Events & Activities

• Sep 4

  Muslim

  Mawlid / Milad al-Nabi, just passed

  Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. Observance varies by Muslim community, and some Muslims do not celebrate it.

  Food idea: Ma'amoul or baklava

  BBC Good Food: Ma'amoul

• Sep 11

  Jewish

  Rosh Hashanah begins that evening

  Jewish New Year. A time of reflection, renewal and hopes for a sweet year.

  Food idea: Apple and honey cake or round challah

  The Nosher: Honey Cake

• Sep 18

  Jewish / Shared theme

  Days of Awe, before Yom Kippur

  A reflective period focused on repentance, apology and forgiveness.

  Food idea: Challah and honey

  My Jewish Learning: Challah

• Sep 25

  Jewish

  Sukkot begins that evening

  Jewish harvest festival, also called the Feast of Booths.

  Food idea: Apple crumble bars, apple cake or pumpkin loaf

  BBC Good Food: Apple Cake

• Oct 2

  Jewish

  Sukkot to Simchat Torah

  A transition from the harvest festival to celebration of Torah and the cycle of sacred reading.

  Food idea: Cinnamon apple muffins or scroll shaped cookies

  BBC Good Food: Apple Muffins

• Oct 9

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Three traditions at one table

  A week to bring the three traditions together after the Jewish High Holidays.

  Food idea: Rugelach, ma'amoul and madeleines

  BBC Good Food: Madeleines

• Oct 16

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Noah / Nuh

  The flood story appears in Jewish, Christian and Islamic traditions. A good week to compare how one story is understood across faiths.

  Food idea: Rainbow cookies or cupcakes

  BBC Good Food: Cupcakes

• Oct 23

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Abraham / Avraham / Ibrahim

  The week's Jewish Torah reading begins Abraham's journey. Ideal for exploring the figure for whom Abrahamic House is named.

  Food idea: Date and honey loaf or date cookies

  BBC Good Food: Date Cake

• Oct 30

  Christian

  All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day

  Western Christian days for honoring saints and remembering the dead, Nov 1 and Nov 2.

  Food idea: Soul cakes or spiced biscuits

  BBC Good Food: Soul Cakes

• Nov 6

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Hospitality

  Explore hospitality and welcoming the stranger through Abraham / Ibrahim and the three traditions.

  Food idea: Date cake or orange blossom cake

  BBC Good Food: Date Cake

• Nov 13

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Charity and giving

  Compare tzedakah, Christian almsgiving, and zakat / sadaqah.

  Food idea: Pay it forward cookies

  BBC Good Food: Cookies

• Nov 20

  Shared Abrahamic theme

  Gratitude

  Compare gratitude, prayer and thanksgiving across Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

  Food idea: Pumpkin bread, pecan cookies or cinnamon loaf

  BBC Good Food: Pumpkin Bread

• Nov 27

  Christian

  Advent begins Nov 29

  The Christian season of preparation for Christmas. A natural theme is waiting and hope.

  Food idea: Cinnamon stars or gingerbread

  BBC Good Food: Gingerbread

• Dec 4

  Jewish / Christian

  Hanukkah begins that evening; St Nicholas Day Dec 6

  Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple and the miracle of oil. St Nicholas has a rich European baking tradition.

  Food idea: Sufganiyot / mini doughnuts and speculoos

  St Nicholas Center: Speculoos

• Dec 11

  Jewish / Christian / Shared theme

  Hanukkah and St Lucia

  Two celebrations strongly associated with light. Islam can join the discussion through the concept of nur, light, without presenting it as a Muslim festival.

  Food idea: Mini doughnuts and saffron lussekatter

  BBC Good Food: Saffron Buns

• Dec 18

  Christian / Shared theme

  Final Advent week, approaching Christmas

  A good three faith discussion: Who is Jesus? Christianity, Islam and Judaism understand Jesus in very different ways.

  Food idea: Gingerbread, Lebkuchen or Stollen

  BBC Good Food: Stollen

• Dec 25

  Christian

  Christmas

  Celebration of the birth of Jesus, central to Christianity. Jesus / Isa is also an important prophet in Islam.

  Food idea: Stollen, panettone, buche de Noel or mince pies

  BBC Good Food: Christmas Baking

Islamic dates and observances can vary by moon sighting, country and community. After Mawlid there is no major universal Muslim festival before Christmas, so the shared-theme weeks above are not presented as Muslim holidays. Jewish holidays begin at sunset.