| Date | Time | Event |
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Sun. 4/4
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All day
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Easter
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Thu. 5/13
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All day
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Ascension
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Fri. 7/9
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All day
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Isra Me'raj
(Isra wa Al-Miraj)
Laylat Al-Isra wa Al-Miraj ("the night journey and ascension") commemorates the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem, his ascension into the seven heavens, and his return in the same night. These events acknowledge that all the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) have one and the same God as their source.
In this night, Muslims believe, the Prophet was instructed to establish the five daily prayers in their current form. On this night, Muslims believe, Muhammad prayed together with Abraham, Moses and Jesus in the area of the Al-Aqsa mosque.
The rock from which he is believed to have ascended to heaven to speak with God is the one seen inside the Dome of the Rock. Isra wa Al-Miraj as it is sometimes called is celebrated on the twenty-seventh of Rajab of the Islamic calendar.
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Tue. 7/13
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All day
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Nisfu Sha'ban
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Fri. 8/6
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All day
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Transfiguration
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Wed. 8/11
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All day
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Ramadan
The ninth month of the Moslem calendar. Commemorates the month in which the Koran was revealed to Mohammed. Observance involves prayer and abstention from food, drink, smoking, and sex, from sunrise to sundown. After sundown brings party time. The first day of Ramadan is a holiday in many Islamic countries.
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Sun. 8/15
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All day
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Assumption Day
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Mon. 9/6
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All day
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Laitaltul-Qadr
(Laylat Al-Qadr)
Laylat Al-Qadr ("the night of power.") falls on one of the last ten days of Ramadan on an odd numbered day (such as the twenty-third, twenty-fifth or twenty-seventh), In the Qur'an this night is said to be equal to one thousand months and on this night the prayers of the sincere Muslim are certain to be answered.
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Fri. 9/10
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All day
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Eidul-Fitr
(Eid al-Fitr)
Just as festivity becomes the atmosphere when the fast is broken each day at sunset, happiness becomes doublefold when the month of fasting is finally completed and the Eid Al-Fitr is celebrated.
The most elaborate dishes are served at large banquets to which relatives and friends are invited. These colorful celebrations are the climax of the sense of fullfiliment characterizing,a month of fasting and hardships, increasing the bonds of connectedness among humankind and between humankind and God.
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Sat. 10/2
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All day
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Feast of the Guardian Angels
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|
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All day
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Feast of the Gaurdian Angles
Catholic day
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Sat. 10/23
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All day
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Creation
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Sat. 10/30
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All day
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Reformation Day
Protestant day. On this day in 1517 Martin Luther posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg Germany, thereby beginning the Protestant Reformation. Lutherans observe this day on the preceding of following Sunday.
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Sun. 10/31
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All day
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Reformation Day
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Mon. 11/1
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All day
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All Saints Day
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Mon. 11/15
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All day
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Yaum-Arafah
(Yom Arafat)
Yom Arafat falls on the ninth of Dhu Al-Hijja, when people on the Hajj are assembled for the "standing" at the plain of Arafat (in Mina near Makkah) during the Haj. Muslims around the world gather at the local mosque (masjid) for prayer in spiritual solidarity with those at Arafat.
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Tue. 11/16
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All day
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Eidul-Adha
(Eid Al-Adha)
Eid Al-Adha ("The Feast of the Sacrifice") commemorates Abraham's willingness and obedience to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God (and God's mercy in substituting a lamb for Ishmael). This feast is part of the Haj, and takes place on the tenth of Dhu Al-Hijja of the Islamic calendar. For those on the Hajj and for many others the day begins with the sacrifice of an animal in commemoration of the Angel Gabriel's substitution of a lamb as Abraliam's sacrificial obligation. One-third of the meat is given to the poor, with the remainder shared with neighbors and family members.
This holiday is then celebrated in much the same way as Eid Al-Fitr - with good food, gifts for children and general merrymaking.
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Sun. 11/28
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All day
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Advent Sunday
Sunday closest to St Andrew's Day begins the Advent season and the beginning of the ecclesiastical year. There are four Advent Sundays before Christmas.
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Tue. 12/7
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All day
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Islamic New Year
The First of Muharram marks the new year. The date fluctuates (in the Gregorian calendar) from year to year as it is based on the Islamic lunar calendar.
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Wed. 12/8
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All day
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Immaculate Conception
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