A CALENDAR RARITY

Submitted by ub on

This day find us in a rare calendar overlap. Here’s what a significant “triad” likely refers to today 

  1. Ramadan – The Islamic holy month of fasting, observed by Muslims worldwide. It follows the lunar Hijri calendar and shifts about 10–11 days earlier each year.

     

  2. Lunar New Year – Celebrated in many Asian cultures (most famously Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese). For example, Chinese New Year marks the start of the lunar calendar in China.

     

  3. Ash Wednesday – In some years, Ramadan and Lunar New Year fall close to Ash Wednesday, which begins the Christian season of Lent in many Western churches.

Because Ramadan and Lunar New Year both follow lunar calendars and Ash Wednesday is tied to the lunar-based date of Easter,  occasionally they cluster closely together on the Gregorian calendar.

This day specifically (February 17, 2026), it is:

  • Not typically Lunar New Year (that usually falls between Jan 21–Feb 20).
  • Ramadan in 2026 is expected to begin around mid-February (depending on moon sighting).

  • Ash Wednesday in 2026 falls on February 18.

    February 17 in the United States also includes some fun and awareness-focused days:

  • National Random Acts of Kindness Day

  • National Café au Lait Day

  • National Cabbage Day

  • Pancake Day / Shrove Tuesday food traditions

  • World Human Spirit Day…and others like Analog to Digital TV Day, and National Tennis Pro Day.

    Extra Interesting Event

  • Annular Solar Eclipse “Ring of Fire” also occurs on Feb 17, 2026, an astronomical event where the Moon partially covers the Sun.

  • So the “triad” we are noticing today is Ramadan initiation/moon sighting, Lunar New Year, and Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, are all aligning on February 17, 2026.

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