The magic calendar
103 festivals, solstices, days of the dead and lucky and unlucky days, with the entries tied to each. Dates are worked out afresh every day; those marked "about" follow the moon or local calendars and can shift by a day.
Sponsored ClearTrust Solstices, festivals, days of the dead and omen days, with the dates each next falls on.
November 2026
1 Nov 2026The Wheel of the YearThe modern Pagan calendar of eight sabbats, from Samhain to Mabon, assembled in the mid twentieth century from older festivals.
8 to 12 Nov 2026Diwali, the night of lampsThe new-moon night when lamps are lit to welcome Lakshmi and to drive out misfortune from the house.
about 25 Nov 2026Loy KrathongThe full-moon night when small floats of leaves, flowers and candles carry away bad luck on the river.
8 to 12 Nov 2026Diwali, the night of lampsThe new-moon night when lamps are lit to welcome Lakshmi and to drive out misfortune from the house.
about 25 Nov 2026Loy KrathongThe full-moon night when small floats of leaves, flowers and candles carry away bad luck on the river.December 2026
5 Dec 2026KrampusnachtThe eve of St Nicholas, when horned, furred Krampus figures run through the streets of the Alps, rattling chains and chasing the unwary.
13 Dec 2026St Lucy's Day and Lussi NightOnce thought of as the longest night, when in Scandinavian belief the troll-woman Lussi rides and animals must be guarded.
about 25 Dec to 5 Jan 2027The Twelve Nights and the RauhnächteThe twelve nights from Christmas to Epiphany, when in German-speaking lands the Wild Hunt rides, animals are said to speak, and houses are smoked.
31 Dec to 1 Jan 2027Hogmanay and first-footingThe Scottish New Year, in which the first person over the threshold after midnight is believed to set the luck of the house.January 2027
5 to 6 Jan 2027Epiphany and La BefanaIn Italy a kindly old witch, the Befana, flies on a broom on Epiphany Eve and fills children's stockings with sweets.
6 Jan 2027Dia de los Reyes MagosThe Feast of the Three Kings, the Magi whose name gives magic its word, when children in Spain and Latin America receive their gifts.
11 Jan 2027Burning of the ClavieA burning tar barrel carried round Burghead on the old new-year night, said to cleanse the town of evil spirits and bring luck.
about 13 to 14 Jan 2027Kukeri and SurvaMen in huge furred masks and clanging bells walk the villages of Bulgaria to drive away evil spirits and bring fertility to the year.
26 Jan 2027Up Helly AaA fire festival in Lerwick, Shetland, in which hundreds of costumed Vikings drag a replica longship through the town and burn it.February 2027
6 to 12 Feb 2027Chinese New Year and its protective customsRed paper, firecrackers, door guardians and a sweeping taboo, all aimed at keeping bad luck out of the new year.
6 to 9 Feb 2027Tet and its protective customsVietnam's new year, with the kitchen god sent to heaven, a first visitor chosen for luck and a tall pole to keep spirits out.
about 6 to 8 Feb 2027Tsagaan Sar, the White MoonThe Mongolian new year, with debts cleared, lamps lit and elders greeted by a ritual exchange of blue scarves.
7 to 9 Feb 2027CarnivalThe days before Lent, when masks, disguise and reversal of order were said to loosen the hold of the dead and the spirits.
15 Feb 2027LupercaliaThe ancient Roman rite of purification and fertility, in which young men ran through the city with strips of goat hide.
20 Feb 2027Lantern FestivalThe first full moon of the new year, with lanterns, riddles and sweet dumplings that stand for reunion.March 2027
5 Mar 2027The brujos of CatemacoA gathering of healers and sorcerers at Lake Catemaco, Veracruz, on the first Friday of March, with cleansings for the coming year.
about 6 Mar 2027Wai Khru at Wat Bang Phra (Sak Yant festival)The annual gathering where tattooed devotees renew the protective power of their sacred tattoos and sometimes fall into trance.
16 Mar 2027Chaharshanbe SuriThe Tuesday night before the last Wednesday of the Persian year, when people jump over bonfires to leave sickness and ill luck behind.
21 Mar to 2 Apr 2027Nowruz, the threshold of the yearThe spring equinox new year, with a deep clean, a table of symbolic foods and first-footing for luck.
21 to 22 Mar 2027Holika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi, burned in memory of Holika, and a night when ash and the fire are used as protection.
27 to 28 Mar 2027Easter firesOn Holy Saturday and Easter night, large bonfires are lit in northern Europe to drive out winter, with older claims of warding off witches.
