Winter and Spring 2013 Religious Holidays

What follows is a list of the upcoming religious holidays for the Winter and Spring 2013 semsters.

Beginning in Fall 2011, I have posted overiews of many of the religious observances for most of the major religions. In Fall 2012, I posted a list of the religious holidays for that semester. Positive response has led me to do so again for the Winter and Spring 2013 semesters.

As the Winter 2013 semester begins, I would like to refer back to the posts for these holidays made last year.  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 Winter semester in US universities (I am, after all, a professor in the United States).

WINTER AND SPRING 2013 RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS

The list below gives the date for 2013, the name of the holiday, the main religion observing the holiday and the previous David Victor Vector post on that holiday. Some of these holidays will be new posts (for example, the upcoming Asian New Year of the Snake). I have indicated that this will be posted at a later date in those instances.

January 7
Eastern Orthodox Christmas

Eastern Orthodox Christianity

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-day.html

January 19
Timkat (Ethiopian Orthodox Christian)
Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2011/12/christmas-day.html

  February 2
  Candlemas (Roman Catholic, Epsicopalian, Anglican)

  Presentation of the Lord (Evangelical Lutheran)
Imbolc (Wicca, Neo-Paganism, Neo-Druidism)

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/05/pentecost.html

February 8
Festival of Lord Buddha's Renunciation (celebrated by some in place of Paranirvana)
Buddhism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/parinirvana-or-nirvana-day.html

February 10
Maha Kumbh Mela
Hinduism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/02/maha-kumbh-mela.html

February 9-12
Asian Lunar New Year: Year of the Snake
Buddhism, Taoism
Many non-Buddhist observers celebrate the holiday as well
                  http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-of-snake.html

February 13
Ash Wednesday
Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/lenten-season.html

February15
Parinirvana or Nirvana Day
Buddhism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/parinirvana-or-nirvana-day.html

Sunset February 23 through sunset February 24
Purim
Judaism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2013/02/as-part-of-my-ongoing-on-upcoming.html

March 17
St. Patrick's Day
Roman Catholic Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/saint-patricks-day.html

March 18
Clean Monday
Eastern Orthodox Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-and-pascha.html

Sunset March 20 through end of March 21
Ostara
Wicca, Neo-Paganism, Neo-Druidism
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/ostara.html

March 21
Naw Ruz

Bahai'i, Zoroastrianism, Alawite Islam, Alevi Islam, Bektashi Islam

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/ridvan.html

Sunset March 25 through sunset sunset April 2
(first two nights may affect attendance at school and work)
Passover
           Judaism
 http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/passover.html

March 27
Holi
Hindusim
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/03/holi.html

March 29
Good Friday
Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-and-pascha.html

March 31
Easter
Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-and-pascha.html

April 6-9
Theravada Buddhist New Year
Theravada Buddhism
 http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/02/parinirvana-or-nirvana-day.html

April 20-May 2 (first and last days may affect attendance at school and work)
First Day of Ridvan
Bahai'i
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/ridvan.html

May 1
Beltane
Wicca, Neo-Pagan, Neo-Druidism
(to be posted at a later date)

May 5
Pascha (Orthodox Easter)
Eastern Orthodox and Coptic Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/04/easter-and-pascha.html

Sunset May 14 through sunset May 16
Shavuot
Judaism
 http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/05/shavuot.html

May 19
Pentecost
Roman Catholic and most Protestant Christianity
http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/05/pentecost.html

June 23
Orthodox Pentecost
Eastern Othrodox and Coptic Christianity

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/05/pentecost.html

A FEW CLOSING REMARKS

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 2013 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!