Muharram/New Year in United States
Quick Facts
The first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar, marks the start of the Islamic New Year.Local names
| Name | Language |
|---|---|
| Muharram/New Year | English |
| Muharram/Año nuevo | Spanish |
Muharram/New Year 2010
Wednesday, December 8, 2010Muharram/New Year 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.
See list of observations below
Many Muslims in countries such as the United States observe the start of the Islamic New Year on the first day of Muharram, which is the first month in the Islamic calendar.
Many Muslims spend time in prayer during Muharram. ©iStockphoto.com/Rachel Donahue
What do people do?
Some Islamic organizations in the United States post announcements reminding people of the first day of Muharram prior to the event. Muharram is one of the four sanctified months in the Islamic calendar. Some Muslim Americans choose to fast during this month, although fasting is not obligatory. Many Muslims engage in voluntary prayer, including evening prayer, during Muharram.
The Day of Ashura (or Ashurah) is known as the most sacred day in the month of Muharram. It is the 10th day of Muharram and is a day of fasting for many Sunni Muslims. Many Shi’a Muslims use the day to commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali in 680 CE. Some Muslims give to charity on this day.
Public life
The first day of Muharram is an Islamic observance and is not a federal public holiday in the United States.
Background
Muharram is the first month in the Islamic year and a time of mourning and peace. It is forbidden for Muslims to fight during this month. A number of important events in Islamic history have occurred during this month. These include:
- The Battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq) in the year 680 CE, which enabled Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammed, and his army to enter the city on the first day of the month.
- The restriction of Husayn ibn Ali's access to water on the seventh day.
- The death of Husayn ibn Ali and the defeat of his army on the 10th day of the month.
The Shi'a and Sunni denominations of Islam attach different weights to these events and mark them in different ways.
About Muharram/New Year in other countries
Read more about Muharram/New Year.Muharram/New Year Observances
Note: Regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of the date for Islamic holidays, which begin at sundown the day before the date specified for the holiday. The Islamic calendar is lunar and the days begin at sunset, so there may be one-day error depending on when the New Moon is first seen.| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Nov 9 | 1980 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Oct 30 | 1981 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Oct 19 | 1982 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Oct 8 | 1983 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Sep 27 | 1984 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Sep 16 | 1985 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Sep 6 | 1986 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Aug 26 | 1987 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Aug 14 | 1988 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Aug 4 | 1989 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jul 24 | 1990 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Jul 13 | 1991 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jul 2 | 1992 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Jun 21 | 1993 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Jun 10 | 1994 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | May 31 | 1995 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | May 19 | 1996 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | May 9 | 1997 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Apr 28 | 1998 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Apr 17 | 1999 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Apr 6 | 2000 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Mar 26 | 2001 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Mar 15 | 2002 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Mar 5 | 2003 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Feb 22 | 2004 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Feb 10 | 2005 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Jan 31 | 2006 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Jan 20 | 2007 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Jan 10 | 2008 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Mon | Dec 29 | 2008 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Fri | Dec 18 | 2009 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Wed | Dec 8 | 2010 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sun | Nov 27 | 2011 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Nov 15 | 2012 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Tue | Nov 5 | 2013 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Sat | Oct 25 | 2014 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim | |
| Thu | Oct 15 | 2015 | Muharram/New Year | Muslim |
Other holidays in December 2010 in United States
- World AIDS Day (Wednesday, December 1, 2010)
- International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (Thursday, December 2, 2010)
- First Day of Chanukah (Thursday, December 2, 2010)
- International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Friday, December 3, 2010)
- International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development (Sunday, December 5, 2010)
- International Civil Aviation Day (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)
- International Anti-Corruption Day (Thursday, December 9, 2010)
- Last day of Chanukah (Thursday, December 9, 2010)
- Human Rights Day (Friday, December 10, 2010)
- International Mountain Day (Saturday, December 11, 2010)
- Pan American Aviation Day (Friday, December 17, 2010)
- Wright Brothers Day (Friday, December 17, 2010)
- International Migrants Day (Saturday, December 18, 2010)
- International Day for South-South Cooperation (Sunday, December 19, 2010)
- International Human Solidarity Day (Monday, December 20, 2010)
- December Solstice (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)
- Washington's Birthday (Thursday, December 23, 2010)
- Christmas Eve (Friday, December 24, 2010)
- Christmas Day (Friday, December 24, 2010)
- Christmas Day (Saturday, December 25, 2010)
- Kwanzaa (until Jan 1) (Sunday, December 26, 2010)
- New Year's Day (Friday, December 31, 2010)
- New Year's Eve (Friday, December 31, 2010)
Other calendars
- Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
- Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
- Custom calendar - make customized calendars
