The Multicultural Calendar serves as a resource for students, staff, and faculty to plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year. It is a resource for understanding religious and cultural observances.

Multicultural Calendar - January 2024

Feast Day of Saint Basil

Eastern Orthodox Christian

Orthodox Christian commemoration of St. Basil the Great, who wrote a Eucharist Liturgy that bears his name.

• Monday, January 1, 2024
• Sunday, January 1, 2023
• Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Gantan-sai

Shinto

Gantan-sai is the annual New Year festival of the Shinto religion.

General Practices: Practitioners pray for inner renewal, prosperity, and health, as well as visiting shrines and visiting friends and family.

• Monday, January 1, 2024
• Sunday, January 1, 2023

Solemnity of Mary / Mary, Mother of God

Roman Catholic

A liturgical feast that celebrates Mary's motherhood of Jesus. Considered a Day of Obligation in some countries.

• Monday, January 1, 2024

• Sunday, January 1, 2023
• Wednesday, January 1, 2025

Epiphany / Twelfth Night / Three Kings Day / Dia de los Reyes

Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christian

This date is also known as Befana Day. Commemorates the revelation of God through Jesus Christ and marks the time the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem and presented gifts to the baby Jesus.

General Practices: Prayer, festive meals, offerings, gifts

• Saturday, January 6, 2024
• Thursday, January 5, 2023
• Monday, January 6, 2025

Christmas / Feast of the Nativity

Eastern Orthodox Christian

Date Details: Eastern Orthodox Christmas is determined by the Julian calendar which regulates ceremonial cycle of the Eastern Orthodox Christian churches.

• Sunday, January 7, 2024
• Friday, January 6, 2023
• Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Nativity of Christ

Armenian Orthodox

The Armenian Church celebrates the nativity (Sourp Dznount) of Jesus Christ on January 6. In Armenian tradition, this feast day commemorates not only the birth of Christ, but also His baptism by John the Baptist.

• Sunday, January 7, 2024
• Friday, January 6, 2023
• Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Christian

This feast day commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by St. John the Baptist.

• Sunday, January 7, 2024
• Sunday, January 8, 2023
• Sunday, January 12, 2025

Bodhi Day

Buddhist

Buddhist celebration of the time when Siddhartha Gautama took his place under the Bodhi tree, vowing to remain there until he attained supreme enlightenment.

General Practices: Services commemorate the Buddha's achievement of Nirvana, and what this means for Buddhism today. Individuals may choose to commemorate the event through additional meditation, study of the Dharma, chanting of Buddhist texts (sutras), or performing kind acts towards other beings. Some Buddhists celebrate with a traditional meal of tea, cake, and readings.

• Monday, January 8, 2024
• Sunday, January 8, 2023
• Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Lohri

Hindu, Sikh

The festival of Lohri, which is celebrated primarily by Sikhs and Hindus across India, marks the end of winter season and is traditionally believed to welcome the sun to the northern hemisphere.

• Saturday, January 13, 2024
• Friday, January 13, 2023
• Monday, January 13, 2025

Maghi / Makar Sankranti

Hindu, Sikh

Sikh commemoration of a battle in which forty Sikhs died for Guru Gobindh Singh Ji. Also celebrated as a winter harvest festival through bathing and giving charity.

• Sunday, January 14, 2024
• Sunday, January 15, 2023
• Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Sikh

Guru Gobind Singh Ji was the 10th Sikh Guru of Nanak. He was born at Patna, Bihar, India, on December 22, 1666.

Date Details: His birthday sometimes falls either in December or January or even both months in the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration of the Guru's birthday is based on the Nanakshahi calendar.

• Wednesday, January 17, 2024
• Thursday, January 5, 2023
• Monday, January 6, 2025

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib

Sikh

Guru Gobind Singh was the tenth and last living of the Guru faith, born in 1666 and founded the Khalsa brotherhood where they initiated adopted the five k's: Kangha (wooden comb), Kara (steel bracelets), Kirpan (sword), Kaccha (pair of shorts), and Kesh (long hair).

• Wednesday, January 17, 2024
• Friday, January 20, 2023
• Monday, January 6, 2025

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Christian

An international Christian ecumenical observation that focuses on prayer for Christian unity.

• January 18, 2024 - January 25, 2024
• January 18, 2024 - January 25, 2024
• January 18, 2024 - January 25, 2024

Timkat

Ethiopian Orthodox

Celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. This festival is best known for its ritual reenactment of baptism.

• Saturday, January 20, 2024
• Thursday, January 19, 2023
• Sunday, January 19, 2025

World Religion Day

Baháʼí

Established by the Baháʼí in the United States, it is intended to foster interfaith understanding and harmony by emphasizing the common dimensions underlying all religions.

• Sunday, January 21, 2024
• Sunday, January 15, 2023
• Sunday, January 19, 2025

Mahayana New Year

Buddhist

Mahayana Buddhism is the largest branch or sub-division of the Buddhist religion. Honoring and praying to their deities, particularly Buddha, is the most important activity, along with meditation and reflection.

• Thursday, January 25, 2024
• Saturday, January 7, 2023
• Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Conversion of Saint Paul

Christian

Christian observance of the experience of the Paul when he was confronted by a vision of Jesus while on his way to persecute Christians and became a leading presenter of Jesus. Observed at worship services.

• Thursday, January 25, 2024
• Wednesday, January 25, 2023
• Saturday, January 25, 2025