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1 Gantan-sai Shinto Start of three day celebrations to mark the New Year 3 Mawlid n-Nabiyyi Islam Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad 5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism (Nanakshahi calendar) Tenth Sikh Guru and the last one in human form; founded the Brotherhood of the Pure (Khalsa) 6 Epiphany Christianity Celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men (Magi) to the infant Jesus 7 Christmas Day Rastafarianism Celebrated on this day to coincide with Christmas in Ethiopia Christmas Day Orthodox Christianity Celebrated on this day by Eastern Orthodox Christians 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism Harvest festival 24 Saraswati Puja Hinduism 27 Holocaust Memorial Day Interfaith 2 Imbolc Paganism Honours the goddess Brigid and marks the return of Spring Candlemas Christianity Commemorates the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple and the purification of his mother after giving birth 3 Setsuban Shinto Part of the Spring festival with special ritual to ward off evil 4 Tu B‘Shevat Judaism Marks the beginning of the ‘new year’ for trees 8 Parinirvana Buddhism Celebration to mark the final passing of the Buddha 15 Nirvana Day Buddhism Alternative date for Parinirvana 17 Shrove Tuesday Christianity Day of preparation for Lent, traditionally marked by eating pancakes Mahashivratri Hinduism Festival celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva 18 Ash Wednesday Christianity First day of Lent 19 Chinese New Year (Confucius, Daoist, Buddhism) Most important of the traditional Chinese holidays 2 St David’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of Wales Baha’i fast begins Baha’i Adults fast from sunrise to sunset for 19 days; important time for prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal 3 Hanamatsuri Shinto Flower festival celebrating the birthday of Shakyamuni, whose teachings form the basis of Buddhism 5 Magha Puja Buddhism Takes place on the full moon day commemorating the life of the Buddha Purim Judaism Celebration of Jewish deliverance as told in the Book of Esther Holi Hinduism Festival of Colour marking the end of winter 17 St Patrick’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of Ireland 20 Spring Equinox Paganism Celebration of Spring 21 Naw-Ruz Baha’i End of the 19 day fast and the beginning of the Baha’i New Year Shubu-Sai Shinto A day for visiting graves 26 Khordad Sal Zoroastrianism Celebrating the birth date of Zoroaster 28 Rama Navami Hinduism Celebrating the birthday of Ram and the marriage of Ram and Sita 29 Palm Sunday Christianity First day of Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter 2 Maundy Thursday Christianity Commemorates the Last Supper 3 Good Friday Christianity Commemorates the death of Jesus by crucifixion Mahavira Jayanti Jainism Celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara (saviour) 4 Pesach (Passover) Judaism Celebrates the Exodus, the freedom from slavery of the Children of Israel from ancient Egypt that followed the Ten Plagues 5 Easter Day Christianity Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ 13 Valsakhi (Balsakhl) Sikhism Celebrates the founding of the Khalsa, the Brotherhood of the Pure by Guru Gobind Singh 16 Yom Ha Shoah Judaism Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, serves as a day of remembrance for those who perished in the Shoah (Holocaust) 21 First Day of Ridvan Baha'i Start of festival commemorating the commencement of Baha’u’llah's prophethood 23 St George’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of England 29 Ninth Day of Ridvan Baha’i Day when Baha’u’llah’s family joined him at the Najibiyyih Garden, Baghdad 1 Beltane Paganism Celebration of fertility marking the beginning of Summer 2 Twelfth Day of Ridvan Baha’i Close of the festival 14 Ascension Day Christianity Marks the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven after he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday 24 Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) Judaism Celebrates the giving of the Torah (Five Books of Moses), the first harvest, and the ripening of the first fruits Pentecost Christianity Marks the appearance of the Holy Spirit; also known as Whitsun Declaration of the Bab Baha’i Celebrates The Bab’s declaration of his mission as the messenger of God 25 Wesak/Vaisakha Pooja Buddhism Celebration of Buddha’s enlightenment 29 Ascension of Bahaullah Baha’i Commemoration of the ascension of the Baha’i faith’s founder 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sikhism Commemorates the fifth Sikh Guru and first Sikh martyr 18 Ramadan Islam Starts the most significant month for Muslims; precise date varies as it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Marks