days, and religions. Please contact us directly if there’s something you’d like 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 Bahá’í, 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 Bahá’í Faith The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Catholic Christianity/Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Christianity Pan-Africanism Confucianism Protestant Christianity Coptic Christianity Rastafari Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity Shinto Faith Sikhism Hispanic Christianity Swedenborgian Christianity Interfaith Taoism Islam Unitarian Universalist Jainism Wicca/Paganism Jehovah’s Witnesses Zoroastrianism Judaism

Page 3 JANUARY 2021 1 Friday 11 Monday 19 Tuesday Solemnity of Mary, Mother of Seijin no Hi | Shinto Faith Timkat | Ethiopian Orthodox God | Catholic Christianity Honors those who have or Christianity Celebration of the Blessed will reach the age of twenty Commemoration of the Virgin Mary, the mother of within the current year baptism of Jesus in the Jesus Christ Jordan River by John the 13 Wednesday Baptist 3 Sunday Maghi | Sikhism Epiphany/Three Kings Day | Commemoration of a battle in 20 Wednesday Christianity which 40 Sikhs died for Guru The Birth of the Tenth Sikh Feast to celebrate the visit of Gobind Singh Master | Sikhism the Three Wise Men to Baby Honoring the birth of Guru Jesus 14 Thursday Gobind Singh Makar Sankranti | Hinduism 5 Tuesday Celebration marking the 25 Monday Twelfth Night | Christianity turning of the Sun toward the Conversion of St. Paul | Conclusion of the Twelve north in reverence to deity Christianity Days of Christmas and Surya, god of the Sun Honoring the conversion of marking of the coming of the Paul the Apostle, after which Epiphany 17 Sunday he became a follower of Feast of St. Anthony Jesus 7 Thursday the Abbot/Blessing of Orthodox Christmas | the Animals | Hispanic 27 Wednesday Orthodox Christianity Catholicism Tu B’Shvat | Judaism (until Celebration of the birth of Observance of showing 1/28/21) Jesus Christ respect for domestic animals Celebration of the coming of that are significant to people spring Ethiopian Christmas | Rastafari World Religion Day | Bahá’í 28 Thursday Celebration of the birth of Faith Mahayana New Year | Jesus Christ Day dedicated to the unity Buddhism and oneness of the world Buddhist New Year, as Coptic Chrismas | Coptic religions celebrated in Mayahana Christianity countries Celebration of the birth of 18 Monday Jesus Christ Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | Christianity (until 10 Sunday 1/25/21) Baptism of the Lord Jesus | Ecumenical observance Christianity focused on prayer for church Commemoration of the unity baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist

Page 4 FEBRUARY 2021 2 Tuesday 14 Sunday 24 Wednesday Imbolc | Wicca/Paganism Race Relations Day | Intercalary Days | Bahá’í Faith Celebration of the passage Christianity (until 3/1/21) from winter to spring Day recognizing the Insertion of days into the importance of interracial calendar in order to maintain Presentation of Christ in the relations and learning the solar calendar, considered Temple | Christianity “days outside of time” Remembrance of the infant St. Valentine’s Day | Jesus being brought to the Christianity 25 Thursday temple in Jerusalem Feast day of St. Valentine, Ta’anit Esther | Judaism celebrating love and affection Fast on Purim eve, 3 Wednesday commemorating the fast of Four Chaplains Sunday | 15 Monday the Jewish people in the story Interfaith Nirvana Day (Parinivarna Day) of Purim Commemoration of U.S. Army | Buddhism chaplains who gave their lives A day to remember the death Purim | Judaism (until to save others during WWII of Buddha when he reached 2/26/21) Nirvana and marks the end of Commemorates the saving Setsubun-sai | Shinto Faith the cycle of birth and rebirth of the Jewish people from Celebration of the traditional Haman, who was planning to beginning of spring and the 16 Tuesday kill them end of winter Vasant Panchami | Hinduism Festival of spring honoring 26 Friday 12 Friday the goddess of learning Spring Lantern Festival Triodion begins| Orthodox | Confucianism, Taoism, Christianity Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) Buddhism Time period leading up to | Christianity Marks the final day of the Lent Carnival day on the eve of Lunar New Year celebrations Ash Wednesday Lunar New Year | 27 Saturday Confucianism, Taoism, 17 Wednesday Magha Puja Day | Buddhism Buddhism (until 2/26/21) Ash Wednesday | Christianity Celebration of the teachings Celebration marking the start Observance to begin the by Lord Buddha to an of the lunar new year and a 40-day season of Lent; ashes assembly of holy men time to give thanks for family are marked on worshippers’ and remember ancestors foreheads as a sign of repentance

