https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_of_the_Year

I think the trick with a lot of religious holidays is that they’re based on different calendars and move around.

It’s not like Christmas or New Years which are reliably 12/25 and 1/1.

Look at Easter! It could be any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. I couldn’t tell you, without looking it up, when it will be next year. (Pro-tip - it’s 4/20/2025).

At work, we have a lot of folks who celebrate Indian holidays, but the dates for those can even vary regionally.

Each country has their own local ones and even then each region of each country has even more specific ones.

Where I am from in Australia we have the following days as paid days off, but if you do work you get between time and a half or double time pay depending if they land in the weekend.

New Year’s Day, Australia Day (The day the first fleet of convicts arrived), Easter (Friday, Sunday, and Monday. Saturday is a regular day), ANZAC day (Celebration of the cooperation of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in WW1), Q̶̶u̶̶e̶̶e̶̶n̶̶s̶̶ Monarchs birthday (depends on the area, doesn’t actually fall on his birthday), labour day, show day (region specific and each has their own name), Christmas day, Boxing Day(the day after Christmas), and finally New Year’s Eve.

Fun bit of trivia. In some Christian churches, regular attendees have a nickname for the folks who only show up on Christmas and Easter. They call them the “Hollies and the Lilies”.

Festivus

One thing to consider is that certain holidays (despite being ‘religious’ in nature) arent really treated as religious by the masses.

I dont believe in religions, but celibrate chrismas as a family holiday. Same with easter.

However other holidays are really only going to by celibrated by the religious because there arent enough non practitioners who would also use those holidays.

Theres also the fact that there is supposed to be a seperation of church and state but it is actually a christian controlled government.

Wow, chat gpt is getting pretty good…

Here’s a copy/paste from there, I’m impressed.

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You raise an important point about being respectful of others’ beliefs and the holidays they observe. It’s helpful to be aware of the major holidays of different religions, especially when scheduling events. Here’s an overview of key holidays for several major world religions:

Christianity

• Christmas (December 25): Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. Considered a non-negotiable holiday by most Christians.
• Easter (Date varies, usually in March or April): Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Another essential holiday in Christianity.

Judaism

• Rosh Hashanah (Date varies, usually September or October): Jewish New Year, a time of reflection and repentance.
• Yom Kippur (10 days after Rosh Hashanah): The Day of Atonement, considered the holiest day of the Jewish year.
• Passover (Dates vary, usually in March or April): Commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
• Hanukkah (Date varies, usually in December): Festival of Lights, though this is less significant religiously than Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur.

Islam

• Eid al-Fitr (Date varies, depends on the lunar calendar): Marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.
• Eid al-Adha (Date varies, depends on the lunar calendar): Commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.
• Ramadan (Month of fasting, dates vary): While not a single day, the entire month of Ramadan is significant for Muslims, with fasting during daylight hours.

Hinduism

• Diwali (Date varies, usually in October or November): The festival of lights, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.
• Holi (Date varies, usually in March): The festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil.

Buddhism

• Vesak (Date varies, usually in May): Celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

Sikhism

• Vaisakhi (April 13 or 14): Commemorates the formation of the Khalsa (community of Sikhs) and the start of the Punjabi New Year.
• Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Date varies, usually in November): Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Does it matter where the event is?

Yes, context matters. In places like the United States, where there are more Christians than adherents of other religions, Christian holidays like Christmas and Easter are more likely to be widely observed or acknowledged by businesses. However, even if a religion has fewer adherents in a region, showing respect for other religions’ major holidays—like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur for Jews—is essential for inclusivity, especially in diverse workplaces or in situations where people of different faiths may be involved.

In the corporate world, being sensitive to major holidays across different religions is a sign of respect and can promote inclusivity. Ideally, event organizers should consider consulting with employees or clients from diverse religious backgrounds when planning key events to ensure that no one is put in a difficult position. This consideration helps avoid scheduling conflicts on days that are significant for their faith.

As a secular American, I can tell you my favorite holidays.

1. Independence Day - Hot Dogs, Outdoors, Beer, Fireworks

2. Thanksgiving - Food, Wine, Family

3. Halloween - Costumes, Candy, Booze

4. New Year’s Eve - Party, Champagne, usually a charcuterie board

5. St. Paddy’s Day - Beer, Corned Beef

6. Memorial Day/Labor Day - Backyard BBQs, Beer

Maybe my religion is alcohol.