your month ahead – April

14, Vaisakhi, Sikh

Vaisakhi is one of the most important dates of the calendar for Sikhs, marking the founding of the Khalsa in 1699 by Guru Gobind Singh. Sikhs observe the day by visiting their gurdwara and singing devotional hymns. Vaisakhi is also a spring harvest festival; this aspect is celebrated by both Sikhs and Hindus, particularly in Punjab and the north of India. These festivities take the form of village fairs with music and decorated floats.

18-21, Easter Weekend, Christian

Easter weekend is a very significant holiday for Christians, remembering the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It covers four days: Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and is a sombre day of reflection; Holy Saturday is another day of reflection and preparation for the following day; Easter Sunday marks Jesus’s resurrection and is celebrated with long church services and family meals; Easter Monday is a public holiday without any specific religious significance, other than to relax and reflect. Easter is also celebrated by non-Christians as a festival of spring, with chocolate eggs representing new life.

April dates at a glance

Religious/cultural

April dates at a glance

Religious/cultural

4 –          Navpad Oli begins, Jain
6 –          Rama Navami, Hindu
10 –         Mahavir Janma Kalyanak, Jain
12 –         Hanuman Jayanti, Hindu
12 –         Lazarus Saturday, Orthodox Christian
13 –         Palm Sunday, Orthodox Christian
13 –         Songkran (Thai New Year), Buddhism
13-15 –   Theravada New Year, Buddhism
13-20 –   Passover, Judaism
14 –         Puthandu, Hindu
14 –         Vaisakhi, Hindu and Sikh
17 –         Maundy Thursday, Christian
18 –         Holy Friday, Orthodox Christian
18 –         Guru Tegh Bahadur Jayanti, Sikh
18 –         Good Friday, Christian
20 –        Easter Sunday, Christian
20 –        Pascha (Easter), Orthodox Christian
20 –        First Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
20 –        Guru Arjun Dev Jayanti, Sikh
21 –         Easter Monday, Christian
21 –         Grounation Day, Rastafari
23 –        Saint George’s Day, Christian
24 –        Yom Hashoah, Judaism
25 –        Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist, Catholic Christian
28 –        Ninth Day of Ridvan, Baha’i
28 –        Guru Angad Dev Jayanti, Sikh
30 –        Saint James the Great’s Day, Orthodox Christian
30 –        Akshaya Tritiya, Hindu and Jain
30 –        Yom Hazikaron, Judaism

Awareness and Events

1 –          Fools’ Day
2 –         World Autism Awareness Day
6 –         International Asexuality Day
7 –         World Health Day
8 –         International Romani Day
11-13 –   TUC’s Black Workers’ Conference
22 –       Earth Day
25 –       World Malaria Day
26 –       Lesbian Visibility Day
28 –       World Day for Health and Safety At Work