a period of daily fasting from dawn to sunset 21 Mid-Summer’s Day Paganism A celebration of the sun’s power on the longest day of the year 28 Saints Peter and Paul’s Day Christianity Observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans 10 Martyrdom of The Bab Baha’i Commemorates The Bab’s execution in 1850, after which his teachings continued to spread Asala-Dharma Day Buddhism Commemorates Buddha’s first teaching to the five ascetics in the Deer Park near Benares, India 13 Laylat al Qadr Islam Marks the night in which the Qur’an was first revealed 17 Eid-al-Fitr Islam Marks the end of Ramadan with an additional morning congregational prayer in the mosque; precise date varies as it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon 23 Birthday of Emperor Halle Selassie I Rastafarianism A holy day of commemoration for Rastafarians 26 Tisha B’Av Judaism Anniversary of the destruction of the Temple of Solomon by Nebuchadnezzar and of the Second Temple by Titus 1 Lughnasadh Paganism Marks the first day of harvest 16 The Blessed Virgin Mary Christianity Celebration of the mother of Jesus 29 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism Celebrates the love and duty between sisters and brothers 5 Janmashtami Hinduism Celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna, believed to have shown himself in human form 5,000 years ago 11 Ethiopian New Year’s Day Rastafarianism 14 Rosh Hashanah Judaism Jewish New Year, marks the start of ten days of repentance, ending on Yom Kippur 18 Samvatsari Jainism Holiest day of the Jain calendar; the day is spent in prayers and contemplation 20 The Hajj (Pilgrimage) Islam Once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Makkah; is the largest gathering of Muslims anywhere in the world 21 International Day of Peace Interfaith 22 Day of Arafat Islam Holy Day in which the verse of the Qur'an was revealed 23 Autumn Equinox Paganism Ritual of thanksgiving Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Judaism Holiest day of the Jewish calendar, marked by a 25-hour fast and solemn prayer to repent for the previous year’s sins Eid-ul-Adha Islam Marks the sacrifice made by Prophet Abraham 28 Sukkot Judaism Tabernacles or Feast of Booths 6 Simchat Torah Judaism Celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings 14 Al-Hijra Islam Islamic New Year 20 Durga Puja/Navarati/Dassehra (20-23 October) Hinduism Ten days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts and feasts in honour of the supreme mother Goddess 23 Ashura Islam Marks the tenth day of Muharram as the day Allah saved Moses from the Pharaoh 1 All Saints Day Christianity Honours all Saints in Christian history Samhain Paganism Marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter 2 All Souls Day Christianity Commemorates the faithful departed, family members and friends who have died 8 Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) Interfaith 10 Diwali Hinduism, Jainism Festival of lights symbolising the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance 13 Birthday of The Bab Baha’i Celebrates the birthday of The Bab, forerunner, who prepared they way for Baha’u’llah 14 Birthday of Baha’u’llah Baha’i One of the twin founders of the Baha’i faith, who was born in 1817 15 Shichi-Go-San Shinto Festival celebrating the growth and well-being of young children 16 Interfaith Week (16-22 November) Interfaith 25 Birthday of Guru Nanak Sikhism Celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru 29 Advent Sunday Christianity Marks the start of the preparation for the birthday of Jesus on Christmas Day 30 Saint Andrew’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of Scotland 7 Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) Judaism Celebrates the rededication of Jerusalem’s Second Temple and the miracle of its menorah, which was kept alight for eight days with one day’s oil 8 Bodhi Day Buddhism Commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautauma (Shakyamuni) experienced enlightenment 21 Midwinter/Yule Paganism Celebration of light takes place on the shortest day of the year 24 Christmas Eve Christianity 25 Christmas Day Christianity Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is widely celebrated by the exchanging of gifts DECEMBER JANUARY FEBRUARY APRIL JUNE JULY OCTOBER NOVEMBER AUGUST MAY SEPTEMBER MARCH Baha’i Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Jainism Judaism Paganism Rastafarianism Shinto Sikhism Zoroastrianism Dates used are correct to the best of our knowledge. Some dates may vary regionally because they are determined by the lunar calendar Produced by Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with Tower Hamlets Interfaith Forum www.faithintowerhamlets.com www.towerhamlets.gov.uk F A I T H C A L E N D A R 2015
