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Major Holidays and Rituals Across the World's Religions

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1. Christianity β€” Christmas and Easter

Christmas is a day commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed on December 25, while Easter commemorates the event Christians believe to be Jesus's resurrection after his crucifixion, observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox each year. Both occasions are seen as times for worship as well as family gatherings, and are designated public holidays in many countries around the world.

2. Islam β€” Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, a month-long period of fasting from dawn to sunset each day; once this fast ends, the holiday of Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with a lavish meal and the exchange of gifts. Because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar year, the dates of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr shift about 11 days earlier each year relative to the solar calendar.

3. Hinduism β€” Diwali (the Festival of Lights)

Diwali, the largest Hindu holiday, symbolizes good triumphing over evil and light dispelling darkness, and is typically celebrated over several days in autumn. Households light oil lamps (diyas) and other lighting, set off fireworks, and families gather to exchange gifts and pray for abundance and prosperity.

4. Buddhism β€” Buddha's Birthday

Buddha's Birthday commemorates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha; in South Korea, it is observed on the 8th day of the 4th lunar month and is designated a national public holiday. On this day, temples hang colorful lotus lanterns and perform a ritual of pouring water over a baby Buddha statue, and lantern parades are also held in the streets.

5. Judaism β€” Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Rosh Hashanah is the holiday marking the Jewish new year, beginning with the blowing of a ram's horn trumpet (shofar), and ten days later comes Yom Kippur, a day of atonement for repenting the past year's wrongs and seeking forgiveness from God. Yom Kippur is considered the holiest day in Judaism, observed with a full day of fasting devoted to prayer.

6. Common rituals found across holidays β€” fasting, purification, and gathering

Even across different religions and cultures, several commonalities appear in holiday rituals β€” representative examples include fasting, which disciplines the body and mind, as in Ramadan or Yom Kippur; symbols of purification, such as washing the body or lighting lamps; and gatherings where family and community come together to share food. This shows that, while the forms of expression differ by religion, they carry similar values of discipline, reflection, and community solidarity.

7. Cases where religious holidays became public holidays

In South Korea, Buddha's Birthday (a Buddhist holiday) and Christmas (a Christian holiday) are both designated national public holidays, and are widely accepted as shared days off even by those who don't follow that particular religion. In this way, as representative religious holidays have become established as public holidays for society as a whole in many countries, a cultural meaning of rest and sharing is often added alongside their original religious significance.

Understanding the world's religious holidays through a fact-centered lens

Religions around the world each observe holidays commemorating important historical events or doctrines, and these holidays have served to strengthen the community bonds among believers. This page introduces the origin, meaning, and related rituals of representative world religious holidays through an objective, fact-centered lens, without any intent to rank one religion above another. This content is general educational information, not a substitute for religious authority, and explains the meaning of each holiday according to the way believers themselves understand it.

Also explore a comparison of the world's major religions

Once you've looked at each religion's holidays, take a look at our comparison of the world's major religions as well to explore the structural differences in doctrine and worldview.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Islamic holidays fall on different dates every year?

The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar based on the moon's movement, so a year is about 11 days shorter than the solar calendar. For this reason, Islamic holidays like Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr shift slightly earlier each year relative to the solar calendar.

Which religious holidays are designated public holidays in South Korea?

In South Korea, Christmas (December 25, a Christian holiday) and Buddha's Birthday (the 8th day of the 4th lunar month, a Buddhist holiday) are designated national public holidays. Beyond these, holidays like Seollal and Chuseok are classified as holidays closer to traditional seasonal customs than religious observances.