Home Programs History Community Action Our Structure Contact Holidays News Links

2012 MAJOR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
2004-10 | 2011 | 2013
March 21 Wednesday Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year) (follows fasting March 2-20)
April 6 Friday Good Friday (Crucifixion of Jesus)
April 7 Saturday Passover (Slavery to Freedom) (1st of 8 days)
April 8 Sunday Easter (western) (Resurrection of Jesus)
April 15 Sunday Easter (Orthodox) (Resurrection of Jesus)
April 21 Saturday Ridvan begins (Festival commemorates declaration of Baha'u'llah in garden of Ridvan in Baghdad 1863) (12 days)
May 27 Sunday Shavuot (Moses receives Ten Commandments) (1st day of 2)
July 20* Friday Ramadan begins (Month of Fasting) (30 days)
August 19* Sunday Eid al-Fitr (Feast of Fast-breaking) Ramadan ends
September 17 Monday Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) (1st day of 2)
September 26 Wednesday Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
October 1 Monday Sukkot (Celebrate harvest in small booths in desert)
(1st of 8 or 9)
October 26* Friday Eid Ul Adha (Feast of sacrifice, ending Hajj) (3 Days)
November 12 Monday Birth of Baha'u'llah (Prophet-founder of Baha'i faith, b. 1817)
November 13# Tuesday Diwali (Festival of Lights; Coronation of Lord Rama; worship of Mahalakshmi)
December 9 Sunday Hanukkah begins (Festival of Lights) (1st of 8 days)
December 25 Tuesday Christmas (Birth of Jesus)
December 26 Wednesday Kwanzaa (African-American cultural celebration)(1st day of 7)
  • All Jewish, Islamic and Baha'i holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the date given
  • (*) Islamic holidays are subject to the actual first sighting of the new crescent moon
  • (#) Hindu holidays are subject to change depending on the Hindu lunar calendar as interpreted in India and on local customs.
  • On the 9 Baha'i holy days, including the 3 listed here, work should be suspended.