Topic facet

Faith Spirituality observances

Faith, spiritual practice and religiously rooted observance.

Curated facet guide

About this facet

This facet includes observances tied to faith communities, spiritual traditions or religious practice, including dates whose meaning depends on a particular tradition or calendar.

Scope note: The site preserves source-defined religious context and does not assume every community follows the same calendar, practice or interpretation.
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Reviewed depth

In-depth guides in Faith Spirituality

These pages include reviewed meaning, history, activities, facts and FAQs in addition to the underlying authority record.

Source-backedFixed AnnualIn-depth guide

International Day of Nowruz

21 March · United Nations-recognized cultural observance

A/RES/64/253

Source-backedVariable CustomIn-depth guide

Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon

Full moon in the month of May · United Nations-recognized religious observance

A/RES/54/115 (1999)

291 records

Authority records

Source-backedFixed Annual

Arrival of the Gospel / Arrival of the First Missionaries

5 March · French Polynesia / Protestant historical and civic observance

Air Tahiti materials repeatedly document March 5 as the anniversary of the first London Missionary Society missionaries arriving at Matavai Bay in 1797; one current Air Tahiti guide describ…

Source-backedVariable Custom

Asahna Bucha Day

Buddhist lunar-calendar observance; Gregorian date varies · Thai Buddhist religious observance and public-holiday tradition

Thailand Department of Tourism / government holiday guidance

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Asalha Puja Day

29 July 2026 in Thailand · Thailand / Buddhist observance and 2026 calendar context

Thailand.go.th lists an Asalha Puja Day event on 29 July 2026. Thailand’s Office of Buddhism explains that Asalha Puja follows the full moon of the eighth lunar month, so the Gregorian date…

Source-backedEdition Specific

Ascension Day

14 May 2026 · Saint-Barthélemy / French legal-holiday calendar

France’s Service Public legal-holiday table lists Ascension on Thursday 14 May 2026 among the national legal holidays and explicitly treats Saint-Barthélemy within the overseas holiday fram…

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Ascension Day

14 May 2026 · Saint-Martin / French legal-holiday calendar

France’s Service Public legal-holiday table lists Ascension on Thursday 14 May 2026 among the national legal holidays and explicitly treats Saint-Martin within the overseas holiday framewor…

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Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh

29 May 2026 in the Bahá’í calendar’s current civil mapping · Bahá’í Faith / global holy day

The official Bahá’í calendar lists the Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh on 29 May 2026 and authoritative Bahá’í texts identify the holy day.

Source-backedEdition Specific

Ash Wednesday

18 February in 2026 · Church of England / Christian liturgical calendar

The Church of England calendar identifies Ash Wednesday and its 2026 civil-calendar date

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Ashura (9th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram)

25–26 June 2026 · Sindh, Pakistan / 2026 public-holiday notification

The Government of Sindh lists 25 and 26 June 2026 as public holidays for Ashura, corresponding to 9th and 10th Muharram-ul-Haram in its 2026 notification.

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Asunción de la Virgen

15 August annually · Spain / national labor-holiday framework

Spain’s national labor-holiday regulation lists 15 August as Asunción de la Virgen within the national holiday framework.

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Asunción de la Virgen

15 August 2026 · Chile / 2026 national holiday calendar

The Government of Chile’s official 2026 holiday calendar lists 15 August as Asunción de la Virgen.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Ayudha Puja

Ninth day of Navaratri / Saraswathi Puja cycle; target-year Gregorian date varies · India / Hindu festival and occupational-tool worship tradition

India's Ministry of Tourism describes Ayudha Puja within the ninth-day Saraswathi Puja/Navaratri observance in Tamil Nadu and notes the September/October festival window.

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Año Nuevo Andino Amazónico Chaqueño

21 June annually; in 2026 the public-holiday suspension moved to 22 June · Bolivia national holiday and Indigenous cultural observance

Bolivia Ministry of Labour / national government

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Baba Marta / Martenitsa tradition

1 March · Bulgaria / cultural tradition

Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism cultural material describes the Baba Marta/Martenitsa spring custom and the March 1 tradition of wearing or exchanging martenitsi.

