Spring Quarter 2009

Date	Holiday	Religion/Country
Apr.7	Mahavira Jayanti	Jain
Apr.9-16	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
Apr.10	Good Friday	Christian
Apr.12	Easter	Christian
Apr.13	Songkran	Buddhist – Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand
Apr.13	Baisakhi	Bangladesh, Hindu, Sikh
Apr.17	Holy Friday	Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christian
Apr.20	Easter Monday	Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christian
Apr.21	Feast of Ridvan, 1st day	Baha’i
May.9	Wesak	Buddhism
May.29	Ascension of Baha u llah	Baha’i

April:

7th: Mahavira Jayanti (Jain) - This day celebrates the birthday of Lord Mahavira who was the 24th leader of the Jain religion and born around 599 B.C.

9th-16th: Pesach/Passover (Jewish) - This day commemorates the time of Exodus of the Isrealites from Egypt.  It begins with a ritual meal "Sedar" when no leavened bread is consumed and is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods.

10th: Good Friday (Christian) - A holy day celebrated by Christians on the Friday before Easter. It commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus at Calvary.

12th: Easter (Christian) - the most important religious holiday of the Christian liturgical year to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe occurred after his death by crucifixion in AD 30-33.

13th: Songkran (Buddhist – Cambodia, Mayanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand) - In Southeast Asia, Songkran is recognized as the New Year for Buddhists. The event lasts three days. Observances of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic and Islamic holidays are dependent on the sightings of the moon.

13th: Baisakhi (Bangladesh, Hindu, Sikh) - The first day of the solar year, this is an agricultural festival celebrating the harvest especially in North India. Observances of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic and Islamic holidays are dependent on the sightings of the moon.

17th: Holy Friday (Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christian) - commemorates the passion and death by crucifixion of Jesus and is a solemn day.

20th: Easter Monday (Coptic & Eastern Orthodox Christian) - commemorates the meeting of the women at Jesus’ tomb with an angel who assured them that Jesus had been resurrected from death.

21st: Feast of Ridvan, 1st day (Baha i) - Ridvan means paradise and the 12-day festival is the holiest time for the Baha is. It commemorates the 12 days that Baha u llah spent in the Garden of Ridvan in the last days of his exile in Baghdad and announced that he was the prophet whose coming had been foretold. Observance of Baha’i holidays begins at sundown of the preceding day and ends at sunset of the holy days.

May:

9th: Wesak (Buddhism) - The most important Buddhist festival, Wesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha as one event. Observances of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic and Islamic holidays are dependent on the sightings of the moon.

29th: Ascension of Baha u llah (Baha’i) - The prophet and founder of Baha I Faith passed away near Haifa, Israel.  The event is observed at the actual time of his passing at 3 a.m. Observance of Baha’i holidays begins at sundown of the preceding day and ends at sunset of the holy days.

: All Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the first day given and end one hour after sunset on the last day given.
: Observances of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic and Islamic holidays are dependent on the sightings of the moon.
: Observance of Baha’i holidays begins at sundown of the preceding day and ends at sunset of the holy days.
: This symbol denotes religious holidays from various major religions from around the world.