2003 Unitarian Universalist Holidays

* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.][Text of Convention] [For more information, see Anti Racism Information Service website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 1/12: Day genocide was outlawed world-wide (1951); day to mourn all victims of genocide. [Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide: signed/adopted 12/9/1948; entered into force 1/12/1951.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Prevent Genocide International website.]

* 1/15 (Obs.1/20): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 4/4/1968]

* 1/19: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

* 1/22: Day the Supreme Court recognized women's right to reproductive autonomy (1973). [Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)] [Text of case]

* 1/29: Birthday of Thomas Paine (1737), Deist who recognized the inherent rights of all men and women, and opposed non-democratic government. Deists believe Deity to be consistent with Nature and reason. [a/k/a Common Sense Day] [Death day 6/8/1809] [Deist]

* 1/31 eve to 2/4 eve: Mid-Winter/Groundhog's Day/Candlemas--Festival marking the transformation from death to life - the beginning of the agricultural year, awakening of hibernating animals, and return of migrating birds and fish. Observed with a candlelight procession to bless fields and seeds, recognition of newborns, and contemplation of life.

* 2/1 to 2/28: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of African-American History Month; a/k/a Black History Month.]

* 2/6: Death day of Joseph Priestley (1804), Unitarian who found Biblical basis for belief in a unitary Deity, and recognized Jesus to be Deity's Great Prophet. [Birthday 3/13/1733] [U.U./Unitarian]

* 2/12: Birthday of Charles Darwin (1809), biologist and evolutionary; day to meditate on the unity of science and spirituality. [Death day 4/19/1882] [U.U./Unitarian] [For more information about Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution, see Darwin Foundation website; About Darwin website; The BBC's Evolution Website; Writings of Charles Darwin on the Web.]

* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [a/k/a Susan B. Anthony Day] [Death day 3/13/1906] [U.U.]

* 2/19: Day the President ordered the internment of loyal Japanese Americans during World War II (1942); day to mourn Asian victims of internment and exclusion (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Asian Americans. [Executive Order 9066 was signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.]

* 3/1: Day the production and use of landmines was outlawed world-wide(1999); day to mourn their victims. [Protocol on Prohibition or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps, and Other Devices a/k/a Convention on Landmines a/k/a Mine Ban Treaty, amending the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects: Treaty signed/adopted 10/10/1980; entered into force 12/2/1983; Protocol signed 12/3/1997; entered into force 3/1/1999.] [The U.S. has refused to ratify the Protocol.] [There are between 60 and 70 million landmines in the ground of 70+ countries. Landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians each year, including 8,000 to 10,000 children. In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production and use of landmines, and should demand removal and destruction of all existing landmines.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see International Campaign to Ban Landmines website; Adopt a Minefield website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's History Month.]

* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment. [For information on International Women's Day, see United Nations website; A history of International Women's Day.]

* 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence. [Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery: signed/adopted 9/25/1926; entered into force 3/9/1927.] [Text of Convention] See also the Protocol Amending the Slavery Convention. [Text of Protocol]

* 3/12: Death day of Henry Bergh (1888), non-violent advocate for animal rights; day to advocate for laws protecting animals from abuse. [Birthday 8/29/1811] [U.U.] [Henry Bergh founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.] [See The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals website.]

* 3/20 (8:00 p.m. EST): Spring Equinox--Marks the beginning of Spring and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates first, annual, and perpetual Creation with egg hunts and exchanges. [See a Spring meditation and prayer.]

* 3/26: Day production and use of biological weapons was outlawed world-wide (1975); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction a/k/a Biological Weapons Convention: signed 4/10/1972; entered into force 3/26/1975.] [A working group of signatories has been negotiating a draft Biological Weapons Convention Protocol since 1995, to create an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with the Convention. The Protocol would authorize U.N. inspectors to inspect facilities for biological weapons. On 7/25/2001, the U.S. repudiated the draft, but did not offer an effective alternative.] [20 countries are believed to have current or past biological weapons programs.] [In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of biological weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention website; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). [The 15th Amendment was approved by Congress on 2/26/1869 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 3/30/1870.] [Text of amendment]

