2022 Religious Observances | 2023 Religious Observances | 2024 Religious Observances | 2025 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 ABU’L-BAHA, BAHA’I
Ascension of Abu’l-Baha celebrates the ascension of Abu’l-Baha
ASCENSION OF BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, BAHA’I
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh commemorates the death of Bahá’u’lláh 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
ASSUMPTION, CATHOLIC
Assumption commemorates the assumption of Mary to heaven
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH, BAHA’I
Bahá’u’lláh was the founder of the Baha’i religion, born 1817
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 THE BAB, BAHA’I
The Bab, born in 1819, is one of the three central figures of the Baha’i religion
BIRTHDAY OF ZOROASTER, ZOROASTRIAN
Birthday of the Prophet Zoroaster also known as Zarathushtra
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
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 of the Blessed Virgin Mary
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
EPIPHANY OF THE LORD, LITURGICAL CHRISTIAN
Epiphany of the Lord celebrates the revelation of Jesus to the gentiles at Epiphany
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 THE NATIVITY, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Nativity is the Eastern Orthodox date for the birth 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 TRANSFIGURATIONNOF 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
GOOD FRIDAY, CHRISTIAN
Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus on the Friday before Easter
GURU GOBIND SINGH BIRTHDAY, SIKH
Guru Gobind Singh, born in 1666, was the tenth Sikh guru
GURU NANAK DEV SAHIB, SIKH
Guru Nanak Dev Sahib, born in 1469, was the founder of the Sikh religion
GURU RAM DAS, SIKH
Guru Ram Das was the Fourth Sikh gurus
GURU TEGH BAHADUR, SIKH
Guru Tegh Bahadur was a Sikh leader who suffered martyrdom rather than convert to Islam
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
HOLA MOHALLA, SIKH
Hola Mohalla celebrates military prowess and is marked by camping trips for Sikhs
HOLI, HINDU
Holi is the festival of love and of colors for Hindus
THE HOLY FAMILY, CATHOLIC
Celebration of the Holy Family: Jesus, Mary and Joseph
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION, CATHOLIC
Immaculate Conception celebrates the preservation of Mary from Original Sin
INSTALLATION OF SCRIPTURES, SIKH
Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth is the official establishment of the Sikh holy book
INTERCALARY DAYS, BAHA’I
Intercalary Days adjust the Baha’i calendar to the solar calendar each year
KRISHNA JANMASHTAMI, HINDU
Krishna Janmashtami is the birthday of Lord Krishna
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 KADR, ISLAM
Lailat al Kadr is the night that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to Mohammad
LAILAT AL MIRAJ, ISLAM
Lailat al Miraj celebrates the ascension of Muhammad to Heaven
MAGHA PUJA DAY, BUDDHIST
Magha Puja Day celebrates freedom from sin
MAGHI, SIKH
Maghi commemorates the fight of the Chali Ukte against the Imperial army in 1705
MAHAVIR JAYANTI, JAIN
Mahavir Jayanti celebrates the birth of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jains
MAHAYANA, BUDDHIST
Mahayana is the Buddhist New Year
MAHA SIVARATRI, HINDU
Maha Sivaratri celebrates the marriage of Shiva to Parvati
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
MAUNDRY THURSDAY, CHRISTIAN
Maundry (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
NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (THEOTOKOS), CHRISTIAN
Nativity celebrates the birth of Mary
NAVARATRI, HINDU
Navaratri celebrates the Goddess Amba at the start of autumn
NAW RUZ, 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
PASHA, EASTERN ORTHODOX
Pascha is the Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter
PASSOVER, JEWISH
Passover commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt
PENTECOST, CHRISTIAN
Pentecost represents the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles
PIONEER DAY, MORMON
Pioneer Day commemorates the 1847 entry of Brigham Young into the Salt Lake Valley
PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (THEOTOKOS), CHRISTIAN
Commemorates the presentation of the Virgin Mary by her parents at the Temple
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
RAMAYANA, HINDU
Ramayana commemorates the Epic of Ramayana with pilgrimages to holy sites
RAMA NAVAMI, HINDU
Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama
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, ZOROASTRIAN
Sadeh celebrates the end of summer, honoring light, fire and energy and enlightening the soul
SCOUT SHABBAT
Observance of the significance of religion in Scouting
SCOUT SUNDAY
Observance of the significance of religion in Scouting
SCOUT SUNDAY, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Observance of the significance of religion in Scouting – 2d Sunday in February
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
SHEMINI ATZERET, JEWISH
Shemini Atzeret is the final day of Sukkot
SHROVE TUESDAY
Shrove Tuesday is the day of self-examination preceding Ash Wednesday
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
ST. 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
THERAVADIN, BUDDHIST
Theravadin is the New Year of one branch of Buddhism
TISH’A B’AV, JEWISH
Tish’a B’Av mourns the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem
TRANSFIGURATION, CHRISTIAN
Transfiguration is a celebration of the divinity and humanity of Jesus
TU B’SHEVAT
Tu B’Shevat celebrates the birth of trees for tithing purposes
ULLAMBANA, BUDDHIST
Ullambana provides an opportunity to help those who suffer to obtain liberation
VASANT PANSHAMI, HINDU
Vasant Panshami begins the spring season for Hindus
VAISAKHI, SIHK
Vaisakhi is the Sikh religious New Year
VISAKHA PUJA, BUDDHIST
Visakha Puja commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha
WAQF AL ARAFA-HAJJ, ISLAM
Waqf al Arafa-Hajj marks the annual pilgrimage to Mecca
WINTER SOLSTICE, ZOROASTRIAN
Winter Solstice celebrates the triumph of good over evil
WORLD RELIGION DAY, BAHA’I
World Religion Day celebrates all religious life
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