→Judaism← Passover Lunar Timing: Begins at the full moon (the first month of the Jewish religious year). Key Theme: Freedom (Exodus) Shavuot Moon Phase: Near new moon. Key Theme: Giving of the Torah. (Jewish New Year) Moon Phase: New moon. Key Theme: Divine judgment. (Day of Atonement) Moon Phase: Waxing crescent. Key Theme: Repentance. Sukkot Moon Phase: Full moon. Key Theme: Wilderness wandering. Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah Moon Phase: Waning gibbous. Key Theme: Torah celebration. Purim Moon Phase: Full moon. Key Theme: Salvation. →Islam← (Month of Fasting) Moon Phase: Begins/ends with new moon sighting. Key Theme: Spiritual purification. (Festival of Breaking the Fast) Moon Phase: New moon. Key Theme: Gratitude. (Festival of Sacrifice) Moon Phase: Waxing to full moon. Key Theme: Sacrifice. Islamic New Year Moon Phase: New moon. Key Theme: Hijra (migration) after persecution. (Day of Atonement) Moon Phase: Waxing crescent. Key Theme: Sunni: Fasting. Shia: Mourning. (Prophet’s Birthday) Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous. Key Theme: Reverence. →Christianity← Easter Moon Phase: First Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Key Theme: Resurrection. Good Friday Moon Phase: Friday before Easter (full moon phase). Key Theme: Crucifixion. Pentecost Moon Phase: 50 days after Easter (near new moon). Key Theme: Birth of the Church. Ash Wednesday Moon Phase: 46 days before Easter (waxing crescent). Key Theme: Repentance. Ascension Day Moon Phase: 40 days after Easter (waning gibbous). Key Theme: Christ's ascension. (Nativity) Moon Phase: Fixed on December 25 (solar calendar; no lunar link). Key Theme: Incarnation. The celebration of Christmas dates back to the 4th century. First recorded celebration of Christmas on December 25 was in Rome in 336 AD, during the reign of Emperor Constantine, the date to coincide with: - The Roman festival of Saturnalia (a pagan winter solstice celebration). - Dies Natalis Solis Invicti ("Birthday