MAIN RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS
December 2010
Dec Thu 2
Hanukkah (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/hanukkah.shtml
Dec Tue 7
Al-Hijira (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/alhijra.shtml
Dec Wed 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/immaculateconception.shtml
Bodhi Day (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism
Dec Mon 13
St Lucy's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/lucy.shtml
Dec Thu 16
Ashura (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/ashura.shtml
Dec Tue 21
Winter Solstice - Yule (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/wintersolstice.shtml
Dec Fri 24
Christmas Eve (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml
Dec Sat 25
Christmas Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml
Dec Sun 26
Boxing Day (Secular )
St Stephen's Day (Christian )
January 2011
Jan Sat 1
Circumcision (Christian )
New Year's Day (Secular )
Oshogatsu (or Shogatsu) (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/oshogatsu.shtml
Festival of St Basil the Great (Christian )
Jan Wed 5
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/gobindsingh.shtml
10th Tevet (Jewish )
Jan Thu 6
Epiphany (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/epiphany.shtml
Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox) (Christian )
Theophany (Orthodox) (Christian )
Jan Fri 7
Christmas Day (Orthodox) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml
Christmas Day (Ethiopian) (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/holydays/holydays.shtml
Jan Sun 9
First Sunday after Epiphany (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/epiphany.shtml
Baptism of the Lord (Christian )
Jan Thu 13
St Hilary's Day (Christian )
Jan Fri 14
Makar Sankranti (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/makar.shtml
Jan Sat 15
Seijin Shiki (Adults' Day) (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/seijinshiki.shtml
Jan Tue 18
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (start) (Christian )
Jan Thu 20
Tu B'Shevat (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/tubishvat.shtml
Jan Fri 21
St Agnes (Christian )
Jan Tue 25
St Paul's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/paul_1.shtml
Jan Fri 28
St Thomas Aquinas (Christian )
Jan Mon 31
Birthday of Guru Har Rai (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism
February 2011
Feb Wed 2
Candlemas (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/candlemas.shtml
Imbolc (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/imbolc.shtml
Feb Thu 3
Rissun (Setsubun) (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/harumatsuri.shtml
Chinese New Year (Chinese )
Feb Tue 8
Vasant Panchami (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism
Parinirvana - Nirvana day (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/parinirvana.shtml
Feb Fri 11
Our Lady of Lourdes (Christian )
Feb Mon 14
St Valentine's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/valentine.shtml
Feb Tue 15
Nirvana day (alternative date) (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/parinirvana.shtml
Milad un Nabi (Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad) (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/miladunnabi.shtml
Feb Fri 18
Magha Puja (Buddhist )
Feb Sun 20
Milad un Nabi (Shia) (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/miladunnabi.shtml
March 2011
Mar Tue 1
St David's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/david_1.shtml
Mar Wed 2
Nineteen Day Fast (start) (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/customs/fasting.shtml
Mar Thu 3
Hina-matsuri - Festival of Dolls (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto
Mahashivratri (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/mahashivratri.shtml
Mar Sat 5
St Piran's Day (Christian )
Mar Mon 7
Clean Monday - Beginning of Lent (Orthodox) (Christian )
Mar Tue 8
Shrove Tuesday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml#section_2
Mar Wed 9
Ash Wednesday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/lent_1.shtml#section_3
Mar Thu 17
St Patrick's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/patrick_1.shtml
Fast of Esther (Taanit Esther) (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism
Mar Sat 19
Holi (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/holi_1.shtml
St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian )
Mar Sun 20
Hola Mohalla (Lunar Calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/holamahalla.shtml
Spring Equinox - Eoster (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/springequinox.shtml
Purim (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/purim_1.shtml
Mar Mon 21
Shushan Purim (Jewish )
Naw-Ruz (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/nawruz.shtml
Jamshedi Noruz (Fasli) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/noruz.shtml
Shubun-sai - Equinox day (Shinto )
Mar Fri 25
Annunciation (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/annunciation.shtml
Mar Sat 26
Khordad Sal (Fasli) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/khordadsal.shtml
