Category: 2015

Sikh Holidays are basically commemoration of the various events that are important in the history of Sikhism. Sikh festivals blend beautifully religion to festive fervor all the while maintaining the dignity of the occasion.

The festivals are generally observed as per the Sikh Nanaksahi calendar. The Nanaksahi calendar has been amended to mention the names of the months as have been put down in the Guru Granth Sahib, which is the holy book of the Sikhs. The commemorative days however are often coordinated with the modern day Gregorian calendar for the benefit of the Sikhs residing round the globe so that the occasions can be celebrated in unison year after year.

A very common norm of a traditional Sikh festival is a parade in which the Guru Granth Sahib is carried. People walk round the city as they sing devotional songs – this is known as Nagar Kirtan. Traditions also involve free food (Langar) once the parade is over and people get together at the Gurdwara.

Here is a list of festivals and observances that are to take place in the Sikh Holiday Calendar in the year 2015 –

• Monday, January 5, 2019, Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day also goes by the name of Parkash Utsav Dasveh Patshah which when literally translated means the Rising of the 10th Divine Light or Enlightenment. This is celebrated by Sikhs all over the world. This is the day when the Sikhs celebrate the birth anniversary of the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who was the founder of the Sikh concept of Khalsa (collective body). His birth date is believed to have been in the year 1666, and he nominated the Guru Granth Sahib as the next Guru of the Sikhs after him.
• Tuesday, January 13, 2019, Maghi – This is the day to honor the forty Sikh men who were martyred while they were fighting off a huge Mughal Army who were trying to capture Guru Gobind Singh at Mukhtsar in the year 1705. These men have since been known as the Chali Mukte or the Forty Immortal/ Liberated ones. The bravery of these men and their dedication to their religion earned them blessing of Mukti or Salvation from Guru Gobind Singh. These brave men were cremated at Mukhtsar. An annual fair is held in their honor at Mukhtsar.
• Saturday, January 31, 2019, Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi calendar) – This is the day to celebrate the birth anniversary of the seventh Guru of the Sikhs Guru Har Rai who was born on this day in the year 1630.
• Friday, March 06, 2019, Hola Mohalla – This is an annual tradition that was started by Guru Gobind Singh. The idea was to train his Sikh followers in martial arts and other forms of combat like swordsmanship and horse riding. Today this day sees thousands of Sikhs coming together for mock battles and other form of demonstrative military exercises. Sikh Olympics is also held on this day. Processions are held where people uphold the Sikh Flag and also the holy book of Guru Granth Sahib. Prayers, Kirtans, music
• Tuesday, April 14, 2019, Vaisakh/ Baisakhi – This day c when the Khalsa Sikh Brotherhood was formed in 1699. This is what gave the Sikhs a distinct identity that was their own under the leadership of the then Guru Gobind Singh. Baptism among Sikhs was also started as the Guru baptized the first Sikhs with nectar which was called Amrit. The Guru also set down some rules and codes that every Sikh has to follow. Even now the Sikhs who want to join the brotherhood are baptized on this day.
• Saturday, April 18, 2019, Birthday of Guru Angad Dev and Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Angad Dev who was born as Lehna in 1504 in a small village in Punjab belonging to the Mukhtsar. When he succeeded Guru Nanak as the second Sikh Guru in 1538 he was then on called as Angad Dev. He is believed to be the founder of the Sikh script known as Gurmukhi.

  This day also commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth guru of the Sikhs. He was born in the year 1921. Guru Tegh Bahadur was martyred in his attempt to save Sikhs from forceful conversion to Islam by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.