* 4/1: Day that same-sex marriage was first legally recognized (2001). [Same-sex marriage has been legalized in the Netherlands (2001) and Belgium (2003). Many countries recognize same-sex civil unions or domestic partnerships (e.g., Denmark (1989), Norway (1993), Sweden (1995), Hungary (1996), Iceland (1996), France (1999), Germany (2001), Portugal (2001), Finland (2002), and Croatia (2003)). In the U.S., Hawaii (1997), California (1999), Vermont (2000), and D.C. (2002), have legalized same-sex civil unions or adopted same-sex domestic partnership laws. However, some U.S. states have constitutional amendments, statutes, or judicial decisions banning same-sex marriage. A federal statute (Defense of Marriage Act -- 1996) bans same-sex marriage under federal law and allows states to not recognize same-sex marriages contracted elsewhere.] [For more information, see the Wikipedia website.] [Unitarian Universalist churches perform same-sex marriage ceremonies.]

* 4/7: Birthday of William Ellery Channing (1780), Unitarian who believed all concepts of Deity to be aspects of the one Deity, and preached religious tolerance. [Death day 10/2/1842] [U.U./Unitarian]

* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on World Health Day, see World Health Organization website; UN Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health Organization, see World Health Organization website.]

* 4/13: Palm Sunday--Christian feast marking Savior Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem to teach love and justice for all humanity and to sacrifice Himself for the liberation and redemption of all. [See Unitarian Universalist sermon "In the Spirit of Jesus" (2001) and sermon "The Pre- and Post- Easter Jesus" (2001).] [See also The Beatitudes.] [And see a Palm Sunday meditation.]

* 4/16 eve to 4/24 eve: Passover/Pesach--Jewish festival recalling their deliverance from slavery in Egypt and celebrating freedom from oppression. [Observed with dietary restrictions, the Seder meal (representing their hardships), and recitation of the Haggadah (relating the Exodus).] [See "Haggadah for a Unitarian Universalist Service" (religious) and "A Passover Haggadah for a Unitarian Universalist Seder" (secular humanist).] [And see "Judaism and Human Rights" by Rabbi David Rosen and Declaration on Judaism and Human Rights. But see Human Rights Watch report: Israel.] [Jewnitarians generally celebrate 1 day or 7 days instead of 8 days.] [For information about Jewnitarians and Jew-U'ism, see Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness' website. UUJA is an organization that addresses the Jewish dimension of Unitarian Universalism.] [a/k/a Pesah, Feast of Unleavened Bread]

* 4/18: Death day of Elhanan Winchester (1797), Universalist who exhorted people to lives of personal ethics and social reform. [Birthday 9/30/1751] [U.U./Trinitarian Baptist Universalist]

* 4/20: Easter--Christian celebration of Lord Jesus' resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit. [Eggs are blessed and distributed.] [See Unitarian Universalist sermon "When Jesus Walked" (2001).] [And see an Easter meditation and prayer.]

* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity manifesting as Mother Earth. [a/k/a International Earth Day, National Earth Day] [For information about Earth Day activities, see Earthday Network website; Envirolink website; U.S. government website for Earth Day; U.S. E.P.A. website for Earth Day.]

* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion (1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951; entered into force 4/22/1954.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 4/27: Death day of Ralph Waldo Emerson (1882), Transcendentalist Unitarian who believed in equality, self reliance, and the immanence of Deity in humans and in all Nature. [Birthday 5/25/1803] [U.U./Unitarian/Transcendentalist]

* 4/29: Holocaust Remembrance Day--Day to mourn Jewish victims of genocide and anti-Semitism, make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Jewish Americans. [See BBC Analysis: "Genocide Under the Nazis".] [a/k/a Yom Hashoa, Yom Hashoah, Yom HaShoah]

