Calendar and remembrance

Feasts and observances

A shared view without conflation: each tradition appears in its own category, with origins and references.

Gregorian dates change each year and can vary by community and calendar.

Torá

Biblical appointed times

Sabbath and feasts presented in the Torah, with their main references.

Weekly · Friday to Saturday sunset

Sabbath

Weekly day of rest and sanctification.

References: Gn 2:2–3 · Êx 20:8–11 · Lv 23:3

Nisan · northern spring

Passover and Unleavened Bread

Remembrance of the exodus from Egypt and seven days without leaven.

References: Êx 12 · Lv 23:4–8

During Unleavened Bread

Firstfruits

Offering of the first produce of the harvest before the Lord.

References: Lv 23:9–14

Sivan · after the fifty-day count

Shavuot · Weeks

Harvest feast; in the New Testament, the Pentecost of Acts 2.

References: Lv 23:15–22 · Dt 16:9–12 · At 2

1 Tishrei

Yom Teruah · Trumpets

A day of rest and remembrance marked by trumpet blasts.

References: Lv 23:23–25 · Nm 29:1–6

10 Tishrei

Yom Kippur · Day of Atonement

Solemn day of atonement, repentance, and fasting.

References: Lv 16 · Lv 23:26–32

15–22 Tishrei

Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret

Feast of Booths, remembering the wilderness and harvest, followed by the eighth-day assembly.

References: Lv 23:33–44 · Dt 16:13–17

Jewish tradition

Jewish celebrations

Later biblical commemorations or observances developed in Jewish tradition. They are not presented as Leviticus 23 commands.

Adar

Purim

Celebrates the deliverance narrated in the book of Esther.

References: Et 9:20–32

Kislev–Tevet

Hanukkah · Dedication

Remembers the rededication of the Temple after the Maccabean revolt.

References: 1Mc 4:36–59 · Jo 10:22

9 Av

Tisha B’Av

Fast mourning the destruction of the Temples and other tragedies in Jewish history.

15 Shevat

Tu BiShvat

The new year for trees, connected with agricultural cycles and tithes.

After Sukkot

Simchat Torah

Celebrates completing and restarting the annual Torah reading cycle.

Beginning of each Hebrew month

Rosh Chodesh

Observance of the new moon and the start of a Hebrew month.

References: Nm 28:11–15 · 1Sm 20:5

3 Tishrei

Fast of Gedaliah

Minor fast remembering Gedaliah’s assassination and its aftermath.

References: 2Rs 25:25–26 · Jr 41

10 Tevet

Tenth of Tevet

Fast remembering the beginning of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem.

References: 2Rs 25:1 · Ez 24:1–2

15 Av

Tu B’Av

Traditional day of joy and community bonds.

Before Purim

Fast of Esther

Communal fast associated with the remembrance of Esther.

References: Et 4:15–17

33rd day of the Omer count

Lag BaOmer

Traditional observance during the Omer count; customs vary by community.

27 Nisan

Yom HaShoah

Modern remembrance day for the Holocaust and Jewish heroism.

5 Iyar, subject to adjustments

Yom HaAtzmaut

Modern Independence Day of the State of Israel; religious observance varies.

28 Iyar

Yom Yerushalayim

Modern Jerusalem Day; its observance varies among communities.

Christian tradition

Christian observances

Dates in the Christian calendar; practice and timing vary among traditions and churches.

Four Sundays before Christmas

Advent

Season of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s coming.

25 December; 7 January in some traditions

Christmas · Nativity

Celebrates the birth of Jesus; Scripture does not prescribe an annual date.

References: Mt 1–2 · Lc 1–2

Before Christian Easter

Lent and Holy Week

Traditional period of preparation culminating in remembrance of Jesus’ final week.

References: Mt 21–27 · Mc 11–15 · Lc 19–23 · Jo 12–19

Movable date

Resurrection Sunday · Easter

Celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. The date differs between Western and Eastern calendars.

References: Mt 28 · Mc 16 · Lc 24 · Jo 20

Forty days after the Resurrection

Ascension

Commemorates the ascension of Jesus.

References: Lc 24:50–53 · At 1:1–11

Fifty days after Easter

Pentecost

Celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2, during Shavuot.

References: At 2