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Basant Panchami

23 January in 2026; the lunar-calendar date varies by year · Hindu festival recognized in Government of India and state holiday calendars

Prime Minister of India / Government of India holiday calendar

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Bathukamma festival opening day

11 October 2026; 2026 festival listed 11–18 October · Telangana, India / 2026 Bathukamma festival

India’s official tourism portal lists the Telangana Bathukamma festival for 11–18 October 2026 and says it is organized by the Government of Telangana.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Beginning of Ramadan

1 Ramadan 1447 AH; expected first fasting day 18 February 2026 in cited UK guidance, subject to moon sighting · Islamic religious calendar / local-community moon-sighting practice

Islamic Relief’s 2026 calendar places 1 Ramadan 1447 on February 18, with Ramadan beginning the preceding evening, while explicitly noting that lunar months depend on moon sighting.

Source-backedRule Based Annual

Bible Sunday (Philippines)

Last Sunday of January (25 January in 2026) · Philippines / National Bible Month framework led by the Philippine Bible Society

The Philippine Bible Society explains that Presidential Proclamation No. 124 established January as National Bible Month with the final week as National Bible Week and the last Sunday as Bi…

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Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche

24 June 2026 · Bhutan / gazetted public-holiday and religious observance

A Bhutan government-linked hydropower authority’s 2026 holiday list marks the Birth Anniversary of Guru Rinpoche on 24 June 2026 as a gazetted holiday, and a Bhutan Dzongkhag Administration…

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Blue Christmas Service

Advent/Christmas season; often 21 December or around the winter solstice · Christian pastoral worship tradition for people experiencing grief, loss, loneliness, or difficulty during Advent and Christmas

The Church of England describes Blue Christmas services as often marked on 21 December but explicitly allows churches to choose another date; the Methodist Church describes the same traditi…

Source-backedVariable Custom

Bonalu

Ashada-season festival; Gregorian dates vary by temple and year · Telangana Hindu festival and cultural tradition

The Government of Telangana’s Hyderabad district portal describes Bonalu as a major Telangana festival, and the state publishes current annual calendar information.

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Bright Monday

13 April 2026 in the Orthodox Church in America calendar · Orthodox Church in America / 2026 liturgical calendar

The Orthodox Church in America’s daily readings identify 13 April 2026 as Bright Monday, the Monday after Pascha.

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Bring Your Bible to School Day

1 October 2026; first Thursday in October · United States / Focus on the Family student campaign

Focus on the Family’s current campaign page gives 1 October 2026, and its student materials describe the event as the first Thursday in October.

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Buddha Purnima

1 May 2026 · India / Government of India 2026 gazetted-holiday calendar

The Government of India holiday calendar published by IIRS/ISRO lists Buddha Purnima as a gazetted holiday on 1 May 2026.

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Chanukah (Hanukkah)

Begins sunset 4 December; ends nightfall 12 December 2026 · Jewish calendar / Chabad 2026 dates

Chabad’s 2026 Jewish holiday calendar lists Chanukah from sunset on 4 December through nightfall on 12 December 2026.

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Cheesefare Sunday / Forgiveness Sunday

22 February 2026 · Orthodox Church in America / 2026 pre-Lenten cycle

OCA’s Paschal-cycle table identifies Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday on 22 February 2026.

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Christmas Eve

24 December 2026 · India / 2026 restricted-holiday calendars

Government office calendars for 2026 list Christmas Eve on 24 December as a restricted holiday in the cited scope.

