2024 Religious Observances | 2025 Religious Observances | 2026 Religious Observances | 2027 Religious Observances
The Boy Scouts of America maintains that no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. In the first part of the Scout Oath or Promise the member declares, “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law.” The recognition of God as the ruling and leading power in the universe and the grateful acknowledgment of His favors and blessings are necessary to the best type of citizenship and are wholesome precepts in the education of the growing members. No matter what the religious faith of the members may be, this fundamental need of good citizenship should be kept before them. The Boy Scouts of America, therefore, recognizes the religious element in the training of the member, but it is absolutely nonsectarian in its attitude toward that religious training. Its policy is that the home and the organization or group with which the member is connected shall give definite attention to religious life.
There are certain holidays that individual Scouts and Scouters of different faiths celebrate each year. These holidays are not always on the same date on the calendar and may not be familiar to everyone. In order to respect the traditions of all Scouts and Scouters, care must be taken in scheduling Scouting activities.
The Boy Scouts of America has developed this religious holiday calendar for the use of local units, councils and others in scheduling Scout-related activities. It provides a brief description of each holiday, both in the overall list of holidays and following each month, and an indication of the significance of each as well. The calendar will be continuously updated to provide planners with a two-year holiday schedule.
Please remember that certain holidays begin on the night before the actual day of the holiday as shown on the calendar.
ALPHABETICAL LISTING
ADVENT, CHRISTIAN
Advent is celebrated as the beginning of the Christian religious calendar preparing for the nativity of Jesus on the four Sundays prior to Christmas
AL HIJIRA, ISLAM
Al Hijira is the Islamic New Year
ALL SAINTS DAY, CHRISTIAN
All Saints Day commemorates all the Christian saints
ASALHA PUJA, BUDDHIST
Asalha Puja celebrates the first sermon given by Buddha
ASCENSION, CHRISTIAN
Ascension commemorates the ascension of Jesus to Heaven
ASCENSION OF ABDU’L-BAHA, BAHA’I
Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha commemorates the death of Abdu’l-Baha, son of the founder of the Baha’i religion
ASCENSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, BAHA’I
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh commemorates the death of Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Baha’i religion in 1892
ASHURA, ISLAM
Ashura is the Islamic holiday commemorating the death of Husayn ibn Ali and family at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE
ASH WEDNESDAY
Ash Wednesday is a Christian fast day and the beginning of Lent
AYATHREM GAHAMBAR
Ayathrem Gahambar gives thanks for bringing home the herds.
AYYAM-I-HA, BAHA’I
Ayyam-I-Ha are days that adjust the Baha’i calendar to the solar calendar
BAPTISM OF THE LORD, CATHOLIC
Baptism of the Lord celebrates the baptism of Jesus
BEHEADING OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Beheading of St. John, the Baptist commemorates his martyrdom
BIRTH OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, BAHA’I
Bahá’u’lláh was the founder of the Baha’i religion, born 1817
BIRTH OF GURU NANAK SAHIB, SIKH
Guru Nanak Sahib, born in 1469, was the founder of the Sikh religion
BIRTH OF THE BAB, BAHA’I
The Bab, born in 1819, is one of the three central figures of the Baha’i religion
BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (THEOTOKOS), EASTERN ORTHODOX
Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrates the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus
CHINESE NEW YEAR, SHINTO, DAOIST AND BUDDHIST
Chinese New Year celebrates the New Year on the Chinese calendar
CHRISTMAS, CHRISTIAN