Page 5 MARCH 2021 1 Monday Nowruz (Persian New Year) | 28 Sunday Nineteen Day Fast | Bahá’í Bahá’í Faith, Zoroastrianism, Laylat al Bara’ah (Night of Faith (until 3/19/21) Interfaith Forgiveness) | Islam Fast to be observed by adults Marks the start of the New A significant day where of the Bahá’í faith in good Year which occurs on the date Muslims seek forgiveness for health from sunrise to sunset of Spring Equinox their sins and believe that on this night, one’s destiny for 11 Thursday 21 Sunday the coming year is written by Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism Orthodox Sunday | Orthodox God Festival honoring Lord Christianity and his marriage to the First Sunday of Lent, at which Palm Sunday | Christianity goddess Parvati time restoration of icons in Celebration of the entry of the church is celebrated Jesus into Jerusalem which Laylat al Miraj | Islam marks the start of Holy Week Commemorates the Prophet 25 Thursday Muhammed’s nighttime Annunciation of the Blessed Holi | Hinduism (until 3/29/21) journey from Mecca to Virgin Mary | Christianity Spring festival known as Jerusalem, where he then Feast day commemorating the “Festival of Colors” that acended to heaven Mary being told by the angel signifies the victory of good Gabriel that she would be the over evil 15 Monday mother of Jesus, the son of Clean Monday | Orthodox God 29 Monday Christianity Hola Mohalla | Sikhism (until Start of Lent for Orthodox 26 Friday 3/31/21) Christians, refers to the Khordad Sal | Zoroastrianism Created by Guru Gobind leaving behind of sinful Remembrance of the birth of Singh as an occasion for Sikhs attitudes and non-fasting the prophet Zarathustra to show their martial arts skills foods and host mock battles 27 Saturday 17 Wednesday Lord’s Evening Meal | St. Patrick’s Day | Christianity Jehovah’s Witnesses Feast Day of St. Patrick who Memorial commemoration of brought Christianity to Ireland the death of Jesus Christ

20 Saturday Passover/Pesach | Judaism Ostara | Wicca/Paganism (until 4/4/21) Celebration of the Spring Eight-day celebration of the Equinox, the season’s deliverance of the Jews from change from dark winter to slavery in Egypt brightening spring

Page 6 APRIL 2021 1 Thursday 13 Tuesday 24 Saturday Maundy Thursday | Christianity Ramayana Week | Hinduism Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox A day of remembrance of Jesus’ (until 4/21/21) Christianty last meal with his disciples A nine day festival that marks Celebration of the resurrection the auspicious celebration of the of Lazarus by Jesus 2 Friday appearance of Hindu Lord, Sri Good Friday/Holy Friday Ram 25 Sunday | Christianity, Orthodox Mahavir Jayanti | Jainism Christianity Baisakhi/Vaisakhi | Sikhism Celebration of the birth of Remembrance of the crucifixion In Sikhism, the day Mahavira, founder of Jainism as and death of Jesus commemorates the founding a religion of the Khalsa, a distinctive Sikh brotherhood 4 Sunday 27 Tuesday Easter | Christianity Theravadin New Year | Holy day commemorating the 14 Wednesday Buddhism (until 4/29/21) resurrection of Jesus Christ Khmer New Year (Cambodian The Buddhist New Year, when New Year) | Buddhism (until buddhists devote themselves to | Taoism, 4/17/21) meditation, self-reflection, and Confucianism The new year that is celebrated learning from past mistakes Also known as Tomb Sweeping just after the harvest has been Day, commemorates onset of gathered and safely stored, Ninth Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í spring and is an occasion to when farmers enjoy the fruits Faith remember ancestors of their labor before the rainy Day of recognition for the season begins historic and symbolic event of 6 Tuesday Baha’u’llah’s exile from Baghdad Founding of the Church | The 19 Monday Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- First Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í Faith Jayanti | Hinduism day Saints (ends 4/30/21) Celebration of Hanuman, an Commemoration of the Commemorates the beginning embodiment of Lord Rama; appearance of the angel Moroni of the Bahá’í faith in 1863 when devotion and selfless works are in 1830 to Joseph Smith, who Baha’u’llah first declared his encouraged subsequently founded the Church mission of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 29 Thursday 21 Wednesday Lag Ba’Omer | Judaism (until 8 Thursday Rama Navami | Hinduism 4/30/21) Yom HaShoah | Judaism (ends Celebration of the birth of Lord A day of celebration interrupting 4/9/21) Rama the sadness and semi-mourning Holocaust Day, established to of the Omer period for 24 hours remember the six million Jews Grounation Day | Rastafari killed by the Nazi regime Holy day celebrated in honor 30 Friday of Haile Selassie’s 1966 visit to Twelfth Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í 12 Monday Jamaica Faith Ramadan Begins | Islam (until Final day of the twelve-day 5/12/21) festival which celebrates the A holy month in which the Islamic beginning of the Bahá’í faith scripture, the Quran, was revealed and Muslims observe fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection Page 7 MAY 2021 1 Saturday World Falun Dafa/Falun Pentecost | Christianity, Beltane | Wicca/Paganism Gong Day | Buddhism Orthodox Christianity Celebration of the conjoining Celebration of the spiritual Commemorates the descent of the goddess with the discipline introduced in China of the Holy Spirit upon the energy of the god in sacred in 1992 Apostles marriage, the basis of all creation Ascension of Jesus | 25 Tuesday Christianity African Liberation Day | Pan- Remembrance of the Africanism 2 Sunday departure of Jesus from Eastern Orthodox Easter | Commemoration of the Earth after his resurrection, Orthodox Christianity formation of the Organization celebrated 40 days after Holy day commemorating the of African Unity/African Union Easter resurrection of Jesus Christ 26 Wednesday Chongmyo Taeje | 16 Sunday Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) | Confucianism Shavuot | Judaism (until Buddhism Confucian memorial 5/18/21) Commemorates the birth, ceremony to honor the kings Celebration of the descent of enlightenment, and death and queens of the Yi, or Moses from Mt. Sinai with the of Guatama Buddha in the Joseon Dynasty Ten Commandments Theravada tradition

