Equal Opportunity & Affirmative Action

2008 - 2009 Holiday / Religious Observance Calendar Indexes



Click links below to go to:

Country Index
Religion Index
Month Celebration Index

Culture/Group Index
 

2008-2009 Monthly Calendars

2008
2009


Religious and U.S. Public Holidays July 2008 – June 2013
 
Sources/Links for Calendar Information
 

Country Index:
 
Country

Date/Holiday
2008-09
Afghanistan

March 20: No Ruz (New Year)

Algeria

July 5: Independence Day

Argentina

July 9: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
May 25: Anniversary of the Revolution

Armenia

September 21: Referendum Day (Independence Day)
May 28: Independence Day (First Republic Day)

Australia

December 26: Boxing Day
January 26: Australia Day

Austria

October 26: National Day

Bahamas

July 10: Independence Day

Bangladesh

December 16: Victory Day
March 26: National Day

Belgium

July 21: National Holiday
November 11: Armistice Day

Bolivia

August 6: Independence Day

Brazil

September 7: Independence Day
November 15: Proclamation of the Republic

Cambodia

April 13-15: New Year

Canada

July 1 : Canada Day (Observed)
September 1 : Labor Day
October 13 : Thanksgiving Day
November 11 : Remembrance Day
December 26 : Boxing Day
May 18 : Victoria Day (Observed)

Chile

September 18 : Independence Day.
October 12 : Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

China

October 1 – 2: National Day
January 26 : New Year

Columbia

July 20: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

Costa Rica

September 15: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

Cuba

July 25-27: Revolution Days
October 10: Grito de Yara

Czech Republic

October 28: Independence Day

Denmark

June 5: Constitution Day

Dominican Republic

February 27: Independence Day

Ecuador

August 10: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

Egypt

July 23: Revolution Day
June 18: Evacuation Day

El Salvador

September 15: Independence Day

Estonia

February 24: Independence Day

Finland

December 6: Independence Day

France

July 14: Bastille Day
November 11: Armistice Day

Germany

October 3: Day of German Unity

Ghana

July 1: Republic Day
March 6: Independence Day

Great Britain

December 26: Boxing Day (St. Stephen’s Day)

Greece

March 25: Independence day

Guatemala

September 15: Independence day

Haiti

January 1: Independence day

Honduras

September 15: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

Hungary

August 20: St. Stephen’s Day
October 23: Republic Day
March 15: National Day

Iceland

June 17: Independence Day

India

August 15: Independence Day
January 26: Republic Day

Indonesia

August 17: Independence Day

International (Many Countries)

October 24: United Nations Day
December 1: World AIDS Day
December 10: Human Rights Day
December 25: Christmas
January 1: New Year
May 1: May Day (Labor Day)

Iran

March 20: No Ruz (New Year)

Ireland

December 26: Boxing Day (St. Stephen’s Day)
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day

Israel

April 29: Independence Day (Yom Ha’atzma’ut)

Italy

June 2: Republic Day (Observed)

Jamaica

August 6: Independence Day

Japan

September 23: Autumnal Equinox (Shubun-no-hi)
December 24: Emperor’s Birthday (Tennou-tanjyou-bi) (Observed)
January 12: Seijin-no-hi (Coming of Age Day)
February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku-kinen-bi)
March 20: Vernal Equinox (Shunbun-no-hi)
May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpou-kinen-bi)

Jordan

May 25: Independence Day

Kenya

December 12 : Jamhuri (Independence Day)
June 1 : Madaraka (Self-Rule) Day

Korea

August 15 : Liberation Day.
September 14 : Chusok (Harvest Festival)
January 26: New Year (Sollal)

Korea (South)

July 17: Constitution Day
October 3: National Foundation Day

Kuwait

February 25-26: National Day & Liberation Day

Laos

October 12: Liberation Day
April 13-15: New Year

Latvia

November 18: Proclamation of the Republic

Lebanon

November 22: Independence Day

Lithuania

February 16: Independence Day

Malaysia

August 31: National Day

Mexico

September 16: Independence Day
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
November 1-2: Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos)
November 20: Anniversary of the Revolution
December 12: Fiesta de Guadalupe
December 16 – 24: Las Posadas
February 5: Constitution Day
May 5: Cinco de Mayo