• Saturday, May 23, 2019, Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar) – This is the birth anniversary of the third Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Amar Das. He championed the causes of social equality and eradication of untouchability and discriminations based on caste and creed.
• Tuesday, June 16, 2019, Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib – On this day in the year 1606 the fifth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Arjan, was martyred. He was tortured to death as instructed by the then Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Apart from Kirtan and Langar, on this day, an aromatic sweet chilled drink is distributed keeping in mind the scorching summer season.
• Sunday, July 5, 2019, Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Nanakshahi calendar) — This day commemorates the birth anniversary of Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru of the Sikhs. 
• Thursday, July 23, 2019, Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Nanakshahi calendar) – This day is the birth anniversary of Guru Har Krishen, the eighth Guru of the Sikhs.
• Tuesday, September 1, 2019, Phalia Parkash Guru Granth Sahib – On this the day the Holy Scripture of Guru Granth Sahib became the Guru of the Sikhs eternally as nominated by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs, thereby ending the human line of Gurus for the Sikhs.
• Friday, October 9, 2019, Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Nanakshahi calendar) – This is the birth anniversary of Guru Ram Das, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs. He is remembered for organizing the Sikh society. He also composed the four hymns that are the pillars of the Sikh Wedding Rites.
• Wednesday, November 11, 2019, Bandi Chhor Divas (Deewali) – This is the day that commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind, the Sixth Sikh Guru, and fifty two of his companions, from the prison. They were fighting for their rights and against the oppression that the Mughal Emperors subjected them to.
• Tuesday, November 24, 2019, Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib – This is the day when Guru Tegh Bahadur welcomed martyrdom rather than embracing conversion to another religion as was being forced by the then Mughal Emperor Aurangazeb. This is the day that upholds the right of every human being to follow the religion of her/ his choice. From this day onwards the Sikhs have always championed the cause of being tolerant towards every faith.
• Wednesday, November 25, Guru Nanak Jayanti – This day is to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, who was the first Guru of the Sikhs. He is the one who is credited for shaping Sikhism. This day is considered to be of utmost importance by the Sikhs and also a very auspicious one for them.

Health Horoscope 2015 intends to make you aware of the health conditions of all the sun signs of the zodiac. As the age old maxim goes, we all know that Health is Wealth.

Your performance at work, your mood at home, your thought process and many such other things are influenced by your health conditions. The better your health, the brighter would be your persona.

We at 123NeYear intend to make you aware of what to expect in your health front during the year so that you can take adequate precautions and stay up and about.

Let us now have a look at the Health prospects of the individual sun signs for the year 2015:

• Aries – Although there is no major ailment foreseen on the cards for the Aries born natives, the chances are however that you shall keep facing minor health issues on and off all through the year. It could be fever or joint pain, digestive problem or blood pressure fluctuation – something or the other would keep you on your toes. It is recommended that you lead a healthy lifestyle and get regular health checkups for precautions on time.

• Taurus – The year shall be a good one for Taurus born natives from the health point of view. Moderate looking after your health would keep you healthy and hearty. But the trends are predicted to change post the month of October. It is during this time you may experience the recurrence of some chronic ailments. During this time you may also experience some neurological problems and gastric disorders.

• Gemini – From the health point of view 2015 would be a mixed year astrologically speaking for Gemini born natives. There are chances of infection in the upper respiratory tract or troubles with the respiratory system at large. You may also suffer from stomach infections and digestive disorders. This would be heightened by the fact that mounting pressure at work would not allow you adequate resting. Meditation and yoga may help you to boost your overall health conditions.

• Cancer – Emotional placidity and a regular lifestyle would keep the Cancer born natives healthy and hearty in the year 2015. The problem may arise when you challenge the proper functioning of your body by subjecting it to long working hours and lack of sleep. This may give rise to digestion related problems and other such stomach ailments. Regular exercise would help to do away with the aches and pains.

• Leo – The key to good health for the Leo born natives in the year 2015 would be a sound mind. You shall mostly be subjected to anxiety and stress related issues like hormonal disorders and blood pressure problems. It is as such recommended that you keep yourself as stress free as you can. You may also be troubled by some aches and pains in your neck, shoulders and lower back regions.

• Virgo – Your health shall require some attention this year. Some of you may suffer from respiratory problems. In fact you shall be prone to infections during this year. Beware of agents that may cause allergies. Although minor repetitions of health problems may make you feel restless and anxious. This may lower your immunity further. You also need to take care of your digestive system for stomach ailments are predicted.

• Libra – Your overall health conditions would be good. The only thing that you need to stay away from is over indulgence. You have a knack for all things good and also like to take life easy. As a result there may be increase in weight if you are not careful about the management part of it. This may in turn cause some trouble with your cholesterol level or blood sugar level. Take care of your digestive system and beware of liver problems.

• Scorpio – The health condition for the Scorpio born natives would be good overall in the year 2015. The only thing you need to be concerned about is pains. This may be in different forms – lower back pains, knee and joint pains etc. You may even experience torn ligament or tissues or sprained muscles. As such it is recommended that you take great caution while moving around and also fix your postures.