6 Thursday 21 Friday 28 Friday National Day of Prayer | World Day for Cultural Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Interfaith Diversity for Dialogue & Bahá’í Faith (until 5/29/21) U.S. day of observance Development | Interfaith Remembrance of the death of encouraging prayer among United Nations-sanctioned Baha’u’llah, founder of Bahá’í all faiths international holiday that celebrates the richness of Trinity Sunday | Christianity the world’s cultures while Celebrates doctrine of the 7 Friday promoting intercultural Laylat al Qadr (Night of Trinity, remembering and dialogue Power) | Islam (until 5/8/21) honoring God the Father, the A special night of prayer Son, and the Holy Spirit in the month of Ramadan 23 Sunday where it is believed that Declaration of the Bab | Bahá’í the blessings and mercy of Faith God are multiplied by the Celebration of the Bab, a thousands beloved messenger of God, on the day he announced that he was the “gate” to the 13 Thursday coming of the promised one Eid al Fitr | Islam (until of all religions 5/15/21) Festival that marks the end to the fasting month of Ramadan

Page 8 JUNE 2021 3 Thursday 16 Wednesday 20 Sunday Corpus Christi | Catholic Guru Arjan Martyrdom | Litha | Wicca/Paganism Christianity Sikhism Celebration of the sacred Celebration of the presence Honoring the first Sikh martyr marriage, in which the energy of the body and blood of whose death resulted in of the gods is poured into Jesus Christ in the Eucharist changes in the faith’s tradition the services of life (Summer Solstice) 10 Thursday 19 Saturday Ascension Day | Orthodox Juneteenth | Interfaith Christianity Juneteenth (short for “June Remembrance of the Nineteenth”) is a holiday departure of Jesus from commemorating the day Earth after his resurrection, the news of the abolition celebrated 40 days after of slavery came to Easter Galveston,Texas

11 Friday New Church Day | Feast of the Sacred Heart of Swedenborgian Christianity Jesus | Catholic Christianity Annual commemoration of Occasion to pay homage to the vision document “The Christ’s all-encompassing True Christian Religion,” in love for humanity 1770

13 Sunday Race Unity Day | Bahá’í Faith Faith Day to promote racial harmony and understanding

14 Monday Boat Festival | Taoism Chinese festival A Primer on Important Terms commemorating fealty and Ecumenical: Including or representing multiple denominations within Christianity. filial piety and recognizing Relevant this month because of the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the life and death of Chinese traditionally observed in St. Louis with a prayer service coordinated by Catholic and Scholar, Qu Yuan multiple Protestant groups. Interfaith: Including or representing multiple faiths or religions.

Religious diversity: A characteristic of a group of people wherein a large number of religious identities are included compared to the group size.

Religious inclusivity: Intentional efforts to include those who would otherwise be excluded based on their religion (or lack thereof).

World religions: One of the most common ways that we describe the many systems of religious belief that are practiced around the world. There are an estimated 4,200 religions in the world. This month, the Bahá’í faith hosts World Religion Day, dedicated to illuminating the universal principles among the world’s religions.

