Multifaith Calendar

Religious holy days and festivals

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Although some religious festivals occur each year on a set date, many religious festivals occur at different times each year. This is because most religious holidays or festivals are based on a fixed date, the phases of the moon, the timing of the equinoxes and solstices or a combination of the two.

All dates shown on our multifaith calendar use the Gregorian (Western) calendar.The calendar is accurate as far as we are aware, but some dates may vary regionally because they are determined by the lunar (moon) calendar.

Please note:
Jewish & Muslim festivals usually begin at sundown on the previous day.
The dates for the full moon are for nothern hemisphere countries.

Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) 1666-1708
According to the Sikh Nanakshahi calendar, this day marks the birth of the tenth and final Sikh prophet-teacher. Guru Gobind Singh introduced many of the customs that Sikhs practise today including the 5 K's.

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru, was born Gobind Rai in Patna, Bihar on 22 December 1666 CE. His birthday generally falls in December or January—or occasionally twice within one year—when calculated according to the Hindu Bikrami calendar

Makar Sankranti / Lohri (Hindu)
Sankranti means to go from one place to another place (to change direction). It also means one meets another. The time when the sun changes direction from one constellation (of the zodiac) to another is known as Sankranti.

It is celebrated in mid-winter and marks the transition of the sun from the Sagittarius to Capricorn during the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

People take dips in rivers and worship the Sun God especially in the holy Ganges river. The dip is said to purify the self and bestow "punya". Special puja is offered as a thanksgiving for good harvest.
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Pongal (Hindu) Harvest Festival
Pongal is one of the most popular harvest festival of South India, mainly Tamil Nadu. Pongal falls in the mid-January every year and marks the reaping of crops and a special thanksgiving to God, the sun, the earth and the cattle. Pongal festival lasts for four days. Celebrations include drawing of Kolam, swinging & cooking of delicious Pongal.
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23 January

Chinese New Year - Yuan Tan
Year 4710 - Year of the Dragon.
The most important event in the traditional Chinese calendar marking the beginning of the first lunar month.  The festival is colourfully celebrated with fireworks, dances (such as the famous Lion dance) and the giving of gifts, flowers and sweets. Gold is a dominant colour to symbolise the wish for prosperity, and red is also much used as a lucky colour.  Business accounts should be settled and all debts should be paid before the new year begins. Celebrations can last three days or more.

25 January

Candlemas (Christian)
Candlemas marks the day when Jesus was presented in the Temple. Candles for use in churches are usually blessed on this day.

Magha Puja (Buddhist)
Magha Puja is the second most important Buddhist festival. This day commemorates the occasion when the Buddha predicted his death and recited a summary of his teachings and a code of discipline (which monks are expected to recite every fortnight) to 1,250 enlightened followers on the full moon of Magha.
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Lent (Christian) 2012
The first day of Lent when Christians remember the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness and the temptations he faced during this time.

Lent is a time of fasting and discipline in preparation for Easter.
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Purim (Jewish)
Purim celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from the wicked Haman in the days of Queen Esther of Persia. They remember Queen Esther who saved the life of the Jewish people, as told in The Book of Esther. This is read twice in the synagogue. The name of Haman is drowned out with rattles and hooters by congregation whenever it is read. Many people come in fancy dress.  Hamantashen (cakes filled with poppy seeds, literally  "Haman's pockets") are made and eaten at this time.
Note that in the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day.

8 March

Hola Mahalla (Sikh)
Festival of martial arts. It takes place on the day after the end of Holi.

17 March

St. Patrick's Day (Christian)
This holy day of the Patron Saint of Ireland celebrates Irish culture and history.

Mothering Sunday 2012 (Simnel Sunday) (Christian)
A time to say thank you to Mums and carers everywhere.

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday) (Christian) 2012
Christians reflect on The Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with his disciples.

Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) (Sikh)
The harvest festival of North India, the beginning of the solar year. For Sikhs, it represents the founding of the Khalsa, a Sikh brotherhood. Baisakhi always falls on 14th April and this is also the Hindu New Year for North India.

Ramadan begins (Muslim) 2012
The month of fasting from dawn to sunset. During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the time when the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Ramadan on the sunset of the 10 August.

Lammas (Christian)
The celebration of the 'first fruits' when bread made from the first harvest is placed on the altar.

The Transfiguration (Christian)
The Transfiguration commemorates Jesus being transformed in the presence of three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, on a mountain top.

14 August

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
Jewish New Year’s Day, 5772 years from the creation of the world (The date is for 2009 - 2010). This is the most important time in the Jewish year. It is also the beginning of ten special days, called the Days of Penitence. This is the time when Jews say sorry to God for all the bad things they have done in the past year.

This is the only Jewish holiday which lasts for 2 entire days (considered as one very long day), and the reason for this is to emphasize its importance.

Note that in the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Rosh HaShanah on the sunset of 28 September.

Sukkot / Sukkoth begins (Jewish) 2012
A harvest festival commemorating the 40 years that the Jews spent in the wilderness on the way from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. A temporary hut with a roof covered only with branches - called a sukkah - is used during the festival. Four species of plant are used symbolically during the festival - the lulav (palm branch), the etrog (a yellow citrus fruit), the hadas (myrtle) and the aravah (willow).
Note that in the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day.

  All Souls Day (Christian)
On this day in particular the departed are remembered and prayers on their behalf are offered.

Christmas Eve (Christian)

Christmas (Christian)
Celebrates the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the son of God.

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See also our other festival and celebration calendarsee