• Sagittarius – This year you should motivate yourself for the right balance of exercise and proper diet for although there is no indication of major ailment striking at you, there are chances for you to suffer from diseases like diabetes and cholesterol that are mostly lifestyle triggered. The women may suffer from join pain and arthritis related trouble and also some minor issues related to gynecology.

• Capricorn – Health conditions would improve for you in the course of the year and you shall experience increased strength and stamina. You should keep a strict monitoring on your health conditions so that your chronic ailments do not get a scope to flare up. You should also be alert in all that you do for the predictions on the cards say that you may be prone to minor nicks and cuts or burns.

• Aquarius – This year your health condition would depend upon how well you maintain and treat your body and soul. The main ground of ailment would arise from your long duration of work that would cause a lack of sleep. Due to the fatigue that would set in your immunity system may be low and you may problems in the areas of respiratory system and low or high blood pressure.

• Pisces – Health conditions would mostly be good all through the year except for minor pains and aches. However you should be a little cautious during the latter months for the cards indicate a chance of you being accident prone. Some of you may experience recurrence of chronic ailments like diabetes, hypertension etc. Take also care of your heart by leading a healthy lifestyle and adopting a sport or other physical activity.

January 2015 calendar with holidays show significant events falling on the first day. Other days on which there is some important international or national event are January 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 18, 19, 24, and 26.

January 2015 Holidays

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2015 – Traditional Tibetan New year is known as Losar, and it is calculates following a lunar calendar which comprises of twelve months. Tibetan New Year or Losar is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the lunar year.

History: The celebrations of Losar are deep rooted to the traditions and customs of Buddhism. The celebrations however can be traced back to times that are even before Buddhism came into existence. This is the time of the year when people try to appease the local deities so that the deities protect them from all forms of evil round the year. For the purpose it is a custom to light up a huge number of incense sticks. But as people got involved with Buddha and his principles, the traditional Losar celebrations also went through some changes.

People believe that during the reign of the ninth King of Tibet, Pude Gungyal, there lived an old woman who taught all the people how to calculate time based on the lunar phases. In the ancient times, when the society was primarily agrarian, Losar was also the time when the farmers celebrated their harvest. Losar is also known by the name of Bal Gyal Lo. Here, Bal means Tibet, Gyan means King and Lo means year. Losar celebrations get this name since this is the day when people also celebrate the enthronement of the King.

Significant Symbolism: There are some significant symbolisms related to the celebration of Losar. People sketch these symbols on the walls of homes and monasteries using white powder. These symbols are meant to be representations of the offerings that the Gods made to Buddha when he attainted enlightenment. These eight symbols are –

• Parasol – Signifies Royal Dignity.
• A pair of golden fish – Signifies Good Fortune.
• Conch Shell – Carries the sound of Dharma far and wide.
• Lotus Blossom – Signifies Clarity of Mind that would lead to Enlightenment.
• Vase – Signifies prosperity and longevity.
• Victory Banner – Victory over worldly desires, lust and the fear to die.
• The Wheel of Dharma – A very important Buddhist Symbol that remind of the Noble Eightfold Path that would help to end sufferings.
• The Eternal Knot – Signifies the union of wisdom and compassion and the far reaching effects thereof.

Traditions: Tibetan New Year traditions have their base rooted both in local traditions and in Buddhist principles.

• Spring Cleaning – About a month before the New Year, people get into a serious cleansing mode of their abodes. Homes are also beautifully and ornamentally decorated by putting on display the best possessions. It is also the time to change the prayer flags that adorned the house, and new colorful ones are put up. New clothes are must for every member of the family.
• New Year’s Eve Customs – There exists a special New Year’s Eve tradition of making special noodle soup which is known by the name of Guthuk. This soup is made up of dumplings. Each of these dumplings encase one of the nine fortune symbols, namely, pebble, chili pepper, sugar,  paper, cotton ball, wool, wood, charcoal, or raw bean. It is believed that the object that one may find while having the soup is probably either the character of the person or an indication of her/his fortune in the New Year. For example, Chili pepper implies a talkative person, Wool symbolizes a person warm at heart, Charcoal implies meanness, Sugar indicates good fortune, and so on.
• New Year’s Day Customs – On the New Year, people generally rise early to dress up in new clothes. It is a common custom for the ladies of the family to rise even before sunrise to cook a wine made of barley. At sunrise, the leading lady of the household goes to a nearby source of water like well, river or pond, to bring home the year’s first bucket of water. The members of the family greet one another after that while enjoying the barley wine. Once the in house rituals are complete people visit their friends and family to exchange greetings and to spread the joy and cheer.
• Evening of the New Year’s Day – In the evening of the New Year’s Day people light up torches and roam around their house and its vicinity yelling all the while which is believed to be an attempt to scare away all that is evil.

