Here are the major religious holidays you need to be aware of when planning events. The list covers holy days where
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Work is prohibited (or most people observing consider it a day to be with family)
AND
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Followed by most of it’s adherents
"Most" is a tricky term and is definitely geography dependent. If you live in a Christian majority country - the holy days below are like Christmas or Easter. Before you schedule an event during these days think if you would schedule the same event during Christmas or Easter.
If you happen to use Google calendar for scheduling, they have an option to add calendars for Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Eastern Orthodox holidays. They also have holidays for different countries. It’s pretty simple to do and can save you a lot of trouble. The list below should help you identify which holidays are most important to pay attention to in the calendar.
If you edit a category below please:
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Try define most, especially with regards to important geographies.
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Please try to give the rough time of year so people can know when to look for the holy day on the calendar.
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Try to give the length of the holy day (start time and end time).
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If you know there is popular misconception of the importance certain days please note those days as well.
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Christmas |
Dec 24th-26th |
3 days |
Some countries (esp. USA) consider the 24th (Christmas Eve) important, others (UK, Ireland) consider the 26th more important. |
|
Easter |
Spring |
2 days |
Most Catholic countries have Easter Monday off as a holiday, some also have Good Friday. |
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Eid al-Fitr |
Summer |
1 days |
Fluctuates based on when Ramadan ends |
Hinduism has a number of important festivals, and the significance of these varies by the region the person came from. Hinduism follows a lunar calendar. There are very few days when work is prohibited, but quite a few when people will choose to be with family. Some of these days are important regional holidays in India, but limited to cultural celebrations outside that region.
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Makar Sankranti/Pongal/Lohri |
Usually January 14 |
1 day - 4 days |
This is more important for people from the Southern part of India than the north. |
|
Holi |
Spring |
1-5 days |
This is the well known 'festival of colours'. This is a day when most people will stay at home in India. |
|
Gudi Padva/Ugadi |
1 day |
Spring, late March/early April |
This is the new years day for Maharashtrians, Sindhis, Kannadigas and Telugu people. |
|
Vishu |
1 day |
Spring, usually mid April |
New year in Kerala. |
|
Rath Yatra |
1-10 days |
June/July |
Important in eastern and north eastern India. |
|
Ganesh Chaturthi |
10 days |
late August/early September |
Important in Maharashtra |
|
Dusshera |
10 days |
October |
This is one of the two major festivals which are celebrated pan India. Various individual days are important in different communities, and in certain regions work is disallowed on the 9th day. |
|
Diwali/Deepavali |
5 days |
October/November |
This is one of the two major pan Indian festivals. |
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Passover (Pesach) |
Spring |
8 days |
Sundown the night before until Sundown of the 8th day (only the first two days and last two days work is prohibited) |
a lot of dietary restrictions |
Rosh Hashanah |
Autumn |
2 days |
Sundown the night before until Sundown of the 2nd day |
This is the New Year and the beginning of the Week of Awe, ending with Yom Kippur |
Yom Kippur |
Autumn |
1 day |
Sundown the night before until Sundown the night after |
This is a day of fasting and it usually concludes with a festive meal, so most people won’t travel until the next day |
Sukkot/Simchat Torah |
Autumn |
9 day |
Sundown the night before until Sundown the night after (only the first two days (Sukkot) and last two days (Simchat Torah) work is prohibited) |
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It is not forbidden to work on Hanukah and it lasts for 8 days, though it’s a time when many families get together. If you want to schedule something during this time it would be best to just avoid having people miss the first night.
If you are planning an event in Israel this list will not work. There are many observant Jews in Israel and you should consult a local observant Jew about dates. Please note there is also a sizable number of Christians and Muslims in Israel, be sure to consult their calendar as well.
Some countries attach a particular importance to certain holidays, which tend to be 3 or 4 day family holidays. If you expect a significant contingent from these countries, you should beware of scheduling the event on the week these holidays take place, or at least allow people to get home the night before the holiday.
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
May Day |
Spring |
1 day |
May 1st |
Internationally recognised as a holiday for the labour movement. For many countries, this day is an important day off. |
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Thanksgiving |
Winter |
4 days |
3rd Thursday in November through Sunday |
Big family get-together |
Memorial Day |
May |
1 day |
Last Monday in May |
Americans typically celebrate the start of Summer with family on this 3 day weekend |
Independence Day |
July 4th |
1 day |
Fireworks and barbecue |
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
King’s Day |
April 27th |
1 days |
||
Remembrance of the Dead |
May 4th |
1 days |
||
Liberation Day |
May 5th |
1 days |
| Name(s) | Season | Length | Start and End Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Victoria Day/ National Patriots Day |
Spring |
1 day |
3rd Monday in May |
1 week before Memorial Day in the US |
Quebec National Holiday |
Summer |
1 day |
June 24 |
Province of Quebec only. French: Fête nationale, a.k.a. St-Jean Baptiste. Unofficial start of the summer season activities in Quebec. Many combine this with Canada day to take an entire week off |
Canada Day |
Summer |
1 day |
July 1 |
A major Canadian holiday celebrated across the country with fireworks, outdoor music events, street fairs, etc. |
BC Day/ Heritage Day |
Summer |
1 day |
First Monday in August |
Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta only |
Thanksgiving Day |
Fall |
1 day |
2nd Monday in October |
Thanksgiving is a statutory holiday in most of Canada. All federal government, crown corporation offices and banks are closed. Coincides with Columbus Day in the US |