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

Christianity

1 November: All Saints' Day: The day to honour all saints of the church was established when the Pantheon in Rome was consecrated and an anniversary to honour all the saints was fixed for 1 November.
2 November: All Souls' Day: The day is closely associated with All Saints' Day. The day commemorates the faithful departed and those baptised and believed to be in purgatory. It is a day of remembrance and intercession for the dead.
11 November: Saint Martin's Day: The feast day of Martin of Tours (4th century), who gave half his cloak to a beggar according to legend. Customs: children go by the doors with paper lanterns and candles and sing songs. The food traditionally eaten on this day is goose.
15 November: Saint Leopold's Day: The day commemorates Leopold III, Margrave of Austria, the founder of the monasteries of Klosterneuburg, Heiligenkreuz and Klein-Mariazell. Leopold is the patron saint of Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Vienna. There is the tradition of "Fasselrutschen", sliding over a huge barrel in the monastery wine cellar in Klosterneuburg. It is an old tradition dating back to the time when the barrel held the wine the monastery received as a tithe.
21 November: Penance Day: A Protestant holiday for reflection and prayer for the remission of sins.
25 November: Sunday in commemoration of the dead: The Sunday in commemoration of the dead is basically the Protestant version of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. It is a day for people to visit cemeteries and decorate graves.

Hinduism

13 November Diwali: The "Festival of Lights" is the most popular of all Hindu festivals. The diwas (clay pots filled with oil and a wick) are the most important symbols. Diwali is yet another festival commemorating the victory of good over evil. On this day people worship Lakshmi, Goddess of Wealth.

Islam

15 November: Islamic New Year: On this day the year 1434 starts in the Islamic calendar, which dates back to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina, which is known as the hijra.
15 to 27 November: Muharrem Fast (Alevi): Many Alevi fast during the first twelve days of the month of Muharrem. They also abstain from drinking water both day and night. The main purpose of this fast is to mourn the death of Ali's son, Huseyin, during the battle of Kerbela and the sufferings of the 12 Imams. On the 10^th day, a special dish of Ashura is cooked. Ashura is prepared from a variety of twelve different ingredients, each of them a symbol for one of the twelve Imams.
24/27 November Day of Ashura: It is commemorated by Shia Muslims as a day of mourning the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the Third Shia Imam and grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who lost his life at the Battle of Karbala (Iraq) against his rival Muawiya in the fight for the succession of the Prophet Muhammad. The Day of Ashura is also commemorated by the Alevi (Ashura on 27 November). The Sunni Muslims commemorate the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt on this day.

Sikhism

28 November: Birthday of Guru Nanak: Sikhs celebrate Guru Nanak's birthday with a reading of the Sikh holy scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, continuously from beginning to end over 48 hours. Musical recitation of hymns and lectures are followed by langar, a vegetarian meal from the free kitchen.