December 2023 language and cultural dates for your diary
Religious/cultural
3 – Advent Sunday, Christian
8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Catholic Christian
Rohatsu (Bodhi day) Buddhist
8-15 – Hanukkah, Judaism
Hanukkah is a very special celebration in the Jewish calendar, which takes place over eight days. Children are given gifts of money, or Gelt, and some receive a gift on each of the eight days of Hanukkah. The dreidel, a kind of spinning top, is also symbolic of this festival. Every night, a candle on the nine-stemmed menorah is lit and delicious fried foods, such as latkes, are enjoyed.
16 – Dhanu Sankranti, Hindu
21 – Yule, Wicca and Pagan
22 – Gita Jayanti, Hindu
24 – Christmas Eve, Christian
25 – Christmas Day, Christian
Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord, Orthodox Christian
26 – Feast of Saint Stephen, Christian
Zarathosht diso, Zoroastrian
28 – Holy Innocents’ Day, Christian
31 – Feast of the Holy Family, Catholic Christian
Watch Night, Christian
Awareness Events
1 – World AIDS Day
This day of remembrance has taken place annually since 1988, when the world was in the grip of the AIDS epidemic. On World AIDS Day, we remember lives lost and share awareness of HIV and AIDS, to reduce stigma around sufferers. The theme this year is Rock the Ribbon; a call to everyone to wear the famous red ribbon, to show your support.
2 – International Day for The Abolition of Slavery
3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
10 – Human Rights Day
18 – International Migrants’ Day
As the number of displaced people globally grows, due to climate change, hunger, war and oppression, this UN-led day raises awareness of the positive contributions migrants make to their new homes, and of the importance of upholding their dignity and rights, regardless of their motivations for leaving their homes.
20 – International Human Solidarity Day
November 2023 language and cultural dates for your diary
Religious/cultural
1 – Samhain: A Pagan and Wiccan festival marking the end of the harvest season
1 – All Saints Day/Feast of the All Saints: A day to honor all holy men and women who have been canonized in the Catholic Church
2 – Anniversary of the Crowning of Haile Selassie: The day when Haile Selassie ascended the Ethiopian throne. This is one of the holiest days in the Rastafarian year
All Souls’ Day, Christian
Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I, Rastafari
9 – Feast of the Dedication of the Archbasilica, Catholic Christian
12 – Diwali: A 5-day festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. It honors gods, goddesses, harvests, New Years, etc.
15 – Nativity Fast begins, Orthodox Christian
19 – Chhath Puja, Hindu
21 – Presentation of the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
23 – Thanksgiving (US Independence)
24 – Martyrdom of Guru Tegh, Bahadur Sikh
26 – Feast of Christ the King, Christian
Day of the Covenant, Baha’i
27 – Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday: A day commemorating the birth of Guru Nanak Ji who founded Sikhism
27 – Jain New Year: A day celebrated on the first day after the month of Kartika.
28 – Ascension of Abdu’l–Bahá, Baha’i
30 – St. Andrew’s Feast Day (patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Barbados, and Romania), Christian
Awareness Events
Movember – Men’s Health Awareness Month
National Family Caregivers’ Month
National Diabetes Month
National Career Development Month
2 – National Stress Awareness Day
5 – World Tsunami Awareness Day
6-10 – Talk Money Week
Living Wage Week
8 – Intersex Day of Solidarity
9 – International Day against Fascism and AntiSemitism
9 – World Adoption Day
10 – World Science Day for Peace and Development
11 – Armistice Day
12 – Remembrance Sunday
12-19 – UK Inter Faith Week
13 – World Kindness Day
13-19 Transgender Awareness Week
14 – World Diabetes Day
16 – International Day for Tolerance
16 Nov-15 Dec – Disability History Month
19 – International Men’s Day
20 – World Children’s Day
Transgender Day of Remembrance
23 – Carers Rights Day
24 – National Day of Listening
25 – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
28 – Giving Tuesday
October 2023 language and cultural dates for your diary
Religious/cultural
30 Sept-6 Oct – Sukkot - Judaism
The first day (and first and second days in the Diaspora) are celebrated as full holidays with prohibitions against work. The following days are called Chol Hamoed (weekdays of the festival), during which work is generally allowed and observances of Sukkot continue. This is followed by Shemini Atzeret (the “Eighth Day of Assembly”) and Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing in Torah”), which are celebrated as one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora.