April 2011
Apr Sun 3
Mothering Sunday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/motheringsunday_1.shtml
Apr Mon 4
Ugadi (Yugadi) (Hindu )
Apr Tue 12
Swaminarayan Jayanti (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/swaminarayanjayanti.shtml
Rama Navami (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/rama.shtml
Apr Wed 13
Vaisakhi (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/vaisakhi.shtml
Apr Thu 14
Birthday of Guru Nanak (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/nanak.shtml
Hola Mohalla (Nanakshahi Calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/holamahalla.shtml
Apr Sat 16
Mahavira Jayanti (Jain )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/holydays/holydays.shtml
Apr Sun 17
Palm Sunday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/holyweek_1.shtml
Apr Mon 18
Hanuman Jayanti (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/hanuman.shtml
Theravada New Year (Buddhist )
Fast of the Firstborn (Jewish )
Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/teghbahadur.shtml
Birthday of Guru Angad Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
Apr Tue 19
Passover (1st day) (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/passover_1.shtml
Apr Thu 21
Maundy Thursday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/holyweek_1.shtml#section_2
Ridvan - first day (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/ridvan.shtml
Anniversary of Haile Selassie's visit to Jamaica (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/holydays/holydays.shtml
Apr Fri 22
Good Friday (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/holyweek_1.shtml#section_3
Apr Sat 23
St George's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/george_1.shtml
Apr Sun 24
Easter (Orthodox) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/easter.shtml
Easter Sunday (Western) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/easter.shtml
Apr Tue 26
Passover (final day) (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/passover_1.shtml
Apr Fri 29
Ridvan - ninth day (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/ridvan.shtml
May 2011
May Sun 1
Beltane (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/beltane_1.shtml
Yom Hashoah (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/yomhashoa.shtml
May Mon 2
Ridvan - twelfth day (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/ridvan.shtml
Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/arjandev.shtml
May Sun 8
Yom Hazikaron (Jewish )
May Mon 9
Yom Ha'atzmaut (Jewish )
May Tue 17
Wesak or Buddha day (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/wesak.shtml
May Sun 22
Lag B'Omer (Jewish )
May Mon 23
Declaration of the Bab (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/declarationbab.shtml
Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
May Sun 29
Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/ascension.shtml
June 2011
Jun Wed 1
Yom Yerushalayim (Jewish )
Jun Thu 2
Ascension Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/ascension.shtml
Jun Sun 5
Ascension Day (Catholic Church in England and Wales) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/ascension.shtml
Jun Wed 8
Shavuot (1st day) (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/shavuot.shtml
Jun Sun 12
Pentecost - Whitsun (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/pentecost.shtml
Jun Thu 16
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/arjandev.shtml
Jun Sun 19
Trinity Sunday (Christian )
All Saints' Day (Orthodox) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allsaints_1.shtml
Jun Tue 21
Summer Solstice - Litha (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/summersolstice.shtml
Jun Thu 23
Corpus Christi (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/corpuschristi.shtml
Jun Sun 26
Corpus Christi (Catholic Church in England and Wales) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/corpuschristi.shtml
Jun Wed 29
St Peter's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/disciples_1.shtml#section_2
July 2011
Jul Tue 5
Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
Jul Sat 9
Martyrdom of the Bab (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/martyrdombab.shtml
Jul Fri 15
St Swithin's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/swithin.shtml
Asala - Dharma Day (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/dharma.shtml
Jul Tue 19
17th Tammuz (Jewish )
Jul Wed 20
Jamshedi Noruz (Qadimi) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/noruz.shtml
Jul Sat 23
Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
Birthday of Haile Selassie I (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml#section_2
Jul Sun 24
Pioneer Day (Mormon )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/holydays/holydays_1.shtml
Jul Mon 25
Khordad Sal (Qadimi) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/khordadsal.shtml
August 2011
Aug Mon 1
Lughnasadh - Lammas (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/lughnasadh.shtml
Ramadan (start) (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/ramadan_1.shtml
Aug Sat 6
