Religious Festivals
These are the days people set aside for faith. Diwali and Holi from the Hindu calendar. Easter, Christmas, and Epiphany from the Christian calendar. Eid Ul Fitr and Eid Ul Adha from the Muslim calendar. Carnival of Venice grew out of the season before Lent. Each guide tells you when it falls, why it matters, and how people mark it today.
Festivals
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Nov 06, 2026
Diwali 2026: Dates, Five Days, Traditions and Visitor Guide
Five days of lamps, sweets, and prayers - when Diwali falls in 2026 and how to join it.
Featured
Nov 01, 2026
All Saints' Day 2026: Dates, Traditions and Visitor Guide
A quiet day of Mass, candles, and cemetery visits - when it falls in 2026 and how to mark it.
Mar 13, 2027
St Patrick's Day 2027: Dates, Parade and Visitor Guide
Wednesday 17 March 2027: Dublin parade, green streets, and how to join it.
Oct 03, 2027
Feast of St Francis 2027: Date, Assisi and Visitor Guide
Monday 4 October 2027: Transitus in Assisi, blessing of animals, and how to join in.
Mar 21, 2027
Holi 2027: Dates, Colours and Visitor Guide
Sunday 21 and Monday 22 March 2027: bonfire eve, colour day, and how to join in.
Jan 06, 2027
Epiphany 2027: Dates, Meaning and How It Is Marked
Wednesday 6 January 2027: the Magi, the blessing of the waters, and how to mark it.
Mar 28, 2027
Easter 2027: Dates, Holy Week, Traditions and Visitor Guide
28 March and 2 May 2027: two Easters, Holy Week, and how to join in.
Dec 25, 2027
Christmas 2027: Date, Traditions and Visitor Guide
Saturday 25 December 2027: Advent, Midnight Mass, markets, and how to celebrate.
May 16, 2027
Eid Ul Adha 2027: Date, Qurbani, Hajj and Visitor Guide
Expected Sunday 16 May 2027, subject to moon sighting: prayer, Qurbani, and family feasts.
Mar 09, 2027
Eid Ul Fitr 2027: Date, Eid Prayer and Visitor Guide
Expected Tuesday 9 March 2027, subject to moon sighting: prayer, charity, and family feasts.
Festival Categories
Popular Festivals
Diwali 2026: Dates, Five Days, Traditions and Visitor Guide
Nov 06, 2026
All Saints' Day 2026: Dates, Traditions and Visitor Guide
Nov 01, 2026
St Patrick's Day 2027: Dates, Parade and Visitor Guide
Mar 13, 2027
Feast of St Francis 2027: Date, Assisi and Visitor Guide
Oct 03, 2027
Holi 2027: Dates, Colours and Visitor Guide
Mar 21, 2027Stay Inspired
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Editorial Team
Everything You Need to Know About Religious Festivals
What are religious festivals?
Religious festivals are days people set aside for faith. They mark holy days, feasts, and rituals. Christian festivals follow the church calendar. Hindu festivals follow the Hindu calendar. Muslim festivals follow the lunar calendar. Each one has its own story, date, and way of marking the day. These sacred celebrations bring families and neighbors together for prayer, food, and shared custom.
Festivals in this section
Learn how Diwali is marked with lights and prayer at home and in temples. See how Holi is marked with color in streets and open grounds. Check the Easter church services and Easter Sunday dates before you plan. Read the Christmas church services and Christmas Day customs for the day. Follow the Epiphany church services and Epiphany Day meaning for the feast. Find out how Eid Ul Fitr is marked at the end of Ramadan with prayer and shared meals. Read about how Eid Ul Adha is marked with prayer and family meals. Find the Carnival of Venice mask events and Venice carnival dates before you book. Each festival page gives the dates and the story behind the day.
How to mark the day well
- Learn the story behind the festival first.
- Check the exact date, since many move each year.
- Follow local custom when you visit a place of worship.
- Keep noise and photos respectful during prayers and processions.
Plan your visit
Start with the World Festival and Holiday Calendar dates and listings, then read the festival page for the event you want. Dates, opening times, and local rules change each year, so check the festival page before you book or travel. If shared public celebrations interest you too, see the Cultural Festivals parades, stories and visitor notes for street events and seasonal shows. Some of these days are public religious holidays, so check whether shops, transport, and services change hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eid Ul Fitr marks the end of Ramadan fasting, with charity, prayer, family visits, and sweets. Eid Ul Adha falls during Hajj season and marks Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice, with prayer and Qurbani meat shared with others. They are two separate festivals.
Diwali follows the Hindu lunar calendar, so its Gregorian date moves each year. North and South India also mark the main day differently, which is why sources disagree. Check a local Hindu calendar for your city before planning.
Use natural, skin-friendly colours, oil your skin and hair first, wear sunglasses, wear old clothes, drink water, and ask before putting colour on anyone. Skip chemical colours and do not throw colour at people who do not want to join.
Street events, parades in Piazza San Marco, and mask displays are free to watch. Masquerade balls and dinner shows are ticketed and costly, and some need period costume. You can enjoy Carnival without a ball ticket.
Easter follows a lunar rule tied to the spring equinox and the first full moon after it, so the date moves. Western and Orthodox churches also use different calendars, so their Easter dates often differ. Check your church calendar for the current year.