Your 2016 Spiritual Planner

Our vibrant multi-cultural society encourages us to experience the magic of religious festivals and celebratory events that happen all over the world, throughout the course of the year. To ensure that you do not miss out, our month-by-month guide highlights some of the popular spiritual days and events that you can enjoy.

January

1^st – New Year’s Day

New Year’s day is traditionally wind-down time following the excesses of the celebratory Christmas holiday. Mark the start of 2016 with some quiet quality time for contemplation and reflection. A spiritual reading at this time can empower you to make positive changes over the coming months.

6^th – Epiphany

24^th-27^th – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)

25^th – Burns’ Night

February

8^th – Chinese New Year

Join your local Chinese community to celebrate the year of the Monkey. Colourful Chinese festivals tend to last up to two weeks so you have plenty of time to enjoy traditional music and dance performances, and to feast on an authentic banquet.

9^th – Shrove Tuesday

10^th – Ash Wednesday

14^th – St Valentine’s Day

March

1^st – St David’s Day

6^th – Mothering Sunday

Mothering Sunday, or Mother’s Day, celebrates the female nurturer in your family. This does not have to be a birth mother. An adoptive parent, close family relative or an inspiring mentor can also be honoured on this special day.

17^th – St Patrick’s Day

20^th – Palm Sunday

24^th – Maundy Thursday

25^th – Good Friday

27^th – Easter

April

8^th – Hindu New Year

23^rd – St George’s Day

*First day of Passover (Jewish)

Passover (or Pesach) is a religious Jewish festival that last for eight days. Jewish families unite with close friends to spent time together and to attend Seders (communal traditional meals).

May

4^th – Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day

The lives and heroism of Jewish people, who died during 1933 to 1945, are commemorated today.

June

6^th – Ramadan begins

A period of fasting, prayer, charity and self-accountability begins today for Muslims all over the world. Fasting during Ramadan is considered to be one of the fundamental duties of Islam. The fasting continues for one month.

19^th – Father’s Day

20^th – Summer Solstice

July

7^th – Eid-al-Fitr (Muslim) – End of Ramadan

After a month of fasting and prayers Muslims can unite and celebrate the feast of Eid-al-Fitr. The feast can last up to three days.

August

The summer holiday period of August is sandwiched between two national Bank Holidays – on the 1^st and 29^th. If you’re staying at home for the summer enjoy the British weather!

September

13^th – Eid-al-Adha (Muslim)

22^nd – Autumn Equinox

The September Equinox marks the start of autumn and is traditionally celebrated by many faiths all over the world.

October

3^rd – Rosh Hashanah

12^th – Yom Kippur

30^th – Diwali

Known as the ‘festival of lights’, Diwali is one of the most significant festivals in Indian culture and is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

31^st – All Hallows Eve

November

1^st – All Saints Day

* Day of The Dead

5^th – Guy Fawkes Night

Also known as Bonfire Night, this annual event is celebrated with firework displays and bonfires. The event commemorates the prevention of the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, in 1605.

13^th – Remembrance Sunday

24^th – Thanksgiving

30^th – St Andrew’s Day

December

21^st – Winter Solstice

24^th – Christmas Eve

The day before the main event, Christmas Eve kicks off the extended period of festive days that ends on 1^st January 2017. It is also the day when seasoned last minute Christmas shoppers prefer to do their present shopping!

* Hanukkah (Jewish)

25^th – Christmas Day

31^st – New Year’s Eve