2026/2027 Religious and Creed Observances and Days of Significance

Oct 10, 2026                          Pchum Ben (Cambodian Buddhist Ancestors Festival)

Oct 25, 2026                          Kathina - marks the end of Vassa 

Dec 08, 2026                         Bodhi Day (Rohatsu)

Jan 22, 2027                          Mahayana New Year 

Feb 6, 2027                            Losar Tibetan New Year 

Feb 15, 2027                          Parinirvana Day (Nirvana Day)

Feb 21, 2027                          Magha Puja/Sanga Day

Apr. 13, 2027                          Theravada New Year 

May 13, 2027                          Vesak/Buddha Day (Commemoration of Buddha’s Birth, Enlightenment, Nirvana)

May 22, 2027                          Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday (to 25th) 

Jul 18, 2027                            Asala – Dharma Day and Guru Punima

Jul 19, 2027                            Vassa begins

Aug 13, 2027                          Obon Festival (Japanese Buddhist Ancestors Festival)

Aug. 24-26, 2027                    Buddhist Hungry Ghost Festival (Ullabana) 

Heathenry, also called Heathenism or Germanic Paganism is a modern Pagan religion. It was developed in Europe during the early 20th century and its practitioners model it on the pre-Christian belief systems of the Germanic peoples of the Iron Age and Early Middle Ages. 

There are no central authorities in Heathenry and no single organization to which all Heathens belong, though there are national and international organisations created to facilitate networking between Heathens.  

Many Heathens belong to small groups or communities made up of Heathen friends and family members. These groups are sometimes called 'hearths' or 'kindreds' and meet for religious rituals in members' homes or in outdoor spaces. Some hearths and kindreds have recognised leaders. Others are entirely egalitarian. 

The main rites celebrated in Heathenry are called blot (pronounced 'bloat') and symbel (pronounced 'sumble'). Heathen groups and individuals hold feasts and celebrations based around blot and symbel at rites of passage (such as weddings or Báby-namings), seasonal holidays, oath-takings, rites in honour of a particular god or gods, and rites of need (in which gods are asked for help). 

Different Heathen communities and individuals celebrate different cycles of seasonal holidays based on their cultural affiliations, local traditions, and relationships with gods. There is no fixed calendar for Heathen festival dates. The three Heathen festivals most celebrated are Winter Nights - usually celebrated in October or November, Yule - a twelve-day festival that begins around the time of the winter solstice, and a festival for the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre in the spring. 

Dates will vary depending on the chosen kindred. 

Aug 27, 2026               Rakshabandhan 

Sept 3-4, 2026             Shri Krishna Janmashtani 

Sept 14, 2026              Ganesh Chaturthi 

Sept 25, 2026              Anant Chaturdashi 

Oct 11, 2026               Sharad Navarati Begins 

Oct 19, 2026               Durga Ashtami 

Oct 20, 2026               Vijaya Dashmi/Dussehra 

Nov 6, 2026                Dhan Teras- Deepawali Begins 

Nov 12, 2026               Narak Chaturdashi 

Nov 8, 2026                 Deepawali Day/Sharda Poojan

Nov 9, 2026                 Govardhan Pooja

Nov 10, 2026               Bhai Dooj/Deepawali Ends 

Jan 14-15, 2027           Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Maghi Bih, Pongal, Uttarayan

Mar. 22, 2027               Holi

Apr 7-15, 2027             Chaitra Navratri

Apr 15, 2027                 Shri Ramnavmi

Apr. 20, 2027                Hanuman Jayanti

Oct. 19, 2026               Maha Navami/Sharad Navarati Ends 

Nov. 21, 2026               Tulsi Vivaah

Dec. 20, 2026               Geeta Jayanti

Feb 11, 2027                Vasant Panchami

May 9, 2027                  Akshay Tritiya 

Indigenous nations tell their own stories about the origins of the world and their place in it; all claim their ancestry dates to Time Immemorial.  

Indigenous peoples practice diverse spiritual traditions in Ontario, reflecting the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Ontario and Canada.  

“Indigenous peoples have the right to promote, develop and maintain their institutional structures and their distinctive customs, spirituality, traditions, procedures, practices and, in the cases where they exist, juridical systems or customs, in accordance with international human rights standards.” 

 – United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

In HWDSB, we respect our role as treaty partners, to honour and protect the earth and the sacred integrity of Indigenous ceremony. While Indigenous spiritual beliefs and practices can vary significantly among different First Nation, Métis and Inuit groups and individuals, and across different regions, some common elements are evident.  For example, many people refer Indigenous Spirituality as a “way of life” and “way of knowing” (or worldview) that is centered on a relationship with the Creator, the land and “all our relations.”  

Indigenous philosophy and ceremony refer to the beliefs and practices that Indigenous peoples identify as being ‘traditional’ or ‘customary’ among Indigenous peoples. 

Indigenous traditions and ceremonies differ amongst Indigenous peoples. For example, Anishinaabe traditions and ceremonies will vary from Indigenous people who identify as Haudenosaunee. Ceremonies often follow a seasonal cycle. 

Islam is the second-largest religion in the world. As one of the three Abrahamic religions—the others being Judaism and Christianity—it too is a monotheistic faith that worships one God, called Allah.  Followers of Islam are called Muslims. 

The Islamic calendar, also called the Hijra calendar, is a lunar calendar used in Islamic religious worship, and indicates the proper days of Islamic holidays and celebrations. 

Muslim prayer is often conducted in a mosque's large open space or outdoor courtyard. A mihrab is a decorative feature or niche in the mosque that indicates the direction to Mecca, and therefore the direction to face during prayer. 

Observances may vary by a day before or after the dates given below. Dates are subject to the appearance of the moon. A representative of the Muslim Association will advise HWDSB on the event of variance from the dates shown below. Dates are also used from the ISNA website which aligns with the mosques in North America. 

Holy Days

Religious Days of Significance

Jainism is one of the three most ancient Indian religious traditions still in existence and an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice. While often employing concepts shared with Hinduism and Buddhism, the result of a common cultural and linguistic background, the Jain tradition must be regarded as an independent. 

Jainism advocates “right speech, right thought and right action” to achieve salvation. The basic tenets of Jainism are non-violence (ahimsa); non-attachment (aparigraha); speaking the truth (satya); not stealing (asteya); and sexual restraint (brahmacharya). 

Jains do not believe in Gods, and Jainism is a nontheistic religion. They do, however, believe in a higher power (devas) that are mortal. Jains also worship the images of their divine teachers (Tirthankaras). 

Important days in the Jain calendar are called parvan, and on these days, religious observances such as structured periods of fasting and festivals take place. The main Jain festivals can generally relate to the five major events in the life of each Tirthankara: descent into his mother’s womb, birth, renunciation, attainment of omniscience, and final emancipation. 

Holy Days 

Sept 8-14, 2026                       Payushana Parva (again in 29 Aug, 2027)  

Sept 15, 2026                          Samvatsari Day 

Nov 8, 2026                             Diwali     

Apr 19, 2027                            Mahavira Jayanti  

Days of Religious Significance

Sept 25, 2026                          Anant Chaturdashi     

Nov 5, 2026                             Lokashah Jayanti    

Nov 8, 2026                             Nirvana Day         

Jewish people believe in the Torah, sacred scripture given to the Israelites at Sinai. They believe they must follow God's laws which govern daily life. Later legal books, written by rabbis, determine the law as it applies to life in each new place and time. 

There are three basic denominations of Jewish people who have different understandings of the interpretation of the Torah cand Jewish law:  Orthodox Jews, Conservative Jews, and Reform Jews. 

Jewish holidays are special days in the Jewish calendar, which celebrate moments in Jewish history, as well as central themes in the relationship between God and the world, such as creation, revelation, and redemption. 

Friday evening (sunset) to Saturday evening (sunset) is considered the Sabbath Day and events should not be planned during this time. All Jewish Holy Days commence on the preceding evening at sunset. On Jewish Holy Days, no work is permitted. 