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Chuseok

24–26 September 2026; Chuseok day 25 September · Republic of Korea; major traditional holiday

The Korea Tourism Organization’s official VisitKorea material lists the 2026 Chuseok holiday from 24 to 26 September, with Chuseok day on 25 September.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Clean Monday

23 February 2026; movable Orthodox-calendar holiday · Greece — official public holiday

Hellenic Aviation Service Provider / Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport official 2026 holiday circular

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Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)

2 November annually · Catholic Church / remembrance and prayer for the dead

The U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults states that November 2 each year is the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day), a day for special remembrance and prayer for the d…

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Commemoration of St. Vitus

15 June · Orthodox Christian / saint commemoration

The Orthodox Church in America lists Martyrs Modestus, Crescentia, and Vitus among the saints commemorated on June 15.

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Corpus Christi public holiday (Colombia)

Monday 8 June 2026 · Colombia / transferred public-holiday rule

Colombia’s labour-law framework transfers Corpus Christi observance to the following Monday when applicable; government 2026 mobility planning identifies the Corpus Christi holiday bridge e…

Source-backedEdition Specific

Dassain (Dashain)

21 October 2026 · Bhutan / 2026 government holiday calendar

Bhutan’s Ministry of Home Affairs 2026 calendar lists “Dassain” on 21 October 2026.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Day of Arafah

9 Dhu al-Hijjah; 26 May in Saudi official 2026 reporting · Islamic religious observance during Hajj; Gregorian date varies with the Hijri calendar and authoritative local determinations

Saudi Press Agency’s 2026 Hajj reporting identifies the Day of Arafah in the 1447 AH season.

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Declaration of the Báb

24 May in the official Bahá’í calendar for 2026 · Bahá’í Faith; holy day

The official Bahá’í calendar lists the Declaration of the Báb on 24 May 2026.

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Deepavali

8 November 2026 in Singapore’s gazetted 2026 calendar · Singapore / Ministry of Manpower public-holiday calendar

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower lists Deepavali on 8 November 2026 among the 11 gazetted public holidays for 2026.

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Dev Deepawali / Dev Diwali in Varanasi

24 November 2026 · Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India / tourism and festival context

Incredible India lists the 2026 Dev Deepawali celebration in Varanasi for 24 November 2026. The date is an edition-specific festival date rather than a fixed Gregorian annual date.

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Dia de Meritxell / Mare de Déu de Meritxell

8 September annually · Andorra / national holiday and patronal observance

The Government of Andorra identifies 8 September as the feast of the Virgin of Meritxell and a national holiday in the Andorran labor calendar.

Source-backedRule Based Annual

Divine Mercy Sunday

Second Sunday of Easter; 12 April in 2026 · Catholic Church

The Holy See identifies the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday in the 2026 papal calendar

Source-backedEdition Specific

Diwali (Deepawali)

8 November 2026 · India / Government of India 2026 gazetted-holiday calendar

The Government of India holiday calendar published by IIRS/ISRO lists Diwali (Deepawali) as a gazetted holiday on 8 November 2026.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Dolyatra / Dol Yatra

3 March in the cited 2026 Government of India office calendar; lunar date varies · Hindu festival and Indian government holiday-calendar context

Government of India Controller of Communication Accounts holiday information lists Holika Dahan/Dolyatra on 3 March 2026, providing a current official calendar anchor for the movable festiv…

Source-backedVariable Custom

Drukpa Tshezhi

4th day of the 6th Bhutanese lunar month; Gregorian date varies · Bhutan Buddhist religious and national-holiday context

Bhutan’s Ministry of Education identifies Drukpa Tshezhi as a national holiday observed on the fourth day of the sixth Bhutanese lunar month, commemorating the Buddha’s First Sermon.

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Dussehra (Maha Ashtami)

19 October 2026 · Government of India / 2026 restricted-holiday calendar

Government of India office calendars list Dussehra (Maha Ashtami) on 19 October 2026.

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Dussehra (Mahanavami)

20 October 2026 · Government of India / 2026 restricted-holiday calendar

Government of India office calendars list Dussehra (Mahanavami) on 20 October 2026.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Dussehra (Mahanavami)

20 October in the 2026 Government of India restricted-holiday calendar; date varies by year · Hindu festival observance in India

Government of India

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Dusshera (Mahanavami)

20 October 2026 · India / 2026 Central Government office holiday calendar reference (Assam)

The 2026 Government of India office calendars cited for Assam place Dusshera (Mahanavami)/Mahanavami on 20 October 2026.