* 4/29: Day production and use of chemical weapons was outlawed world-wide (1997); day to mourn their victims. [Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons a/k/a Chemical Weapons Convention: signed 1/13/1993; entered into force 4/29/1997.] [26 countries are believed to have current or past chemical weapons programs.] [In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of chemical weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons webpage; Sipri Chemical and Biological Weapons Project: Chemical Weapons Convention Mainpage; Chemical and Biological Weapons Nonproliferation Project website; Monterey Institute of International Studies Chemical and Biological Weapons Resource Page; Federation of American Scientists (FAS) Chemical and Biological Arms Control Program website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 4/30: Birthday of Hosea Ballou (1771), Deist Universalist who preached that all are Deity's beloved children. [He emphasized reason and spiritual piety, and believed that Deity is eternal unchangeable love.] [Death day 6/7/1852] [U.U./Universalist & Deist]

* 4/30 eve to 5/6 eve: Mid-Spring/May Day/Walpurgis--Celebrates sacred love and the flowering vegetation by gathering flowers and dancing around a Maypole.

* 5/1: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of church and state throughout the world. [Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. For text and information on the First Amendment, see Cornell University's Legal Information Institute website; First Amendment Online website and 1st Amendment.com website. For domestic organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see Americans United for Separation of Church and State website and American Civil Liberty Union website. For information on religious freedom in countries around the world, see U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report; Human Rights Watch website; and Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief website.]

* 5/4: Birthday of Horace Mann (1796), advocate for universal nonsectarian education. [Death day 8/2/1859] [U.U./Unitarian]

* 5/5: Cinco de Mayo--Day celebrating Mexico's struggle for independence; day to mourn Hispanic victims of exploitation (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Hispanic Americans. [The Battle of Puebla occurred on 5/5/1862.]

* 5/10: Death day of Theodore Parker (1860), Unitarian slavery abolitionist and social justice activist. [Birthday 8/24/1810] [U.U./Unitarian]

* 5/13: Day the Humanist Manifesto was published (1933). It exhorts people to affirm life, not deny it; engage life, not flee from it; and work towards the happiness of self and all. [The Humanist Manifesto asserts: humanity has evolved and is part of Nature; there is no dualism separating mind and body; religious culture has developed due to the environment; there is no distinction between sacred and secular; the goal is complete realization of human personality in the present life; people should focus on self-development and social work; there is no correct religious attitude concerning belief in the supernatural; people should learn to face life's crises as natural; people should work towards joy in living; all institutions exist for the fulfillment of human life; the profit-motivated society is inadequate--a socialized cooperative economic order must be established; life should be affirmed, not denied; life should be engaged, not fled from; people should work towards the happiness of all, not the few.]

* 5/17: Day the Supreme Court concluded that ethnic-based segregation of schools violates the U.S. Constitution (1954). [Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)] [Text of case]

* 5/20: Day the Supreme Court recognized that discrimination against lesbians and gays violates the U.S. Constitution (1996). [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)] 5/20: Day the Supreme Court recognized that discrimination against lesbians and gays violates the U.S. Constitution (1996). [Romer v. Evans, 517 U.S. 620 (1996)] [Text of case]

* 5/21: Death day of Jane Addams (1935), social worker, feminist, and peace advocate. [Birthday 9/6/1860] [U.U.]

* 5/23: Birthday of Margaret Fuller (1810), Transcendentalist and feminist who argued that women as well as men have immortal souls. [Death day 7/19/1850] [U.U./Unitarian/Transcendentalist]

* 6/1 to 6/30: Gay and Lesbian Coming Out Month--Time to celebrate all forms of love and family. [a/k/a Gay and Lesbian Pride Month]

* 6/5: World Environment Day--Day to mourn the harm done to Mother Earth (past and present), make reparation, and celebrate Her beauty. [Anniversary of the opening of the U.N. Conference on the Human Environment on 6/5/1972.]

* 6/14: Day the world's nations committed to sustainable development (1992). [Day the Earth Summit Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests were adopted by the 1992 Rio Conference/U.N. Conference on Environment and Development.] [Text of Agenda 21] [Text of Rio Declaration on Environment and Development] [Text of Statement of Principles for the Sustainable Management of Forests] [The Commission on Sustainable Development was created in 1992 to implement these agreements.] [See also The Earth Charter Initiative.]

* 6/18: Day Unitarian Universalists embraced spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions (1995).

* 6/21 (3:10 p.m. EDT): Summer Solstice--Marks the beginning of Summer and the longest day and shortest night of the year; celebration of the light with dancing around a bonfire. [See meditations "Drops of God" and "Crystal of Creation", and prayers "The Lord's Prayer Revised" and "Creator God".]