Morocco

July 30: National Day (Throne Day)

Nepal

January 11: National Unity Day

New Zealand

December 26: Boxing Day
February 6: Waitangi Day

Nicaragua

July 19: National Liberation Day
September 15: Independence Day

Nigeria

October 1: Independence Day

Norway

May 17: National Day (Syttende Mai)

Pakistan

March 23: Republic Day
August 14 : Independence Day

Panama

November 3: Anniversary of Independence from Columbia
November 28: Anniversary of Independence from Spain

Peru

July 28 - 29: Independence Day

Philippines

June 12: Independence Day

Poland

November 11: Independence Day
May 3: Constitution Day

Portugal

October 5: Republic Day

Puerto Rico

July 25: Constitution Day

Russia

November 7: Day of Accord and Reconciliation
December 12: Constitution Day
June 12: Independence Day

Saudi Arabia

September 23: Unification of the Kingdom

Senegal

April 4: National Day

Singapore

August 9: National Day

Slovakia

September 1: Constitution of the Slovak Republic January 1: Origin of the Slovak Republic

Somalia

June 26: Independence Day
July 1: Foundation of the Somali Republic

South Africa

March 21 : Human Rights Day
April 27 : Freedom Day (Observed)

Spain

October 12 : National Day
December 6 : Constitution Day

Sweden

December 13 : Santa Lucia Day
June 6 : National Day

Switzerland

August 1 : National Day

Taiwan

October 10 : National Day

Tanzania

December 9 : Independence Day

Thailand

December 5 : National Day (King’s Birthday)
April 6 : Chakri Day (Observed)

Tibet

January 26 : New Year (Losar)

Tunisia

July 25 : Republic Day
March 20 : Independence Day

Turkey

August 30 : Victory Day
October 29 : Republic Day

Uganda

October 9 : Independence Day

Ukraine

August 24 : Independence Day

United States

July 4 : Independence Day (Observed)
September 1 : Labor Day
October 13 : Columbus Day (Observed)
November 11 : Veteran’s Day
November 27 : Thanksgiving Day
December 25 : Christmas Day (Observed)
January 1 : New Year’s Day (Observed)
January 19 : Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Observed)
February 16 : President’s Day (Observed)
May 25 : Memorial Day (Observed)

Venezuela

July 5 : Independence Day
October 12 : Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)

Vietnam

September 2 : Independence Day
January 26 : New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan)

Zambia

May 25 : Africa Day

Zimbabwe

April 18 : Independence Day
May 25 : Africa Day


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Religion Index:
 
Religion

Date/Holiday
2007-08

Armenian Apostolic

January 6 : Christmas

Baha’i
(Holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)

July 9 : Martyrdom of the Bab
October 20 : Birthday of the Bab
November 12 : Birthday of Baha’u’llah
March 21 : Naw Ruz (New Year)
April 21 - May 2: Ridvan
May 23 : Declaration of the Bab
May 29 : Ascension of Baha’u’llah

Buddhist

December 8 : Bodha Day (Buddha’s Enlightenment) (Mahayana Tradition)
February 15 : Paranirvana Day (Buddha’s Death) (Mahayana Tradition)
April 8 : Buddha’s Birth (Mahayana Tradition)
May 19 : Visakaha Day (Theravada Tradition)

Christian
(Includes holidays celebrated by all non-Orthodox Christians as well as holidays mainly celebrated by Roman Catholic and Protestant sects.)

August 15 : Feast of the Assumption (Roman Catholic)
October 31 : Reformation Day (Protestant)
November 1 : All Saint’s Day
November 2 : All Soul’s Day (Day of the Dead)
November 30 : Advent
December 8 : Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
December 25 : Christmas
January 6 : Epiphany
February 24 : Shrove Tuesday
February 25 : Ash Wednesday
March 25: The Annunciation
April 5 : Palm Sunday
April 9 : Maundy Thursday
April 10 : Good Friday
April 12 : Easter
April 13 : Easter Monday
May 21 : Ascension Day
May 31 : Pentecost
Coptic

September 11: New Year
January 7: Christmas
April 17 : Holy Friday
April 19 : Easter (Pascha)
May 28 : Ascension Day
June 7 : Pentecost