Holy Days

Days of Religious Significance

The word Sikh (pronounced "sickh") means 'disciple' or 'learner.' The Sikh faith was founded in Northern India in the fifteenth century by Guru Nanak Dev Ji and is distinct from Islam and Hinduism.  Sikhi (pronounced sickh-ee) is monotheistic.  Sikhs believe in three basic principles: meditating on the name of God (praying), earning a living by honest means as well as sharing the fruits of one’s labor with others.  Sikhi rejects caste and class systems and emphasizes service to humanity.  Turbans are worn to cover long hair and with respect to God. Keeping long hair is one of the five articles of faith.  

The Sikh place of worship, or Gurdwara, is more than a place of worship. It has historically served as a refuge for the homeless and the destitute. Gurdwaras usually display the Nishan Sahib, a saffron-colored triangular flag bearing the khanda, the symbol of the Sikh faith. Visitors, irrespective of their religion, are offered shelter, comfort, and food. The prerequisites for entering a Gurdwara are removing shoes and covering one’s head with a handkerchief, scarf, or other cloth. 

A Sikh can worship at any time of the day or night, but the expected prayer times are before sunrise and sunset and prior to going to bed at night. Generally, a Sikh meditates (‘Simran’) on the Name of God by reciting His Name even while working. Each year there are several Sikh festivals, called Gurpurbs that are associated with the birth and death anniversaries of the Gurus 

Dates are lunar based and so dates may vary. 

Wicca, a modern pagan religion, revolves around the "Wheel of the Year," a cycle of eight Sabbats (seasonal festivals) that mark the seasons and natural rhythms, with key ideas including honoring nature, the Divine Feminine and Masculine, and the Rule of Three. The dates and timing of the festivals mark the year’s chief solar events (solstices and equinoxes) and the midpoints between them.   

The four seasons reference the timed quarters of the year which can be measured (spring, summer, winter, and fall) and astrologically (the start of a season measured by entry into one of the four cardinal signs of the zodiac). Quarter Sabbats mark the beginning and end of each season while the Cross Quarter Sabbats (midpoints of the season) mark the height of each season. This measurement doesn't always make sense outside of specific environments like more northern climates, but for many Pagans, there is still an energetic if not obvious start, height, and end to each season that roughly aligns with the Sabbats. 

So, with this understanding: 

• Yule is the end of autumn, beginning of winter and Imbolc marks the height of the winter season. 

• Ostara is the end of winter, beginning of spring and Beltane marks the height of the spring season. 

• Litha is the end of spring, beginning of summer and Lughnasadh marks the height of the summer season. 

• Mabon is the end of summer, beginning of autumn and Samhain marks the height of the autumn season. 

Samhain to Beltane is the dark half of the year, while Beltane to Samhain is the bright half of the year. Samhain, the beginning of the dark half of the year, marked the beginning of the year for the Celts, much as sunset marked the start of the new day. Marking the beginning of the year at Samhain is commonly celebrated by many. 

Holy Days

Sep 22, 2026                          Mabon – Imbolic

Nov 1, 2026                            Samhain

Dec 21, 2026                          Winter Solstice/Yule

Feb 1, 2027                            Candlemas – Imbolic

Mar 20, 2027                          Ostara/Vernal Equinox

May 1, 2027                           Beltane

Jun 21, 2027                          Litha/Summer Solstice

Aug 1, 2027                           Lughnassad/Lammas

At its core, Zoroastrianism emphasizes a never-ending battle between good and evil — a contest between the religion's God, Ahura Mazda, and an evil spirit, Ahriman. Believers have the freedom to make good or bad choices; they were exhorted by Zoroaster to think good thoughts, say good words and do good deeds. 

Zoroastrian holy days are generally celebrated quietly in homes and temples. Followers of Zoroastrianism (Zarathushti) must observe the six Gahambar festivals and Nowruz, called feasts of obligation. Observance of other festivals is a merit. 

Festivals can fall on different days, according to the calendar used. Persian Zoroastrians follow the Qadīmī calendar and Parsis (Zoroastrians in India) use the Shenshai calendar, which is a month longer. In the early 20th century, some Parsis adopted the Faṣlī (Gregorian) calendar, with Nowruz always falling on March 21. 

Iranian Zarathustis follow the Fasli Calendar (F) 

Most Parsi Zarathustis follow the Shenshahi Calendar (S) 

Holy Days

Days of Religious Significance