CULTURAL CALENDAR
Celebrating the cultural holidays of international students is a way to bless them with a “home away from home” experience. The attached resources teach you how to celebrate in ways that grow your friendships and create opportunities to communicate the Gospel.
Calendars
Days of the Week
Time of Day
List
Grid
Plain
Sat
16
Wed
03
Sat
06
Chinese New Year
Also known as the Spring Festival in China, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday in China and much of East Asia. Learn more about this celebration and discover ways to share it with your students here.
Sun
07
Ramadan
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Ramadan, observed from February 7 to March 8, 2027, is the Islamic month of fasting, when Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. Each day’s fast is broken at sunset with an iftar (fast-breaking) meal, often shared with family and friends. Ramadan offers a wonderful opportunity to invite a Muslim student to join […]
Sat
20
Lantern Festival
The Lantern Festival, also called the Yuanxiao Festival, is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar calendar, marking the official end of the Spring Festival. In 2027, it falls on February 20, fifteen days after the Lunar New Year. The New Year begins with the first new moon of the […]
Sat
06
Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power / Decree)
Considered the holiest night in Ramadan; prayers multiplied.
Tue
09
Mon
22
Holi Festival
Holi is a popular nationwide spring holiday. It is a time to have fun–sometimes mischief–and celebrate the coming of spring, laughter, love, and relationships. Learn more about how to engage your friends around Holi here.
Sun
28
Easter
Easter is the most significant day in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Around the world, it is a time of hope, renewal, and joy—often marked by church gatherings, family meals, and cultural traditions like Easter eggs or spring festivals. Easter also offers a natural opportunity to discuss the holiday’s meaning with […]
Tue
30
Nowruz
Nowruz, the Persian New Year, marks the beginning of spring—a time of new life and fresh beginnings. It is a major celebration for Iranians as well as many Central Asian and Turkic peoples. Read more for ideas on how to engage with students during this festive season.
Mon
05
Qingming Festival
The Qingming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is an important Chinese holiday centered on honoring ancestors and deceased relatives. Families visit grave sites to clean and clear away brush, offering food, fruit, wine, and symbolic paper money as acts of remembrance and respect. In 2027, Qingming falls on April 5, which, in a remarkable […]
Sat
15
Mon
17
Sun
06
Wed
09
Dragon Boat Festival
The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. The holiday commemorates an ancient poet and national hero. In addition to the exciting dragon boat races, people make and eat zongzi—pyramid-shaped sticky rice dumplings wrapped in leaves.
Tue
15
Sun
15
Wed
15
Mid Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, is a popular harvest celebration that is an important time for family and friends to gather. Learn more about the holiday and how you can celebrate with your students here.
Fri
29
Diwali Festival
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is a ‘festival of lights’ celebrated especially by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains. This festival is spread over three to four days and is one of the most anticipated times of celebration. Learn more about how to connect with friend through Diwali here.
Sun
16
Thu
03
Tue
16
Sat
03
Wed
16
Sun
03
Thu
16
Mon
03
Contact Us
For more information on celebrating these holidays, please reach out to our networks.