Page 9 JULY 2021 9 Friday 24 Saturday Asalha Puja Day | Buddhist Martydom of the Bab | Bahá’í Pioneer Day | The Church Also known as Dharma Observance of the day Ali of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Day, the day that marks the Muhammad was executed in Saints beginning of Buddhism 1850 by Persian political and Observation of the arrival of religious powers the first settlers at Great Salt Lake, USA 18 Sunday Tish’a B’av | Judaism (until 7/19/21) Day of fasting in remembrance of the Travel and Visitation destruction of the Temple in For Americans, July is prime time for summer vacations, which frequently 586 BCE and 70 CE include opportunities for tourism. Both domestically and abroad, holy sites and congregations are destinations for visitors wishing to learn more Day of Arafat | Islam (until about their own or other religions. The hot summer weather can often be at odds with expected dress codes at holy sites, so the following tips are 7/19/21) offered for visitors: Observance during Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to • Regardless of where you visit, plan to cover your shoulders and Mecca, when pilgrims pray for legs. Shorts and tank tops are nearly universal no-nos for houses of forgiveness and mercy worship, including Muslim, Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, and Hindu sites. • In Muslim sites, plan to remove your shoes. If you’d be uncomfortable 19 Monday walking barefoot around a mosque, bring socks if you’re wearing Eid al Adha | Islam (until sandals over bare feet. Women should consider bringing a light scarf 7/23/21) or pashmina to cover their heads. Though visitors are often not asked to cover their heads, honoring internal expectations of hijab can Also known as the Sacrifice create a sense of mutual respect between visitor and host. Be mindful Feast, a celebration that men and women may have separate entrances to buildings as commemorating the Prophet well as separate worship spaces. Abraham’s willingness to • In Catholic and Orthodox Christian cathedrals and churches, the sacrifice his son in obedience basic rules apply regarding knees and shoulders. Some Orthodox churches require women to cover their heads and to wear skirts (no to God (holiday begins on the miniskirts), and some separate men and women in the sanctuary sunset of the previous day) seating. Distracting or too-tight clothing, as well as clothing with logos, are not appropriate here. • “Except in Reform temples, all men and boys are expected to cover their heads. This is often optional at Reform services. Out of respect, 23 Friday even non-Jewish guests should follow the custom of the synagogue Birth of the Emperor Haile and wear a kippah. Men who have been Bar-Mitzvahed also typically Selassie | Rastafari put on a tallis. This is not expected of non-Jews, who may politely Birthday of the revered decline if offered one. Today, in more liberal synagogues, women sometimes also wear a kippah and tallis, but this is not obligatory.” messianic figure among (www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/synagogue-customs-and-etiquette) Rastafarians • If you are visiting someone else’s house of worship, the best way to honor your hosts is to inquire about appropriate dress. This shows your good intentions and desire to show respect. Many sites will have backup head coverings and scarves to cover the shoulders for visitors.

Page 10 AUGUST 2021 1 Sunday 17 Tuesday Lammas | Wicca/Paganism Marcus Garvey’s Birthday | Celebration of the early Rastafari harvest in the Northern Celebration of the birth of Hemisphere Marcus Garvey

Fast in Honor of Holy 18 Wednesday Mother of Jesus | Orthodox Ashura | Islam (until 8/19/21) Christianity Optional one-day fast A two week fast sometimes marking the martyrdom of called the Dormition Fast that Husayn ibn Ali (Shi’a Islam) bars the consumption of red and marking the day that meat, poultry, dairy products, Moses fasted in gratitude fish, oil, and wine for liberation of the Israelites (Sunni Islam) 6 Friday Transfiguration of the Lord | 22 Sunday Orthodox Christianity Obon/Ulambana (Ancestor Observance of the Day/ Festival) | transfiguration of Jesus on Mt. Buddhism, Shinto Faith, Tabor in the presence of his Taoism disciples On this day the gates of hell are opened on the first day 9 Monday and are free to visit the Hijri-New Year | Islam (until world throughout this time, 8/10/21) during which offerings are Marks the beginning of the made to relieve their suffering new Islamic lunar calendar Raksha Bandhan | Hinduism 15 Sunday Festival honoring the loving Assumption of the Blessed ties between brothers and Virgin Mary | Catholic sisters in family Christianity Commemorating the 30 Monday assumption of Mary, mother Krishna Janmashtami | of Jesus, into heaven Hinduism Commemoration of the birth Dormition of the Virgin Mary of Krishna, the eighth avatar Orthodox | Christianity of Vishnu (date varies, but this Observance of the death, was the most agreed upon burial, and transfer to heaven date) of the Virgin Mary

