Faith, Belief Religious Observances

Kathina (Buddhist)

Ongoing through Monday, November 23, 2026

This Buddhist festival celebrates the largest alms-giving ceremony of the Buddhist year, during which new robes and necessities are given to ordained monks and nuns.

Community: Buddhist

Native American Heritage Month (Indigenous)

Ongoing through Monday, November 30, 2026

Community: Indigenous

Diwali (Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist)

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, means 'row of lights' and is the Hindu New Year. Diwali lasts for 5 days: Day 1 - New Year for business, Day 2 - the triumph of god Vishnu over the evil demon, Day 3 - Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity visits homes lit by lamps, Day 4 - Bali worship day, Day 5 - devoted to brothers and sisters. Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists.

Community: Hindu, Sikh

Qawl (Bahá'í)

Monday, November 23, 2026, 4:37pm – 12am

The first day of the fourteenth Bahá'í month. The English translation of Qawl (Arabic) is 'speech.' Please Note: This observance begins the evening before the start date.

Community: Bahá'í

Guru Nanak's Birthday (Bikarami) (Sikh)

Tuesday, November 24 – Thursday, November 26, 2026

Celebration of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Born in 1469 C.E., Guru Nanak was the first of the Ten Gurus of the Sikh faith and founded Sikhism. An accomplished poet, 974 of his hymns are in the Sikh scriptures, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib.

Community: Sikh

Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh)

Tuesday, November 24, 2026

This day commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621-1675). He was the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus and executed in Delhi by the Mughal emperor. He died for the Sikh faith and also for religious liberty.

Community: Sikh

Super Beaver Moon in Gemini (Pagan, Wicca)

Tuesday, November 24, 2026, 7:53 – 12am

Moon phases are significant to Wiccans. The Full Moon marks the Mother Goddess in her mother stage and is a time of abundance, harvest, achievement, and protection, when the moon's energy is at its peak.

Community: Pagan

Day of the Covenant (Bahá'í)

Thursday, November 26, 2026, 4:35pm – 12am

The eldest son and appointed successor of Bahá'u'lláh, 'Abdu'l-Bahá, referred to this day as the Centre of the Covenant which was established to safeguard the unity of the community and also commemorates the life of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, an inspirational figure to Baha'is. Please Note: This observance begins the evening before the start date.

Community: Bahá'í

Ascension of `Abdu'l-Bahá (Bahá'í)

Saturday, November 28, 2026, 4:35pm – 12am

After years of serving his father, Bahá'u'lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Baha'i Faith, and safeguarding the unity of the Faith, `Abdu'l-Bahá passed away in Haifa, Israel in 1921. This observance commemorates the passing of `Abdu'l-Bahá. Please Note: This observance begins the evening before the start date.

Community: Bahá'í

First Sunday of Advent (Christian)

Sunday, November 29, 2026

The Christian church year begins with Advent (from the Latin adventus meaning 'coming' or 'arrival') which is also a time when Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Community: Christian

Chanukah/Hanukkah (Jewish)

Friday, December 4, 4:33pm – Saturday, December 12, 2026, 6:11pm

Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah), or the "Festival of Lights," commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. Observances include celebrating with a nightly menorah lighting, prayers, fried foods (like sufganiot and potato latkes), and dreidel spinning. This holiday is celebrated usually also by non-observant Jews. Guests are invited to light the menorah with the family, sing traditional songs, and have a meal together. Gift-giving is also popular at this time of the year. Reflecting on the lessons of a little light dispels much darkness and goodness will always triumph over evil. Please Note: This observance begins the evening of the start date.

Community: Jewish

St. Nicholas Day (Christian)

Sunday, December 6, 2026

St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia and came from a town in Turkey. Being known as a protector of children, the tradition of leaving shoes out in the hopes of receiving treats is practiced in the Dutch, German and Eastern European communities.

Community: Christian

Bodhi Day (Buddhist)

Tuesday, December 8, 2026

In Japanese Zen, Bodhi Day is called "Rohatsu" and is the observance of enlightenment of the historical Buddha. Zen monasteries observe this day with a meditation retreat lasting several days. On the last night of a Rohatsu sesshin (period of intensive meditation), monks and students often sit in meditation until dawn, as the Buddha did 25 centuries ago.