* 6/21: Day Unitarian Universalists adopted seven unifying Principles (1985). U.U.'s affirm and promote the inherent worth and dignity of every person. [See Unitarian Universalist Principles.] [adopted 6/17-6/21/1985]

* 6/25: Day the first woman was ordained a Universalist minister in the U.S. (1863). [Rev. Olympia Brown] [U.U./Universalist]

* 6/25: Day the Supreme Court recognized that government-sponsored prayer in public schools imposes religion on students and violates the U.S. Constitution (1962). [Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)] [Text of case]

* 6/26: Day torture and extrajudicial killing were outlawed world-wide (1987); day to mourn their continued existence. [Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment: adopted 12/10/1984; signed on 2/4/1985; entered into force 6/26/1987.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights website; Human Rights Committee website; Human Rights Watch website; Amnesty International website.]

* 6/28: Day of the Stonewall riot (1969); day to mourn victims of homophobia (past and present), make peace, and celebrate lesbian and gay empowerment. [Rioting occurred June 28- 29, 1969.]

* 7/1: Day the world's nations committed to stop proliferation of nuclear weapons (1968); vigil to protest the production and use of all nuclear weapons world-wide. [Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: signed 7/1/1968; entered into force 3/5/1970.] [8 countries are known to currently possess nuclear weapons and other countries are attempting to develop or acquire them. The U.S. used 2 atomic bombs on Japan in 8/1945: over 270,000 civilians died from the bombs and radiation.] [In the name of humanity, and for love of humanity (and especially the children), U.U.s should renounce the production, acquisition, and use of nuclear weapons, and should demand destruction of all existing weapons.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Disarmament of Weapons of Mass Destruction website; International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.) website.] [Text of United Nations Charter, chapter V, article 26]

* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered into force 7/1/1975.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Environmental Programme CITES website; World Wildlife Fund website; EarthJustice website.]

* 7/1: Day the International Criminal Court came into being (2002). [The I.C.C. is a politically neutral tribunal empowered to prosecute those who commit acts of international terrorism, genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Anyone who plans, orders, or carries out such an act (even if ordered to) is legally culpable. Day to lobby for U.S. ratification. The U.S. has refused to ratify the statute creating this Court, even though the Court would be governed by international (and U.S.) standards of due process.] [The I.C.C. Statute was adopted by 160 countries on 7/17/1998, at the U.N. Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court in Rome, Italy.] [After threatening to stop providing U.S. troops for U.N. peacekeeping missions, on 7/12/2002, the U.S. was granted immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops serving as U.N. peacekeepers. The U.S. is also negotiating bilateral agreements with countries to gain immunity from I.C.C. jurisdiction for U.S. troops. The E.U. has objected to this practice.] [For more information, see Website of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; Coalition for the International Criminal Court website; USA for the International Criminal Court website; Human Rights Watch website; Amnesty International website.]

* 7/2: Day discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and religion was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1964). [The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.] [Text of statute] [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment.] [Text of statute] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on gender, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on ethnicity, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on religion, see the U.S. E.E.O.C. website.]

* 7/4: Death day of Thomas Jefferson (1826), who ensured that the U.S. Constitution would protect basic rights and liberties. A Deist, he practiced a religion that was based on Nature, reason, and ethics. [Birthday 4/13/1743] [Deist]

* 7/12: Birthday of Henry David Thoreau (1817), Transcendentalist and naturalist who believed in individualism and living simply in harmony with Nature. [Death day 5/6/1862] [U.U./Transcendentalist]

* 7/19: Day women demanded recognition of their equality to men in the legal, political, economic, religious, and domestic spheres (Seneca Falls, New York 1848). [Declaration of Sentiments drafted by Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott & other Founding Mothers at the Women's Rights Convention 7/19-7/20/1848.]

* 7/20: Secular Humanism Day--Day to celebrate all life-affirming humanist, rationalist, and scientific belief systems.

