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 1st - 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. 6th - Epiphany 24th - 27th - Mahayana New Year (Buddhist) 25th - Burns’ Night.
February 8th - 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. 9th - Shrove Tuesday 10th - Ash Wednesday 14th - St. Valentine’s Day
March 1st-St David’s Day 6th - 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. 17th - St Patrick’s Day 20th-Palm Sunday 24th-Maundy Thursday 25th-Good Friday 27th-Easter
April 8th - Hindu New Year 23rd - 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 4th - Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day The lives and heroism of Jewish people, who died during 1933 to 1945, are commemorated today.
June 6th - 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. 19th - Father’s Day 20th - Summer Solstice
July7th - 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 1st and 29th. If you’re staying at home for the summer enjoy the British weather!
September 13th - Eid-al-Adha (Muslim) 22nd - Autumn Equinox The September Equinox marks the start of autumn and is traditionally celebrated by many faiths all over the world.
October 3rd - Rosh Hashanah 12th - Yom Kippur 30th - 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. 31st - All Hallows Eve
November 1st - All Saints Day * Day of The Dead 5th - 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. 13th - Remembrance Sunday 24th - Thanksgiving 30th - St Andrew’s Day
December 21st - Winter Solstice 24th - Christmas Eve The day before the main event, Christmas Eve kicks off the extended period of festive days that ends on 1st January 2017. It is also the day when seasoned last minute Christmas shoppers prefer to do their present shopping! Hanukkah (Jewish) 25th - Christmas Day 31st - New Year’s Eve.