Religious Holidays

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Visakha Puja – Buddhist

September 15, 2015

This festival celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha. The day includes preparation of sweets for the monks, sermons and a candle-lighting ceremony.

 

Good Friday – Christian

September 15, 2015

On this solemn day, Christians commemorate the passion, or suffering, and death on the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many Christians spend this day in fasting, prayer, repentance, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ on the cross.

 

Easter – Christian

September 15, 2015

Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year and includes a joyous celebration of Mass or a Service of Christ’s Resurrection.

 

Mahavir Jayanti – Jain

September 15, 2015

Festival honoring Lord Mahavira on the founder's birthday. Shrines are visited and teachings are reviewed and reflected upon.

 

New Year – Hindu

September 15, 2015

This event celebrates the dawn of a new year and new beginnings.  It is a spring festival marking the end of winter and looking forward to a time of expectation.

 

Lord's Evening Meal – Jehovah's Witness Christian

September 15, 2015

This was first observed by Jesus Christ on Jewish Passover in 33 C.E.  It is observed only once per year.  Celebrants partake of bread and wine which are symbols of Christ’s body and blood.

Holy (Maundy) Thursday – Christian

September 15, 2015

The Thursday before Easter commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles as described in the gospels. Mass or services may include the symbolic washing of feet.

Purim – Jewish

September 15, 2015

This merry holiday celebrates a time when Jewish people in Persia were saved from destruction. It is customary to hear the reading of the Book of Esther, eat, drink, and be joyful, give gifts of food and drink and gifts to charity, and hold carnival-like celebrations. This holiday begins at sundown on March 20 and ends at sundown on March 21.

 

Naw Ruz (New Year) – Baha'i

September 15, 2015

The New Year celebrates the love relationship between the Creator and the creation, in the material world. Begins on the evening of March 20 and ends at sundown on March 21.