May 2012 - important holidays of the largest religious and ethnic groups

Public holidays

1 May: Labour Day

International day in honour of working people.

Traditional holidays

13 May: Mother's Day

Day in honour of mothers

Buddhism

5 May: Vesak/Visakah Puja

This day commemorates the birth, the Enlightenment under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya and the passing of Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. Even Buddha's death is regarded as a joyful event as it stands for the attainment of Nirvana. Customs: sending greeting cards, light and flag festivals, pilgrimage and mass releases of caged birds.

Christianity

6 May: St. George's Day

A spring festival, dating back to pre-Christian spring festivals, also celebrated by Muslim Roma. In Austria St. George's Festival (Djurdjevdan) is mostly celebrated by the Roma who have immigrated from Macedonia and the Kosovo. Saint George is the patron saint of the Roma.

17 Mai: Ascension Day

Celebration commemorating the Ascension of Christ into heaven on the 40th day after Easter and the mission into the world.

27/28 May: Pentecost

Pentecost celebrates the day when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples in the forms of tongues of fire and rushing wind 50 days after Easter. Pentecost is also regarded as the "birthday of the church".

Judaism

27 May: Shavuot

The Feast of Weeks is held in commemoration of the revelation of the Law on Mount Sinai, God's most important gift to His people: the Torah, the document establishing the covenant between God and His people. (All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)