your month ahead – important upcoming dates for your calendar
Sundown 10 March to sundown 9 April (subject to moon sighting) – Ramadan
Ramadan is one of the most important times of the Islamic year. It marks the revelation of the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an, to the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims celebrate the Holy Month in a number of ways, including giving to charity (zakat), increased prayer and giving up bad habits.
Ramadan is perhaps best known for the fast, which takes place during daylight hours. Most observant Muslims will refrain from eating and drinking from sunrise to sunset, for the entire month (elderly, menstruating and ill people, children and those travelling are exempt). Fasting can be very tiring and it’s a good idea to keep in mind that your Muslim friends and colleagues may be feeling the strain, especially as the month goes on.
How to support fasting colleagues and linguists
- TLS will be supporting our staff to work flexibly during this time and have put in place processes to ensure the team are available to respond to your needs, However, please note there will be fewer interpreters available over this period so please try to book as far in advance as possible.
- If you are booking an appointment for a service user who may be fasting, consider whether the appointment need be face to face, or whether you could use a remote video or telephone option. These can also save you time and money. If the appointment is not time-sensitive, consider whether it could take place after Ramadan is over.
- If you have fasting colleagues, bear in mind that their energy levels and productivity may be better in the morning and wane towards the end of the day. Anything intensive is best scheduled for the morning hours.
- Be considerate about booking lunch meetings or any work events that have a focus on food. Think about whether these need to take place during Ramadan.
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February’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
1 – St David’s Day, Christian
1 – Nineteen-Day Fast begins, Baha’i
3 – Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Orthodox Christian
8 – Maha Shivratri, Hindu
9 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
10 – Meatfare Sunday, Orthodox Christian
10 – Ramadan begins, Islam
14 – Nanakshahi (New Year), Sikh
16 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
17 – Cheesefare Sunday, Orthodox Christian
17 – St Patrick’s Day, Christian
18 – Great Lent begins, Orthodox Christian
19 – Feast of Saint Joseph, Christian
20 – Ostara, Wicca and Pagan
20 – Nowruz (New Year), Persian and Zoroastrian
20 – Naw-Rúz, Bahá’í
23 – Saturday of Souls, Orthodox Christian
24 – Purim, Judaism
24 – Holika Dahan, Hindu
24 – Palm Sunday, Christian
24 – Feast of Orthodoxy, Orthodox Christian
25 – Annunciation to the Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
25 – Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Christian
25-27 – Hola Mohalla, Sikh
26 – Holi, Hindu
26 – Khordad Sal, Zoroastrian
28 – Maundy Thursday, Christian
29 – Good Friday, Christian
31 – Easter Sunday, Christian
Awareness and events
1 – Zero Discrimination Day
1 – Self-injury Awareness Day (Siad)
1 – International Wheelchair Day
3 – World Hearing Day
6-8 – TUC’s Women’s Conference
8 – International Women’s Day
10 – Mother’s Day
18-24 – Neurodiversity Celebration Week
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