Page 11 SEPTEMBER 2021 1 Wednesday 10 Friday 26 Sunday Liturgical Calendar New Year | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hinduism Hoshanah Rabbah | Judaism Orthodox Christianity Festival honoring the (until 9/27/21) Start of the religious calendar deity Ganesha, the god of This day is the seventh day of year prosperity, wisdom, and Sukkot when the entire Jewish success community is judged by God 4 Saturday to be worthy or not of seasonal Paryushana Parvarambha | 11 Saturday rains; many Jews can be found Jainism Ethiopian New Year’s Day | praying and reading the Torah Festival signifying human Rastafari emergence into a new First day of the new year for 27 Monday world of spiritual and moral the Ethiopian calendar Meskel | Ethiopian Orthodox refinement, and a celebration Christianity of the natural qualities of the 15 Wednesday Commemoration of the Yom Kippur | Judaism (until discovery of the True Cross by 9/16/21) St. Helen 6 Monday Also known as the Day of Rosh Hashanah | Judaism Atonement with central Shemini Atzeret | Judaism (until (until 9/8/2021) themes of atonement and 9/29/21) Jewish New Year, marked by repentance A holy day devoted to the a call to repentance spiritual aspects of the festival of Sukkot 20 Monday 8 Wednesday Sukkot | Judaism (until Nativity of the Blessed 9/27/2021) 28 Tuesday Virgin Mary | Christianity A day commonly known as Confucius’ Birthday | Celebration of the birth of the Feast of Tabernacles, Confucianism Mary, the mother of Jesus which celebrates thanking Observance of the birth of God for the completed Confucius Guru Granth Sahib Installation harvest and commemorates | Sikhism the huts in which the Simchat Torah | Jewish (until Remembrance of the eternal Israelites dwelt after escaping 9/29/21) installation of the holy books enslavement in Egypt. Day to celebrate the by Granth Sahib at the completion of the yearly cycle Golden Temple of Torah reading and new cycle 21 Tuesday begins Mabon | Wicca/Paganism 9 Thursday (until 9/29/21) Tzom Gedaliah | Judaism Observance of the Autumnal A day of fast from dawn Equinox until dusk to lament the assassination of Gedaliah, who administered the Jews in Judah after the destruction of the Temple and exile in 586 B.C.E.

Page 12 OCTOBER 2021 4 Monday 11 Monday 31 Sunday Feast of St. Francis of Assisi | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | All Hallow’s Eve | Christianity Catholic Christianity Interfaith Praying and fasting prior to A day to commemorate The City of St. Louis has the feast day of All Saint’s Day the patron saint of animals celebrated Indigenous and ecology which is often People’s Day since 2018 as a Reformation Day | Protestant celebrated with special time to celebrate the thriving Christianity blessing of animals and pets cultures and values of the Anniversary of the tradition Indigenous Peoples of our of Protestantism, marked by 5 Tuesday region. This day is celebrated Martin Luther’s nailing of his | Buddhism internationally by many 95 Theses on a church door in A 15-day Cambodian tribes, states, counties, cities, Wittenberg, Germany religious festival culminating universities, countries and in celebrations at the end of schools Samhain | Wiccan/Paganism the Buddhist lent, primarily (until 11/1/21) to offer foods to the monks in 15 Friday A Gaelic festival marking the the spiritual hope that those Dussehra/Durga Puja | end of the harvest season and foods would be then offered Hinduism beginning of winter to ancestors Commemoration of the end of Navratri 7 Thursday Navratri | Hinduism (until 18 Monday 10/15/21) Mawlid an Nabi | Islam A nine day festival dedicated Celebration of Prophet to Goddess Durga who Muhammad’s birthday defeated the demon Mahishasura, signifying the 21 Thursday victory of good over evil Jain New Year | Jainism Beginning of the Jain year 9 Saturday Birthday of Guru Ram Das | Sikhism Commemoration of the birth of one of the foremost gurus of Sikhism

Page 13 NOVEMBER 2021 1 Monday 18 Thursday 27 Saturday All Saints Day | Christianity Bon Om Touk | Buddhism Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha | Day for honoring and (until 11/20/21) Bahá’í Faith remembering Christian saints Bon Om Touk, also known Celebration of the rising of as “The Water Festival,” is the spirit of Abdu’l-Baha to 2 Tuesday an annual celebration of the heavenly dwelling All Day | Catholic end of the rainy season on Christianity the full moon of the Buddhist 28 Sunday Commemoration of the souls month of Kadeuk. The full Nativity Fast Begins | of Christians who have died moon is considered to bring Orthodox Christianity (until good luck that can lead to an 1/6/22) Coronation of Emperor abundant harvest Period of abstinence and Haile Selassie | Rastafari penance in preparation for Celebration of the coronation 19 Friday the birth of Jesus of the messianic figure of the Guru Nanak Dev Sahib’s Rastafari movement birthday | Sikhism Advent | Christianity (until Honoring of the birth of the 12/24/21) 4 Thursday founder of Sikhism Season observed as a time to Diwali | Sikhism, Jainism, prepare for the birth of Jesus Hinduism 21 Sunday Christ The Festival of Lights marking Christ the King Sunday | the end of the Hindu year Christianity Hanukkah | Judaism (until Feast celebrating the all- 12/6/21) embracing authority of Festival of lights 5 Friday commemorating the Vikram New Year | Hinduism Christ, over and above recapture and rededication of Beginning of the Hindu year governmental authority the Jerusalem Temple 6 Saturday 24 Wednesday Birth of the Bab/Baha’u’llah | Martyrdom of Guru Bahá’í Faith (until 11/7/2021) Tegh Bahadur | Sikhism Honoring of the founder of Commemoration of the death the Babi religion, forerunner of Guru Tegh Bahadur to Baha’u’llah and the Bahá’í faith Day of the Covenant | Bahá’í Faith (until 11/7/2021) Celebration of the covenant 16 Tuesday given in the last will and International Day for testament of Baha’u’llah Tolerance | Interfaith United Nations observance day to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance

