Holidays and Celebrations

New Year's Celebrations

Various New Year's Celebrations around
the World:  Cultural Calendars -- Conversions, Backgrounds

History and Meaning of the Months

A Scottish New Year's Greeting!
Hindu New Year Diwali

The Third Millennium


Rosh Hoshanah began the Hebrew Year 5769
on 30 September 2008 Yom Kippur
Chart of Events for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Jewish Calendar Holidays

Chinese New Year!
Chinese New Year Lantern Festival
The date of this varies, since it is based on a lunar calendar.
We are now in the Chinese (Lunar) Year of the Monkey, 4701! 
Islamic New Year is also based on the lunar calendar.

Mardi Gras, the Fat Tuesday Celebration, is the end of the Carnival (French and Portuguese Carnaval) celebration at the beginning of Lent.
Mardi Gras is celebrated in Mediterranean countries, including Greece and Cyprus, as well as South America, Quebec and Louisana.
Mardi Gras and Carnaval Links:
MardiGras.COM    Mardi Gras Links     Links to Carnaval

Valentine's Day -- February 14
The Meaning and History of Valentine's Day    
Who was St. Valentine?
You can send a Musical Valentine all year long!
March is Women's History Month in the USA.

St. Patrick's Day is March 17
Who was St. Patrick?



The Parsee celebration of Nauroze occurs in March
The celebration of "Nauroze" welcomes the beginning of spring in the new year
on March 21st (at the time of the Vernal Equinox).

It is celebrated by Persians, Parsees, Zoroastrians and Bahá'ís.
It has been celebrated for over 3,000 years by the Zoroastrians.

Other forms of the name are:  Navruz, Nuroz, Eid Norouz, Naw Rúz, 
Naw-Ruz, Now Ruz, NouRooz, Navroze, Nouroze.
 

The Islamic Festival of the Sacrifice Eid-al-Adha occurs according to the lunar calandar.  

Easter is celebrated in March or April, celebrating new life in the resurrection of Jesus.
Different churches celebrate it according to different calendars.
In 2001, by another quirk of the calendars, the Eastern Orthodox and Western Easters fell on the same Sunday, a rare occurrence.

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, and celebrates the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Passover begins Thursday, celebrated as Maundy Thursday by Christians.
The Jewish Seder meal is celebrated by many Christians in their passover celebrations.

Good Friday remembers the death of Jesus (good because his death brings salvation)


Hannukah (Chanukah)       More About Hanukah
Muslim holy month of Ramadan
Look at the calendar of Islamic Festivals.
Visit our Christmas Page    Send a Hallmark greeting card

Last edited 15 April 2014