Christmas Eve is the night before the birth of Jesus
Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus
CLEAN MONDAY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Clean Monday is the day that Lent begins
DAY OF THE COVENANT, BAHA’I
Day of the Covenant is the day of the appointment of Abdu’l-Baha as the center of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant
DECLARATION OF THE BAB, BAHA’I
Declaration of the Bab celebrates the day the Bab revealed his mission to the world
DEEPAVALI DEWALI, HINDU, JAIN & SIKH
Deepavali Dewali is the Hindu festival of lights symbolizing the victory of light over darkness
DORMITION (ASSUMPTION) OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Dormition celebrates the Falling Asleep and Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary to heaven
DUSSEHRA, HINDU
Dussehra commemorates the victory of the Lord Rama over Ravana, the Great Demon
EASTER, CHRISTIAN
Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus
EID AL ADHA, ISLAM
Eid al Adha commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice Ishmael
EID AL FITR, ISLAM
Eid al Fitr is the feast which ends the fast of Ramadan
EPIPHANY, CHRISTIAN
Epiphany commemorates the revelation of God the son as a human in Jesus
FARVARDIGAN, ZOROASTRIAN
Farvardigan commemorates all the dearly departed
FAST OF THE NATIVITY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Nativity is the Eastern Orthodox date for the birth of Jesus
FEAST OF THE ANNUNCIATION, CHRISTIAN
Feast of the Annunciation commemorates the announcement by the Angel Gabriel that Mary would be the mother of Jesus
FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS, EASTERN CATHOLIC
Feast of the Archangels celebrates Angels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
FEAST OF THE ELEVATION OF THE HOLY CROSS, CHRISTIAN
Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross celebrates the finding of the Holy Cross by Saint Helen
FEAST OF THE GREAT MARTYR ST. GEORGE DAY, CHRISTIAN
St. George, the patron saint of both Scouting and England is celebrated by this feast
FEAST OF THE MEETING OF THE LORD, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Meeting of the Lord celebrates the receiving of Jesus by the Prophet Simeon at the Holy Temple
FEAST OF THE MOST HOLY BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST, CATHOLIC
Feast of the Body and Blood celebrates the Holy Eucharist and the Church as manifestations of Jesus
FEAST OF ST. BASIL, EASTERN ORTHODOX
St. Basil is the father of Monasticism in the Eastern Orthodox Church
FEAST OF STS. PETER AND PAUL, CHRISTIAN
Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul honors their martyrdom
FEAST OF THEOPHANY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Theophany celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD, CHRISTIAN
Transfiguration is a celebration of the divinity and humanity of Jesus
FOUR CHAPLAINS SUNDAY, INTERFAITH
Four Chaplains Sunday commemorates the chaplains who gave their lives to save others in World War II
GANESH CHATURTHI, HINDU
Ganesh Chaturthi celebrates the birth of the Lord Ganesha
GANTAN-SAI, SHINTO
Gantan-sai is the Shinto New Year
GATHAS, ZOROASTRIAN
Gathas are the seventeen hymns of Zrathushtra composed around 1200 BCE
GHALLUGHARA DAY, SIKH
Ghallughara commemorates an Indian attack on Sikhs in 1984
GOOD FRIDAY, CHRISTIAN
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus on the Friday before Easter
GURGADDI, SIKH
Gurgaddi is the Coronation of Guru Granth Sahib in 1708 as the eternal Guru of Sikhs
GURU GOBIND SINGH BIRTHDAY, SIKH
Guru Gobind Singh, born in 1666, was the tenth Sikh guru
HANAMATSURI, BUDDHIST
Hanamatsuri is the birthday of Buddha
HANUKKAH, JEWISH
Hanukkah is the Jewish celebration of the liberation of Israel from the Greeks and purification of the Temple
HANUMAN JAYANTI, HINDU
Hanuman Jayanti celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara God
HOLI, HINDU
Holi is the festival of love and of colors for Hindus
HOLY FRIDAY
Holy Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus on the Friday before Pascha.