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Dusshera (Saptami)

18 October 2026 · India / 2026 Central Government office holiday calendar reference (Assam)

The Controller of Defence Accounts Guwahati lists Dusshera (Saptami) on 18 October 2026 among restricted holidays for Central Government administrative offices in Assam.

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Dydd Santes Dwynwen / St Dwynwen’s Day

25 January every year · Wales / Welsh cultural tradition

Visit Wales states that Dydd Santes Dwynwen is celebrated on 25 January every year and identifies St Dwynwen as the Welsh patron saint of lovers.

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Día de la Virgen de Caacupé

8 December · Paraguay / national holiday

Paraguay Law No. 7544/2025 lists December 8, Día de la Virgen de Caacupé, among national holidays and states that holidays outside the movable list remain on their dates each year.

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Día de la Virgen de los Ángeles

2 August · Costa Rica / statutory holiday

Costa Rica's Ministry of Labour states that August 2 commemorates the Virgen de los Ángeles under article 148 of the Labour Code and that the holiday is not moved to another day.

Source-backedEdition Specific

Día de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia

21 January 2026; not moved · Dominican Republic / 2026 national holiday calendar

The Dominican Ministry of Labor’s official 2026 holiday notice lists 21 January, Día de Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, and states that it is not moved.

Source-backedEdition Specific

Día de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes

24 September 2026; not moved · Dominican Republic / 2026 national holiday calendar

The Dominican Ministry of Labor’s official 2026 holiday notice lists 24 September, Día de Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, and states that it is not moved.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Día de Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day)

1 November; Colombian paid-rest treatment moves qualifying non-Monday holidays to the following Monday under Law 51 of 1983 · Colombia / national labor-holiday framework

Colombia’s Law 51 of 1983 includes Todos los Santos among the religious holidays in the national paid-rest framework and applies Monday-transfer treatment when the holiday does not fall on…

Source-backedVariable Custom

Earth God's Birthday

2nd day of the 2nd lunar month (20 March in 2026) · Taiwan / traditional Chinese lunar-calendar observance

Jinwen University of Science and Technology states that Earth God's Birthday falls on the second day of the second lunar month and gives March 20 for 2026; Timeanddate independently shows t…

Source-backedEdition Specific

Easter Monday

6 April 2026 in the cited UK calendars · England and Wales; Northern Ireland / 2026 bank-holiday calendars

GOV.UK lists Easter Monday on 6 April 2026 for England and Wales and Northern Ireland.

Source-backedEdition Specific

Easter Saturday

4 April 2026 · Assam, India / 2026 restricted-holiday calendar

The Government of Assam/NIC 2026 calendar lists Easter Saturday on 4 April as a restricted holiday.

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Easter Sunday

5 April 2026 · Government of India / 2026 holiday calendar

Government of India holiday calendars list Easter Sunday on 5 April 2026.

Source-backedVariable Custom

Eid al-Adha

10 Dhu al-Hijjah; Gregorian date varies by lunar-calendar authority/community (27 May in the cited 1447 AH/2026 calendars) · Islam / Eid al-Adha (also called Eid-e-Ghorban/Qurban), beginning on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah

Islamic calendar authorities place Eid al-Adha on 10 Dhu al-Hijjah; the corresponding Gregorian date may differ by community because lunar-calendar determinations can vary.

