By Warwick Dunnett · 4 min read · Mar 26, 2026
It's amazing how much all the different religions have in common! Not just shared beliefs, but celebrations as well.
There are wonderful celebrations in religions and faith-based groups all around this fantastic world of ours, and these celebrations create the bonding and fellowship that are the foundational mortar for that sense of belonging that keeps people wanting more.
Our intro to the section on Judaism includes a flavor of this in Audio book which we have available on YouTube for free (It's only 3 minutes or so long and a nice example of our Audio book coming out in April of 2026)
All the major religions and belief structures realise this and don’t disappoint. Although the dates on which these celebrations differ, many of them celebrate the same events, including:
The coming of a New Year
Christianity: New Year’s Day
Hinduism: Diwali primarily marks a Festival of Lights celebrating the victory of light over darkness which occurs in the later part of the year. Hindu New Year celebrations for most Hindus are Ugadi and Gudi Padwa.
Islam: Islamic New Year (Hijri New Year)
Judaism: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year)
Buddhism: Buddhist New Year (varies by region)
The coming of a New Harvest:
Christianity: Thanksgiving (secular, primarily in the United States and Canada)
Hinduism: Makar Sankranti, Pongal, Onam
Judaism: Sukkot
Buddhism: Various regional harvest festivals
Celebrations using Lights:
Christianity: Christmas (celebrated with lights, although primarily religious in nature)
Hinduism: Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Judaism: Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Buddhism: Vesak (celebrated with lights in some traditions)
Periods of Fasting:
Christianity: Lent
Islam: Ramadan
Hinduism: Various fasting periods like Navaratri and Karva Chauth
Judaism: Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av
Different forms of religious Pilgrimage:
Christianity: Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Santiago de Compostela
Islam: Hajj to Mecca
Hinduism: Kumbh Mela, pilgrimage to Varanasi
Buddhism: Pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya (with lights, although primarily religious in nature)
Hinduism: Diwali (Festival of Lights)
Judaism: Hanukkah (Festival of Lights)
Buddhism: Vesak (celebrated with lights in some traditions)
Periods of Fasting:
Christianity: Lent
Islam: Ramadan
Hinduism: Various fasting periods like Navaratri and Karva Chauth
Judaism: Yom Kippur and Tisha B’Av
Festivals occurring each Springtime:
Christianity: Easter
Hinduism: Holi (often called the festival of love or festival of colours)
Judaism: Passover
Buddhism: Various regional Spring festivals
Celebration of the Dead:
Christianity: All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
Hinduism: Pitru Paksha
Buddhism: Obon (blending Buddhist and Shinto traditions—primarily in Japan)
Islam: Some regional traditions, though not a formalised celebration
Indigenous traditions in Mexico blended with Catholic influences: Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebration.
Coming of Age:
Christianity: Confirmation
Hinduism: Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony)
Judaism: Bar/Bat Mitzvah
Buddhism: Shinbyu (ordination as a novice monk, primarily in Myanmar)
Day of Rest:
Christianity: Sunday (Sabbath)
Judaism: Shabbat (Saturday)
Islam: Friday (Jumu’ah prayer)”
Excerpt From Dance with Angels by Warwick Dunnett
This material may be protected by copyright.
This idea—finding common ground across belief systems—is something I explore more deeply in Dance with Angels, especially in the context of grief and recovery.
Available at LighthouseLaneBooks.com
References for Further Reading
- World Religions: The Great Faiths Explored and Explained by John Bowker
- The World’s Religions by Huston Smith
- Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices by J. Gordon Melton and Martin Baumann
- Online resources such as BBC Religion or Encyclopedia Britannica