The 2nd edition of Religious Holidays and Calendars: An Encyclopedic Handbook edited by Karen Bellener is an incomparable and concise resource for information describing different types of calendars (e.g., lunar, solar) and why they are utilized by various religions to keep time and determine the dates of important celebrations. The holidays of every known religion are described in detail, a remarkable feat given that there is a description of holidays from religions such as Shinto, Jainism, Voodoo, Scientology and Theosophy that usually do not receive as much attention as Judeo-Christian holidays. The book is well organized, making it easy to quickly find the exact information one seeks and the indices are invaluable. This book is everything a reference book should be and, as an Interfaith Minister, an invaluable addition to my library.