October 2024 - Intercultural calendar

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

3 to 4 October: Rosh HaShana - Judaism

The Jewish New Year is the beginning of a ten-day period of reflection (see Yom Kippur). On the first day of the New Year the shofar (a ram's horn) is blown which is a call to repentance. Apples dipped in honey are eaten during a festive dinner to symbolise the desire for a "sweet" year. The traditional New Year's blessing is "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year". The year 5785 after the creation of the world starts in the Jewish calendar.

6 to 13 October: Festival of Sheik Adi - Yazidi

The festival, also known as Autumn Assembly, takes place in the city of Lalish in Iraq each year. It is a tribute to the most important saint of this religion, making it the most important festival for Iraqi Yazidi. Participation, if possible, is considered compulsory. It is customary to wear festive clothing. Song and dance performances take place. Special food is prepared and distributed to those present. In the evenings, "ceremonies of listening" take place and religious texts are quoted. During this period, the Lalish Valley is festively lit in the evenings. On the fifth day, a bull is sacrificed and the meat distributed to the faithful.

6 October: Thanksgiving (Catholic, Protestant) - Christianity

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 those in need.

10 October: Durga Puja, Beginning of Navratri - Hinduism

Beginning of a ten-day festival in honour of Goddess Durga. Festivals, concerts, dances and processions are held to celebrate the arrival of the Goddess Durga. It is also a social and not purely a religious event.

11 October: International Day of the Girl Child - international

The United Nations marks this day as the "International Day of the Girl Child" to raise public awareness on girls' human rights, gender equality, and various forms of discrimination and abuse suffered by girls around the world.

12 October: Dussehra - Hinduism

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).

12 October: Yom Kippur - Judaism

The "Day of Atonement" is observed with strict fasting. It is a day for people to ask God for forgiveness of their sins and forgive others. Biblical origins are found in Leviticus where a live goat ("scapegoat") over whose head Aaron confessed all the sins of the children of Israel was sent into the wilderness, bearing their sins.

17 to 23 October: Sukkot - Judaism

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.

24 October: Shemini Atzeret - Judaism

Shemini Atzeret is a biblical Jewish holiday that follows the Jewish festival of Sukkot and marks the beginning of the rainy season following the harvest in Israel. The name "Shemini Atzeret" refers to the eighth day, or the extra day, that brings the seven-day Sukkot period to its state of perfection.

25 October: Simchat Torah - Judaism

Jewish day to celebrate the reading of the Law, the Torah. In some congregations, Simchat Torah is observed concurrently with Shemini Atzeret in one day.

26 October: National Holiday (public 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.

31 October: Diwali - Hinduism

The "Festival of Lights" is the most widely celebrated Hindu festival. Diyas, oil lamps made from clay, are the most important symbol of the festival. Diwali is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. Devotees perform a ritual to invite Goddess Lakshmi to their homes and offer prayers to her so that the New Year is filled with peace, wealth and prosperity. The beginning of Diwali may vary by one day due to local and national regulations (e.g. there are differences between the West and East of India, Europe, and the United States).

31 October: Reformation Day (Protestant) - Christianity

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.