communication department

As part of STC's efforts to acknowledge the diversity of its members, the office staff and members of the Board would like to remind STC leaders to be aware of religious holidays that members of their communities may celebrate. Whenever possible, STC events should be scheduled to avoid conflicts.

STC's adoption of a diversity policy reflects this desire to be conscious of our members and their various cultures and backgrounds.

The following list of religious holidays was compiled from various online sources. We are also grateful to Board member Leah Guren for her assistance in identifying Jewish holidays.

This list is not intended to be exhaustive, and does not include government holidays. To learn more about holidays that may be relevant for members of your particular community, be sure to ask your members for more details and additional information to consider when planning events.

You may also find this list of resources helpful:

• Buddhist holidays

• Earth calendar
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judasim's (USCJ) calendar (According to this calendar, holidays begin the sundown before the dates listed below.)

• Jewish Religious Calendar

• 2009 Interfaith Calendar

July 2008

3 Rajab (Islamic)

18 Asalha Puja (Buddhist)

20 Shiva Asar B'Tammuz (Jewish)

August 2008

1 Shaban (Islamic)

9 Tisha B'Av (Jewish)

28 Janmashtami (Hindu)

29 Gita week begins (Hindu)

September 2008

1 Ramadan (Islamic)

3 Ganesh Chathurti (Hindu)

30-Oct. 2 Rosh Hashanah and Tzom Gedalya (Jewish)

October 2008

2 Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) (Islamic)

8 Yom Kippur (Jewish)

8 Navratri/Durga Puja/Dusserah (Hindu)

14-23 Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah (Jewish)

15 Pavarana Day (Buddhist)

28 Deepavali/Diwali (Hindu)

November 2008

1 All Saints' Day (Christian)

30 Advent Sunday (Christian)

December 2008

1 Hajj begins (Islamic)

8 Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) (Islamic)

22-29 Hanukkah (Jewish)

25 Christmas Day (Christian)

January 2009

6 Epiphany (Christian)

6 Assarah B'Tevet (Jewish)

7 Ashura (Shiite Islamic)

14 Pongal/Makar Sankranti (Hindu)

15 Muharram (or al-Hijra, Islamic New Year) (Islamic)

31 Vasanta Panchami/Saraswati Puja (Hindu)

February 2009

1 Candlemas (Christian)

15 Parinirvana (Mahayana Buddhist)

25 Ash Wednesday (Christian)

March 2009

1 St. David's Day (Christian)

6 Mahashivratri (Hindu)

9 Mawlid al-nabi (Birth of Prophet Muhammad) (Islamic)

10 Purim (Jewish)

11 Holi (Spring Festival) (Hindu)

25 Annunciation (Christian)

April 2009

5 Palm Sunday (Christian)

9­-16 Pesach (Passover) (Jewish)

10 Good Friday

12 Easter

23 St. George's Day (Christian)

May 2009

12 Lag B'Omer (Jewish)

21 Ascension Day (Christian)

29-30 Shavuot (Pentecost) (Jewish)

June 2009

11 Corpus Christi (Christian)