Buddha's Birthday in Seoul by flickr user Image Zen

Tuesday evening, 50 days following the second day of Passover, begins the Jewish festival known as Shavuot. Shavuot, also called the Festival of Weeks, commemorates the anniversary of the day the Torah was given to the entire Israelite nation. In traditional celebrations, Jews feast, study the Torah, read the Book of Ruth, decorate with greenery and eat plenty of dairy foods.

Saturday May 22 at sundown, Baha'is observe the anniversary of the birth of their faith, when they mark the Declaration of the Bab. On this date in 1844, Siyyid Ali Muhammad—who later came to call Himself the Bab—declared that he was the new divine messenger sent by God to prepare the way on Earth for the next, even greater messenger (Baha’u’llah). This messenger (Baha’u’llah) would be, according to the Bab, the Promised One expected by many world religions.

Sunday, May 23, Christians around the world celebrate Pentecost. According to Christian tradition, while the followers of Jesus were participating in Shavuot festivities, the Holy Spirit—the third part of the Christian Trinity—came down upon followers of Jesus in the form of a strong wind and “tongues of fire.” Pentecost is considered by some the "birthday" of the Christian church.

Read details about these holidays and more in online magazine Read the Spirit's Religious Holidays and Festivals section.