Multifaith Calendar
RIC values and promotes the mutual respect of every member of our community. Holidays, religious observances, and festivals play an important part in the lives of individuals from all backgrounds. We aim to honor and bring awareness to the many religious and spiritual occasions observed by the members of our diverse college. Spring 2021 offers many opportunities for us to learn and celebrate together in harmony.
Spring 2021
“*” denotes holidays that start sundown the day before
January 1: Oshogatsu (Shinto) – Celebration of New Year, commemorated by going to shrine, thanking the kami (spirits), asking for good fortune and letting resolutions known in presence of kami
January 6: Epiphany (Christian) – Feast day that celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ
January 7: Christmas (Orthodox Christian) – Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in Orthodox Churches
January 14: Makara Sankranthi (Hindu) – Celebration of the Sun God
January 20: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) – Birthday of tenth and last Guru
January 28: Tu B’shevat* (Jewish) – New Year of the Trees
February 2: Imbolc (Wiccan)- Marks the beginning of Spring
February 8: Sangha Day (Buddhist)- Celebration in honor of Buddhist community
February 15: Buddha’s Passing (Buddhist) – Mahayana festival remembers death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at age of 80
February 16: Vasant Panchami (Hindu) – Holy day dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, patron Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology
February 17: Ash Wednesday (Christian) – Day of fasting that commemorates first day of Lent
February 25-28*: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í) – Days of preparation for the Fast, marked by hospitality and charity to poor and sick
February 26*: Purim (Jewish) – Commemorates the story of Esther
March 1-19*: Nineteen Day Fast (Bahá’í) – Sunrise to sunset fast also marked with prayer to reinvigorate soul and bring closer to God (fasting)
March 11: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) – Celebration of the wedding night of Lord Shiva and his Consort Goddess Parvati
March 11*: Lailat al Miraj (Islam) – Commemorates Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and given the instruction for Muslims to pray five times daily
March 20*: Nowruz (Bahá’í, Zoroastrian) - Marks the first day of spring
March 21*: Ostara (Wiccan) – Celebrates Spring, also known as the vernal equinox
March 27-28: Holi (Hindu) – Holiday associated with exuberant flinging of colored powders, celebrates the advent of spring and the enduring message that good will always be victorious over evil; light will always overcome darkness
March 28-4*: Passover (Jewish) – Commemorates liberation of Israelites by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under leadership of Moses (work is prohibited on first and last two days)
March 28: Palm Sunday (Christian) – Feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem
April 1: Holy Thursday (Christian) – Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles. Washing of feet is a traditional component
April 2: Good Friday (Christian) – Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary
April 4: Easter (Christianity) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
April 8: Yom Ha’shoah (Jewish) – Holocaust Memorial Day
April 13-May 11*: Ramadan (Islam) – Month of fasting to commemorate first revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad
April 14: Vaisakhi (Sikh) – Marks the establishment of the Khalsa (religious community of Sikhs) by Guru Gobind Singh
April 20-May 1*: Ridván (Bahá’í) – Twelve-day festival when founder Bahá’u’lláh declared his mission
April 21: Rama Navami (Hindu) – A celebration of birth of Rama (incarnation of the God Vishnu) to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya
April 25: Mahavir Jayanthi (Jain) – Celebrates birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism
April 26: Hanuman Jayantī (Hindu) – Celebration of birthday of Hanuman, foremost devotee of Sri Rama and Sita
April 30: Beltane (Wiccan) – Honors life and fertility
April 30: Lag B’Omer (Jewish) – Celebrates anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar (text of Jewish mysticism)
May 2: Pascha (Orthodox Christianity) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
May 13*: Eid al-Fitr (Islam) – Marks the end of Ramadan, holy month of fasting
May 13: Ascension Day (Christianity) – Celebrates the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God
May 17-18*: Shavuot (Jewish) – Festival commemorating giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai
(work restrictions)
May 18: Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhist) – Holiday in Mahayana Buddhist tradition that
commemorates birth of the Buddha
May 23: Pentecost (Christian) – Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension
May 23: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) – Commemorates declaration of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh the founder of the Bahá’í Faith
May 28: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) – Anniversary of death of founder
July 9: Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’í) – date the Báb was executed
July 20*: Eid al-Adha (Islam) – Commemorates Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son to God
July 24*: Tisha B’Av (Jewish) – Day of mourning to commemorate many tragedies that have befallen Jewish people, many occurring on the ninth of Av (fasting and some work restrictions)