Rituals at the Monasteries: In the traditional celebrations of the Tibetan New Year, religious traditions too are involved. In fact, the celebrations for Losar start at the monasteries on the twenty ninth day of the last (twelfth) month according to the traditional lunar calendar that is followed by the Tibetans. On this day a special ritual is performed at the monastery that is believed to appease the deities so that they protect the people all the while in the upcoming New Year. The custom of making Guthuk is also prevalent in the monastery.

People consider it auspicious to wish the Dalai Lama good luck for the New Year and pay Him their respects. For that purpose people often make Ril Bu which are nothing but sacred pills made out of dough of roasted barley. The representatives of the monasteries then offer these Ril Bu to the Dalai Lama as a mark of respect. Entertainers also perform traditional dances before Him. There is also a custom to organize for a debate between two senior monks. The topic of the debate is always related to Buddha, Buddhist principles, his life or teachings. People then thank the Dalai Lama and the senior monks for blessing the common man with their guidance all round the year and to make the common man stay in the path of virtue. The Dalai Lama is then given a ceremonial farewell as He leaves for his own abode.

It is a mandate for all the Tibetan people to visit the monasteries on the third day of the New Year. They do so to pay their respects to the monks. Monks in turn bless them with a mark of chalk which is considered auspicious. People also carry gifts for the monks like food, clothing, blankets etc.

Greetings: The Traditional forms of Tibetan New Year greetings are –

• Happy New Year — Lo Sar Bzang’
• Prosperity and Goodwill — ‘Lo Sar Bey Tashi Delek’.
• Happy and prosperous New Year — ‘Gtan Du Bde Ba Thob Par Shog’

Hindu Festival Calendar 2015 helps you to map the Hindu traditional festivals that are dated based on astrological ‘tithi’ and ‘nakshatras’ on the modern day calendar.

It also helps to keep you aware of the traditions and significance of the festivals, some of which are celebrated with much pomp while others are region specific.

Most of the holidays are celebrated with immense glory. Some holidays are still well known in today’s generation, while others are losing their charm and importance due to the busy life. Some are public holidays in India while others are celebrated by banks and other corporates. Here is the comprehensive list of the holidays which represents the Hindu traditions.

We present a very vast month by month list of Hindu Festivals in 2015 that will not only help you mark holidays in your calendar, but also gently remind you of the traditional Hindu traditions and rituals –

Rastafari religion was founded in the 1930s when Emperor Haile Selassie I was crowned the Emperor of Ethiopia, although this event was visioned by Marcus Garvey, a black political activist, way back in 1927.

Rastafari faith is an eclectic mix of principles that have been adopted from Christian and Jewish norms. People following this faith believe that although there is only one God, He has many incarnations. In fact the people consider Emperor Haile Selassie I to be one such messiah of God although the Emperor himself never made any such claims.

The Rastafari religion is believed to have been originated in Jamaica, but today we find people of the faith spread all across the globe in different countries.

Here is a list of the major Rastafari Festvials and Holidays in the year 2015 —

• Wednesday, January 7, 2019, Ethiopian Christmas Day – The Rastafari people has always considered Ethiopia to be their spiritual motherland. This is because they have always been great followers of the principles out forward by Christianity, and this religion has been a part of Ethiopian culture since 330 A.D. This is why Christmas is observed by the Rastafari people in accordance to the Ethiopian calendar. This is a day of meatless fasting apart from prayers.

2015 Calendar

Printable Calendars	Desktop Calendars	Hindu Calendar
Muslim Calendar	Christian Calendar	Jewish Calendar
Bahai Calendar	Rastafari Calendar	Zoroastrian Calendar
Pagan Calendar	Jain Calendar	Shinto Calendar
Buddhist Calendar	Sikh Calendar

2015

New Year 2015	New Year Messages	New Year Wishes
New Year Quotes	New Year Resolutions	Vedic Astrology 2015
2015 – Year of the Sheep	2015 Events	2015 Holidays
2015 Holidays in India	2015 UK Holidays	2015 US Holidays
2015 Hindu Festivals	2015 Federal Holidays	2015 Jewish Holidays

