Entries commemorating people generally appear on the day of their birth. If the birth is unknown, anniversaries of their death are used. Some people are entered for both birth and death dates because different cultures honor the person at these different times. This is the case, for example, with Sun Yat-sen, whose memory is celebrated on the day of his birth in Taiwan and on the day of his death in the People s Republic of China. Days of religious observance are included on a fixed date or a moveable date as appropriate.
Many cultures use a lunar calendar, with dates of religious observance varying from year to year.
Except for Visakaha day, all Buddhist holidays are indicated on the dates observed according to the Japanese Buddhist calendar. The actual day of observance for holidays that move from year to year may vary a day or two for any given year. This is true, for example, of Islamic and Hindu festivals. If the exact date is important, consult those in your local community who observe the holiday. Copyright by Diversity Resources, Amherst, MA, 2000.