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Eid al-Adha (Hari Raya Haji in Singapore)

27 May 2026 in Singapore; subject to further confirmation on the current MOM calendar · Singapore public-holiday calendar / globally variable Islamic observance

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower lists Hari Raya Haji on 27 May 2026 and marks the date subject to further confirmation. This verifies the Singapore 2026 public-holiday mapping, not a unive…

Source-backedEdition Specific

Eid al-Fitr (Hari Raya Puasa in Singapore)

21 March 2026 in Singapore; subject to further confirmation on the current MOM calendar · Singapore public-holiday calendar / globally variable Islamic observance

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower lists Hari Raya Puasa on 21 March 2026 and marks the date subject to further confirmation. This verifies the Singapore 2026 public-holiday mapping, not a un…

Source-backedVariable Custom

Eid al-Ghadir

18 Dhu al-Hijjah; Gregorian date varies by lunar-calendar authority/community (4 June in the cited 1447 AH/2026 IMAM-US calendar) · Shia Islam / commemoration on 18 Dhu al-Hijjah; local Gregorian date can vary with lunar-calendar determination

Shia calendar authorities place Eid al-Ghadir on 18 Dhu al-Hijjah; Gregorian dates are resolved from the applicable lunar-calendar/moon-sighting authority for the target community and year.

Source-backedVariable Custom

End of Buddhist Lent

Lunar/festival date set by the Lao calendar; 26 October in the cited 2026 schedule (7 October in 2025) · Laos / Buddhist festival and Lao public-holiday calendar observance

The Embassy of Japan in Laos lists End of Buddhist Lent as a Lao public holiday/festival on October 26 in its 2026 schedule and October 7 in 2025, demonstrating that the Gregorian date move…

Source-backedEdition Specific

Erev Pesach / Passover Eve

1 April 2026 in the cited Israeli 2026 calendar; Passover began 2 April · Jewish religious-calendar observance in Israel

The Israel Defense Forces 2026 holiday calendar lists Erev Pesach on 1 April 2026 and Passover on 2 April.

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Erev Purim / eve of Purim

2 March 2026; Purim begins at sunset · Jewish calendar / Chabad 2026 dates

Chabad’s 2026 calendar states that Purim begins at sunset on Monday, 2 March 2026; the Fast of Esther also falls on 2 March. This supports Erev Purim as the eve/start boundary rather than a…

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Erev Shavuot / eve of Shavuot

21 May 2026; Shavuot begins at sunset · Jewish calendar / Diaspora dates in Chabad 2026 calendar

Chabad’s 2026 calendar states that Shavuot begins at sunset on Thursday, 21 May 2026 and ends at nightfall on 23 May outside Israel.

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Esala Full Moon Poya Day

29 July 2026 · Sri Lanka / 2026 public and bank holiday

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka’s 2026 holiday calendar lists Esala Full Moon Poya Day on Wednesday 29 July 2026 and marks it as both a bank and public holiday.

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Fast of Esther (Ta’anit Esther)

2 March 2026; normally immediately before Purim, with calendar adjustments when required · Jewish religious fast

Chabad’s Fast of Esther guidance identifies the 2026 fast on 2 March and explains its calendar relationship to Purim.

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Fast of Gedaliah / Tzom Gedaliah

14 September in 2026 · Jewish minor fast and remembrance observance

Chabad’s current Jewish calendar lists the Fast of Gedaliah on 14 September 2026 (3 Tishrei 5787).

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Fast of the 17th of Tammuz

2 July 2026 · Jewish religious fast / Chabad 2026 calendar

Chabad’s 2026 calendar places the Fast of the 17th of Tammuz on 2 July 2026 and identifies it as the beginning of the Three Weeks.

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Fast of the Seventeenth of Tammuz (Shivah Asar B’Tammuz)

17 Tammuz; postponed to 18 Tammuz when 17 Tammuz falls on Shabbat (2 July in 2026) · Judaism / minor fast marking the start of the Three Weeks

Jewish calendar sources place the fast on 17 Tammuz and document the postponement when that date falls on Shabbat; the Gregorian date is therefore recalculated from the Hebrew calendar each…

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Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

12 December · Catholic Marian feast with especially strong significance in Mexico and the Americas

Vatican sources identify 12 December as the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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Feast of Saint Gertrude of Nivelles

17 March · Christian saint commemoration / Catholic hagiographic calendar context

Catholic Online lists Saint Gertrude of Nivelles among saints commemorated on March 17, and an older Lives of the Saints source independently places her feast on March 17.