March dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
7th – Purim, Judaism
Purim celebrates an ancient victory of the Jewish people over their enemies and persecutors. People dress up, give money to charity and share a Purim feast and gifts with family and friends.
14th – Nanakshahi, Sikhism
The Sikh Nanakshahi calendar was introduced in 2003, so that celebrations always fall on the same date in the Gregorian calendar. It is named after Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. Special prayers are held in Gurdwaras to usher in the new year.
23nd - Ramadan, Islam
Muslims fast during this holy month, to feel closer to God and remember the suffering of others. Muslims also attend special services at their mosque, endeavour to read the entire Qur’an and give more to charity (Zakat).
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – St David’s day, Christian
2 – Nineteen day fast begins, Baha’i
5 – Feast of Orthodoxy, Orthodox Christian
6 – Magha Puja, Buddhist
7 – Holika Dahan, Hindu
7 – Purim, Judaism
8 – Lailat al Bara’ah, Islam
8 – Holi, Hindu
8-10 – Hola Mohalla Sikh
14 – Nanakshahi (new year), Sikh
17 – St Patrick’s day, Christian
19 – Feast of Saint Joseph, Christian
20 – Ostara, Wicca and Pagan
20 – Nowruz (new year), Persian and Zoroastrian
21 – Naw-Rúz, Bahá’í
22 – Chaitra Navratri begins, Hindu
22 – Ugadi (new year), Hindu
23 – Ramadan begins, Islam
25 – Annunciation to the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
25 – Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Christian
26 – Khordad Sal, Zoroastrian
28 – Navpad Oli begins, Jain
30 – Rama Navami, Hindu
Awareness and events
1 – Zero Discrimination Day
Self-Injury Awareness Day (SIAD)
International Wheelchair Day
3 – World Hearing Day
8 – International Women’s Day
8-10 – TUC’s Women’s Conference
19 – Mother’s Day
20 – Spring Equinox
20 – International Day of Happiness
21 – International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination
21 – World Down Syndrome Day
24 – World Tuberculosis (TB) Day
25 – International Day of Remembrance of The Victims of Slavery and The Transatlantic Slave Trade
27 Mar-2 Apr – World Autism Acceptance Week
30 – World Bipolar Day
31 – International Trans Day of Visibility
February dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
2nd Imbolc, Pagan/Wicca
Falling at the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, this ancient festival marks the beginning of spring. Where Christianity and the old traditions have merged, the day is also celebrated by honouring St Brigid. Traditionally, straw dolls were made in her image and beds laid out in each home, to welcome her visit and blessing of the livestock.
18th Lailat al Miraj, Islamic
Lailat al Miraj remembers the Prophet Mohammed’s ascension into heaven. It is celebrated by Muslims across the world, with special prayers and a telling of the story, in which the Prophet received instructions from God for the Salat, the requirement for Muslims to pray five times per day.
22nd Ash Wednesday, Christian
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent in the Western Christian calendar. It is observed by attending special services at church, where ashes are used to mark people’s foreheads. These are made by burning the palm crosses from Palm Sunday, the weekend before. Christians often leave the ash on their foreheads all day as a public profession of their faith.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
2 – Imbolc*/Candlemas - Wicca and Pagan
3 – Setsunbun-sai - Shinto
5 – Triodion begins - Orthodox Christian
5 – Thaipusam - Hindu
6 – Tu BiShvat - Judaism
12 – Sunday of the prodigal son - Orthodox Christian
14 – Valentine’s day - Christian
15 – Nirvana day - Buddhist
18 – Maha Shivratri - Hindu
Lailat al-Miraj - Islam
19 – Meatfare Sunday - Orthodox Christian
21 – Losar begins - Buddhist
21 – Shrove Tuesday - Christian
22 – Ash Wednesday (start of Lent)- Christian
22 – Feast of the chair of Saint Peter - Catholic Christian
26 Feb-1 Mar – Intercalary days - Baha’i
26 – Cheesefare Sunday – Orthodox Christian
27 – Great Lent begins – Orthodox Christian
Awareness and events
1 – World Hijab Day
1-7 – World Interfaith Harmony Week
2 – Time To Talk Day
4 – World Cancer Day
6 – International Day Of Zero Tolerance To Female Genital Mutilation
6-12 – UK Race Equality Week
6-12 – Children’s Mental Health Week
7 – Safer Internet Day
11 – International Day Of Women And Girls In Science
12 – Red Hand Day For Child Soldiers
15 – International Childhood Cancer Day
17 – World Human Spirit Day
20 – World Day Of Social Justice
January dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
9th Seijin no hi, Shinto
Seijin no hi is an ancient Japanese ceremony to mark young people’s coming of age at 20 years old. This is the age at which Japanese people are legally allowed to gamble, drive and drink alcohol. In most towns, young people will gather to hear a local dignitary speak, and then go with their families to a Shinto shrine to pray.
