As we get ready to ring in 2011, we at HuffPost Religion would like to highlight celebrations from some of the world's religious traditions. While the modern world is beholden to the Gregorian calendar and its Jan. 1 New Year's Day, many faiths continue to follow other calendar systems for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Therefore, these celebrations take place at different times throughout the year.
These "New Year" holidays are yet another reminder of the common threads shared by many of the world's religions. Despite the differences in the ways that they are observed, these traditions all express an appreciation for the past coupled with a hope for blessings and prosperity in the coming year.
New Year Celebrations
Orthodox New Year(01 of08)
Many of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, such as those in Russia and Serbia, still observe their holidays and festivals based on the Julian calendar. Therefore, the New Year gets celebrated twice by many people in these countries: The "New New Year" on Jan. 1 and the "Old New Year" on the first day of the Julian calendar, which falls on either Jan. 13 or 14. Since most public festivities and celebrations are centered around the Gregorian new year, the "Old New Year" is generally observed more quietly by family meals, prayer and special church services. (credit:ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Nowruz(02 of08)
Nowruz, Persian for "New Light" or "New Day," coincides with the spring equinox, which usually falls on March 20, 21 or 22. Widely known as the Persian New Year, Nowruz is widely observed in Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan and other Central Asian nations. The holiday is believed to have started with Zoroaster himself and is the most important holiday in the Zoroastrian tradition. Additionally, Nowruz is an important holy day for people in the Baha'i Faith and is widely observed by Shiite Muslims. An official state holiday in most countries of the region, Nowruz is usually marked by several days of activities including special foods, gift giving, parties and family gatherings. Last January, Huffpost blogger Melody Moezzi wrote about Nowruz in relation to the democratic movement in Iran. (credit:SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images)
South Asia(03 of08)
The landscape of holidays in South Asia is crowded, to say the least. Immeasurable diversity in religious beliefs and practices means that there is no uniform New Year's observance for the millions of Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims and other inhabitants of the region. There are many traditions that celebrate the New Year in mid-April with festivals to mark the beginning of Spring. This coincides with the first days of the Nepali and Bengali calendars, among others. Pictured here, Sikh pilgrims perform rituals at the Gurdawara Punja Sahib in Hassan Abdal, one of the most sacred sites for the followers of Sikh religion. The festival of Baisakhi, which is celebrated on April 14, marks the Punjabi and Nepali New Year and the beginning of the harvest season in the region. (credit:STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Chinese New Year(04 of08)
The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday for the nation of more than a billion people. The season around the New Year festival, which marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar calendar and falls in late January or February of the Gregorian calendar, features the largest annual human migration in the world as people travel home to spend time with their families. Specific customs and traditions vary widely within China but gift-giving, fireworks, elaborate feasts, dances and the construction of decorative shrines are common rituals. Pictured here: Chinese Taoist worshippers light joss sticks as they pray beside the Dafo temple in southwest China's Chongqing municipality on the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year on Feb. 14. In 2009, HuffPost World gathered photos of Chinese New Year celebrations. (credit:STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Losar(05 of08)
Losar is the most important holiday for the people of Tibet and marks the beginning of their lunar calendar. Although it often coincides with the Chinese New Year, the two celebrations are not culturally linked. The Losar festival usually lasts for two weeks with public celebrations, special foods, prayer and family gatherings. Many of these activities center around the Buddhist monasteries with meditation and ceremonies aimed at blessing the coming year. Last year, HuffPost blogger Heidiminx wrote about some of the rituals surrounding Losar as well as it's place in Tibet's political struggle. (credit:China Photos/Getty Images)
Rosh Hashanah(06 of08)
While this is commonly referred to as the Jewish New Year and is literally translated to mean “head of the year,” Rosh Hashanah actually marks the beginning of the 7th Hebrew month, Tishrei. In the Torah, the beginning of the year is mentioned in the context of the first Passover holiday, which falls in the month of Nisan. But by the time the Jewish oral tradition -- the Talmud -- was written down, Rosh Hashanah had been established as the Jewish New Year and was referred to in the Mishnah for the first time as the "Day of Judgement." Among other things, it is considered the New Year for people, animals and legal contracts, and is used for calculating the sabbatical and jubilee years. Today, Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, or High Holy Days, on the Jewish calendar. It is a time of reflection for some Jews and an opportunity for spiritual awakening for others. Others enjoy the New Year as a time of reunion and reconciliation with family and friends. HuffPost Religion blogger Rabbi Brad Hirschfield wrote about Rosh Hashanah this year as a time of renewal and liberation, and he provided seven "easy" steps to personal and spiritual revitalization. (credit:AP Photo/Diane Bondareff)
Al-Hijra (Muslim New Year)(07 of08)
Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the first month of the Islamic calendar, Muharram. It marks the Hijra in 622 C.E. when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina in order to establish the first Muslim community. HuffPost blogger Omid Safi recently provided an explanation for the significance of the Hijra. (credit:AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)
January 1(08 of08)
With the majority of people and governments around the world following the Gregorian calendar, Jan. 1 is the day that most people celebrate the start of the New Year. While it is mostly associated with revelry and fireworks, many spiritual people take the New Year as an opportunity for meditation and resolutions to focus themselves for the coming year. HuffPost Travel has compiled a list of its favorite New Year's celebrations around the world. (credit:SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)