Community: Buddhist

Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian)

Tuesday, December 8, 2026

The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, also called Immaculate Conception Day, celebrates the sinless lifespan and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Community: Christian

Gahambar Maidyarem (Zoroastrian)

Saturday, December 12, 2026

Seasonal festival when Zoroastrians assemble to eat and share food communally and is a demonstration of beliefs, principles, and values in action. This day celebrates the creation of animals. It is also a time for the equitable sharing of food.

Community: Zoroastrian

Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexico, Christian)

Saturday, December 12, 2026

An important religious festival in Mexico. It commemorates the appearance of the Blessed Virgin to an indigenous Mexican boy in 1531. Processions, dances and visits are led to her Mexico City shrine.

Community: Christian

Masá'il (Bahá'í)

Saturday, December 12, 2026, 4:33pm – 12am

The first day of the fifteenth Bahá'í month. The English translation of Masá'il (Arabic) is questions. Please Note: This observance begins the evening before the start date.

Community: Bahá'í

Las Posadas (Mexico, Christian)

Wednesday, December 16 – Wednesday, December 23, 2026

A nine-day traditional celebration throughout Mexico during which processions of pilgrims go door to door asking for posada, which means shelter, commemorating the search by Mary and Joseph for shelter prior to Christ's birth.

Community: Christian

Children's Day (Buddhist)

Monday, December 21, 2026

Celebrated around the winter solstice (the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere), this day honors children and brings warmth and cheerfulness into the darkest time of the year with lights, stories, and colourful foods.

Community: Buddhist

Yule (Wicca)

Monday, December 21 – Thursday, December 31, 2026

During the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest night of the year, Wiccans celebrate the rebirth of the sun. The Yule tree is decorated with fruit and candles are lit to represent the sun.

Community: Wiccan

Winter Solstice (Pagan, Indigenous)

Monday, December 21, 2026, 1:50pm – 12am

In the Northern Hemisphere, winter begins today. In the Southern Hemisphere, today is the beginning of summer. Between the equator and the Arctic Circle, the sun rises and sets farthest south on the horizon for the year and the period of daylight is at its shortest--12 hours, 8 minutes at the equator and decreasing to zero at the Arctic Circle. Solstice is also significant to many Wiccan, pagan, and indigenous communities.

Community: Indigenous, Pagan, Wiccan

HumanLight Day

Wednesday, December 23, 2026

HumanLight is a secular Humanist holiday celebrated every year on December 23. Human values of compassion, reason, hope, and humanity are celebrated and expressed on this holiday.

Community: Non-denominational

Christmas Eve (Christian)

Thursday, December 24, 2026

Christian celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. It is observed with worship, candle lighting, manger scenes and festive meals.

Community: Christian

Christmas Day (Christian)

Friday, December 25, 2026

This day celebrates Jesus Christ's birth over 2,000 years ago. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Christian festival of the year. In most communities it is a family day.

Community: Christian

Death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian)

Saturday, December 26, 2026

This day marks the death of the founder of the Zoroastrian faith.

Community: Zoroastrian

Kwanzaa (African-American/Canadian, USA)

Saturday, December 26, 2026 – Friday, January 1, 2027

A professor who wanted to encourage African Americans to celebrate their heritage started Kwanzaa in California in 1966. Kwanzaa means 'first fruit' in Swahili and is a harvest festival. Families exchange gifts and have African-style feasts. Seven-pronged candleholders are lit on each consecutive night for the seven principles: unity, self-determination, working together, sharing, purpose, creativity and faith. The celebration continues until January 1.

Community: Non-denominational

Super Cold Moon in Cancer (Pagan, Wicca)

Saturday, December 26, 2026, 6:28pm – 12am

Moon phases are significant to Wiccans. The Full Moon marks the Mother Goddess in her mother stage and is a time of abundance, harvest, achievement, and protection, when the moon's energy is at its peak. Moon phases are also important for earth-centered traditions.

Community: Pagan, Wiccan

Omisoka (Japan)

Thursday, December 31, 2026

To usher in the new year, families clean their homes, eat toshi-koshi buckwheat noodles in the hope that one's life will be stretched out as long as these noodles. As midnight approaches, Shinto temples around the country begin ringing out the old year, sounding the temple bell 108 times, signifying the 108 human worldly desires removed by the striking of the bell.

Community: Shinto

Sharaf (Bahá'í)

Thursday, December 31, 2026, 4:43pm – 12am

The first day of the sixteenth Bahá'í month. The English translation of Sharaf (Arabic) is 'honor.' Please Note: This observance begins the evening before the start date.

Community: Bahá'í