New Year Around the World

January 1st – History	Chinese New Year	Hindu New Year
Hmong New Year	Islamic New Year	Japanese New Year
Jewish New Year	Korean New Year	Thai New Year
Persian New Year	Tibetan New Year	Vietnamese New Year




Horoscope 2015

• Tuesday, April 21, 2019, Grounation Day – This is the day when in the year 1966 Emperor Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica. People mark the occasion by chanting prayers. Music and dancing is also done.
• Thursday, July 16, 2019, Ethiopian Constitution Day – This is the day when the Constitution of the land of Ethiopia was adopted by Emperor Haile Selassie in the year 1931. This is also the day that commemorates the birth of the Ethiopian Parliament where many people were appointed as deputies although the Emperor retained “Supreme Authority and Power”. This is the day on which people discuss about the history and traditions of Ethiopia, and also reflect upon the origin of the Rastafari Faith.
• Thursday, July 23, 2019, Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie I – On this day in the year 1892 Emperor Haile Selassie I, whom the Rastafari people consider to be the messiah who finds mention in the Bible, was born. Rastafari people believe that he was an incarnation of God himself and celebrate this day with much reverence.
• Monday, August 17, 2019, Marcus Garvey's Birthday – This day when the Rastafari people celebrate the the birth anniversary of Marcus Garvey, the political activist. Marcus Garvey had an important role in establishing Black Rights. It is him who visualized the coronation of a Black King who would work to bring liberation to his fellow beings. People pay homage to this great thinker on his birth anniversary. African dance and general merriment make it a joyous occasion.
• Friday, September 11, 2019, Ethiopian New Year's Day – Rastafari people celebrates the Ethiopian New Year with zest and zeal. This is because Rastafari people consider Ethiopia to be their spiritual Motherland. For this occasion sermons are organized. People read Biblical passages, and also discuss the history of Ethiopia.
• Sunday, November 2, 2019, Crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I – This is to commemorate the day when Emperor Haile Selassie I is believed was coroneted to the throne of Ethiopia in 193. This is what brought liberating the black population in Ehiopia. As such, this day is celebrated by remembering the noble king. It is a common practice to read or sing Biblical teachings on this day.

Pagan Holiday Calendar 2015 narrates the major festival of the Pagan community. By Paganism we refer to a religious belief that is not dependant on a central authoritative figure.

This encompasses a diverse group of people. As such Pagan religion is polytheistic in nature. Consequently the community too cannot be restricted to those with a set of beliefs. The community is as diverse as the beliefs that are nurtured by them.

This is the reason why Pagan festivals too are many and they have different names and forms of celebrations among the different sects. However there are some festivals that are primary in nature and are celebrated among all the branches of Paganism.

The Pagan festivals find their roots on folklores and Nature. Pagan religion has always put Mother Earth and Mother Nature on a high altar. The dates of the Pagan festivals are calculated on the basis of quarter or cross quarter days, depend on full or new moon, and are often adjusted to accommodate the nearest weekend. Celebrations of Pagan festivals mostly involve community gathering as the celebrations take place mostly out of doors amidst traditional rituals and observances.

Among the various Pagan festivals there are eight which are commonly observed by all the sects of Paganism. These are also considered to be the most significant of the annual celebrations. Together these eight observances have been named as The Wheel of the Year. These festivals have seasonal importance and agricultural significance.

• • February 2, Imbolc – Imbolc (pronunciation: ‘im’olk’) is also known by the name of Oimel. Etymologically, the term can be traced to an Irish word that when literally translated means “in the belly”. This is one of the most significant of the Pagan traditions. This is based on the Celtic Calendar. This festival is celebrated about six months prior to the reaping time of the harvest. This is a festival where the people gather to pray so that the divine force in invoked which they believe would ensure a bountiful harvest for them. This is the time of the year when the stock of food that was accumulated for winter is nearly consumed, and as such prayers become essential so that there is no scarcity of food in the next season either. To celebrate, people gather around a bon fire. This day is also considered a holy day for the Goddess of Fire who goes by the name of Brigid or Brigit. She is believed to have powers to heal and bless with fertility. The fire plays an important part in the celebrations for here Fire represents the Sun who would soon gather more strengths in the coming months as summer sets in.