Page 14 DECEMBER 2021 6 Monday 16 Thursday 26 Sunday St. Nicholas Day | Christianity Posadas Navidenas | Zarathosht Diso | Celebration of St. Nicholas, Hispanic Christianity (until Zoroastrianism patron saint of children and 12/24/21) Anniversary of the death of role model for gift-giving Nine-day religious Prophet Zarathustra observance during which Chalica | Unitarian (until families participate in nightly Kwanzaa | Pan-Africanism 12/12/21) processions that re-create (until 1/1/22) A week-long celebration the Holy Pilgrimage of Mary, Holiday celebrating family, of Unitarian Universalist Joseph and the baby Jesus to community, and culture principles Bethlehem among people of African descent 8 Wednesday 21 Tuesday Bodhi Day | Buddhism Yule | Wicca/Paganism (until Holy Family’s Day | Catholic Celebration of the 1/1/2022) Christianity Enlightenment of Buddha Celebration of the Winter Celebration honoring Jesus, Solstice his mother Mary, and her Immaculate Conception of husband Joseph as a family Mary | Catholic Christianity 24 Friday Celebrates the belief in the Christmas Eve | Christianity 28 Tuesday Immaculate Conception of Day before Christmas, often Holy Innocents | Christianity the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated with a midnight Day of solemn memory of Mass/Liturgy of Jesus’ birth male children killed by King 12 Sunday Herod in the same attempt to destroy Jesus Feast of Our Lady of 25 Saturday Guadalupe | Christianity Christmas | Christianity Honoring of a legendary Celebration of the birth of 31 Friday appearance of the Virgin Jesus Christ Watch Night | Christianity Mary near Mexico City in Occasion to thank God 1531 CE Feast of the Nativity | for bringing people safely Orthodox Christianity through another year and to 14 Tuesday Commemorates the Nativity prepare for the next year Asara B’Tevet | Judaism in the flesh of Jesus Christ A fast commemorating the Tenth of Tevet, the siege of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylonia

Page 15 JANUARY 2022 1 Saturday 9 Sunday 18 Tuesday Solemnity of Mary, Mother Baptism of the Lord Jesus | Week of Prayer for Christian of God | Catholic Christianity Christianity Unity | Christianity (until Celebration of the Blessed Commemoration of the 1/25/22) Virgin Mary, the mother of baptism of Jesus in the Ecumenical observance Jesus Christ Jordan River by St. John the focused on prayer for church Baptist unity 5 Wednesday Twelfth Night | Christianity 10 Monday Mahayana New Year | Conclusion of the Twelve Seijin no Hi | Shinto Faith Buddhism Days of Christmas and Honors those who have or Buddhist New Year, as marking of the coming of the will reach the age of twenty celebrated in Mayahana Epiphany within the current year countries

6 Thursday 14 Friday 19 Wednesday Epiphany/Three Kings Day | Makar Sankranti | Hinduism Timkat | Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity Celebration marking the Christianity Feast to celebrate the visit of turning of the Sun toward the Commemoration of the the Three Wise Men to Baby north in reverence to deity baptism of Jesus in the Jesus Surya, god of the Sun Jordan River by John the Baptist 7 Friday 16 Sunday Orthodox Christmas | World Religion Day | Bahá’í 25 Tuesday Orthodox Christianity Faith Conversion of St. Paul | Celebration of the birth of Day dedicated to the unity Christianity Jesus Christ and oneness of the world Honoring the conversion of religions Paul the Apostle, after which Ethiopian Christmas | he became a follower of Rastafari Tu B’Shvat | Judaism (until Jesus Celebration of the birth of 1/17/22) Jesus Christ Celebration of the coming of spring Coptic Christmas | Coptic Christianity 17 Monday Celebration of the birth of Feast of St. Anthony Jesus Christ the Abbot/Blessing of the Animals | Hispanic Catholicism Observance of showing respect for domestic animals that are significant to people

Page 16 FEBRUARY 2022 1 Tuesday Lunar New Year | 16 Wednesday Imbolc | Wicca/Paganism Confucianism, Taoism, Maghi | Sikhism Celebration of the passage Buddhism Commemoration of a battle in from winter to spring Celebration marking the start which 40 Sikhs died for Guru of the lunar new year and a Gobind Singh Setsubun-sai | Shinto Faith time to give thanks for family Celebration of the traditional and remember ancestors Magha Puja Day | Buddhism beginning of spring and the Celebration of the teachings end of winter 14 Monday by Lord Buddha to an Race Relations Day | assembly of holy men 2 Wednesday Christianity Presentation of Christ in the Day recognizing the 25 Friday Temple | Christianity importance of interracial Intercalary Days | Bahá’í Faith Remembrance of the infant relations and learning (until 3/1/22) Jesus being brought to the Insertion of days into the temple in Jerusalem St. Valentine’s Day | calendar in order to maintain Christianity the solar calendar, considered Feast day of St. Valentine, “days outside of time” 3 Thursday celebrating love and affection Four Chaplains Sunday | Interfaith Commemoration of U.S. Army 15 Tuesday chaplains who gave their lives Nirvana Day (Parinivarna Day) to save others during WWII | Buddhism A day to remember the death of Buddha when he reached 5 Saturday Nirvana, ending the cycle of Vasant Panchami | Hinduism birth and rebirth Festival of spring honoring the goddess of learning Spring Lantern Festival | Confucianism, Taoism, 13 Sunday Buddhism Triodion begins | Orthodox Marks the final day of the Christianity Lunar New Year celebrations Time period leading up to Lent