4 – Baptism of the Prophet (Umm al-Qura) - Islam
6-8 – Shmini Atzeret / Simchat Torah - Judaism
12 – Bandi Chhor Divas - Sikhism
15-24 – Navaratri: A Hindu festival celebrating the Goddess Durga
16 – Birth of the Bab: A day honoring the birthday of a co-founder of the Baha’i faith
17 – Birth of Baha’u’llah: One of the nine holy days in the Baha’i faith that honors the birthday of one of the co-founders
20 – Birth of the Guru Granth - Sikhism
24 – Dussehra: The final day of 10 Hindu holy days that honors Asuj Navratras
23 – Vijayadasham - Hinduism
31 – All Hallows’ Eve / All Saints' Eve - Christianity
31 – Samhain (end of harvest/beginning of winter) - Pagan
Awareness And Events
Black History Month
3 – The Children's Trust's Pyjama Day (find out more about our work with the charity)
5 – World Teachers Day
10 – World Mental Health Day
10 – National Braille Week
12 – World Sight Day
18 – World Menopause Day
22 – International Stuttering/Stammering Day
22 – Wear Red Day (Show racism the red card)
September 2023 language and cultural dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
25th – Yom Kippur, Jewish
A festival of atonement, Yom Kippur is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. It is marked by a 25-hour fast, continuous prayer and abstention from wearing leather shoes, make up or perfume.
23rd – International Day of Sign Languages
This UN awareness day is celebrated during the International Week of the Deaf (the last full week of September each year). It promotes the use of sign language as central to Deaf people’s human rights, and celebrates the diversity of sign languages and Deaf culture worldwide.
28th – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox
Meskel marks the 4th century discovery of the crucifixion cross in Jerusalem. Celebrants hold a big bonfire in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa. Worshippers from different churches across Ethiopia gather, wearing colours that represent their churches and playing musical instruments, each of which holds special meaning.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
7 – Krishna Janmashtami, Hindu
8 – Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Christian
Nativity of The Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
11 – Paryushana Parvarambha begins, Jain
14 – Feast of the Cross, Christian
16-17 – Rosh Hashanah, Judaism
18 – Fast of Gedaliah, Judaism
19 – Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindu
Samvatsari, Jain
21 – Feast of Saint Matthew, Christian
23 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
25 – Yom Kippur, Judaism
27 – Mawlid Al-Nabi, Islam
28 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Anant Chaturdashi, Hindu
29 – Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Christian
30 Sept-6 Oct – Sukkot, Judaism
Awareness And Events
5 – International Day of Charity
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
18 – International Equal Pay Day
Professional Care Workers Week
19 – International Week of the Deaf
Adult Learners Week
21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
23 – Autumn Equinox
23 – International Day of Sign Languages
25 Sept-1 Oct – UK National Inclusion Week
30 Sept – National Non-Verbal Awareness Day UK
August 2023 dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
13th-15th – Obon
This is the Buddhist celebration of ancestors. During Obon, it is thought that the dead visit the living, so celebrants hang out lanterns to guide spirits, perform dances, visit graves and make food offerings to the dead. Mainly celebrated in Japan, Obon is one of the country’s three major holidays.
23rd – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
This day was started by Haitians and people in Gorée Island, Senegal, and then adopted by UNESCO. The date was chosen to commemorate uprisings in Haiti in 1791, led by the now legendary Toussaint Louverture, and the touchpaper for other uprisings, all of which eventually led to abolition of the Transatlantic trade. Find out more and download resources on the UNESCO site.
