Equalities and diversity calendar - January 2012

1 Mary, Mother of God - Catholic Christian

1 Feast of St Basil - Orthodox Christian

1 Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus – Orthodox Christian

5 Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday - Sikh

5 Twelfth Night - Christian

6 Epiphany - Christian

6 Feast of the Theophany - Orthodox Christian

7 Christmas Day - Rastafarian
Rastafarians worldwide celebrate Christmas on
this day to coincide with Christmas celebrations
in Ethiopia.

13 Lohri – Hindu/Sikh
Lohri marks the end of winter on the last day of Paush, and beginning of Magha (around January 12 and 13), when the sun changes its course. It is associated with the worship of the sun and fire and is observed by all communities with different names, as Lohri is an exclusively Punjabi festival.

14 Makar Sankrant - Hindu
One of the most important festivals of the Hindu calendar. Sankranti marks the termination of winter season and beginning of a new harvest or spring season.

15 World Religion Day - Bahái

18 Start of Prayer Week for Christian Unity – Christian

23 Chinese New Year - Buddhist
Chinese New Year 2012, the Year of the Dragon. The most important event in the Chinese calendar marking the beginning of the first lunar month. The festival, which may last three days or more, is celebrated with fire works, dances and the giving of gifts. Gold is a dominant colour to symbolise prosperity.

27 Holocaust Memorial Day (Yom Ha Shoah) - Multifaith
Anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.

29 Lambeth’s Holocaust Memorial Event – Held at Lambeth Town Hall, Assembly Hall from 3-5pm.