* 7/28: Day the Constitution's 14th Amendment went into effect, guaranteeing due process and equal protection of the law to all (1868). [The 14th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/13/1866 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 7/28/1868.] [Text of amendment]

* 7/31 eve to 8/6 eve: Mid-Summer/First Harvest/Lammas--Festival of thanksgiving for the first of the grain harvest; celebrated by offering the first fruits of the grain harvest and prayers for sustenance for all.

* 8/7: Gaia Consciousness Day--Day to meditate on Mother Earth as a living planet. [Anniversary of the first photograph of Earth from Space taken on 8/7/1959.]

* 8/25: Birthday of Kenneth Patton (1911), who believed Unitarian Universalism to encompass all world religions, not just Christianity and humanism. U.U.'s believe reason, conscience, and experience reveal one's spiritual path. [Death day 12/24/1994] [U.U.]

* 8/26: Day the Constitution's 19th Amendment went into effect, recognizing women's right to vote (1920). [The 19th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/4/1919 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 8/26/1920.] [a/k/a Women's Equality Day] [Text of amendment] [For more information, see U.S. National Archives & Records Administration website]

* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in the name of religion. [Text of Global Ethic] [See also website for the Parliament of the World's Religions.]

* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch: United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist Majority Foundation website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 9/10: Birthday of Thomas Thayer (1812), Universalist who believed Deity to be at work in evolution and continuing Creation. [Death day 2/12/1886] [U.U./Universalist]

* 9/15: Day the first woman was ordained a Congregational/Unitarian minister in the U.S. (1853). [Rev. Antoinette Blackwell] [U.U./Congregational/Unitarian]

* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace] [For more information on the International Day of Peace, see International Day of Peace website and International Day of Peace Vigil website.]

* 9/23 (6:47 a.m. EDT): Autumn Equinox--Marks the beginning of Autumn and point of equal daylight and darkness; celebrates the bounty of Mother Earth with feasting and aiding those in need. [See an Autumn meditation and prayer.]

* 9/26 eve to 9/28 eve: Rosh Hashanah/Jewish New Year (Year 5764)--Commemorates Creation of the World by Elohim, the one universal Deity; begins ten days of self-examination and penitence for harm done. This signifies day five of Creation, when humans were created.] [On Rosh Hashanah, everyone is judged by Elohim based on his or her actions during the previous year. The resulting judgment is inscribed, and everyone's future is determined for the following year. Though that judgment is inscribed, it is not yet sealed and can still be changed until Yom Kippur, when the book is sealed for the year. Regret for past misdeeds, commitment to future good deeds, prayer, and charity can change a bad decree. The shofar is blown to mark the new year and the beginning of the ten Days of Penitence.] [See Unitarian Universalist service "A UU Liturgy for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" (undated), sermon "What Can We Learn from Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur" (undated), sermon "We Begin Again, in Love" (2000), sermon "Days of Awe" (2000), and sermon "Rosh Hashana Homily" (1999).] [Rosh Hashanah a/k/a Rosh Hashana, Rosh HaShanah; Days of Penitence a/k/a Days of Repentance, Days of Awe, High Holy Days, Aseret Yemei Teshuva, Yamim Noraim]

* 10/5 eve to 10/6 eve: Yom Kippur/Day of Atonement--Jewish day of fasting, prayer, reconciliation, making reparation for harm done, and helping those in need. [The shofar is blown to mark the end of the ten Days of Penitence.] [See Unitarian Universalist sermon "Admitted We Were Wrong" (undated).] [And see a meditation on forgiveness.]

* 10/12 (Obs. 10/13): Columbus Day--Commemorates Europeans' arrival in America (1492); day to mourn Native American victims of conquest and oppression (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of Native Americans. [a/k/a Native Americans' Day, Dia de la Raza (Mexico), Thanksgiving Day (Canada)]

* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

* 10/24: Day the United Nations came into being to facilitate world-wide peaceful cooperation (1945). [U.N. Charter signed 6/26/1945; entered into force 10/24/1945.] [Text of United Nations Charter] [For more information about the United Nations and United Nations organizations, see the United Nations website and United Nations System website.] [See also United Nations Association website; Human Rights Watch website.]

* 10/24 to 10/30: World Disarmament Week--Time for peaceful activism to help end the arms race.

* 10/31 eve to 11/6 eve: Mid-Autumn/Day of the Dead/Hallowmas--Festival marking the transformation of life to death - the end of the agricultural year, departure of migrating and hibernating animals, and decay and death of vegetal and animal life. Observed by remembering departed ancestors and contemplating one's own mortality.

* 11/7: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.

* 11/10: Birthday of Martin Luther (1483), Christian reformer who rejected blind obedience to religious authority and recognized the priesthood of all believers. [Death day 2/18/1546]

* 11/16: Birthday of Orello Cone (1835), Universalist who believed that divine revelation comes from many sources. [He believed science and religion could be complementary, and recognized that the Bible was written by fallible men.] [Death day 6/23/1905] [U.U./Universalist]

* 11/20: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World Harvest] [For more information, see the Oxfam America website.]

* 11/27: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.

* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human Rights Watch website.]

* 12/10: Birthday of John Murray (1741), Trinitarian Universalist who believed that Jesus died to save all humanity, not just Christians. [Death day 9/3/1815] [U.U./Trinitarian Christian Universalist]

* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217 A(III). See Text of Declaration. For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website. The U.D.H.R. is generally recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Human Rights Committee (see Human Rights Committee website; University of Minnesota Human Rights Library website) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (see Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human Rights Watch website). The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights(see Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day]

* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (1791). [Text of Bill of Rights] [For more information about the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, see U.S. National Archives & Records Administration website and the Bill of Rights Institute website. For information on organizations that advocate for enforcement of rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights, see Center for Constitutional Rights website; American Civil Liberties Union website.] [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]

* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

* 12/18: Day the Constitution's 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [Text of amendment]

* 12/19 eve to 12/27 eve: Hanukkah/Festival of Lights--Jewish festival commemorating a victory in their struggle for religious freedom and rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem to Elohim. Menorah candles are lit. [Though there was only enough oil for one day at the rededication, it miraculously burned for eight days.] [See Unitarian Universalist sermon "The Discipline of Hanukkah" (1998).] [For articles on freedom of religion and Judaism, see "Religious Freedom as a Basic Human Right: The Jewish Perspective" by Asher Maoz and "Freedom of Religion in Israel" by Prof. Shimon Shetreet. See also the U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2002: Israel and the Occupied Territories] [a/k/a Chanukah, Channukah]

* 12/22 (2:04 a.m. EST): Winter Solstice/Solar New Year--Marks the beginning of Winter and the shortest day and longest night of the year; celebration of the darkness with dancing near the hearth fire. [See a Winter meditation and prayer.]

* 12/25: Christmas--Christian celebration of Blessed Maria giving birth to Child Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. [See a Christmas meditation and prayer.] [See also Christmas Carols.]

* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]

[The Unitarian Universalist Association was formed in the U.S.A. in 1961. Unitarian Universalism has roots in Christian Unitarianism, Christian Universalism, Transcendentalism, Deism, and Humanism (both Religious Humanism and Secular Humanism). Unitarian Universalists include those who practice Feminist Spirituality (Women's Spirituality) and Earth-centered Spirituality (Gaia religion, Paganism, Goddess Spirituality, Pantheism, and Panentheism). Unitarian Universalists embrace egalitarianism, feminism, multiculturalism, and are welcoming to gays and lesbians and transgendered individuals. They recognize the human rights of all. They also embrace environmentalism, disarmament, and world peace. Unitarian Universalists are sometimes called "U.U.s".]

[There is no canonical holy scripture, official creed, or prescribed ritual practice in Unitarian Universalism. Unitarian Universalists do, however, subscribe to Seven Principles and recognize Six Sources for their living tradition. The Seven Unitarian Universalist Principles...Unitarian Universalists affirm and promote: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth; a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; and respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.]

