Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches 2010 - Cokesbury

IV
A CALENDAR FOR CHURCH USE
2010–2013
This calendar presents the major days of religious observances for Christians, Jews, Bahá’is, and
Muslims; and, within the Christian community, major dates observed by Catholic, Eastern and Oriental
Orthodox, Episcopal, and Lutheran churches. Within each of these traditions many other observances,
such as saints’ days, exist, but only those generally regarded as the most important are listed. Dates of
interest to many Protestant communions are also included.
In the Orthodox dates, immovable observances are listed in accordance with the Gregorian calendar.
Movable dates (those depending on the date of Easter) often will differ from Western observance, since
the date of Easter (Pascha) in the Orthodox communions does not always correlate with the date for
Easter of the Western churches. For Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar, observances are
held thirteen days later than listed here.
Jewish and Muslim holidays begin after sunset the day previous to the date listed in this calendar. For
Jews and Muslims, who follow differing lunar calendars, the dates of major observances are translated
into Gregorian dates. Since the actual beginning of a new month in the Islamic calendar is determined
by the appearance of the new moon, the corresponding dates given here on the Gregorian calendar may
vary by geographic location and practice. Following the lunar calendar, Muslim dates fall roughly eleven
days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar. Practice concerning transliteration of the titles of holidays
varies widely as well.
CALENDAR
(Note: This listing reflects the first full day of holidays extending over two or more days.
“C” stands for Catholic; “O” stands for Orthodox; “E” stands for Episcopal; “L” stands for Lutheran;
“ECU” stands for Ecumenical.)
Religious Event 2010 2011 2012 2013
New Year’s Day (RC-Solemnity of Mary;
O-Circumcision of Jesus Christ; E-Feast
of Holy Name; L-Naming of Jesus) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 01 Jan 01 Jan 01 Jan 01
Epiphany Sunday (RC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 03 Jan 02 Jan 08 Jan 06
Epiphany (RC, O, E, L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 06 Jan 06 Jan 06 Jan 06
Armenian Christmas (O) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 06 Jan 06 Jan 06 Jan 06
First Sunday After Epiphany (Feast of the
Baptism of Our Lord) (Christian) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 10 Jan 09 Jan 15 Jan 13
Feast Day of St John the Baptist (Armenian O) . . . .Jan 13 Jan 13 Jan 13 Jan 13
Ecumenical Sunday (ECU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 17 Jan 16 Jan 15 Jan 20
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (ECU) . . . . . . . .Jan 18 Jan 18 Jan 18 Jan 18
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity,
Canada (ECU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 18 Jan 17 Jan 16 Jan 21
Theophany (Oriental O) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 19 Jan 19 Jan 19 Jan 19
Tu B’Shevat (Jewish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jan 30 Jan 20 Feb 08 Jan 26
Presentation of Jesus in the Temple
(Candlemas; Purification of the Virgin Mary;
O-The Meeting of Our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ) (Christian) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 02 Feb 02 Feb 02 Feb 02
Ash Wednesday (Western Churches) . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 17 Mar 09 Feb 22 Feb 13
Brotherhood Week (Interfaith) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 21 Feb 20 Feb 19 Feb 17
Great Lent (First Day of Lent) (O) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 21 Mar 13 Feb 26 Feb 17
Mawlid al-Nabi (Anniversary of the
Prophet Muhammed’s Birthday) (Muslim) . . . . . .Feb 26 Feb 15 Feb 04 Jan 24
Purim (Jewish) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Feb 28 Mar 20 Mar 08 Feb 24
Bahá’i Fasting Season begins (19 days)
(Bahá’i ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mar 02 Mar 02 Mar 02 Mar 02
World Day of Prayer (ECU) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mar 05 Mar 04 Mar 02 Mar 01
Joseph, Husband of Mary (RC, E, L) . . . . . . . . . . . .Mar 19 Mar 19 Mar 19 Mar 19
Feast of Naw-Ruz (Bahá’i New Year) (Bahá’i ) . . .Mar 21 Mar 21 Mar 21 Mar 21
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