Abrahamic / Middle Eastern Judaism The Jewish Holiday Calendar Guide 2015-16 The Holiday Calendar for the Leap Year 5776 Share Flipboard Email Print Chaviva Gordon-Bennett Judaism Important Holidays Basics Culture Prayers and Worship By Chaviva Gordon-Bennett Chaviva Gordon-Bennett Judaism Expert M.A., Judaic Studies, University of Connecticut B.J., Journalism and News Editorial, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Chaviva Gordon-Bennett holds an M.A. in Judaic Studies. She has written about Judaism for outlets such as Huffington Post and MazelTogether.org. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on January 31, 2019 This calendar contains the 2015-16 Gregorian calendar dates for all Jewish holidays for the Hebrew calendar of the year 5776, including festivals and days of mourning. In accordance with the Jewish calendar, the 2015 dates begin with Rosh HaShanah, which is the primary Jewish New Year among the four actual "new years" in Judaism. Holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the dates listed. The dates in bold represent the days with restrictions like those of Shabbat (e.g., with prohibitions against work, kindling fire, etc.). The year 5776 is a leap year, which you can read more about below the chart in how the Jewish calendar is calculated. Jewish Holiday Date Rosh HaShana New Year September 14-15, 2015 Tzom GedaliahFast of the Seventh Month September 16, 2015 Yom Kippur Day of Atonement September 23, 2015 Sukkot Festival of Booths September 28-29, 2015September 30-October 4, 2015 Shemini Atzeret October 5, 2015 Simchat Torah Day of Celebrating the Torah October 6, 2015 Chanukah Festival of Lights December 7-14, 2015 Asara b'TevetFast Commemorating Siege of Jerusalem December 22, 2015 Tu B'Shvat New Year for Trees January 25, 2016 Ta'anit Esther Fast of Esther March 23, 2016 Purim March 24, 2016 Shushan PurimPurim celebrated in Jerusalem March 25, 2016 Ta'anit Bechorot Fast of the First Born April 22, 2016 Pesach Passover April 23-24, 2016April 25-28, 2016April 29-30, 2016 Yom HaShoah Holocaust Remembrance Day May 5, 2016 Yom HaZikaron Israel's Memorial Day May 11, 2016 Yom HaAtzmautIsrael's Independence Day May 12, 2016 Pesach SheniSecond Passover, one month after Pesach May 22, 2016 Lag B'Omer33rd day in the counting of the Omer May 26, 2016 Yom Yerushalayim Jerusalem Day June 5, 2016 Shavuot Pentecost/Feast of Booths June 12-13, 2016 Tzom Tammuz Fast Commemorating Attack on Jerusalem July 24, 2016 Tisha B'Av Ninth of Av August 14, 2016 Tu B'Av The holiday of love August 19, 2016 Calculating the Calendar The Jewish calendar is lunar and is based on three things: the rotation of the Earth on its axis (a day)the revolution of the moon around the Earth (a month)the revolution of the Earth around the sun (a year) On average, the moon revolves around the Earth every 29.5 days, while the Earth revolves around the sun every 365.25 days. This amounts to 12.4 lunar months. Although the Gregorian calendar abandoned the lunar cycles in favor of months of 28, 30, or 31 days, the Jewish calendar holds to the lunar calendar. Months range from 29 to 30 days to correspond to the 29.5-day lunar cycle and years are either 12 or 13 months to correspond to the 12.4-month lunar cycle. The Jewish calendar accommodates for the year-to-year difference by adding in an additional month. The additional month falls around the Hebrew month of Adar, resulting in an Adar I and an Adar II. In this type of year, Adar II is always the “real” Adar, which is the one in which Purim is celebrated, yarzheits for Adar are recited, and in which someone born in Adar becomes a bar or bat mitzvah. This type of year is known as a “pregnant year," Shanah Meuberet, or simply as a "leap year." It occurs seven times in a 19-year cycle during the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, and 19th years. Additionally, the Jewish calendar's day begins at sundown, and the week culminates on Shabbat, which is a Friday/Saturday. Even the hour in the Jewish calendar is unique and different than the typical 60-minute structure most know. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Gordon-Bennett, Chaviva. "The Jewish Holiday Calendar Guide 2015-16." Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/jewish-holiday-calendar-guide-2015-16-2076521. Gordon-Bennett, Chaviva. (2023, April 5). The Jewish Holiday Calendar Guide 2015-16. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jewish-holiday-calendar-guide-2015-16-2076521 Gordon-Bennett, Chaviva. "The Jewish Holiday Calendar Guide 2015-16." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/jewish-holiday-calendar-guide-2015-16-2076521 (accessed May 28, 2023). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies