Holiday Dates for the major celebrations of Buddhism
Buddhist calendar for 2007
Wednesday 3 January
Mahayana New Year
New Year for Mahayana Buddhists celebrated on the first full moon day in January
Thursday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day
Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.
Thursday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date)
Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.
Sunday 18 February
Losar (start)
The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.
Saturday 3 March
Magha Puja
Fourfold Assembly or Sangha Day. Marks the day Buddha addressed a meeting of 1250 arahants.
Wednesday 2 May
Wesak or Buddha day
The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.
Theravada New Year
New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists, celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April
Monday 30 July
Asala - Dharma Day
The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon ,"The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.
Saturday 8 December
Bodhi Day
On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
Buddhist calendar for 2008
Friday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day
Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.
Losar (start)
The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.
Friday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date)
Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.
Tuesday 20 May
Wesak or Buddha day
The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.
Theravada New Year
New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists, celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April
Friday 18 July
Asala - Dharma Day
The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon ,"The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.
Monday 8 December
Bodhi Day
On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
Buddhist calendar for 2009
Tuesday 27 January
Losar (start)
The most important holiday in Tibet, marking the Tibetan New Year. The celebration lasts three days from today.
Sunday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day
Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.
Sunday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date)
Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.
Saturday 9 May
Wesak or Buddha day
The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.
Theravada New Year
New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists, celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April
Tuesday 7 July
Asala - Dharma Day
The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon ,"The Wheel of Truth ", after his enlightenment.
Tuesday 8 December
Bodhi Day
On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
Buddhist calendar for 2010
Monday 8 February
Parinirvana - Nirvana day
Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. Pure Land Buddhists call the festival "Nirvana Day". Parinirvana is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th.
Monday 15 February
Nirvana day (alternative date)
Nirvana Day is also known as Parinirvana and is celebrated by some Buddhists on February 8th. Nirvana Day is the celebration of Buddha's death when he reached total Nirvana, at the age of 80.
Thursday 27 May
Wesak or Buddha day
The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.
Theravada New Year
New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists, celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April
Wednesday 8 December
Bodhi Day
On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
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The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and
Executive Director of CrossCurrents.
He is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here. God and Science (Hypertext Edition,
2005).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion: Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2007)