HOLY WEEK
Holy Week is the week between Palm Sunday and Easter (Pascha for Eastern Orthodox)
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, CATHOLIC
Immaculate Conception celebrates the preservation of Mary from Original Sin
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Independence Day is the celebration of American Freedom
JUNETEENTH
Juneteenth commemorates the Declaration of Freedom for slaves in America
KHALSA DAY, SIKH
Khalsa Day is the formal Sikh initiation day from 1699
KHORDAD SAL (BIRTHDAY OF ZOROASTER), ZOROASTRIAN
Birthday of the Prophet Zoroaster also known as Zarathushtra
KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI, HINDU
Krishna Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna
KWANZAA, AFRICAN-AMERICAN
Kwanzaa is a celebration of African-American culture
LAG B’OMER, JEWISH
Lag B’Omer is the 33rd day following Passover and commemorates the death of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai
LAILAT AL BARA’A, ISLAM
Lailat al Bara’a is a celebration of God blessing all humans
LAILAT AL QDAR, ISLAM
Lailat al Kadr is the night that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Mohammad
LAILAT AL ISRA AL MIRAJ, ISLAM
Lailat al Miraj celebrates the ascension of Muhammad to Heaven
LENT, CHRISTIAN
Lent is a period of 40 days during which Christians meditate, pray and give alms to the poor
MAGHA PUJA DAY, BUDDHIST
Magha Puja Day celebrates freedom from sin
MAHAVIR JAYANTI, JAIN
Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jains
MAHAYANA, BUDDHIST
Mahayana is the Buddhist New Year
MAHA SHIVRATRI, HINDU
Maha Shivratri celebrates the marriage of Shiva to Parvati
MAIDOSHAHEM GAHAMBAR, ZOROASTRIAN
Maidoshahem Gahambar is the Zoroastrian summer thanksgiving
MAIDOZAREM GAHAMBAR, ZOROASTRIAN
Maidozarem Gahambar is the Zoroastrian spring thanksgiving
MAIDYAREM GAHAMBAR, ZOROASTRIAN
Maidyarem Gahambar is the Zoroastrian winter thanksgiving
MAKAR SANKRANTI (PONGOL), HINDU
Makar Sankranti (Pongol) is the Hindu Winter Harvest Festival
MARTYRDOM OF BABA ZORAWAR SINGH AND BABA FATEH SINGH, SIKH
Baba Zorawar Singh and Bab Fateh Singh, Sikh leaders were martyred
MARTYRDOM OF GURU TEGH BAHADUR, SIKH
Guru Tegh Bahadur was a Sikh leader who suffered martyrdom rather than convert to Islam
MARTYRDOM OF THE BAB, BAHA’I
The Martyrdom of the Bab occurred in 1850
MARTYRDOM OF GURU ARJAN, SIKH
The martyrdom of Guru Arjan, first Sikh martyr, occurred in 1606
MAUNDY THURSDAY, CHRISTIAN
Maundy (Holy) Thursday commemorates the last supper of Jesus
MAWLID AN NABI, ISLAM
Mawlid an Nabi celebrates the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
MUHARRAM, ISLAM
Muharram is the holy month of the Islamic year
MUKHTAD, ZOROASTRIAN
Mukhtad are the days of remembrance for the departed (one generation only)
NANAKSHAHI, SIKH
Nanakshahi is the Sikh New Year
NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER, AMERICAN
Inter-religious day of prayer in America
NATIVITY OF CHRIST, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Nativity of Christ Eve is the night before the birth of Jesus; Nativity of Christ celebrates the birth of Jesus
NAVRATRI, HINDU
Navratri celebrates the Goddess Amba at the start of autumn
NAW RUZ (NOWROUZ, NAVROSE, NUROOZ), BAHA’I, ZOROASTRIAN
Naw Ruz is the ancient Persian celebration of the New Year at the Vernal equinox
NIRVANA DAY, BUDDHIST
Nirvana Day commemorates the death of Buddha and his attainment of nirvana
OBON, BUDDHIST & SHINTO
Obon commemorates one’s ancestors
PALM SUNDAY, CHRISTIAN
Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem before Easter
PARYUSHANA PARVA, JAIN
Paryushana Parva is a holiday of coming together and taking on vows of study
PASCHA, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Pascha is the Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter
PASSOVER, JEWISH
Passover commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt
PATTISHAHEM GAHAMBAR, ZOROASTRIAN
Pattishahem Gahambar is the harvest festival
PENTECOST, CHRISTIAN
Pentecost represents the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles
PIONEER DAY, LDS
Pioneer Day commemorates the 1847 entry of Brigham Young into the Salt Lake Valley