• • March 20, Ostara/ Eoster (Spring Equinox) – Pagans celebrate Spring to welcome the renewal of life on Earth. On this day the Goddess Ostara is worshipped. Ostara is believed to bless her devotees with fertility like Spring. The festival coincides with the change in season and the Pagans believe that this change to a milder season signifies that the Gods and Goddesses are regaining more and more strength. Many traditional rituals mark the occasion. Along with that many fun activities too are held to uphold the festive spirit. Often a man and woman are selected to represent the Spring God and Goddess who then enact courtship before the community. They then symbolically plant seeds. Egg hunt, Egg Races, Egg painting etc too are organized.

• • May 1, Beltane – Literally translated the word means Fires of Bel. Bel is the name of a Celtic Deity. In its true essence Beltane is a Fire Festival that is organized to celebrate the advent of the summer season. Summer is a very important season for the agrarian society for summer blesses the land with fertility and brings about the time for harvesting. Pagans believe in the significance of the Wheel of Seasons for they believe that the changes in season are intertwined with the changing needs of the people. Fire according to Celtic belief is the source where one can get purified and cleansed. It is also believed to have capacity to boost fertility. There are many traditional customs and rituals revolving round this festival. Cattles are often made to walk between two fires in an attempt to increase their fertility. It is believed that leaping over the celebratory fire would usher in good times. People also dance around maypole. This is the time that is considered ideal for courtship and for matchmaking too. It is a common custom to pair young men and women at this time for courtship and fix their wedding in the near future.
  • June 21, Litha (Summer Solstice) – Literally the term Litha means “When the Sun stands still”. This day signifies the longest day of the year. This is the time when the sun is believed to be at the highest point of elevation. The Celtic culture has always held the Sun at a high altar and has always revered it for its power and glory. This is the time of the year when the fertility is at its highest. In some Pagan sects this day is observed as the day of union of Gods and Goddesses which the devotees believe would bring good harvest. This is the time when the Celtic people celebrate harvest and also humbly remember the Cycle of Life for this is the time of the year from when the start would again start to lose its power and strength after having gained the maximum glory. People often begin the day by watching together the rising sun.

• • August 1, Lughnasadh – Lammas – Lammas is also known by the name of Lughnasadh (pronunciation: loo’nass’ah) and like most other Pagan festivals this too is essentially related to harvesting and Nature. This is the day which is believed to be the first day of the harvest after which the reaping season would start. This is the day which the Pagans believe that the year gets divided into four parts, each perhaps representing a season of the year. Keeping tab of seasonal changes have always been essential for Pagan and Celtic celebrations.

• • September 23. Mabon (Autumn Equinox) – This is the time of the year when the Earth again experiences a period of equal nights and days. After this day the nights become longer than the days. This event in its essence marks the final harvesting season for the year because after this the fertile summer months would have to fade out making way for the harsh cold winter months when it is time for Mother Nature to go to hibernation. This is the time when the Pagan people reflect upon their activities of the months gone by and also on the achievements. This is also the time to make plans for the next season. People also take the opportunity to thank Lord for the bountiful harvest that would meet their needs during the winter months.

• • October 31, Samhain (Halloween) – Literally meaning the Feast of the Dead, this is one of the most important festivals as observed by the Pagan community. This is the time of the year when the Pagan community believes that the wall that exists between the mortal world and the world beyond gets thinnest. They believe that during this time of the year departed souls revisit the mortal world to mingle with the living beings. However, there is no trace of morbidity about this festival for Pagans have always accepted Death as a natural course of life. Holy Fire is lit around which the community gathers. People dress up in costumes in keeping with the spirit of the festival. Dancing and feasting follows. This is also the time when the new born babies are welcomed by the members of the community.

• • December 21, Yule (Winter Solstice) – Yule is one of the most ancient Pagan winter festivals. This festival too is based on the fact that the ancient society was mainly dependent on hunting or agriculture as forms of their livelihood. Because they had to spend most of their out of doors it was naturally very important for them to keep in pace with the Seasonal Changes and the ways of Nature. They always put the Sun at the highest point of reverence for they believed that it is the Sun that is responsible for the change that they experience in the Wheel of Nature. In fact the word Yule if etymologically seen has been derived from the world Houl which signifies Wheel. It is the time of the year when the people believe that the Wheels of Nature are turned upside down. To uphold this spirit it is often the custom among people to cross dress – according to this ritual men dress and women while women dress as men. A celebratory bon fire is lit out of logs. it is considered auspicious to keep the fire alive for twelve days.

