A comprehensive guide to major religious holidays and observances across the world's traditions. Filter by religion, browse by month, or download events to your calendar.
Note: Islamic dates are approximate, as the Islamic calendar is lunar and dates depend on moon sighting.
52 holidays shown
Japan's most important holiday. Shinto shrines welcome millions of visitors for hatsumōde (first shrine visit).
Celebrates the birth of Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru and founder of the Khalsa.
Commemorates the visit of the Magi to the infant Jesus and, in some traditions, the baptism of Jesus.
Punjabi winter harvest festival celebrated with bonfires, singing, and dancing.
Harvest festival marking the sun's transit into Capricorn. Celebrated with bonfires, sweets, and kite flying.
Commemorates the Prophet Muhammad's night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and ascension to heaven.
Bean-throwing festival marking the beginning of spring. Rituals ward off evil spirits.
The "Great Night of Shiva", a major festival honoring Lord Shiva with fasting, prayer, and all-night vigils.
Tibetan Buddhist New Year celebration with prayer flags, rituals, and feasting.
Marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and penitence before Easter.
The beginning of the holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims worldwide.
Celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot as told in the Book of Esther.
The Festival of Colors, celebrating the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil.
The holiest night of the Islamic year, marking the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
The "Festival of Breaking the Fast," celebrating the end of Ramadan with prayers, feasting, and charity.
The Bahá'í New Year, coinciding with the spring equinox, ending the 19-day fast.
The Zoroastrian New Year at the spring equinox, the oldest continuously celebrated holiday on earth.
Celebrates the birth of Zoroaster (Zarathustra), the prophet and founder of Zoroastrianism.
Celebrates the birth of Lord Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu.
Celebrates Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, beginning Holy Week.
Commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. Celebrated with the Seder meal and unleavened bread (matzah).
Observes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. A day of mourning and fasting.
Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The most important Christian feast.
Celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara and founder of Jainism as a historical religion.
Celebrates the founding of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 and the spring harvest.
The holiest Bahá'í festival, commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's declaration of his mission in the Garden of Ridván.
The most important Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
Commemorates Jesus's ascension to heaven 40 days after Easter.
Marks the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and the wheat harvest. Also known as the Feast of Weeks.
Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles, often called the "birthday of the Church."
The "Festival of Sacrifice," commemorating Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son. Coincides with the Hajj pilgrimage.
Marks the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year.
The 10th of Muharram. Observed as a day of fasting by Sunnis and as a day of mourning for Husayn by Shias.
Marks the Buddha's first sermon at Deer Park in Sarnath, setting the "wheel of dharma" in motion.
The three-month monsoon retreat period for Theravada Buddhist monks, devoted to intensive meditation and study.
Catholic and Orthodox feast celebrating the taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
The most important Jain festival, an 8-day period of fasting, prayer, and forgiveness.
Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu.
Celebrates the birthday of Prophet Muhammad with prayers, gatherings, and charitable acts.
Celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of wisdom and new beginnings.
The Jewish New Year. A time of introspection, repentance, and the sounding of the shofar (ram's horn).
The Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism. A 25-hour fast devoted to prayer and repentance.
The Feast of Tabernacles, commemorating the Israelites' 40 years in the wilderness.
Nine nights of worship dedicated to the goddess Durga, culminating in Dussehra (Vijayadashami).
Lay Buddhists offer new robes and supplies to monastics at the end of Vassa.
The Festival of Lights, the most widely celebrated Hindu festival, honoring the triumph of light over darkness.
Celebrates the birth of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh.
Marks the nirvana (final liberation) of Mahavira. Celebrated with lights, prayers, and reflections on nonviolence.
Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, with prayers, processions, and langar.
Festival for children aged 3, 5, and 7, who visit Shinto shrines to pray for health and growth.
The Festival of Lights, celebrating the rededication of the Second Temple and the miracle of oil lasting eight days.
Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The second most important Christian feast after Easter.
Holiday dates sourced from Encyclopaedia Britannica, timeanddate.com, and official religious organization calendars. Islamic dates are approximate and may vary by 1–2 days depending on moon sighting in your region.