Page 17 MARCH 2022 1 Tuesday 13 Sunday 19 Saturday Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) Sunday of Orthodoxy | Laylat al Bara’ah (Night of | Christianity Orthodox Christianity Forgiveness) | Islam Carnival day on the eve of First Sunday of Lent, at which A significant day where Ash Wednesday time restoration of icons in Muslims seek forgiveness for the church is celebrated their sins and believe that on Laylatul Miraj | Islam this night, one’s destiny for Commemorates the Prophet 16 Wednesday the coming year is written by Muhammed’s nighttime Ta’anit Esther | Judaism God journey from Mecca to Fast on Purim eve, Jerusalem, where he then commemorating the fast of 20 Sunday acended to heaven the Jewish people in the story Ostara | Wicca/Paganism of Purim Celebrates the Spring Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism Equinox, the season’s Festival honoring Lord Shiva Purim | Judaism (until change from dark winter to and his marriage to the 3/17/22) brightening spring goddess Parvati Commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from 21 Monday 2 Wednesday Haman, who was planning to Nowruz (Persian New Year) | Nineteen Day Fast | Bahá’í kill them Bahá’í Faith, Zoroastrianism, Faith (until 3/20/22) Interfaith A nineteen-day period of the 17 Thursday Marks the start of the New year, during which adults of St. Patrick’s Day | Christianity Year which occurs on the date the Bahá’í Faith adhere to a Feast Day of St. Patrick of Spring Equinox sunrise-to-sunset fast who brought Christianity to Ireland 25 Friday Ash Wednesday | Christianity Annunciation of the Blessed Observance to begin the 18 Friday Virgin Mary | Christianity 40-day season of Lent; ashes Hola Mohalla | Sikhism (until Feast day commemorating are marked on worshippers’ 3/20/22) Mary being told by the angel foreheads as a sign of Created by Guru Gobind Gabriel that she would be the repentance Singh as an occasion for Sikhs mother of Jesus, the son of to show their martial arts God 7 Monday skills and host mock battles Clean Monday | Orthodox Christianity Holi | Hinduism (until Start of Lent for Orthodox 3/19/22) Christians, refers to the Spring festival known as leaving behind of sinful the “Festival of Colors” that attitudes and non-fasting signifies the victory of good foods over evil

