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

Public holidays

26 October: National Holiday

The National Holiday commemorates the declaration of Austria to adhere to permanent neutrality in 1955. In the broader sense Austrians also celebrate the regained sovereignty following the departure of the Allied troops.

Christianity

7 October: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is celebrated with a church service on the first Sunday in October. The altar is decorated with fruit and vegetables from fields and gardens which are later given to the needy.

31 October: Reformation Day

Reformation Day is a festival celebrated in remembrance of the Reformation. On 31 October 1517 Martin Luther posted a belief statement to debate the doctrine and practice of indulgences on the door of Wittenberg Church which resulted in the establishment of the Protestant churches.

Hinduism

16. Oktober: Durga Puja, Beginning of Navratri

Beginn eines zehntägigen Festes zu Ehren der Göttin Durga

24 October: Dussehra

Dussehra is the day marking the end of the ten-day festival which commemorates the victory of good over evil. Goddess Durga and Lord Rama prevail over the demons. Durga is the wife of God Shiva and exists in different manifestations. Two of her most powerful manifestations are Durga (Goddess of Valor) and Kali (Goddess of Destruction).

Islam

25 to 28 October: Festival of Sacrifice (Turkish: Kurban Bayrami, Arabic: Eid ul Adha)

This most important feast of Islam symbolises devotion to God and trust in His mercy. This festival is marked by a story in the Koran (which is paralleled in the Old Testament): God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael (that is Isaac in the Old Testament) in obedience to God’s word. In the last moment God intercedes by replacing a ram for the child. In commemoration, Muslims eat a sheep or donate its equivalent value in cash to charity.

Judaism

1 to 7 October: Sukkot

The "Feast of Tabernacles" or "Feast of Booths" derives its name from the tradition to build a booth roofed with thatch (sukkah) to recall the shelters of the Jews during their wandering in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt. (All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)

9 October: Simchat Thora

Jewish day to celebrate the reading of the Law, the Thora. (All Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the previous day.)