January Religious Festivals and Dates

Feast of Tammuz

Judaism. Although the hebrew day starts in the evening, this fast starts the morning after and continues until nightfall. To remember the breach of Jerusalem's walls by Romans (69CE). A 3-week period also covers the destruction of the first Jewish Temple (586BCE), the Roman-Jewish war of 66CE & the 2nd temple's destruction.

Theophany / Baptism of Jesus Christ

Christianity (Orthodox). By John the Baptist.

Christmas Day

Christianity (Orthodox, Rastafarian).
Historically developed from: Q4 Solstice (Yuletide)

The Baptism of Jesus

Christianity (Roman Catholic). The Sunday after the Feast of the Epiphany By John the Baptist.

Makar Sankranti / Lohri / Pongal

Hinduism. Dispute resolution and almsgiving. The eating of pancakes, rice sugar, halva and chapattis around a fire. Held on the 15th on Leap Years.

Lailat Ul Isra Wa-l-miraj (Propher's Night Journey and Ascent)

Islam. On the 27th day of 7th month of Islamic calendar (Rajab).

Shinran Memorial Day

Buddhism (Pure Land Buddhism). For the anniversary of the death of Shinran Shonin (1173-1262), who founded Buddhist Jodo Shin-shu (Shin Buddhism).

Jashn-E Mehergan / Mihr Jashan

Zoroastrianism. Dedicated to Meher, or Mithra, symbols of the sun, and of justice.

Feast of Sultán (Sovereignty)

Bahá'í Faith.

World Religion Day

Created by the Bahais to celebrate positive factors common to common religions.

International Day of Protest Against Hereditary Religion

A secularist campaign to highlight the injustice and unfairness of parents raising children up as religious, before they have had a chance to fairly compare religions and pick one in accordance with their own free will.

Honen Shonin Memorial Day

Buddhism (Japanese Buddhist). The Pure Land Buddhism school of Jodo Shin-shu was founded by Shinran.

Holocaust Memorial Day

Judaism in the UK. Remembrance for those who suffered persecution and genocide under the Nazis.

Jashn-E Sadeh

Zoroastrianism in Iran. Mid-winter bonfire festival to celebrate the days lengthening.

Guru Har Rai's Gurpurab/Prakesh (birthday)

Sikhism. The seventh guru.