Nov. 5 - Diwali: Festival of Lights, five-day Hindu festival celebrates the victory of good over evil; marked by ceremonies, fireworks and sweets. Many myths are associated with Diwali; one celebrates the return of Lord Rama after a 14-year exile and his defeat of the demon Ravana.

Nov. 26 (Baha'i) - Day of the Covenant: a special day for the birth of Abdul-Baha to remind friends of the importance of the Covenant and to remember him.

Nov. 28 (Christian) - Advent, and Dec. 25 - Christmas (Jan. 6 - Armenian rite; Jan. 7 some Eastern rites) celebrates the nativity or birth of Jesus Christ.

Dec. 1-9 (Jewish) - Hanukkah: Festival of Lights, eight-day festival commemorates the re-dedication of the Temple after victory over religious persecution and the miracle of the oil, with the lighting of the menorah.

Dec. 7-Jan. 4 - Al-Hijra: Islamic New Year, marks the migration of the prophet Mohammad and followers from Mecca to Medina; the beginning of Islam as a community in which spiritual and earthly life are integrated; no specific religious ritual, good time for new year's resolutions.

Dec. 8 (Buddhist) - Bodhi Day, Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the historical Buddha's (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Guatama) experience of enlightenment .

Dec. 16 Ashura (Islamic) - Sunnis commemorate Noah's leaving the ark; Shi'ites mourn the death of the grandson of the Prophet.

Dec. 18 - Yalda: Iranian Persian Festival: celebrating, on the longest night of the year, the birth of Mithra, god of light and truth.

Dec. 21 at 5:38 PM - Winter Solstice: shortest day, longest night in the northern hemisphere; known as Yule, the first day of winter; daily from this point sunlight increases. Yule is the Germanic winter solstice festival.

Dec. 26-Jan. 1 Kwanzaa - African American celebration of family, community & culture. Theme for 2010 is "Kwanzaa and the Nguzo Saba: An Ethics of Sharing Good in the World."

Jan. 5 (Sikh) - birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, marked with processions & prayer gatherings. Both saint & soldier, he lived firm principles and devotion to God, protecting people from oppression and injustice.

Feb. 2 – Imbolc: celebration of the goddess Brighid and the end of winter.

Feb. 14, 2010 begins the Year of the Tiger. Chinese New Year is considered the end of winter in the traditional Chinese calendar.

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