March 25 - April 2
Pesach / Passover Ends (Judaism)
Pesach, or Passover, commemorates God "passing over" the houses of the Jews—sparing them—during the tenth plague of Egypt. In some traditions, Passover lasts for seven days, with major feasts on the !rst and last days. The !rst night of Passover is celebrated with a seder, a special dinner where the story of the Exodus from Egypt is retold. The last day, celebrated with prayer services and special meals, commemorates the day the Children of
Israel reached the Red Sea and found safety. Different traditions call for varying levels of diet restriction at this time, but generally all Jews abstain from eating chametz (leavening and fermenting agents) as it is commanded in the Torah.
April 5
Quingming (Chinese Traditional)
Quingming is a celebration to remember ancestors and to tend to their gravesites. Some leave offerings at graves, such as food, tea and other libations. Willow branches are often carried or hung outside doors to ward off evil spirits.
April 7 (begins at sundown)
Yom HaSho'ah, Holocaust Remembrance Day (Judaism)
Commencing in 1953, Yom HaSho'ah is a remembrance day for the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Many Jewish communities hold solemn ceremonies on this day. In Israel, Yom HaSho'ah is a national memorial day, where a state ceremony is held, $ags are $own at half staff, and those who have perished are recognized with a moment of silence.
April 14
Vaisakhi / Baisakhi / New Year (Hindusim / Sikhism)
Vaisakhi is an ancient harvest festival, celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus as the beginning of the solar new year. Sikhs also spend this day commemorating the establishment of the Khalsa - or military order of "saint soldiers" - by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. Through the Khalsa, Sikhs were given a clearer identity and code to live by. Today, the term Khalsa is used to refer to all baptized Sikhs. This holiday is celebrated around the world with parades, Seva (community service), and giving offerings at gurdwaras.
April 15
Yom Ha'Atzmaut (Judaism)
Yom Ha'Atzmaut is the national independence day of Israel, commencing in 1948. Many celebrate the holiday with picnics, singing and dancing, and Hallel, a Jewish prayer, is often recited.
April 20
Rama Navami (Hindusim)
This day marks the birth of Rama, a divine !gure in Hinduism who is referred to as Maryada Purushottama, or "the perfect man." Rama's birthday is celebrated with evening processions of murtis, Hindu symbolic !gures, and drinking Panakam, a sweet drink made of jaggery and pepper. Ceremonial weddings are also often staged in houses and temples, using murtis of Rama and his wife Sita.
April 21 - May 2
Ridvan (Baha'ism)
On April 21, 1863, Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith, declared his mission. To celebrate the commencement of his prophethood, Baha'is hold a twelve-day festival called Ridvan, named after the Garden of Rivdan where Baha'u'llah stayed for twelve days in exile. The first, ninth, and twelfth days of Rivdan are special holy days, marking Baha'u'llah's arrival to the garden, his family's arrival, and his departure respectively. On these days, work is prohibited and time is spent in prayer and celebration.
April 23
Saint George's Day (Christianity)
This day commemorates Saint George, one of the most prominent military saints. As patron saint of England, Greece, Russia, Ethiopia, Palestine and Portugal (among others), Saint George's Day is observed throughout the world and in different fashions, including carrying
Saint George's Cross Flag and participating in parades.
April 23
Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism)
Mahavir Jayanti, the most important holiday in Jainism, celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara. A Tirthankara is a human being who achieves enlightenment and becomes a role-model and teacher. On this day, Jain temples are decorated with $ags, and lectures are often held to discuss the path to virtue. Special ceremonies and processions are also performed, and devotees will make offerings of rice, fruit, milk, and other items to those participating in the procession.
April 25
Hanuman Jayanti (Hinduism)
Hanuman Jayanti is the birthday of Hanuman, a monkey god and devotee of Rama. Seen as a symbol of physical strength and perseverance, Hindus often perform special chants to Hanuman when they are faced with obstacles. On this day, worshippers fast and visit temples, where they apply a tilak of sindhoor (vermillion) from Hanuman's body to their forehead for good luck.
April 25-28
Theravadin New Year (Buddhism)
On the !rst three days after the full moon in April, the Theravada Buddhists of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao, celebrate the New Year. This is a time to re$ect on one's karma, focus on cleansing, and offer good wishes to others.
April 28 - Sundown
Lag B'Omer (Judaism)
Lag B'Omer is the 33rd day between the second day of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot. There is altogether a span of 49 days between the two holidays; a time that is traditionally a period of mourning the death of Rabbi Akibaís 24,000 students over 2,000 years ago. By contrast, however, Lag BíOmer is a break in the mourning period and is therefore a time for celebration. It is the occasion of the end of the plague that killed Rabbi Akibaís students, as well as the day of passing for Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who made it clear that he wanted his death to be celebrated, rather than mourned.
April 28
Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christianity)
Some in the Orthodox Church call Palm Sunday “Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem,” as this was the day that Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the people celebrated by laying cloaks and palm branches - they symbol of triumph - at his feet. On the day prior, Lazarus Saturday, palm fronds are knotted into crosses to be carried in procession on Palm Sunday. In regions where palms are not available (Russia, Ukraine, and Austria to name a few) pussy willow branches are often used.
April 29
Ninth day of Rivdan (Baha'ism)
As noted above for the first day of Ridvan, this day, the ninth of the days Baha'u'llah spent in the Ridvan garden, marks the day his family arrived.
April 30
Ghambar Maidyozarem (Zoroastrianism)
This is the first of six annual Ghambar festivals celebrated by Zoroastrians. The word Ghambar is derived from "gahanbar" meaning time-storage in Persian, and alludes to the division and storage of food. As the name indicates, these !ve-day festivals are observations of the different seasons and harvests. They are celebrated through joyous feasts and the recognition of the seven acts of goodness: generosity of the spirit, sharing, sel$ess help toward those in need, community participation and inclusion, honesty, pity, and remembrance of one's ancestors. Today's Ghambar - Ghambar Maidyozarem - celebrates the sky and the winter crop harvest.
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