Pages

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Upcoming Religious Holidays for Fall 2012

Beginning last Fall and going throughout the whole of last year, I have posted overiews of many of the religious observances for most of the major religions.

As Autumn begins, I am now approaching the beginning of the cycle of holidays again. For many of these holidays(those from religions that follow calendars that differ from the Gregorian calendar), the dates in the secular year will differ but the main content of the posts should not. 

To that end, I would like to give the dates for the holidays in the next few months paralleling the Fall semester in US universities (I am, after all, a professor).

FALL 2012 RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
The list below gives the date for 2012, the name of the holiday, the main religion observing the holiday and the previous David Victor Vector post on that holiday.


September 16 sunset through September 18 sunset
Rosh HaShanah
Judaism

September 22
Autumnal Equinox/Mabon
Wicca, Neo-Paganism, Neo-Druidism

September 25 sunset through September 26 sunset
Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement

September 30 sunset through October 7 sunset
Sukkot/Festival of Booths/Festival of Tabernacles 
Judaism

October 7 sunset through October 8 sunset
Shemini Atzeret
Judaism

October 8 sunset through October 9 sunset
Simchat Torah
Judaism

October 20
Birth of the Bab
Bahai’ism

October 20-24
Durga Puja
Hinduism

October 25 sunset through October 26 sunset (depending on the sighting of the moon)
Eid al-Adha/Festival of the Sacrifice
Islam

October 31 sunset through November 1 Samhain
Wicca, Neo-Paganism, Neo-Druidism
November 1
All Saints Day

November 1
Reformation Day
Lutheranism, some Protestant sects
November 2
All Souls Day/Día de los Muertos
Roman Catholicism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/10/samhain-all-saints-day-dia-de-los.html

November 12
Birthday of Bahá'u'lláh
Bahai'ism
November 13-17
Divali
Hinduism
November 23 sunset through November 24 sunset (depending on the sighting of the moon)
Ashura
Islam, especially Shi’a
 http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/11/ashura-2012.html

 
December 8  
Bodhi Day
Buddhism


A FEW CLOSING REMARKS

Before I go on, I should note that all holidays in Islam begin with the actual sighting of the moon. Therefore, the dates given for Eid al-Adha and Ashura are the likely dates for the holiday depending on the sighting conditions. Some debate exists regarding where the moon sighting should occur (e.g., locally or in Mecca). This may also cause observance to fall on a day before or after that indicated in this list. The date given here does not intend to suggest that one or the other interpretation is correct; this date is mrrely intended to be information for the date most widely observed in North America.

In all likelihood, I have overlooked a holiday or observance. Please feel free to share this with me.

Relatedly, I am as yet uncertain whether I should repost each holiday with the 2012 occurence or just leave it be. Please let me know what you think.

Finally, I would like to ask you to spread the word about this blog. If you are not formally a follower, please do add your name to the list through your Google, Twitter, AIM, Netlog or Yahoo account at

http://www.google.com/friendconnect/signin/home?st=e%3DAOG8GaAeRmgH2L%252BUeY%252BLu6lVd1YrbF8X3UJMKCg4Wep9KQ9iGZ1uXGPQPK7inBrDpqbrEQXYp%252FmEoAUOKtl348Yyg8AX80Fm7mBM1eFVGrE2C5Sv2d04gDEN6iuMFYf7UIKzHs2B5VHGbWsAUJrtMJLFySobOschNfd6QBizOhB8YLFC7GIfG4Pz%252BKRvJ5h%252FuHnIgLeYGJpaeOqU%252FzQ%252B5g2ut%252FRAs4WsnyvkK%252BVFHXz7U593oGNYTwc%253D%26c%3Dpeoplesense&psinvite=&subscribeOnSignin=1

Thanks so much!

No comments:

Post a Comment