Holidays & Observances
January
Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve), the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year’s foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays.
Additional Resources
WATCH VIDEO: The New Year's Eve Ball Drop
The Solemnity of Mary is observed on January 1 every year by the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. It is the eighth day of Christmastide and is a feast to celebrate Mary’s motherhood. It is also known as the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. This holy day sometimes gets forgotten easily amid the New Year celebrations but is one of utmost reverence for people of the Christian faith.
This solemnity is a Holy Day of Obligation for those who observe it. Christians of Byzantine, West Syriac, and East Syriac Rites celebrate Mary as the Mother of God on 26 December (also known as the Synaxis of the Theotokos), while the Coptic Church (an Oriental Orthodox church) does so on 16 January. The Eastern Orthodox Church,Traditional Catholics, Anglican Communion and the Lutheran Church observe it on 1 January.
Additional Resources
Epiphany is a Christian holiday that celebrates the manifestation of Jesus as Christ. The Western Church associates Epiphany with the journey of the Magi to the infant Jesus and the Eastern Orthodox Church refer to it as Theophany and associate it with the baptism of Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. Epiphany is among the church’s oldest and most important feasts.
The Feast of the Epiphany is celebrated in Ireland as Little Christmas. It's known as Three King's Day in Spain and some other Hispanic countries. In England, the celebration is called Twelfth Night.
Additional Resources
Many Orthodox Christians in central and eastern Europe, middle-east, north Africa and other parts of the world celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches based on their use of the Julian rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. The day is a time of reflection, inner thoughts and healing in many eastern European countries.
The traditions of Orthodox Christmas vary from place to place but it usually involves a grand worship service a night before Christmas, featuring a midnight liturgy. Many observe fasting and culminate in a festive meal on January 6 called the Holy Supper.
Christmas Day is a public holiday on January 7 in countries such as Belarus, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Russia, and Ukraine. Some countries, such as Armenia, observe Christmas Day on January 6. The January 7 celebration of Christmas Day is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, or the United States.
Tips for creating inclusion for Orthodox Christians :
Creating inclusion for Orthodox Christian employees/students/community members during the holiday season gives recognition to Orthodox Christians as a group with their own traditions that differ from the Protestant and Catholic Christian majority.
1. Educate yourself and your employees about Orthodox Christmas traditions.
The more employees/community members know about Orthodox Christmas traditions, the better they can understand and respect the needs of Orthodox Christians. This includes understanding the different calendars that Orthodox Christians use, the significance of the Nativity Fast, and the importance of attending Vespers.
2. Offer flexible work arrangements for Orthodox Christian employees/students.
Orthodox Christian employees/students may need to take time off on January 6 or 7 to attend Vespers or other religious services. Employers/schools should be flexible and understanding in granting this time off. Orthodox Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar will typically have the day off already for December 24, the majority of Orthodox Christians follow the Julian Calendar. Large turnouts for midnight mass for Orthodox Christmas on January 6 overnight to January 7 are not uncommon.
3. Provide alternative food options for Orthodox Christians who are fasting.
When hosting a holiday party or a community event, be sure to provide alternative food options for Orthodox Christians who are fasting to prepare for Orthodox Christmas. For Orthodox Christians who follow the Gregorian calendar, their fasting period will start as early as November 15 and may involve dietary restrictions such as no meat, dairy, or oil on weekdays. Alternative food options will thus be needed for Thanksgiving or any other holiday celebrations during that period. Some Orthodox Christians may observe a strict fast day on Orthodox Christmas Eve on either December 24 or January 6 and eat no solid foods until their evening prayers. They may consume only liquids during the day, including water, tea, coffee, fruit juices, and vegetable broths. Some Orthodox Christians may also consume honey and molasses during this liquid-only fast during the day. Any food options provided during the holiday season should support a liquid diet on these days. Orthodox Christians may practice different levels of strictness in what they consume on a liquid diet.
4. Include Orthodox Christmas decorations in holiday decorations.
To demonstrate respect for the diverse traditions and beliefs and create a more inclusive and welcoming work/school environment during the holiday season, consider incorporating Orthodox Christmas decorations into holiday décor. Icons, nativity scenes, candles, Christmas trees, Orthodox Christmas ornaments, Orthodox Christmas garlands and wreaths, and Orthodox Christmas table decorations can all be used to create a festive and welcoming atmosphere that honors Orthodox Christian traditions.
5. Make a public statement of support for Orthodox Christians.
This could be in the form of a newsletter article, a social media post, bulletin board posts, or a statement from the executives in your organization.
Additional Resources
Makara Sankranti is a multi-day festival dedicated to the Sun God, Surya. It marks the day the Sun enters Capricorn (Makara) constellation in the month of January (between Jan 13 and 16). The Makara Sankranti harvest festival is celebrated in various States of India and coincides with harvest festivals celebrated under different names such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Maghi/Lohri in Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, Magh Bihu in Assam, Uttarayan in Gujarat and Rajasthan, Poush Sankranti in West Bengal. It marks the new year for many to pursue new goals and ventures. The International Kite Festival is organized in the state of Gujarat during this time and kites are flown across the country. The festival is also celebrated in places influenced by Indian culture as Maghe Sankranti in Nepal, Shakrain in Bangladesh, Thingyan in Myanmar, Songkran in Thailand, and Moha Songkran in Cambodia.