[There is no official Unitarian Universalist calendar (U.U. calendar) or official Unitarian Universalist holidays (U.U. holidays). Individual Unitarian Universalist Churches vary in the practices and the holidays they observe. This Unitarian Universalist calendar includes Unitarian, Universalist, Transcendentalist, Deist, and Humanist events and notables, as well as the major Christian and Jewish holidays. It strives to reflect the values found in the Seven Principles as well as the teachings and holidays from the various recognized Sources.]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:

Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2003
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2002 Page Two, Inc.
WheeloftheYear@BookArts.com
www.WheeloftheYear.com

All Gods and Goddesses
are aspects of
the One Deity

The One Deity
is reflected in
all Gods and Goddesses

The One Deity
is Deity of all

Deity is
male and female,
yet genderless

Deity is
all forms,
yet formless

Deity is
within all;
Deity is
beyond all

Deity is
all-embracing
love

With all that
is known by all
the world's sages,
with all that
is written in all
sacred books,
with all that
is experienced
in all
spiritual traditions,
we still cannot
know
the unknowable--

Deity is Mystery

The Mystic's Wheel of the Year... a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

Home | What is Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality? | Download and Print the Integrated Calendar

Year 2009 Calendar By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

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Year 2009 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2009

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2009

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2009

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2009

Baha'i Holidays - 2009

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Hindu Holidays - 2009

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2009

Buddhist Holidays - 2009

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Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian, Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2009

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2009

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2009

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2009

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2009

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2009

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipse & Helions - 2009

Meteor Showers - 2009

Visible Planets - 2009

Astrological Periods - 2009

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Year 2008 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2008

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2008

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2008

Baha'i Holidays - 2008

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Hindu Holidays - 2008

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2008

Buddhist Holidays - 2008

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Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian, Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2008

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2008

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2008

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2008

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2008

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipse & Helions - 2008

Meteor Showers - 2008

Visible Planets - 2008

Astrological Periods - 2008

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Year 2007 Calendar By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah Holidays - 2007

Christian - Ecumenical Mysticism/ Wisdom Tradition Holidays - 2007

Unitarian Universalist Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi Holidays - 2007

Baha'i Holidays - 2007

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Hindu Holidays - 2007

Jain, Sikh, Taoist & Shinto Holidays - 2007

Buddhist Holidays - 2007

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Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian, Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2007

Native American (Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo) & Meso American (Inca, Mayan & Aztec) Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays: Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2007

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Deep Ecology / Environmentalist Dates - 2007

Social Justice / Human Rights / Feminist Dates - 2007

Peace / Disarmament Dates - 2007

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Solar & Lunar Cycles, Eclipses & Helions - 2007

Meteor Showers - 2007

Visible Planets - 2007

Astrological Periods - 2007

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Year 2006 Calendar By Tradition...

The Mystic's Wheel of the Year...
a Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality

Year 2009
Calendar
By Month... JAN ~ FEB ~ MAR ~ APR ~ MAY ~ JUN ~ JUL ~ AUG ~ SEP ~ OCT ~ NOV ~ DEC

Year 2009
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2009

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2009

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2009

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2009

Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian,
Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2009

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2009

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2009

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2009

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2009

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2009

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipse & Helions - 2009

Year 2008
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2008

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2008

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2008

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2008

Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian,
Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2008

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2008

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2008

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2008

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2008

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2008

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipse & Helions - 2008

Year 2007
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2007

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2007

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2007

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2007

Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian,
Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2007

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2007

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2007

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2007

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2007

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2007

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2007

Year 2006
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2006

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2006

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2006

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2006

Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian,
Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2006

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2006

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2006

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2006

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2006

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2006

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2006

Year 2005
Calendar
By Tradition...

Jewish - Kabbalah
Holidays - 2005

Christian -
Ecumenical Mysticism/
Wisdom Tradition
Holidays - 2005

Unitarian Universalist
Holidays - 2005

Muslim - Sufi
Holidays - 2005

Middle-Eastern & African Holidays: Zoroastrian,
Ancient Egyptian, Santeria - 2005

Native American
(Iroquois, Navajo & Pueblo)
& Meso American
(Inca, Mayan & Aztec)
Holidays - 2005

Pagan Holidays:
Old Religions of Europe (Greek, Roman, Slavic, Celtic, Anglo-Teutonic & Norse) - 2005

Deep Ecology / Environmentalist
Dates - 2005

Social Justice /
Human Rights / Feminist
Dates - 2005

Peace /
Disarmament
Dates - 2005

Solar & Lunar Cycles,
Eclipses & Helions - 2005

Year 2004
Calendar
By Tradition...