Faith calendar
Calendar of key dates relating to a range of faiths practised in Lambeth. You can also see forthcoming faith related events.
February 2008
5 Shrove Tuesday Christianity
The day of preparation for Lent, traditionally marked by eating pancakes.
6 Lent Christianity
Forty days after Ash Wednesday (excluding Sundays) until the day before Easter Sunday. Observed as a period of penance and fasting commemorating Jesus’ Christ’s forty days of fasting in the wilderness.
6 Ash Wednesday Christianity
First day of Lent. Many Christians receive a cross of ash on their foreheads in church services.
11 Saraswati Pooja Hinduism
A celebration in honour of the Goddess of Education.
15 Parinirvana Buddhism
Buddhist celebration to mark the final passing of the Buddha.
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March
1 St David’s Day Christianity
Commemorates the patron saint of Wales.
2 Bahá’í fast begins Bahá’í
Adult Bahá’ís fast from sunrise to sunset for nineteen days
6 Mahashivratri Hinduism
Traditionally, Hindus spend a night at the temple to worship Lord Shiva. Some fast during this time.
16 Palm Sunday Christianity
Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, the seven days leading up to Easter. Palm leaves formed into crosses, are given to people, commemorating how Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem a few days before his crucifixion.
17 St Patrick’s Day Christianity
Commemorates the patron saint of Ireland.
20 Maundy Thursday Christianity
Christians remember this as the day of the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated the first Eucharist before he was betrayed by Judas.
21 Holi Hinduism
Festival of Colour when coloured powder, liquid dyes and water are scattered over people. Marks the end of winter.
21 Purim (The Festival of Lots) Judaism
Celebrates the time when the Jews living in Persia were saved by the courage of Queen Esther from extermination by the tyrant Haman, who cast lots to decide on which day to execute the Jews.
21 Naw-Ruz Bahá’í
Marks the end of the nineteen-day fast and the beginning of the Bahá’í New Year, which coincides with the start of spring. A time of great celebration for Bahá’ís as they look forward to the coming year.
21 Good Friday Christianity
Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and is known as Good Friday because Christians believe that his self-sacrifice results in the offer of new life and hope on Easter Sunday.
23 Easter Sunday/Pascha Christianity
Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. The Easter season is celebrated for fifty days, until Pentecost. The term Pascha is used among Eastern Orthodox Christians.
25 Sangha Day Buddhism
People celebrate the idea of a spiritual community. In the West, Sangha Day involves exchanging gifts.
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April
4/5 Ch’ing Ming Taoism
Traditionally takes place around the fifth day of the month. People visit family tombs, sweeping and tidying. Offerings of food and wine are made to the spirits of the dead.
8 Hanamatsuri Shinto
This flower festival celebrates the birthday of Shakyamuni, whose teachings form the basis of Buddhism.
13 Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) Sikhism
Celebrates the founding of the Khalsa, the Brotherhood of the Pure by Guru Gobind Singh. After it has been washed, the Nishan Sahib (flag) is raised outside the Gurdwara again. The Nanakshahi calendar places this festival a day later.
14 Rama Navami Hinduism
Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Rama as an avatar, meaning incarnation of God, at Ayodhya in India. Worshippers fast and listen to Ramayana, the story of Rama and Sita.
20 Pesach (Passover) Judaism
Commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery by Moses. They left so quickly their bread did not have time to rise, so it is traditional to eat matzah (unleavened bread) for eight days.
21 First Day of Ridván Bahá’í
Start of a twelve-day festival celebrating Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of his mission as the Manifestation of God, bringer of divine revelation for this age.
23 St George’s Day Christianity
Commemorating the patron saint of England.
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May
1 Ascension Day Christianity
Marks Jesus Christ’s ascension into heaven after his resurrection on Easter Sunday.
2 Yom Ha Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) Judaism
Anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising. A day of remembrance for the six million Jews and many martyrs who perished in the Shoah (Holocaust) under the Nazis.
2 Twelfth Day of Ridván Bahá’í
The close of the greatest festival of the Bahá’í year.
11 Pentecost Christianity
Pentecost marks the appearance of the Holy Spirit.
20 Wesak/Vaisakha Pooja (Buddha Day) Buddhism
Important festival in the Buddhist year focusing mainly on celebrating the Buddha’s enlightenment.
23 Declaration of The Báb Bahá’í
Celebrates The Báb’s declaration of his mission as the messenger of God. The Báb, a title for Mirza Ali Muhammad, prepared the way for the coming of Bahá’u’lláh and was co-founder of the Bahá’í faith.
29 Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh Bahá’í
Solemn commemoration of the ascension of the Bahá’í faith’s founder. Meetings are held in the small hours of the morning.
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June
9/10 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 (Shaheedi Divas) of Guru Arjan Dev Sikhism
Commemorates the fifth Sikh Guru and first Sikh martyr. Guru Arjan is remembered as the King of Martyrs.
29 St Peter’s Day Christianity
Observed by Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran Churches. One of the oldest Saints' days.
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July
9 Martyrdom of The Báb Bahá’í
Commemorates The Báb’s execution in 1850, after which his teachings continued to spread.
