What's the Calendar for Judaism?

The Jewish calendar is based on three astronomical phenomena: the rotation of the Earth about its axis (a day); the revolution of the moon about the Earth (a month); and the revolution of the Earth about the sun (a year).

The major Jewish holidays are:

• Purim on Mar 24 (one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar)

• Pesach from Apr 23 - 30 (Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread)

• Shavuot from Jun 12-13 (Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai)

• Tish'a B'Av on Aug 14 (The Ninth of Av, fast commemorating the destruction of the two Temples)

• Rosh Hashana from Oct 3-4 (The Jewish New Year)

• Yom Kippur on Oct 12 (Day of Atonement)

• Sukkot from Oct 17 - 23 (Feast of Tabernacles)

• Shmini Atzeret on Oct 24 (Eighth Day of Assembly)

• Simchat Torah on Oct 25 (Day of Celebrating the Torah)

• Chanukah from Dec 25-Jan 1 (The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights)