OCTOBER2 Al-Hijra Islam Islam

Islamic New Year

3 Rosh Hashanah Judaism Jewish New Year, marks the start of ten days of repentance, ending on Yom Kippur

7 Durga Puja/Navarati/Dassehra (7-11 November) Hinduism Ten days of ceremonies, rituals, fasts and feasts in honour of the supreme mother Goddess

11 Ashura Islam Marks the tenth day of Muharram as the day Allah saved Moses from the Pharaoh

12 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Judaism Holiest day of the Jewish calendar, marked by a 25-hour fast and solemn prayer to repent for the previous year’s sins

17 Sukkot Judaism Tabernacles or Feast of Booths

25 Simchat Torah Judaism Celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings

30 Diwali Hinduism, Jainism Festival of lights symbolising the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance

31 Samhain Paganism Marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter

NOVEMBER1 All Saints Day Christianity

Honours all Saints in Christian history

2 All Souls Day Christianity Commemorates the faithful departed, family and friends who have died

13 Remembrance Sunday Interfaith

Birthday of The Bab Baha’i Celebrates the birthday of The Bab, forerunner, who prepared the way for Baha’u’llah

14 Birthday of Baha’u’llah Baha’i One of the twin founders of the Baha’i faith, who was born in 1817

15 Shichi-Go-San Shinto Festival celebrating the growth and well-being of young children

16 Interfaith Week (16-22 November) Interfaith Precise dates vary but it is advisable to check the UK website www.interfaith.org.uk nearer the time

25 Birthday of Guru Nanak Sikhism Celebrates the birth of the first Sikh guru

27 Advent Sunday Christianity Marks the start of the preparation for the birthday of Jesus on Christmas Day

30 Saint Andrew’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of Scotland

DECEMBER8 Bodhi Day Buddhism Commemorates

the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni) experienced enlightenment

12 Mawlid n-Nabiyyi Islam

22 Midwinter/Yule Paganism Celebration of light takes place on the shortest day of the year

24 Christmas Eve Christianity

25 Hanukkah (Festival of Lights) Judaism Celebrates the rededication of Jerusalem’s Second Temple and the miracle of its menorah, which was kept alight for eight days with one day’s oil

Christmas Day Christianity Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is widely celebrated by the exchanging of gifts

JUNE7 Ramadan Islam Starts the most

significant month for Muslims; precise date varies as it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Marks a period of daily fasting from dawn to sunset

12 Shavuot (The Feast of Weeks) Judaism Celebrates the giving of the Torah (Five Books of Moses), the first harvest, and the ripening of the first fruits

16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sikhism Commemorates the fifth Sikh Guru and first Sikh martyr

24 Mid-Summer’s Day Paganism A celebration of the sun’s power on the longest day of the year

29 Saints Peter and Paul’s Day Christianity Observed by Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Lutherans

JULY2 Asala-Dharma Day Buddhism

Commemorates Buddha’s first teaching to the five ascetics in the Deer Park near Benares, India

Laylat al Qadr Islam Marks the night in which the Qur’an was first revealed

7 Eid-al-Fitr Islam Marks the end of Ramadan with an additional morning congregational prayer in the mosque; precise date varies as it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon

9 Martyrdom of The Bab Baha’i Commemorates The Bab’s execution in 1850, after which his teachings continued to spread

23 Birthday of Emperor Halle Selassie I Rastafarianism A holy day of commemoration for Rastafarians

AUGUST1 Lughnasadh Paganism

Marks the first day of harvest

14 Tisha B’Av Judaism Anniversary of the destruction of the Temple of Solomon by Nebuchadnezzar and of the Second Temple by Titus

15 The Blessed Virgin Mary Christianity Celebration of the mother of Jesus

18 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism Celebrates the love and duty between sisters and brothers

25 Janmashtami Hinduism Celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna, believed to have shown himself in human form 5,000 years ago

SEPTEMBER5 Samvatsari Jainism Holiest day of

the Jain calendar; the day is spent in prayers and contemplation

8 The Hajj (Pilgrimage) Islam Once in a lifetime pilgrimage to Makkah; is the largest gathering of Muslims anywhere in the world

10 Day of Arafat Islam Holy Day in which the verse of the Qur’an was revealed

11 Eid-ul-Adha Islam Marks the sacrifice made by Prophet IbrahimEthiopian New Year’s Day Rastafarianism

21 International Day of Peace Interfaith

22 Autumn Equinox Paganism Ritual of thanksgiving

APRIL14 Vaisakhi (Balsakhl) Sikhism Celebrates

the founding of the Khalsa, the Brotherhood of the Pure by Guru Gobind Singh

15 Rama Navami Hinduism Celebrating the birthday of Ram and the marriage of Ram and Sita

19 Mahavira Jayanti Jainism Celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira, the last Tirthankara (saviour)

21 First Day of Ridvan Baha’i Start of festival commemorating the commencement of Baha’u’llah’s prophethood

23 Pesach (Passover) Judaism Celebrates the Exodus, the freedom from slavery of the Children of Israel from ancient Egypt that followed the Ten Plagues

St George’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of England

29 Ninth Day of Ridvan Baha’i Day when Baha’u’llah’s family joined him at the Najibiyyih Garden, Baghdad

MAY1 Beltane Paganism Celebration of fertility

marking the beginning of Summer

2 Twelfth Day of Ridvan Baha’i Close of the festival

4 Yom Ha Shoah Judaism Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, serves as a day of remembrance for those who perished in the Shoah (Holocaust)

5 Ascension Day Christianity Marks the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven after he rose from the dead on Easter Sunday

15 Pentecost Christianity Marks the appearance of the Holy Spirit; also known as Whitsun

20 Wesak/Vaisakha Pooja Buddhism Celebration of Buddha’s enlightenment

23 Declaration of the Bab Baha’i Celebrates The Bab’s declaration of his mission as the messenger of God

29 Ascension of Bahaullah Baha’i Commemoration of the ascension of the Baha’i faith’s founder

MARCH21 Naw-Ruz Baha’i

End of the 19 day fast and the beginning of the Baha’i New Year

Shubu-Sai Shinto A day for visiting graves

23 Magha Puja Buddhism Takes place on the full moon day commemorating the life of the Buddha

Holi Hinduism Festival of Colour marking the end of winter

24 Purim Judaism Celebration of Jewish deliverance as told in the Book of Esther

Maundy Thursday Christianity Commemorates the Last Supper

25 Good Friday Christianity Commemorates the death of Jesus by crucifixion

27 Easter Day Christianity Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ

28 Khordad Sal Zoroastrianism Celebrating the birth date of Zoroaster

FEBRUARY1 Imbolc Paganism Honours the goddess

Brigid and marks the return of Spring

2 Candlemas Christianity Commemorates the presentation of the baby Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple and the purification of his mother after giving birth

3 Setsuban Shinto Part of the Spring festival with special ritual to ward off evil

8 Chinese New Year Confucius, Daoist, Buddhism Most important of the traditional Chinese holidays

Nirvana Day Buddhism Alternative date for Parinirvana

9 Shrove Tuesday Christianity Day of preparation for Lent, traditionally marked by eating pancakes

10 Ash Wednesday Christianity First day of Lent

12 Saraswati Puja Hinduism

15 Parinirvana Buddhism Celebration to mark the final passing of the Buddha

MARCH1 St David’s Day Christianity

Commemorates the patron Saint of Wales

2 Baha’i fast begins Baha’i Adults fast from sunrise to sunset for 19 days; important time for prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal

3 Hanamatsuri Shinto Flower festival celebrating the birthday of Shakyamuni, whose teachings form the basis of Buddhism

7 Mahashivratri Hinduism Festival celebrated in reverence of Lord Shiva

17 St Patrick’s Day Christianity Commemorates the patron Saint of Ireland

20 Spring Equinox Paganism Celebration of Spring

Palm Sunday Christianity First day of Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter

Baha’i Buddhism Christianity Hinduism Islam Jainism

Judaism Paganism Rastafarianism Shinto Sikhism Zoroastrianism

FAITH CALENDAR 2016

Dates used are correct to the best of ourknowledge. Some dates may vary regionallybecause they are determined by the lunar calendarProduced by Tower Hamlets Council in partnership with Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum

www.faithintowerhamlets.comwww.towerhamlets.gov.ukSponsored by Canary Wharf Group PLC

JANUARY1 Gantan-sai Shinto Start of three day

celebrations to mark the New Year

5 Birthday of Guru Robind Singh Sikh (Nanakshahi calendar). Tenth Sikh Guru and the last one in human form; founded the Brotherhood of the Pure (Khalsa)

6 Epiphany Christianity Celebrates the visit of the Three Wise Men (Magi) to the infant Jesus

7 Christmas Day Rastafarianism Celebrated on this day to coincide with Christmas in Ethiopia

Christmas Day Orthodox Christianity Celebrated on this day by Eastern Orthodox Christians

12 Birthday of Swami Vivekananda Hinduism

15 Makar Sankranti Hinduism Harvest festival

25 Tu B’Shevat Judaism Marks the beginning of the ‘new year’ for trees

27 Holocaust Memorial Day Interfaith