March dates for your diary

Calendar snapshots

1st – Shrove Tuesday, Christian

Shrove Tuesday marks the last day before Christians’ 40 day fast for Lent. In the UK, we traditionally eat pancakes. In other countries, Mardi Gras (literally Fat Tuesday) is celebrated with street carnivals, music and excess.

14th – Nanakshahi, Sikh

The Nanakshahi calendar was only introduced in 2003, to fix most Sikh celebrations rather than have them change date each year. The calendar is named after Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

18th – Holi, Hindu

Holi is a lively Indian celebration that involves throwing coloured powder paint and water at each other. It is often celebrated on the full moon before the beginning of the Vernal Equinox, as per the Hindu calendar.

March calendar

1stIntercalary Days (end) - Baha'l
Saint David's Day - Christian
Shrove Tuesday - Christian
Maha Shivaratri - Hindu
International Wheelchair Day
Zero Discrimination Day
2ndNineteen Day Fast begins - Baha'l
Ash Wednesday - Christian
3rdWorld Hearing Day
6thCheesefare Sunday - Orthodox Christian
7thGreat Lent begins/Clean Monday - Orthodox Christian
8thInternational Women's Day
13thSunday of Orthodoxy - Orthodox Christian
14thNanakshahl (New Year) - Sikh
15thLord's Evening Meal - Jehovah's Witness
16thPurim - Judaism
17thSaint Patricks' Day - Christian
Holika Dahan - Hindu
Bank Holiday - Northern Ireland and ROI
18thHoli - Hindu
Lailat al Bara'ah - Islam
Global Recycling Day
19thHola Mohalla - Sikh
20thSpring Equinox
Ostara/Mabon - Wicca/Pagan
International Day of Happiness
21stNaw-Ruz (New Year) - Baha'l
Norooz (New Year) - Persian/Zoroastrian
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
World Down Syndrome Day
25thThe Annunciation of the Virgin Mary - Christian
Annunciation to the Theotokos - Orthodox Christian
Internationnal Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
26thKhordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zarathushtra) - Zoroastrian
27thMothering Sunday
British Summer Time begins
30thWorld Bipolar Day
31stInternational Transgender Day of Visibility

Are you celebrating any festivals this month? Please get in touch and tell us all about it! Email nicole.kershaw@newham.gov.uk.

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