Boy Scouts of America

Calendar of Religious Observances

2023 Religious Observances2024 Religious Observances2025 Religious Observances2026 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.

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.