Even before throwing in holiday parties, the days between Thanksgiving and the end of the Christmas season are crammed with dates to remember, no matter what your religion. Here are a few:

Today: Day of the Covenant, Bahai celebration of the promise given in the last will and testament of Baha'u'llah, whom Bahai consider one of the manifestations of God and the founder of the faith.

Nov. 27: First Sunday in Advent, first of four weeks of Christian preparation for observing the birth of Jesus Christ.

Nov. 28: Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha, Bahai celebration of the rising of the spirit of Abdul'l-Baha, Baha'u'llah's son and chosen successor, to the heavenly dwelling.

Nov. 30: St. Andrew's Day, Catholic observance of the coming of Christianity to what is now known as Scotland. The martyrdom of Andrew, one of the 12 apostles, is remembered as Advent begins.

Dec. 1: Suijin-Matsuri, Shinto rite honoring the god of water.

Dec. 2-3: Remembrance day - evening to evening — for Khadijah, mother of Islam and its first convert, transcriber of the Quran, Prophet Muhammad's wife and partner, and businesswoman, who died in the seventh century.

Dec. 4: Feast of Shango, Santeria rite honoring the deity who defends against evil.

Dec. 6: St. Nicholas Day, in honor of the Catholic priest who lived in the fourth century in present-day Turkey. His legend evolved into Santa Claus.

Dec. 8: Bodhi Day, Buddhist celebration of the time about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gautama took his place under a bodhi tree in India, vowing to remain there until he attained supreme enlightenment.

Dec. 8: Death day of Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, Sufi saint who taught about unity of the soul with the one universal deity of 99 names and attributes. He died in 1111.

Dec. 8: Fast day for Maha Devi, the divine mother of the Hindu world.

Dec. 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Catholic celebration of St. Anne's conception of Mary, mother of Jesus.

Dec. 11: Fast day for Vishnu, the Hindu god worshipped as preserver of the universe.

Dec. 12: Feast of Masa'il, first day of the 15th month of the Bahai calendar that focuses on mystery and questions.

Dec. 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe Feast Day, in which Catholics honor the first appearance in 1531 of the mother of God at the former shrine of Aztec Moon Goddess Coatlicue in Mexico.

Dec. 13: St. Lucia's Day, in which Catholics honor a first-century Sicilian woman who blinded herself rather than marrying outside her Christian faith. For some pagans, the day is the Feast of the Light-bringer honoring Juno Lucina, the Roman goddess of light and childbirth.

Dec. 16-24: Las Posadas, a re-enactment in Mexico and some Mexican-American communities of Mary and Joseph's search for an inn in the days before the birth of Jesus.

Dec. 17: Feast of Babalu Aye, Santeria healer of deadly diseases.

Dec. 21: Yule, one of the sabbats or holidays of the Wiccan calendar. It occurs on the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and celebrates the rebirth of the sun god as light begins to return from this day forward.

Dec. 21-Jan. 9: Soyala, Hopi and Zuni new year festival of purification and renewal.

Dec. 22: Festival of Empress Mother Wang-Mu, Taoist festival honoring the mother of compassion and wisdom, and manifestation of the Tao.

Dec. 22: Tohji-Taisai, Shinto rite honoring Sun Goddess Amaterasu, who withdrew into a cave until she was enticed with music and dance after Storm God Susano-o angered her.

Dec. 23: Birthday of Joseph Smith, born in 1805 and founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as Mormons.

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve, Christian celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

Dec. 25: Christmas Day, Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus.

Dec. 26: St. Stephen's Day, Catholic remembrance of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Called Boxing Day in Canada and other British-influenced countries in part because churches opened their alms boxes on that day to distribute the money to the poor.

Dec. 26: Zarathosht Diso, Zoroastrian anniversary of the death of Prophet Zarathustra about 3,500 years ago.

Dec. 26-Jan. 2: Hanukkah, Jewish Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem in 165 B.C. after the Maccabees recaptured it from the Hellenist Syrians.

Dec. 26-Jan. 1: Kwanzaa, an African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community and culture. Many religions now observe Kwanzaa and its highlighting of seven life virtues.

Dec. 27: St. John's Day, Catholic remembrance of the only one of the 12 disciples who did not abandon Jesus during his crucifixion.

Dec. 28: Holy Innocents Day, honoring the memory of male children killed by King Herod in an attempt to destroy Jesus. Also called Holy Family Day.

Dec. 29: Fast day for Shiva, the Hindu god worshipped as destroyer of the world.

Dec. 31: Feast of Sharaf, first day of the 16th month of the Bahai calendar that focuses on honor.

Dec. 31: Feast of Yemaya, Santeria mother of the sun and moon.

Dec. 31: New Year's Eve.

Dec. 31: Omisoka, the final day before the new year. Buddhist and Shinto devotees perform the rite of Oharai to purify their houses and businesses. All that is old is thrown away, debts are paid, and problems in relationships are resolved.

Dec. 31: Watch Night, Christian occasion thanking God for bringing people safely through another year. Created by U.S. blacks at the time of the emancipation of slaves in 1863.

Jan. 1-3: Shogatsu, Shinto new year festival observed with prayers for inner renewal, prosperity and health. Jan. 1 is known as Gantan-sai or Ganjitsu.

Jan. 1: Feast of St. Basil, Orthodox Christian commemoration of St. Basil the Great, who wrote a Eucharist liturgy that bears his name.

Jan. 1: Mary, Mother of God, Catholics' celebration of the mother of Jesus.

Jan. 1: New Year's Day.

Jan. 5: Twelfth Night, Christian celebration marking the end of Christmas festivities.

Jan. 6: Epiphany, Christian commemoration of the revelation of Jesus' divine nature to the Gentiles when the magi paid homage to him with gifts. Also called Dia de los Reyes, Day of the Kings. Orthodox Christians call it the Feast of the Theophany, recalling the revelation of the Holy Trinity in the baptism of Jesus.

Jan. 7: Nativity of Christ, celebration of Jesus' birth for some Orthodox Christians.

Source: www.interfaithcalendar.org, Mystic's Wheel of the Year multifaith calendars, GNS research.