Spring Celebrations of Faith and Renewal

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Spring Celebrations of Faith and Renewal

Spring celebrations are common across almost all faiths, in part due to its symbolic association with renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings, and themes of spiritual and physical transformation.

The vibrant colors, blossoming flowers, and longer days of spring evoke a sense of hope and optimism, which can be a powerful tool for spiritual upliftment.

Spring represents the end of winter's dormancy and the return of life, growth, and fertility, which resonates with spiritual concepts of renewal and rebirth.

Many religions incorporate spring celebrations to mark the end of a cycle, whether it's a period of fasting or reflection, and the beginning of a new phase of spiritual growth or understanding.

Here's a look at upcoming spring celebrations across many faiths, along with our recommendations for learning more:

Baha’i

Nineteen-Day Fast (March 1-19) – Considered one of the most significant obligations of a follower of the Baha’i faith, the Nineteen-Day Fast is meant to reinvigorate the soul and bring followers closer to God. The fast always ends on Nowruz.

Nowruz (March 20) – Always occurring on the Vernal Equinox, Nowruz is one of the 11 holy days in the Baha’i faith. It signals the beginning of a new year and the end of the 19-day fast.

Festival of Ridvan (April 20-May 1) – A festival lasting 12 days, the Festival of Ridvan commemorates Baha’u’llah’s declaration of being the Manifestation of God. It’s considered the holiest of the Baha’i festivals.

Declaration of the Bab (May 23) – commemorates when the Bab announced he was the new messenger of God in 1844. It’s celebrated with gatherings where members of the faith share in prayer, stories, and reflections.

Ascension of Baha’u’llah (May 28) – commemorates the passing of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i faith. His burial site, the Shrine of Baha’u’llah, is located in Bahji (present day Israel) and is the Point of Adoration where adherents turn towards while reciting their daily prayer.

Buddhism

Theravada New Year (April 24) – Celebrated within the sect of Buddhism present in many Southeast Asian countries, the New Year is traditionally a period of 3 days that includes a variety of traditions. One of the more important traditions is the water festival, where people use water to wash away the bad karma of the previous year.

Vesak (May 23) – Considered one of the most important festivals, Vesak celebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha in many Southeast Asian Buddhist traditions. There are multiple ways to celebrate Vesak, and many countries refer to the holiday by different names.

Christianity

Note: In the Eastern Orthodox Church, holidays are followed using the Julian calendar; as a result, the dates differ from those celebrated by non-Orthodox traditions. Within the Eastern Orthodox Church, the date of Easter always follows the first full moon after Passover.

Palm Sunday (March 24) – Always falling on the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday commemorates Christ’s entry into Jerusalem and marks the first day of Holy Week. In many Christian denominations, it’s celebrated with the blessing and distribution of palm branches – though some areas use branches of native trees, especially where palms are difficult to procure – which can be woven into crosses. In 2025, Eastern Orthodox Palm Sunday is celebrated on April 13th.

Holy Thursday (March 28) – The fifth day of the Holy Week, Holy Thursday commemorates Christ washing the apostles’ feet and the Last Supper. Many denominations celebrate with Holy Communion, as it was instituted by Christ during the Last Supper. In 2025, Eastern Orthodox Holy Thursday is celebrated on April 17th.

Good Friday (March 29) – Observed as the sixth day of Holy Week, Good Friday observes the crucifixion of Christ. In many denominations, the day is commemorated with worship services, vigils, fasting, and giving alms. In 2025, Eastern Orthodox Good Friday is celebrated on April 18th.

Hinduism

Maha Shivaratri (March 8) – A Hindu festival honoring the deity Shiva, observed on the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Phalguna. It commemorates the wedding of Shiva and Parvati and Shiva’s Tandava – a divine dance that acts as the source of the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.

Holi (March 25) – Celebrating the eternal love of Radha and Krishna, Holi signals the arrival of spring in India and is observed on the evening of the full moon day of Phalguna. The most common tradition is the throwing of colored water and powder at one another.

Rama Navami (April 17) – Falling on the ninth day of the bright half of the lunar month of Chaitra, Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama. While customs and rituals vary, Rama is considered one of the most revered deities in Hinduism, and the festival is often used as a time for moral reflection.

Islam

Ramadan (March 11-April 9) – the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan is a commemoration of Muhammad’s first revelation and is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month is observed through fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.

Lailat Al-Qadr (April 6) – translated as the Night of Power, Lailat Al-Qadr is the night when the Quran was sent down from heaven and its first verses were revealed to Muhammad. The rewards for worshipping during this night are considered greater than if one were to worship for a thousand months.

Eid Al-Fitr (April 10) – The first day of the month of Shawwal, Eid-Al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. It can be celebrated for one to three days depending on the country and has a specific prayer.

Judaism

Purim (March 24) – Celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar, Purim commemorates Mordecai and Esther’s foiling of Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jewish people, which was recounted in the Book of Esther.

Passover (April 23-30) – Beginning on the 15th day of Nisan, Passover commemorates the liberation from Egyptian slavery. During Passover people eat matzo, as it’s prohibited to eat leavened bread; despite the strict dietary laws, it’s a festival of great joy.

Yom HaShoah (May 6) – Held on the 27th day of Nisan, Yom HaShoah is a day of remembrance for the six million Jews who were murdered in the Holocaust and a way to remember the survivors and rescuers.

Lag B’omer (May 26) – Occurring on the 18th day of Iyar, Lag B’Omer signals the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer – another name for the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. In some communities, it signals the end of the mourning period that occurs during the Counting of the Omer.

Paganism

Ostara (March 21) – Often celebrated from March 20-23, Ostara is the first day of Spring in the pagan Wheel of the year and always falls on the Spring Equinox – meaning for those in the Southern hemisphere, Ostara is celebrated in September. Many traditions for Ostara share similarities with Easter, including the decoration of eggs, planting seeds, and baking Hot Cross Buns.

Beltane (May 1) – One of the four seasonal festivals, Beltane – known more often as May Day – celebrates the beginning of summer and is traditionally held on May 1st, midway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Traditions often revolve around fire, fertility, and rebirth; a common celebration is the maypole dance.

Sikhism

Hola Mohalla (March 26) – Often taking place a day after the Hindu festival of Holi, Hola Mohalla takes place on the second day of the lunar month of Chet. In the city of Anandpur Sahib – one of the most sacred locations in Sikhism – there is a three-day festival that includes various displays of fighting prowess, meals, and listening to kirtan, music, and poetry.

Vaisakhi (April 13) – Marking the first day of the month of Vaisakh, Vaisakhi is a spring harvest festival in Northern India and the date of the Indian Solar New Year. For followers of Sikhism, the festival also marks the birth of the Khalsa order by the tenth Guru in 1699. It’s often celebrated with community fairs, kirtans, and social gatherings.

Zoroastrianism

Khordad Sal (March 26) – Celebrated by Zoroastrians, Khordad Sal celebrates the birth of Zarathustra. It happens six days after Noruz, and is considered one of the most important festivals in Zoroastrianism.