PURIM, JEWISH
Purim (Lots) commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people from destruction in the Persian Empire
RAKSHA BRANDHAN, HINDU
Raksha Brandhan celebrates the love between brothers and sisters
RAMADAN, ISLAM
Ramadan commemorates Mohammad’s receipt of the first revelations of the Quran
RAMA NAVAMI, HINDU
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama
RAMA NAVAMI, HINDU
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama
RAMAYANA, HINDU
Ramayana commemorates the Epic of Ramayana with pilgrimages to holy sites
RIDVAN, BAHA’I
Ridvan commemorates the commencement of Bahá’u’lláh’s prophethood
ROHATSU, BUDDHIST
Rohatsu celebrates the enlightenment of Buddha
ROSH HASHONAH, JEWISH
Rosh Hashonah is the beginning of the Jewish New Year
SADEH KERMANI, ZOROASTRIAN
Sadeh reveres the discovery of fire and celebrates light, energy and the enlightenment of the soul
SCOUTING’S ANNIVERSARY:
SCOUT JUMUAH
Scout Jumuah is the Islamic observance of Scouting’s Anniversary
SCOUT SHABBAT
Scout Shabbat is the Jewish observance of Scouting’s Anniversary
SCOUT SUNDAY
Scout Sunday is the Christian observance of Scouting’s Anniversary
SCOUT SUNDAY, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Scout Sunday is the United Methodist observance of Scouting’s Anniversary
SETSEBUN SAI, SHINTO
Setsebun Sai is the day before spring in the Shinto religion
SHAVUOT, JEWISH
Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai
SHMINI ATZERET, JEWISH
Shemini Atzeret is the final day of Sukkot
SHROVE TUESDAY
Shrove Tuesday is the day of self-examination preceding Ash Wednesday
SIKH GENOCIDE, SIKH
Sikh Genocide commemorates the 1984-1998 deaths of Sikhs in India
SIMHAT TORAH, JEWISH
Simhat Torah celebrates the conclusion of the reading of the Torah and the beginning of the reading anew
SOLEMNITY OF MARY, CATHOLIC
Solemnity of Mary celebrates Mary as the Mother of God
PATRICK’S DAY, CHRISTIAN
St. Patrick’s Day commemorates the death of the patron saint of Ireland
SUKKOT, JEWISH
Sukkot commemorates the 40 years in the wilderness after the Exodus
THANKSGIVING, AMERICAN
Thanksgiving is America’s secular holiday of thanks for our blessings
THE HOLY FAMILY, CHRISTIAN
Celebration of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph
THEOTOKOS, PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Commemorates the presentation of the Virgin Mary by her parents at the Temple
THERAVADIN, BUDDHIST
Theravadin is the New Year of one branch of Buddhism
TIRAGON, ZOROASTRIAN
Tiragon is the celebration of Tishtar (Star Sirius), celebrated by splashing each other with water
TISHA B’AV, JEWISH
Tisha B’Av mourns the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
TU B’SHEVAT
Tu B’Shevat celebrates the birth of trees for tithing purposes
UGADI, HINDU
Ugadi is the Hindu New Year.
ULLAMBANA, BUDDHIST
Ullambana provides an opportunity to help those who suffer to obtain liberation
VAIKUNTHA EKADASHI, HINDU
Vailuntha Ekadashi is a fast day celebrating the opening of the gates of the temple to seek Vishnu.
VAISAKHA PUJA, BUDDHIST
Vaisakha Puja commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha
VARALAKSHMI VRATA, HINDU
Varalakshmi Vrata honors the Goddess Lakshmi and brings blessings on Hindu families
VASANT PANCHAMI, HINDU
Vasant Panchami begins the spring season for Hindus
WAQF AL ARAFA-HAJJ, ISLAM
Waqf al Arafa-Hajj marks the annual pilgrimage to Mecca
WORLD RELIGION DAY, BAHA’I
World Religion Day celebrates all religious life
YALDA, ZOROASTRIAN
Yalda celebrates the longest night of the year, the winter solstice.
YAMUL ASHURA, ISLAM
Yamul Ashura is the Islamic holiday commemorating for Shi’a Muslims the death of Husayn ibn Ali and family at the Battle of Karbala in 680 C.E. and for Sunni Muslimsit is a day of reflection associated with Yom Kippur.
YOM HA’ATSMAUT, JEWISH
Yom Ha’atsmaut is Israeli Independence Day.
YOM HASHOAH, JEWISH
Yom HaShoah commemorates the Holocaust.
YOM KIPPUR, JEWISH
Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement when Jews seek God’s forgiveness for their sins.
ZARTHOST NO DISO, ZOROASTRIAN
Zarthost No Diso commemorates the death of Zarathushtra.
