Religious and belief Festivals

Shavuot

Shavuot (Jewish, also could be the 11- 13 June) – is the feast of weeks, is celebrated seven weeks after the second Passover seder. Although Shavuot began as an ancient grain harvest festival, the holiday has been identified since biblical times with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Vesakha Puja

Vesakha Puja (Buddha) – A significant day for Buddhists, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha, usually marked by prayer and meditation.

Pentecost

Pentecost (Christianity – Some Orthodox – 23 June) The holy day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles on the 50th day after the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A feast is observed exactly seven weeks after Easter Day.

Pascha/Orthodox Easter Sunday

Pascha/Orthodox Easter Sunday (Christianity) is calculated on a lunar calendar, and moves each year in relation to the solar calendar. Orthodox and Western churches calculate differently when the necessary intercalary adjustments should be made; consequently, there is no consistent relationship between the dates of Orthodox and Western timings of Easter.

Passover

Passover (Jewish) A Jewish holiday commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery, marked by special meals and rituals.

Rama Navami

Rama Navami (Hindu) – A festival that celebrates the birthday of Rama, the seventh avatar of the deity Vishnu.

Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi (Sikh) – celebrating the start of the harvest season and the Sikh New Year and is the festival which celebrates the founding of the Sikh community,

Eid Al Fitr

Eid Al Fitr (Muslim- although may change 1 day before or after) is on the first day of the month of Shawwal (Islamic Calendar) and marks the end of Ramadan (month long fasting) and the beginning of a feast that breaks the fast.

Easter Day

Easter Day (Christianity – Some Orthodox – 5 May) – celebrate the resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. This is a public holiday in the UK.