Transfiguration (Christian )
Aug Tue 9
Tisha B'Av (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/tishbav.shtml
Aug Sat 13
Raksha Bandhan (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/raksha.shtml
Aug Mon 15
Dormition of the Theotokos (Christian )
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/assumption.shtml
Aug Wed 17
Birthday of Marcus Garvey (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/people/marcusgarvey.shtml
Aug Fri 19
Jamshedi Noruz (Shenshai) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/noruz.shtml
Aug Mon 22
Janmashtami - Krishna Jayanti (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/janamashtami.shtml
Aug Wed 24
Khordad Sal (Shenshai) (Zoroastrian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/khordadsal.shtml
Aug Tue 30
Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eidulfitr.shtml
September 2011
Sep Thu 8
Nativity of the Theotokos (Christian )
Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian )
Feast of the Birth of Mary (Christian )
Sep Sun 11
Ethiopian New Year (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/holydays/holydays.shtml
Sep Fri 23
Autumn Equinox (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/autumnequinox.shtml
Sep Wed 28
Navaratri (start) (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/navaratri.shtml
Sep Thu 29
Michaelmas/St Michael, St Gabriel and St Raphael's Day (Christian )
Rosh Hashanah (1st day) (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/roshhashanah.shtml
October 2011
Oct Sat 1
Fast of Gedalliah (Jewish )
Oct Sun 2
Feast of the Guardian Angels (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/guardianangels.shtml
Oct Thu 6
Dussera (Hindu )
Oct Sat 8
Yom Kippur (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/yomkippur.shtml
Oct Sun 9
Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
Oct Thu 13
St Edward's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/edward.shtml
Sukkot (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/sukkot_1.shtml
Oct Wed 19
Hoshanah Rabbah (Jewish )
Oct Thu 20
Shemini Atzeret (Jewish )
Birth of the Bab (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/birthbab.shtml
Oct Fri 21
Simchat Torah (Jewish )
Oct Wed 26
Paryushana (Jain )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/holydays/holydays.shtml
Diwali (Hindu )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/diwali.shtml
Diwali (Jain )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/diwali.shtml
Diwali (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/diwali.shtml
Oct Mon 31
Samhain (Hallowe'en) (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/samhain.shtml
Hallowe'en (All Hallows' Eve) (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/halloween_1.shtml
November 2011
Nov Tue 1
All Saints' Day (Hallowmas, All Hallows') (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allsaints_1.shtml
Nov Wed 2
Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I (Rastafari )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/beliefs/beliefs_1.shtml#section_2
All Souls' Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allsaints_1.shtml#section_2
Nov Sun 6
Eid-Ul-Adha (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eiduladha.shtml
Nov Thu 10
Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar Calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/nanak.shtml
Nov Fri 11
Armistice Day (Multifaith )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/remembrance
Nov Sat 12
Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/bahaullah_1.shtml
Nov Tue 15
Shichigosan (7-5-3 festival) (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/shichigosan.shtml
Nov Wed 23
Niinamesei (Shinto )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/shinto/holydays/akimatsuri.shtml
Nov Thu 24
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/teghbahadur.shtml
Nov Sat 26
Day of the Covenant (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai
Al-Hijira (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/alhijra.shtml
Nov Sun 27
Advent Sunday (Christian )
Nov Mon 28
Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (Bahai )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/abdulbaha.shtml
Nov Wed 30
St Andrew's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/andrew.shtml
December 2011
Dec Mon 5
Ashura (Muslim )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/ashura.shtml
Dec Thu 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/immaculateconception.shtml
Bodhi Day (Buddhist )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism
Dec Tue 13
St Lucy's Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/lucy.shtml
10th Tevet (Jewish )
Dec Wed 21
Hanukkah (Jewish )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/hanukkah.shtml
Dec Thu 22
Winter Solstice - Yule (Pagan )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/wintersolstice.shtml
Dec Sat 24
Christmas Eve (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml
Dec Sun 25
Christmas Day (Christian )
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml
Dec Mon 26
Boxing Day (Secular )
St Stephen's Day (Christian )
other events ... more