In keeping with my commitment to bring a helpful monthly religious dietary restrictions calendar to everyone, here are April dates to keep in mind as you plan menus for April events.
March 30-April 7th
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Pesach / Passover is a Jewish holiday with a significant work restriction. It’s a week-long observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. It is one of three pilgrimage festivals. Family gatherings, ritualized meals called Seders, reading of the Haggadah, lighting of Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on the last night of Passover are all practices. It begins at sundown on the first day.
How to include participants
Recommended accommodations begin by avoiding the of scheduling of important deadlines, events, and activities. Provide food accommodations that meet kosher restrictions, plus the leavening of bread is prohibited during this observance.
April 1st
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Easter Sunday is the most solemn holy day in the Christian calendar, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, when God the Father raised Jesus Christ from the dead. The Christian churches celebrate Pentecost on June 8 of this year. General practices included celebratory meals, family gatherings, distribution of colored eggs, baskets and chocolate bunnies. It is a celebration of renewal.
How to include participants
There are several types of Christianity, and each has their own dietary restrictions. This guide has a useful reference for the three major types and their related menu needs.
April 8th
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Visakha Puja / Vesak is a Buddhist holiday traditionally known as Buddha’s birthday. It is the major Buddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha. Buddhists often decorate their homes and visit their local temples. Observers are encouraged to refrain from slaughtering and to avoid eating meat on this date.
How to include participants
This religion does not specifically restrict any particular food or food preparation, but it does have tenets that are interpreted as do no harm. Lacto-vegetarian options are best for planning menus. These are dishes that are vegetarian and dairy-free.
April 14th
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Baisakhi / Vaisakhi is the Sikh new year festival and commemorates 1699, the year. Sikhism was born. Vaisakhi is also a long-established harvest festival. There are often parades, dancing, and singing throughout the day. These celebrations involve music, singing, and chanting of scriptures and hymns.
How to include participants
While the commemoration doesn’t have any special dietary restrictions, Sikhism is strictly lacto-vegetarian. That means event menus need to have dishes that are strictly vegetarian and dairy-free.
April 13th
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Lailat al Miraj is the Islamic commemoration for the Prophet Muhammad’s night time journey from Mecca to the “Farthest Mosque” in Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and given the instruction for Muslims to pray five times daily.
How to include participants
Halal is what is considered permissible under traditional Islamic law and is the guide under which we understand dietary restrictions. There are a number of restrictions, but in general, foods that are kosher are also acceptable under Halal. The largest exception is alcohol, which Halal does not permit.
April 20th
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Ridvan begins on this day and is the Bahá’í commemoration of the twelve-day period in 1863 when Baha’u’llah declared that he was God’s messenger for this age. There are severe work restrictions on days 1, 9, and 12 when festival participation is most important.
How to include participants
The work restrictions on Bahá’í during Ridvan mean events should be moved to different days, so attendance is possible. Other than the work restrictions, there are no specific dietary restrictions.
April 30th – May 2nd
Observance & Dietary Restriction
Theravadin New Year is a Buddhist holiday celebrated in Theravadin countries such as Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Laos. The new year is celebrated for three days beginning with the first full moon in April. In Mahayana countries, the new year starts on the first full moon day in January. Devotees usually spend the New Year festival days in concentrated thought about the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
How to include participants
This religion does not specifically restrict any particular food or food preparation, but it does have tenets that are interpreted and followed in many aspects of daily life, including food consumption. Offering menu dishes that are lacto-vegetarian is the safest approach. Lacto-vegetarians are vegetarians who are also dairy-free.
