March 2026 - Intercultural calendar

The calendar provides an overview of public holidays, traditional and religious holidays and international commemoration days without intending to be exhaustive.

3 March: Purim - Judaism

On this day, a Purim carnival is held and children wear costumes. It commemorates the deliverance of the Persian Jews from the plot of Haman, the vizier (official) of King Xerxes, to exterminate them. Haman wanted to choose the day of the genocide by lot (pur). The Book of Esther is read in the synagogue, and it is customary for children to use a noisy rattle, a Purim grogger, to blot out the name of the evildoer Haman. It is customary to give small packages of food or gifts to friends, family or those in need.

3 March: Holi - Hinduism

Holi is a colourful spring festival and commemorates the rescue of Prince Prahlad from a fire pyre where his sister Holi had taken him. A bonfire is lit to signify the burning of Holika and to thank Lord Vishnu for his good deed. Ashes from the bonfire are marked on worshippers as a sign of inner cleansing.

8 March: International Women's Day - international

The "United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace" or "International Women's Day" is celebrated around the world on 8 March.

20 to 22 March: Eid ul Fitr (Turkish: Seker Bayrami; Ramazan Bayrami, Arabic: Eid Al-Fitr) - Islam

The month of fasting ends with the 3-day festival. It is a festival of thanksgiving to Allah for enjoying the month of Ramadan and symbolises the breaking of the fasting period. In private but also in mosques, more people meet than usual. After the festive prayer there is a common celebration and children receive gifts. Today, the Turkish name Seker Bayrami is associated with the sweets (seker = sugar) which are given as presents on this day. That is why the day is also called "Sugar Festival". Depending on national tradition, the date can vary by one day.

21 March: Nouruz/Newroz (literally "New Day") - international

Newroz Day has been an internationally recognised holiday since 2010, when it was proclaimed by the 64th General Assembly of the United Nations (resolution A/RES/64/253). The spring festival/beginning of spring Newroz has been celebrated for 3,000 years. Today, it is celebrated by over 300 million people worldwide. However, the astronomical beginning of spring in 2025 is on 20 March. At the family festival, eggs and evergreen plants serve as symbols of life, survival and eternity. On this day, Alevi also celebrate the birth of Ali who was born in Mecca around 600 and was a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad.

21 March: Day against Racism - international

The United Nations proclaimed this day of action in 1967. It is officially called "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination". It is observed annually on 21 March because on this day in 1960, peaceful protests against apartheid laws in Sharpeville, South Africa, were brutally suppressed by the police, leading to a tragic loss of life. In response, the United Nations proclaimed 21 March as “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” in 1966. One year earlier, in 1965, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which came into force in 1969. The Austrian National Council adopted a resolution in 1972, and Austria thus ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

29 March: Palm Sunday (Catholic, Protestant) - Christianity

The first day of Holy Week commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Palm branches (which people waved to welcome Jesus to Jerusalem) or willow catkins are sanctified in the church and distributed to serve as decoration at home.