18 Dharma Day Buddhism
Commemorates Buddha’s first teaching to the five ascetics in the Deer Park near Benares, India.
23 Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie I Rastafarianism
A holy day of commemoration for Rastafarians.
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August
1 Shobe-e-Barat Islam
A special night of prayer observed mainly by Muslims from the Indian sub-continent.
15 The Blessed Virgin Mary Christianity
Christians celebrate the life and dedication of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Catholics traditionally celebrate this day as the Assumption of Mary, believing that at the end of her life on Earth, she entered heaven in body and soul.
16 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism
Hindu sisters tie a special thread called Rakhi around their brother’s wrists to protect them from evil.
24 Janmashtami Hinduism
Hindus celebrate the birthday of Lord Krishna, believed to have shown himself in human form 5,000 years ago. Worshippers offer poojas (prayers) and sing bhajans (religious songs).
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September
2 Ramadan Islam
Starts the most significant month of the year for Muslims. It is a time of fasting from dawn to sunset every day and greater devotion to Allah with emphasis on self-control. Start date may vary as it is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon.
11 Ethiopian New Year’s Day Rastafarianism
Rastafarians celebrate the New Year.
21 International Day of Peace Inter Faith
Inaugurated by the United Nations, the day is observed by different communities and faiths worldwide.
30 Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) Judaism
Celebrates the creation of the world. Families gather for festive meals and listen to the blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn),which marks the start of ten days of repentance, ending on Yom Kippur.
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October
1 Eid-al-Fitr Islam
People mark the end of Ramadan with morning congregational prayer, visiting friends and family and making charitable donations.
6-9 Durga Pooja/Navaratri/Dassehra Hinduism
A celebration lasting five days. The Goddess Durga is the Hindus’ most important female deity. She is worshipped in a colourful and dramatic festival.
9 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Judaism
The holiest day of the Jewish calendar marked by a fast and solemn prayer to repent for the previous year’s sins.
14 Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles) Judaism
Eight days commemorating the autumn harvest and the Jews wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt.
20 Birthday of The Báb Bahá’í
Celebrates the birthday of The Báb, co-founder of the Bahá’í faith, who was born in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia.
20 Installation of Adi Granth Sahib Sikhism
Sikhs honour their faith’s holy book, the Adi (first) Granth Sahib, which was installed in the Golden Temple at Amritsar in 1604.
21 Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law) Judaism
Celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah (Five Books of Moses). A joyous festival when the Torah scrolls are taken from the Aron HaKodesh (Holy Ark) and danced around the synagogue seven times.
28 Bandi Chhor Divas Sikhism
Sikhs celebrate the sixth Guru’s arrival at Amritsar on Diwali, following his release from Fort Gwallior. He also secured the release of 52 Hindu rajas from the same prison, after which he was called Bandi Chhor. This day also marks the martyrdom of Bhai Bani Singh.
28 Diwali and New Year Hinduism Jainism Sikhism
Diwali symbolises the victory of light over darkness and knowledge over ignorance. Its main focus is Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth. Sikhs also celebrate this day (as Bhandi Chhor Divas) because the sixth Guru reached Amritsar on Diwali after his release from prison. Among Jains, this day is celebrated as the anniversary of Lord Mahavira’s death.
28 Kali Pooja Hinduism
A festival to honour the great goddess Maha Devi in her role as Kali, Goddess of Death, Decay and Transformation.
30 Ascension (Gurughadi Divas) of Guru Granth Sahib Sikhism
The Granth Sahib is the most revered of all Sikh scriptures, is worshiped as the faith’s living word and was given Guruship on this day in 1708.
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November
2 Anniversary Haile Selassie’s coronation Rastafarianism
On this day, Rastafarians celebrate the crowning of Haile Selassie I, the Emperor of Ethiopia, who is believed to be the Messiah.
12 Birthday of Bahá’u’lláh Bahá’í
Celebrates the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, one of the twin founding figures of the Bahá’í faith, who was born in 1817 in Tehran, Persia.
13 Birthday of Guru Nanak Sikhism
Celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion.
24 Martyrdom (Shaheedi Divas) of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikhism
Commemorates the martyrdom of the ninth Guru in 1675. Sikhs revere Guru Tegh Bahadur as someone who gave up his life so that others could practice whichever faith they chose.
30 Advent Christianity
Beginning on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, this is the season of preparation for Jesus Christ’s birthday, which is celebrated on Christmas Day.
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December
6-9 Hajj Islam
The fifth pillar of Islam is a once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage to Mecca during 8-13 of Dhul-hijjah, the month of Hajj. It is the largest gathering of Muslims anywhere in the world.
10-11 Eid-ul-Adha Islam
Marks the sacrifice made by Prophet Abraham. People celebrate this festival with an Eid prayer on the morning of the first day, and share meat with their relatives and the poor.
22 Chanukah (Festival of Lights) Judaism
Celebrates the rededication of Jerusalem’s Second Temple and the miracle of its menorah (nine-stem candelabrum), kept alight for eight days with one day’s oil. The lighting of the menorah on each night of the festival commemorates this miracle.
25 Christmas Day Christianity
Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ and is widely celebrated by exchanging gifts.
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