27 to 28 Mar 2027Burning of JudasFigures of Judas, often stuffed with fireworks and made to look like local politicians, are hanged and burned in Holy Week.
about 6 Mar 2027Wai Khru at Wat Bang Phra (Sak Yant festival)The annual gathering where tattooed devotees renew the protective power of their sacred tattoos and sometimes fall into trance.
16 Mar 2027Chaharshanbe SuriThe Tuesday night before the last Wednesday of the Persian year, when people jump over bonfires to leave sickness and ill luck behind.
21 Mar to 2 Apr 2027Nowruz, the threshold of the yearThe spring equinox new year, with a deep clean, a table of symbolic foods and first-footing for luck.
21 to 22 Mar 2027Holika DahanThe bonfire on the eve of Holi, burned in memory of Holika, and a night when ash and the fire are used as protection.
27 to 28 Mar 2027Easter firesOn Holy Saturday and Easter night, large bonfires are lit in northern Europe to drive out winter, with older claims of warding off witches.
27 to 28 Mar 2027Burning of JudasFigures of Judas, often stuffed with fireworks and made to look like local politicians, are hanged and burned in Holy Week.April 2027
13 to 15 Apr 2027Songkran and the water blessingThe new year of Thailand and its neighbours, when water is poured on Buddha images and elders to wash away bad luck.
30 Apr 2027Walpurgis Night and the BrockenThe eve of May, when in German tradition witches were thought to gather on the Brocken and bonfires and noise were used to drive them away.May 2027
1 May 2027May DayThe first of May, with the maypole, garlands and washing the face in dew, and in some places protective greenery set at the door.
1 May 2027'Obby 'Oss DayOn May Day in Padstow, Cornwall, a masked dancer in a black frame circles the town while the crowd sings, in a custom whose roots are unrecorded.
25 May 2027Lag BaOmerThe day of bonfires and the pilgrimage to Meron, honouring the sage said to have revealed the Zohar.June 2027
9 Jun 2027Dragon Boat Festival and its protective herbsThe fifth day of the fifth month, a time believed dangerous for illness, met with mugwort, calamus and scented sachets.
23 to 24 Jun 2027Noche de San JuanOn the night of 23 June, Spaniards light beach bonfires, jump the flames and write wishes to be burned, in a rite of cleansing at midsummer.
about 25 to 27 Jun 2027Gnawa and World Music Festival, EssaouiraA June festival in a Moroccan port town that brings the Gnawa, descendants of enslaved West Africans, to a wide audience.July 2027
August 2027
17 Aug 2027Raksha Bandhan, the protective threadA sister ties a thread on a brother's wrist, which is believed to protect him, and he promises his protection in return.
about 27 Aug to 7 Sept 2027Osun-Osogbo FestivalThe August festival at Osogbo in Nigeria that honours the river goddess Osun, with offerings carried to the sacred grove.Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Holi: Jitenderasingh, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Krampus: Naturpuur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tsagaan Sar: User:Chinneeb, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Chaharshanbe Suri: Philippe Giabbanelli, CC BY 3.0, source
- Walpurgis Night: Luis Ricardo Falero, Public domain, source
- Halloween: Toby Ord, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Hogmanay: Robbie Shade, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lag BaOmer: Yoninah, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tanabata: Laika ac, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Songkran: ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ - เ, CC BY 3.0, source
- Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove: Cheeka 2.0, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Lupercalia: Andrea Camassei, Public domain, source
- Carnival: Etienne Le Cocq, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kukeri: Nenko Lazarov, CC BY 2.5, source
- Saint Lucy's Day: Fredrik Magnusson, CC BY 2.0, source
- May Day: Bryan Ledgard, CC BY 2.0, source
- Burning of Judas: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Kupala Night: Ivan Sokolov, Public domain, source
- Easter Fire: Jürgen Eissink, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Nowruz: Katzenfee50, CC0, source
- Tết: vi:Lưu Ly, Public domain, source
- St John's Eve: Jules Breton, Public domain, source
- Befana: El Ágora, Public domain, source
- Up Helly Aa: Mike Pennington, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lantern Festival: -Zest, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chinese New Year Protection: Myrabella, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dragon Boat Festival: After Wen Jia, Public domain, source
- Wai Khru Wat Bang Phra: Phydoughx ( talk · contribs ), Public domain, source
- Loy Krathong: John Shedrick, CC BY 2.0, source
- Diwali Lakshmi Night: Kalli navya, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Raksha Bandhan: Suyash.dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gnawa Festival Essaouira: Anderson sady, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tres Reyes Magos: Gentile da Fabriano, Public domain, source
- Burning Of The Clavie: Richard Slessor, CC BY-SA 2.0, source