30th – Raksha Bandhan, Hindu/Sikh/Jain
Raksha Bandhan is tradition honouring the love and bond between siblings, referencing a legend showing love and devotion between Lord Krishna and his sister. Siblings tie a ‘rakhri’ (red thread bracelet) to each other’s wrists. This symbolises protection.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/Cultural
1 – Lammas, Christian
Lughnasadh, Wicca and Pagan
Fast in Honour of the Holy Mother of The Lord Jesus, Orthodox Christian
2 – The 15th of Av, Judaism
6 – Feast of Transfiguration, Christian
Transfiguration of The Lord, Orthodox Christian
10 – Feast of Saint Lawrence, Christian
13-15- Obon, Buddhist
15 – Assumption of Mary, Catholic Christian
Dormition of The Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
22 – Feast of The Queenship of Mary, Catholic Christian
24 – Feast of Saint Bartholomew The Apostle, Christian
29 – Beheading of Saint John The Baptist, Christian
30 – Raksha Bandhan, Hindu
Awareness And Events
9 – International Day of The World’s Indigenous People
19 – World Humanitarian Day
22 – International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
23 – International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
July 2023 dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
10th – Martyrdom of the Báb
Martyrdom of the Báb remembers the execution of Sayyed ʻAlí Muḥammad Shírází, aka the Báb and one of the founders of the Bahai religion. In 1850, he was charged with apostasy by the Persian Empire and imprisoned along with his followers. He was killed by a firing squad.
14th – International Non Binary People’s Day
Since its launch in 2012, this day raises awareness of the specific issues facing non binary people. The date was chosen as it falls exactly halfway between International Women’s Day in March and International Men’s Day in November.
19th – Islamic New Year
The Islamic calendar month of Muharram is the first of the year and it renews in 2023 in the Gregorian month of July, though this changes every year. Muslims do not generally hold big celebrations on this day, however in some Muslim-majority countries it is a national holiday.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
3 – Feast of The Saint Thomas the Apostle, Christian
3 – Asalha Puja (Dharma Day), Buddhist
5 – Birthday of Guru Hargobind, Sikh
10 – Martyrdom of The Báb, Baha’i
15 – Saint Vladimir the Great Day, Orthodox Christian
19 – Islamic New Year, Islam
22 – Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, Christian
23 – Birthday of Guru Har Krishan, Sikh
23 – Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie, Rastafari
24 – Pioneer Day, Mormon Christian
25 – Saint James the Great’s Day, Christian
27 – Tish’a B’av, Judaism
28 – Ashura, Islam
Awareness and events
14 – International Non-Binary People’s Day
18 – Nelson Mandela International Day
28 – World Hepatitis Day
June 2023 dates for your diary
Language and cultural calendar snapshots
4th – Pentecost
Pentecost celebrates the Holy Spirit appearing to Christ’s Apostles and other followers while they were celebrating the Feast of Weeks, or Shavuot. Celebrants pray all night and feast the following day – overindulgence is encouraged!
22nd – UK Windrush Day
Marking the 75th anniversary since the famous ship’s arrival to UK shores, this day honours the contribution of Caribbean migrants to this country, and raises awareness of the scandal where so many have in recent years been illegally deported and stripped of their rights in this country.
24th – Litha
Litha is the Pagan and Wicca name for the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Those celebrating believe that faeries cross over to our realm and offer blessings. It is also a time to rejoice in the abundance of early summer. Traditionally, fires were lit to encourage the sun in its journey and to welcome the second half of the year.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
4 – Pentecost, Orthodox Christian
Trinity Sunday, Christian
8 – The Feast of Corpus Christi, Catholic Christian
12 – The Apostles’ Fast, Orthodox Christian
16 – Feast of The Sacred Heart of Jesus, Catholic Christian
Martyrdom Of Guru Arjan Dev, Sikh
24 – Litha, Wicca and Pagan
Nativity Of Saint John the Baptist, Christian
27 -1 Jul – Hajj, Islam
28 – Waqf Al Arafa, Islam
29 – Feast of Saints Peter And Paul, Christian
29 -2 Jul – Eid Al-Adha, Islam
Awareness and events
4 – International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression
10 – Global Wellness Day
11 – Race Unity Day
12 – World Day Against Child Labour
12-18 – Men’s Health Week
15 – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
18 – Autistic Pride Day
Father’s Day
19-25 – Refugee Week
20 – World Refugee Day
21 – Summer Solstice
22 – UK Windrush Day
26-30 – School Diversity Week