Zoroastrian Holiday calendar is an interesting one. Zoroastrian people are those who follow the teaching of Zoroaster. There are a number of festivals observed by the people round the year.

These festivals could be monthly, yearly or even in accordance to the season. Also among the Zoroastrian people there is prevalence of three calendar systems that differ from one another. The calendars are –

• The Qadimi Calendar
• The Shahenshahi/ Shenshai Calendar
• The Fasli Calendar

There are two major Zoroastrian festivals that different people observe on different dates depending on the calendar system followed by them –

• Noruz or Nowruz – The tradition of Noruz or Nowruz is believed to have been initiated by Zoroaster himself, and as such this is considered to be one of the most important Zoroastrian festivals. This marks the first day of the New Year for the Zoroastrians. It is a common belief that how this day is spent would give indication of how the coming year would be spent. Noruz or Nowruz is celebrated both at homes and at offices. People clean their homes or offices, wear new clothes, meet relatives and friends, enjoy special meals and generally spend the day in positive and festive mood.

• Khordad Sal – This day that commemorates the birth anniversary of Zoroaster or Zarathustra, who was the founder of Zoroastrian religion. This day sparks for festivity and fun for people following Zoroastrian faith. This is the time to give the homes a spring cleaning, decorate them, wear new clothes and prepare special meals. Special prayer services are also held.

Here is a list along with comprehensive and compact description of Zoroastrian Holiday Calendar 2015 –

1. January 16 – Bahman – This festival honors Amesha Spenta Vohu Mano for creating animals.
2. January 30 — Sadeh – As per myths, this is believed to be the day when a Persian Emperor accidentally lit Fire. Since then the day has been celebrated to honor energy, fire and light. By these Zoroastrians also encompass the light that eradicates darkness from the souls.
3. February 18 – Spendarmad – This is the day that celebrates the virtues of piety and devotion. Tribute is paid to the Earth on this day. It is a Zoroastrian tradition for the husbands to gift their wife something on this day.
4. March 21 — Jamshedi Noruz (Fasli) – According to the Fasli calendar, Noruz is observed on this day.
5. March 26 — Khordad Sal (Fasli) – As per the Fasli calendar, Khordad Sal is observed on this day.
6. April 8 – Farwardigan – This is the day when people make resolutions of leading a virtuous life. People repent for the sins that they may gave committed.  This Feast is in the honor of All Souls for Zoroastrians believe that departed souls come back to Earth on this day. As a park of respect, people set out food outdoors.
7. April 22 – Ardavisht – This is the day to honor Fire or other sources of illumination.
8. May 25 — (K)Hordad – This is observed on the sixth day of the third Zoroastrian month to pay tribute to Water.
9. July 1 — Tirgan – This is a traditional Zoroastrian festival that celebrates the rainfall which is meant to bring assurance of bountiful harvest leading to prosperity. This is celebrated bear water bodies where people play water sports, swim, splash water on one another, etc. It is also a custom to wear a rainbow colored thread on the wrist on this day which is then set afloat in a stream after ten days.
10. July 19 — Jamshedi Noruz (Qadimi) – Noruz is observed on this day according to Qadimi calendar.
11. July 24 — Khordad Sal (Qadimi) – Following the Qadimi calendar, Khordad Sal is celebrated on this day.
12. July 25 – Amurdad – Literally meaning Long Life or Immortality, this day pays tribute to the plants, flowers, trees and fruits.
13. August 18 — Jamshedi Noruz (Shenshai) – Noruz is celebrated on this day as per the Shenshai traditions.
14. August 21 – Shahrevar – Literally meaning Kingdom or Dominion, this is the day to show respect to the virtues of hard work, honesty and labor, for the Zoroastrians believe that these are the key ingredients that make up an ideal Dominion.
15. August 23 — Khordad Sal (Shenshai) – Khordad Sal is observed on this day following the Shenshi calendar.
16. October 2 – Mehregan – This is day that honors “Mehr”, the one who is believed to create bonds of friendship and love. This is also the time for Autumn Festival in Persia. People celebrate by wearing new clothes and participating in a special feast that often includes symbolic rituals and food.
17. October 26 – Abanagan – This is the Zoroastrian festival that pays tribute to Apas, which literally means Water. It is a common tradition to make offerings to nearby water-bodies or (when available) household wells.
18. November 24 – Adarga — This is the festival to pay tribute to Atar, the term that is used for Fire, for Fire is considered very holy by Zoroastrians since it is the major source of heat and light.
19. Six Gahambars – Literally translated these mean “proper season”. This is observed to mark the six seasons for six times a year, celebrated for about five days. This is considered to be the time to resolve old disputes, to make new friends, and to share festive meals – basically all that marks the spirit of unity. The six Gahambars are —
• Maidyozarem Gahambar (April 30 to May 4)
• Maidyoshahem Gahambar (June 29 to July 3)
• Paitishahem Gahambar (September 12 to September 16)
• Ayathrem Gahambar (October 12 to October 16)
• Maidyarem Gahambar (December 31 to January)
• Hamaspathmaidyem (March 16 to March 20)
20. December 21 – Yalda (Shab-e Chelleh) – This is the day that has the longest of nights and is celebrated since this is believed to be the birthday of the Persian Angel of Light and Truth. It is a custom to stay awake all night for it is believed that this helps to combat misfortune. Parties and celebrations are on in full swing to enjoy the long night.
21. December 26 — Zarathust No Diso – This is the day to celebrate the birth anniversary of Prophet Zoroaster. He is believed to have ascended to Heaven on the 77th year of his life in a Fire Temple, although there happens to be different myths related to his death. To mark the occasion and to pay tribute, people hold prayer meetings in Fire Temple.