Page 18 APRIL 2022 1 Friday 14 Thursday 17 Sunday Ramadan Begins | Islam (29 or 30 Maundy Thursday | Christianity Easter | Christianity days long) A day of remembrance of Jesus’ Holy day commemorating the A holy month in which the Islamic last meal with his disciples resurrection of Jesus Christ scripture, the Quran, was revealed and Muslims observe fasting, Mahavir Jayanti | Jainism prayer, and spiritual reflection Celebration of the birth of 20 Wednesday First Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í Faith Mahavira, founder of Jainism as a (ends 5/2/22) Ramayana Week | Hinduism (until religion Commemorates the beginning 4/10/22) of the Bahá’í faith in 1863 when A nine day festival that marks Baisakhi/Vaisakhi | Sikhism Baha’u’llah first declared his the auspicious celebration of the In Sikhism, the day mission appearance of Hindu Lord, Sri Ram commemorates the founding of the Khalsa, a distinctive Sikh brotherhood 21 Thursday 5 Tuesday Grounation Day | Rastafari Qingming Festival | Taoism, Holy day celebrated in honor Confucianism 15 Friday of Haile Selassie’s 1966 visit to Also known as Tomb Sweeping Day, Good Friday/Holy Friday | Jamaica commemorates onset of spring Christianity, Orthodox Christianity and is an occasion to remember Remembrance of the crucifixion ancestors and death of Jesus 24 Sunday Eastern Othodox Easter | Lord’s Evening Meal | Jehovah’s Orthodox Christianity 6 Wednesday Witnesses Holy day commemorating the Founding of the Church | The Memorial commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day death of Jesus Christ Saints Commemoration of the appearance 27 Wednesday Passover/Pesach | Judaism (until of the angel Moroni in 1830 to Yom HaShoah | Judaism (ends 4/22/22) Joseph Smith, who subsequently 4/28/22) Eight-day celebration of the founded the Church of Jesus Christ Holocaust Day, established to deliverance of the Jews from of Latter-day Saints remember the six million Jews slavery in Egypt killed by the Nazi regime 10 Sunday Rama Navami | Hinduism 16 Saturday 29 Friday Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox Celebration of the birth of Lord Ninth Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í Faith Christianty Rama Day of recognition for the Celebration of the resurrection of historic and symbolic event of Lazarus by Jesus Palm Sunday | Christianity Baha’u’llah’s exile from Baghdad Celebration of the entry of Jesus Hanuman Jayanti | Hinduism into Jerusalem which marks the start Laylat al Qadr (Night of Power) | Celebration of Hanuman, an of Holy Week Islam embodiment of Lord Rama; A special night of prayer in the devotion and selfless works are month of Ramadan where it is 13 Wednesday encouraged believed that the blessings and Khmer New Year (Cambodian New mercy of God are multiplied by Year) | Buddhism (until 4/16/22) Theravadin New Year | Buddhism the thousands The new year that is celebrated just The Buddhist New Year, when after the harvest has been gathered buddhists devote themselves to and safely stored, when farmers meditation, self-reflection, and enjoy the fruits of their labor before learning from past mistakes the rainy season begins Page 19 MAY 2022 1 Sunday 15 Sunday 25 Wednesday Beltane | Wicca/Paganism Visakha Puja (Buddha Day) | African Liberation Day | Pan- Celebration of the conjoining Buddhism Africanism of the goddess with the Commemorates the birth, Commemoration of the energy of the god in sacred enlightenment, and death formation of the Organization marriage, the basis of all of Guatama Buddha in the of African Unity/African Union creation Theravada tradition 26 Thursday Chongmyo Taeje | 18 Wednesday Ascension of Jesus | Confucianism Lag BaOmer | Judaism (until Christianity, Orthodox Confucian memorial 5/19/22) Christianity ceremony to honor the kings A day of celebration Remembrance of the and queens of the Yi, or interrupting the sadness and departure of Jesus from Joseon Dynasty semi-mourning of the Omer Earth after his resurrection, period for 24 hours celebrated 40 days after 2 Monday Easter Eid al Fitr | Islam (until 21 Saturday 5/15/22) World Day for Cultural 28 Saturday Festival that marks the end to Diversity for Dialogue & Ascension of Baha’u’llah | the fasting month of Ramadan Development | Interfaith Bahá’í Faith (until 5/29/22) United Nations-sanctioned Remembrance of the death of Twelfth Day of Ridvan | Bahá’í international holiday that Baha’u’llah, founder of Bahá’í Faith celebrates the richness of Final day of the twelve-day the world’s cultures while festival which celebrates the promoting intercultural beginning of the Bahá’í faith dialogue

5 Thursday 23 Monday National Day of Prayer | Declaration of the Bab | Bahá’í Interfaith Faith U.S. day of observance Celebration of the Bab, a encouraging prayer among beloved messenger of God, all faiths on the day he announced that he was the “gate” to the 13 Friday coming of the promised one World Falun Dafa/Falun of all religions Gong Day | Buddhism Celebration of the spiritual discipline introduced in China in 1992

Page 20 JUNE 2022 3 Friday 16 Thursday 21 Tuesday Festival | Taoism Corpus Christi | Catholic Litha | Wicca/Paganism Chinese festival Christianity Celebration of the sacred commemorating fealty and Celebration of the presence marriage, in which the energy filial piety and recognizing of the body and blood of of the gods is poured into the life and death of Chinese Jesus Christ in the Eucharist the services of life (Summer Scholar, Qu Yuan Solstice) Guru Arjan Martyrdom | 4 Saturday Sikhism 24 Friday Shavuot | Judaism (until Honoring the first Sikh martyr Feast of the Sacred Heart of 6/6/22) whose death resulted in Jesus | Catholic Christianity Celebration of the descent of changes in the faith’s tradition Occasion to pay homage to Moses from Mt. Sinai with the Christ’s all-encompassing Ten Commandments 19 Sunday love for humanity Juneteenth | Interfaith 5 Sunday Juneteenth (short for Pentecost | Christianity, “June Nineteenth”) is a Orthodox Christianity holiday commemorating Commemorates the descent the day the news of the of the Holy Spirit upon the abolition of slavery came to Apostles Galveston,Texas

New Church Day | 12 Sunday Swedenborgian Christianity Trinity Sunday | Christianity Annual commemoration of Celebrates doctrine of the the vision document “The Trinity, remembering and True Christian Religion,” in honoring God the Father, the 1770 Son, and the Holy Spirit

Race Unity Day | Bahá’í Faith Day to promote racial harmony and understanding

Page 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) 257-0800 or visit www.dapinclusive.org for more information.

Page 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 3030 S. Grand Boulevard, #201 St. Louis, MO 63118 www.dapinclusive.org

Page 23 CALENDAR SPONSORS