Event Category: Religious Observances

Tradition: Indigenous AmericanLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html A six-day curative rite in which false faces visit houses. Old fires are extinguished, and new fires are lit….Continue Reading Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony

Tradition: HinduismLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html A feast dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva. The night before the feast, fasting is observed, texts are recited, songs sung, and stories told in honor of this God whose cosmic dance creates, preserves, destroys, and recreates the world….Continue Reading Maha Shivaratri

Tradition: BuddhismLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html  In the northern tradition, it commemorates the parinirvana of the Buddha. In cultures of Southeast Asia, the Buddha’s parinirvana is remembered during Wesak. The dates and names of Buddhist celebrations vary significantly among cultures and communities….Continue Reading Nirvana Day

Tradition: Christianity-Protestant,Christianity-Roman CatholicLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html A special day of repentance observed by Protestant and Roman Catholic Christians to mark the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance, and self-denial preceding Easter. The name derives from the practice of marking the faithful with ashes to signify penitence. …Continue Reading Ash Wednesday

Tradition: HinduismLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html Celebrates the birthday of Sri Ramakrishna, teacher of Swami Vivekananda. …Continue Reading Sri Ramakrishna Jayanti

Tradition: IslamLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html The Holy Month of Ramadan is the month of fasting during which Muslims who are physically able do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset in honor of the first revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. The evening meal is celebrated with family….Continue Reading Ramadan

Tradition: Christianity-Orthodox,Christianity-Roman CatholicLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html The first day of Great Lent throughout Eastern Christianity. …Continue Reading Clean Monday

Tradition: Christianity-OrthodoxLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html In Orthodox churches, the first day of Lent marks the beginning of the Great Fast, the final six weeks of a 10-week period leading up to Holy Week and Easter (Pascha). In the churches that follow the Gregorian calendar, Lent is a six-week observance (40 days excluding Sundays) beginning with Ash Wednesday…Continue Reading Great Lent

Tradition: Indigenous AmericanLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html Pueblo peoples (Arizona) perform Eagle dances dramatizing the relationship of their communities with the Sky-World. …Continue Reading Eagle Dances

Tradition: Baha’iLink: http://www2.hds.harvard.edu/spiritual/multifaith_about.html A designated 19-day period of fasting each year immediately before the Bahá’í New Year. The fasting is seen as a period of spiritual preparation and regeneration for the new year ahead….Continue Reading Nineteen Day Fast