Printable Calendar 2015 are a range of beautiful year planners from the in house designing team of 123NewYear that can be easily printed for convenience of use and carriage. You can put them on your desk, mount them on a board or keep them simply anywhere you want. These are also very much portable for you can simply fold them to carry in your bag or wallet to have your planner handy at all times and at all places.

We at 123NeyYear understand how comforting, intimate and personal it feels to add a touch of your own to your calendar – so if you are someone who still prefers the pen to keyboards, then these Printable Calendar 2015 are the ones just meant for you.

These provide you the option of marking dates, scribbling notes, jotting down information, and much more – in other words, these calendars are customizable at your whim and will at the touch of a pen or pencil.

You can write down birthdays or anniversary, mark appointments and meetings, check days of festivities round the year, note down the days that are nonworking for you, and do much more as per your requirement with these Printable Calendar 2015. We bring for you Printable Calendar 2015 in a variety of designs and templates so that you can select one that speaks directly to you.

2015 Printable Calendar

More 2015 Printable Calendars

2015 Holidays is an attempt from the house of 123NewYear to satisfy the normal human instinct of looking into the list of holidays when it is time to change the calendar to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the New Year.

No matter how old you are, no matter how prosaic you may be, you cannot deny the fact that holidays excite us. Whether you want to know about a festivity that you really like to celebrate or you are on a look out for a long weekend to plan your next vacation or you want to know of the bank holidays so that you can plan any major business transaction accordingly, we all need a yearly holiday list.

Before we go into the list of Holidays for the year 2019, let us take a look on the types of holidays that are generally observed in any given country –

• Public Holidays/ National Holidays/ Legal Holidays – These are holidays that are made mandatory by the laws of the land. These vary from country to country and depend upon the culture and history of a country.

• Bank Holidays – These are off days for banks and other financial institutions.

• Gazetted Holidays – These are holidays that are given to Government employees. However, private companies have the liberty of not declaring these days to be holidays. But in case an employee in such an organization wants to observance such an occasion, then the person should be granted a leave on that day.

• Local Holidays – With the rich cultural and historical diversity it is but natural that there are occasions that are celebrated only in certain countries, or even certain parts within a country.

• Restricted Holidays – These are optional holidays that a person can opt to take in order to celebrate an occasion that is important to the religion or community the person belongs to. Such holidays are pre determined and there is often a restriction on the total number of Restricted Holidays that a person may avail in a year.

• Observances – These are the ones when people follow ritualistic celebrations.

• Religious Holidays – These holidays are dependent on religious observances. These vary from one religion to the other, and often from one country to the other also. Some of these could be National holidays while others can be restricted holidays or simply observances.

• State Holidays – There are certain occasions which are only important for a particular State and are not that relevant for the other parts of the country. For those occasions, State specific holidays are declared.

2015 Holidays is a comprehensive list of holidays including public holidays, bank holidays, gazetted holidays, etc. The list also goes about to include a few major religious and regional observances as well. Although this list would cover the major festivities observed in most parts of the globe, but special emphasis has been given on the following countries –

• India
• United Kingdom
• United States.

List of Holidays 2015