Suggestions for Supporting those who Celebrate
Wish them a very “Happy Makara Sankranti” (Mah-ka-ra San-kran-tee). Here's a handy pronunciation audio. The word “Makara” is alternatively spelled as “Makar” (Mah-kur).
Ask them if they drew any Kolams or Rangolis in their homes or flew kites.
Additional Resources
Many Orthodox Christians in the United States observe the New Year based on January 1 in the Julian calendar. This calendar is older than the Gregorian calendar, which is used more widely in many countries. Therefore the Orthodox Christian New Year date falls on or around January 14 in the Gregorian calendar.
Orthodox New Year celebrations include dinner dances and traditional buffets among Orthodox Christian communities in the United States. Many of the Orthodox New Year traditions linked with these celebrations were brought over from other parts of the world, including eastern Europe, to the United States. Many Americans of Orthodox Christian faith also attend special New Year’s Day liturgies at their churches.
On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the King Holiday Bill into law, designating the third Monday in January a federal holiday in observance of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first introduced just four days after his assassination on April 4, 1968, but it took 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for the holiday to be approved by the federal government and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Today, it is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service - a “day on, not a day off”- to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities. It is designated by Congress as a national day of service
Additional Resources
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti (Birthday) is an auspicious day for the Sikh community and is celebrated every year to pay tribute to the 10th Sikh Guru and founder of the Khalsa (Punjabi: “the Pure”). The Khalsa was the purified and reconstituted Sikh community instituted by GuruGobind Singh in 1699 which provided the Sikhs with a new religious and political vision. Khalsa is used to denote both the body of initiated Sikhs and the community of all Sikhs.
This day is celebrated in Sikh communities around the world, and is observed by Sikhs of all ages who come together in their local gurdwara (Sikh temple) to pray and participate in community gatherings. Non-Sikhs who wish to celebrate the holiday can do so by learning about the life and teachings of Guru Gobind Singh, visiting a gurdwara and participating in the celebrations, or supporting causes that align with the values of the guru.
Here are some ways Sikhs celebrate Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti:
-Attend a Gurdwara
-Read About the Guru’s Life
-Volunteer with a Sikh Organization
-Make a Charitable Donation
Additional Resources
On November 1, 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to designate January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD). The date marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau by Soviet troops in 1945 and is meant to honor the 6 million Jewish victims of Nazism. The resolution supports the development of educational programs to remember the Holocaust and to prevent further genocide.
The internationally recognized date for Holocaust Remembrance Day corresponds to the 27th day of Nisan on the Hebrew calendar and marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. This year it'll be observed on May 6, 2024.
Additional Resources
The Lunar New Year, Chinese Chunjie (春节), Vietnamese Tet (Tết Nguyên Đán), Korean Seollal (설날), Tibetan Losar (ལོ་གསར), also called Spring Festival, is typically celebrated in China and other Asian countries. While it’s the coldest time of the year, it marks the turn-around in seasons, when people begin to look forward to spring (and in the old days, new planting). It symbolizes new beginnings and fresh starts. Each Lunar year is represented by a zodiac animal. 2025 is the Year of the Snake. The Snake is an omen of good fortune and health, and a symbol of wisdom and strength.
Lunar New Year begins at sunset on the day of the second New Moon after the winter solstice, typically between January 21 and February 21, depending on the year. Lunar New Year is sometimes confused with Chinese New Year. While Chinese New Year is one way that individuals may choose to observe this holiday, “Lunar New Year” is a term that includes all cultures that mark this occasion.
For many, the Lunar New Year is the most important observation of the year, especially in China, as it holds both cultural and historical significance. Red is undoubtedly the colour of the season. You’ll see it in the scarlet paper packets filled with money that are given to children and younger relatives. You’ll see it in the bright hues of the brand new clothes people are wearing. The Reunion Dinner is held on the eve of the new year. Family members rush back home (sometimes from very far away) in order to share this one most important meal of the year with loved ones.
It is traditional for families to thoroughly clean their homes to “sweep away” any ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck. Homes are thoroughly spring-cleaned and decorated with touches of crimson everywhere–in the lanterns hung by the gates, in the spring couplets adorning doorways and in the bright ribbons adorning kumquat plants, their yellow fruit symbolising “gold” or prosperity.
Suggestions for Supporting those who Celebrate
A warm greeting is always wecome. It is a common activity to briefly visit relatives, friends and neighbors during the day of Lunar New Year. People will give good wishes to each other. For those celebrating Chinese New Year, common phrases are Xin-nian kuai le (pronunciation audio)/San nin fai lok (pronunciation audio) meaning "Happy New Year" or Gong xi fa cai (pronunciation audio)/Gong hey fat choi (pronunciation audio) meaning "Be prosperous".
Remember that Chinese New Year is just one version of the Lunar New Year. 2025 will be Year of the Snake
Local Celebrations
Westford Academy Asian Culture Club, in partnership with Chelmsford Chinese Language School hosts an annual Lunar New Year Celebration at Westford Academy, 30 Patten Road Westford. Details TBD.
Boston hosts a huge and colorful Chinese New Year Parade each year in its Chinatown district.
Lowell celebrated it's first ever Lunar New Year Festival in 2023 & 2024 and plans to celebrate again in 2025.