Welcome to TIO’s Religious Calendar
January 2026
For Native Americans, January continues the deep winter season, when the world is blanketed in silence and endurance becomes a teacher. It is the time of K’aliyee, when the north wind carries ancient power from glaciers and ice. Among several tribes, this season begins the Midwinter Ceremonies, when old fires are extinguished and new ones are lit to welcome renewal and balance. As the days slowly lengthen, prayers and songs call for harmony, marking the turning of the year and the promise of returning life.
January 2026
Thursday, January 1
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Catholic Christian
This holy day falls exactly one week after Christmas, the end of the octave of Christmas. It is a celebration of Mary’s faith in God and willingness to become the mother of Jesus. The feast was introduced near the end of that century; it is the oldest Marian feast in the Roman liturgical calendar.
Feast Day of St. Basil – Orthodox Christian
St. Basil is considered one of the giants of the early Church. He was responsible for the victory of Nicene orthodoxy over Arianism in the Byzantine East. The feast day of St Basil is celebrated on the 2nd of January in the Roman Catholic church and on January 1st in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai – Shintō
Shogatsu (New Year) is one of the most important holidays in Japan. Most businesses shut down from January 1st - 3rd, and families typically gather to spend the days together. It is a tradition to visit a shrine or temple during Shogatsu
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus – Orthodox Christian
The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. The feast day has been held on different dates, but is now usually on January 1st, eight days after Christmas. It commemorates the naming of the child Jesus as recounted in the Gospel.
Monday, January 5
Twelfth Night – Christianity
Twelfth Night is a Christian festival on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, marking the coming of the Epiphany. A superstition in some English-speaking countries suggests it is unlucky to leave Christmas decorations hanging after Twelfth Night.
Tuesday, January 6
Dia de los Reyes – Christianity
Three Kings Day, or Dia de los Reyes, is the version of Epiphany celebrated in Mexico.
Feast of the Epiphany – Christianity
Epiphany goes by various names in different cultures. Little Christmas, Three Kings Day, or Twelfth Night all remain the official end of the season's "Twelve Days of Christmas" --counting from Christmas evening on December 25 to the Ephiphany on January 6.
Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday – Sikhism
The birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, who was the tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual master, warrior, poet, and philosopher.
Wednesday, January 7
Feast of the Nativity – Eastern Orthodox Christian
Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate their Christmas on January 7. They typically call this day the Feast of the Nativity. The reason Eastern churches celebrate the Feast of the Nativity on January 7, is because they still follow the Julian calendar.
Monday, January 12
Seijin-no-hi – Shintō
Coming-of-Age Day, a Japanese national holiday in which families travel to shrines and announce to the gods that their children have reached adulthood. Prayers are offered for the children’s wellbeing and lifelong health.
Tuesday, January 13
Lohri – Hinduism
Lohri marks the end of the winter solstice and the northwards movement of the Sun. This festival falls a day after Makar Sankranti, and from this day; nights become shorter, and the day gets longer. Basically, Lohri is all about welcoming the warmer days which is symbolised by the bonfire. Many people, especially farmers, begin to harvest the crop from this day.
Thursday, January 15
Makar Sankranti – Hinduism
A festival marking the end of winter solstice and transition of the sun from the southern hemisphere to the northern hemisphere. People celebrate Sun's transitition from Dhanu rashi to the Makara rashi (zodiac sign Capricorn), by paying their respects to the Sun God and offering prayers for a good harvest season.
Friday, January 16
Lailat al Miraj [through February 7] - Islam
Lailat al Miraj celebrates the Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he then ascended to heaven.
Sunday, January 18
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Christian [through January 25]
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in an octave of prayer for visible Christian unity.
Monday, January 19
Sultán – Bahá’í
The first day of Sultán (Sovereignty), the seventeenth month of the Bahá’í year.
World Religion Day – Bahá’í
A celebration of the teachings of unity found in all religious traditions. The observance begins at sundown.
Friday, January 23
Vasant Panchami – Hinduism
This day is celebrated to worship the divine Goddess Saraswati. The festival marks the initial preparations for the arrival of spring and is celebrated in different ways throughout India
Saturday, January 24
Tu B’Shevat – Judaism [through January 25]
Tu Bi’Shvat is a Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". In contemporary Israel, the day is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.
Sunday, January 25
Mahāyāna New Year – Buddhism
This celebration falls on the first full moon day in January for Buddhists who practice in the Mahāyāna (Great Vehicle) stream. By contrast, in Theravadin countries (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos) the new year is celebrated in April, while Tibetan Buddhists generally celebrate it in March.
Monday, January 26
Lailat al Miraj — Islam
Lailat al Miraj celebrates the Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he then ascended to heaven. When he ascended, he met the previous prophets on the different levels of heaven, and eventually met God, who instructed on the importance of reciting salat, or prayer, five times a day. This is a very important and sacred day in the history of Islam.
Thursday, January 29
Birthday of Maitreya Bodhisattva — Buddhism
Maitreya Buddha’s birthday is celebrated on the 1st day of the 1st month of the lunar calendar which coincides with the Chinese New Year Day, a day of joy in which all families traditionally keep pure and holy by avoiding eating any meat.
Friday, January 30
Jashne Sadeh – Zoroastrianism
A celebration of the discovery of fire by King Hashang of the Peshdadian dynasty; it is a festival in which a large bonfire is built as an act of defiance to drive back the winter.
Saturday, January 31
Birth of Gurū Har Rai – Sikhism
A celebration of the birth of the seventh of the Sikh gurūs [1630 – 1661 C.E.], according to the Nanakshahi calendar