Eastern Orthodox

January 7 : Christmas
January 14 : New Year
January 19: Epiphany
March 2 : Beginning of Lent (Clean Monday)
April 12 : Palm Sunday
April 17 : Holy Friday
April 19 : Easter (Pascha)
May 28 : Ascension Day
June 7 : Pentecost

Hindu

August 24 : Janmashtami (Birth of Lord Krishna)
September 30 - October 9 : Navaratri / Dassehra
October 28 : Diwali (Festival of Lights)
February 23 : Maha Shivaratri (Shiva’s Nights)
March 10-11 : Holi
March 27
: Hindi New Year
April 3
: Ramanavami (Birthday of Rama)

Interfaith

January 1: New Year’s Day

Islam **
(Holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)

September 2 - October 1 : Ramadan
September 27 : Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power)
October 1 : Eid al Fitr (Breaking of the Fast)
December 9 : Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
December 29 : Muharram (New Year)
January 7 : Ashura
March 9 : Maulid an-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday)

** Muslim holidays are based on the actual sighting of the new crescent moon in each respective month.

Jain

October 27: Diwali Night (Lord Mahavir’s Nirvana)
October 29 : New Year
April 7 : Mahavir Jayanti (Birthday of Lord Mahavir)

Jewish
(Holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)

August 10 : Tisha B’av
September 30 - October 1 : Rosh Hashanah (New Year)
October 9 : Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)
October 14 : Sukkoth (Feast of Tabernacles)
October 21 : Sh’mini Atzeret
October 22 : Simchat Torah
December 22 - 29 : Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
March 10 : Purim (Feast of Lots)
April 9 - 16 : Pesach (Passover)
April 21 : Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Memorial Day)
May 29 : Shavuoth (Festival of Weeks)

Native American

Spiritual festivals, activities, and ceremonies are closely related to earth-based, seasonal events, and community or individual needs. The dates and nature these celebrations and observances will vary according to community and the individual observant.

Shinto

September 23: Autumnal Equinox (Shubun-no-hi)
January 12: Seijin-no-hi (Coming of Age Day)
February 3: Bean Scattering Festival (Setsubun-no -hi)
March 20: Vernal Equinox (Shunbun-no-hi)
June 30: Nagoshi-no-Oharai

Sikh

October 28: Diwali (Festival of Lights)
November 13 : Guru Nanak Dev’s Birthday (Bikarmai Calendar)
January 5: Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday (Nanakshahi Calendar)
March 14 : New Year (Nanakshahi Calendar)
April 14: Vaisakhi (Nanakshahi Calendar)
Zoroastrian

March 21: Naw Ruz (New Year)
March 26: Birthday of Prophet Zarathusthra (Zoroaster)


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Month Celebration Index:

Month long Celebrations

Date/Commemoration

African-American History Month

February 1 - 28

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

May 1 - 31

Gay and Lesbian Pride Month

June 1 - 30

Jewish American Heritage Month May 1 - 31
National American Indian Heritage Month

November 1 - 30

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

October 1 - 31

National Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 - October 15

National Women’s History Month

March 1 - 31

Older Americans Month

May 1 - 31


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Culture/Group Index:
 
Culture/Group

Date/Celebration

African-American

December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa
February 1- 28: African-American History Month
June 19: Juneteenth

Asian/Pacific American

May 1 - 30: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

Disabled

October 1 - 31: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Gay/Lesbian

October 11: National Coming Out Day
June 1 - 30: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month
June 27: Stonewall Rebellion Anniversary

Hispanic

September 15 - October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month

Native American

November 1 - 30: National American Indian Heritage Month
December 29: Wounded Knee Massacre Anniversary

Older/Senior Americans

May 1 - 30: Older Americans Month

United Nations

October 24: United Nations Day
December 10 : Human Rights Day

Women

March 1 - 31: National Women’s History Month
March 8: International Women’s Day



Return to:

Top of the page
 
Country Index
Religion Index

Month Celebration Index
Culture/Group Index

 

2008-2009 Monthly Calendars

2008
2009


Religious and U.S. Public Holidays July 2008 – June 2013
 
Sources/Links for Calendar Information
 

Contact krons002@umn.edu with questions, comments, or suggestions.

Updated 08/26/2008