19th Timkat, Ethiopian Orthodox
This is the Ethiopian Orthodox feast of the Epiphany, the baptism of Christ. Ethiopian Orthodox Christians celebrate by praying over the entire holiday. Priests take models of the Ark of the Convenant and lead processions to the nearest bodies of water, where worshipers are blessed.
26th Vasant Panchami, Hindu/Jain/Sikh
Vasant Panchami ushers in the spring in India, and is celebrated by wearing bright colours (usually yellow, to represent the blossoming mustard fields) and decorating with flowers. There are variations on how the festival is celebrated; in some parts of India, people fly kites to celebrate Vasant Panchami, and for Hindus there is a link to the goddess of wisdom, Saraswati, so the festivities often feature idols or statues.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 Solemnity of Mary, mother of God, Catholic Christian
Gantan-sai (new year), Shinto
5 Twelfth night, Christian
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, Sikh
6 Epiphany, Christian
7 Feast of the nativity Orthodox, Christian
7-9 Mahayana new year, Buddhist
8 Baptism of the Lord Jesus, Catholic Christian
9 Seijin no Hi, Shinto
13 Lohri/Maghi, Hindu and Sikh
14 Old new year, Orthodox Christian
Makar Sankranti, Hindu
15-18 Pongal, Hindu
18-25 Week of prayer for Christian unity, Christian
19 Timkat, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
22 Lunar new year Confucian, Daoist and Buddhist
25 Conversion of Saint Paul, Christian
26 Vasant Panchami, Hindu, Sikh and Jain
29 Zacchaeus Sunday, Orthodox Christian
31 Birthday of Guru Har Rai, Sikh
Awareness and events
4 World Braille Day
8 Ethnicity Pay Gap Day
15 World Religion Day
16 Martin Luther King Jr Day
24 International Day of Education
25 Robert Burns Night
27 Holocaust Memorial Day
December dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
This month’s dates at a glance
1st World AIDS Day
2nd International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
3rd International Day of Persons with Disabilities
5th International Volunteer Day
8th Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) – Buddhist,
Feast of the Immaculate Conception– Christian
10th Human Rights Day
12th International Universal Health Coverage Day
18th International Migrants Day
19th Chanukah begins – Judaism
20th International Human Solidarity Day
21st Winter Solstice, Yule – Litha – Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern hemispheres
24th Christmas Eve – Christian
25th Christmas Day – Christian
Feast of the Nativity – Orthodox Christian
26th Saint Stephen’s Day – Christian
Zarathosht Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra) – Zoroastrian
Boxing Day
Kwanzaa begins
Bank Holiday – England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and ROI
27th Bank Holiday – England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and ROI
28th Holy Innocents – Christian
30th Feast of the Holy Family – Catholic Christian
31st Watch Night – Christian
New Year’s Eve/Hogmanay
November dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
8th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev, Sikh
Guru Nanek Dev was the first Sikh guru and original founder of the religion. In India, in preparation for his birthday, there is akhand path, a 48 hour non-stop recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib in the gurdwaras. The day before the celebrations, there are processions and on the day of the festival itself, people gather for langar, a communal free lunch at the gurdwaras.
14th World Diabetes Day
Since 1991, World Diabetes Day has been marked on 14 November, the birthday of Frederick Banting, the man who co-discovered insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar. The theme for this day for the years 2021-23 is access to diabetes care, and organisers call on governments to provide better education and equality of access.
18th UK Disability History Month begins
Since 2010, during UK Disability History Month, we have celebrated the achievements of disabled people in this country. We also take the month to pay homage to the disability rights movements and activists who have fought for equity and equality for disabled people.
This month’s dates at a glance
1st All Saints’ Day – Christian
2nd All Souls’ Day – Christian, Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I – Rastafari
8th Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev – Sikh, Intersex Day of Solidarity
9th Dedication of the Lateran Basilica – Catholic Christian,
11th Armistice Day
13th Remembrance Sunday, World Kindness Day, UK Interfaith Week begins
14th World Diabetes Day
15th Nativity Fast begins – Orthodox Christian
16th International Day for Tolerance
17th International Students’ Day
18th International STAND UP to Bullying Day, UK Disability History Month begins
19th International Men’s Day
20th Feast of Christ the King – Christian, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Universal Children’s Day
21st Presentation of the Theotokos – Orthodox Christian
24th Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur – Sikh
25th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
26th Day of the Covenant – Baha’i
27th Advent Sunday – Christian
28th Ascension of Abdu’l-Bahá – Baha’i
30th Saint Andrew’s Day – Christian, Bank Holiday – Scotland.