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Holidays and Religious festivals in Palestine / Israel

Muslim - Jewish

Visiting Palestine is something best prepared for. Israel closes many places down on Jewish religious days for example. The West Bank may be closed off completely as well.

Muslim and Palestinian

Useful links - Wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_holidays / www.factmonster.com/spot/ramadan1 / www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays / www.when-is.com/ramadan.asp / www.ramadantimetable.co.uk

The most important date to watch out for and consider is Ramadan. Ramadan in 2009 will start on Friday, the 21st of August and will continue for 30 days until Sunday, the 20th of September (Europe).

2009 - 21 August to 20 September

2010 - 10 August to 9 September

These are a few days to watch. Dates change each year as Islam follows a lunar calendar.

Muslim holy days - There are only two Muslim festivals set down in Islamic law. There are several other special days that Muslims celebrate, although some Muslims disapprove of adding extra festivals.

Al-Hijra - Al-Hijra is the Muslim new year. It marks the Hijra, Muhammad's journey in 622 CE to Medina.

Ashura - Ashura marks two historical events: the day Nuh (Noah) left the Ark and Musa's (Moses') escape from the Egyptians. Shi'a Muslims also commemorate the martyrdom of Hussein, Muhammad's grandson.

Eid ul Adha - The festival of sacrifice remembers the prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son when God ordered him to.

Eid ul Fitr - This festival comes at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting. Muslims thank Allah for the strength he gave them to help them practice self-control.

Lailat al Miraj - The festival celebrates Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night on a winged creature called Buraq. From Jerusalem he ascended into heaven, where he met the earlier prophets, and eventually God.

Lailat al Qadr - Lailat al Qadr, the Night of Power, marks the night in which the Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad by Allah.

Lailat-ul-Bara'h - The Night of Forgiveness is the time when Muslims ask God to forgive their past sins.

Milad un Nabi - Milad un Nabi marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad.

Ramadan - Ramadan is a holy month in which Muslims practise fasting (sawm).

Jewish holidays - 2008/09 / 2009/10

Useful links - www.angelfire.com/pa2 / Wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_holidays_2000-2050 / www.ou.org/calendar/2008.htm

Rosh Hashanah* (also following day)

Yom Kippur*

Sukkot*[1] (first of seven days)

Shemini Atzeret*

Simchat Torah*[2]

Hanukkah (first of eight days)

Tu Bishvat

Purim

Pesach*[3] (first of seven days, or eight outside of Israel)

Yom Ha'Shoah

Yom Ha'atzmaut

Lag Ba'omer

Shavuot* (outside of Israel, Shavuot lasts two days)

Tisha B'Av

1. ^ Work forbidden only on the first day in Israel, or the first two elsewhere.

2. ^ In Israel, Simchat Torah is on the same day as Shemini Atzeret.

3. ^ Work is forbidden only on the first and seventh days in Israel, and elsewhere also on the second and eighth.

5769 (2008–2009)

• Tuesday, September 30 - Rosh HaShanah*

• Thursday, October 9 - Yom Kippur*

• Tuesday, October 14 - Sukkot*

• Tuesday, October 21 - Shemini Atzeret*

• Wednesday, October 22 - Simchat Torah*

• Monday, December 22 - Hanukkah

• Monday, February 9 - Tu Bishvat

• Tuesday, March 10 - Purim

• Thursday, April 9 - Pesach*

• Tuesday, April 21 - Yom Ha'Shoah

• Wednesday, April 29 - Yom Ha'atzmaut

• Tuesday, May 12 - Lag Ba'omer

• Friday, May 29 - Shavuot*

• Thursday, July 30 - Tisha B'Av

5770 (2009–2010)

• Saturday, September 19: Rosh HaShanah

• Monday, September 28: Yom Kippur

• Saturday, October 3: Sukkot

• Saturday, October 10: Shemini Atzeret

• Sunday, October 11: Simchat Torah

• Saturday, December 12: Hanukkah

• Saturday, January 30: Tu Bishvat

• Sunday, February 28: Purim

• Tuesday, March 30: Pesach

• Sunday, April 11: Yom Ha'Shoah

• Tuesday, April 20: Yom Ha'atzmaut

• Sunday, May 2: Lag Ba'omer

• Wednesday, May 19: Shavuot

• Tuesday, July 20: Tisha B'Av

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Gallery

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The Israeli Apartheid wall "security barrier"

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Twinning Banner

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Zaytoun Olive Oil

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Getting there - Airlines activists use

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