The following calendar gives a selection of festivals from the minority faiths in the UK, but it is not comprehensive. The internet has much more information about these faiths and other festivals associated with them. If you search online, you may find dates different to those listed in this calendar. Many festival dates vary due to moon cycles, the country where they are celebrated and people’s personal choice.

Multi-Faith Festival Websites: www.religiouseducationcouncil.org.uk/reso www.shapcalendar.org.uk/ (Calendars to urces/celebrating-re-lesson-ideas-activities/ buy) www.icteachers.co.uk/teachers/links/tre.ht www.interfaith.org.uk/resources/religious- m festivals www.tes.com/teaching-resources www.interfaith-calendar.org/ Lessons uploaded by teachers – often free or a small cost RE Artefacts / resources: www.artefactstoorder.com

Calendar compiled by www.tts-group.co.uk/primary/re/religious- Sarah Thompson artefact-collections/ Advisory Teacher and Bilingual Support Co-ordinator. Lesson plans / assemblies Wiltshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller https://www.reonline.org.uk/ Achievement Service (EMTAS) [email protected]

JANUARY 2021 MARCH 2021

07 Ethiopian Christmas Day (Rastafarian) 19 Naw-Ruz (Baha’i) Christmas in Ethiopia is called Ganna (or Genna) and along Beginning of New Year and end of a 19 day fast marking with other Orthodox Christian faiths is the end of the old year. celebrated in January.

26 Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian ) 14 Makar Sankranti (Hindu) Khordad Sal is celebrated by Zoroastrians and as the Makar Sankranti is one of the most important festivals of birthday of their founder, . The date is symbolic as the Hindu calendar and celebrates the sun's journey into the the actual date of Zoroaster's birth cannot be accurately northern hemisphere, a period which is considered to be identified. The festival is one of the most important in the highly auspicious. Zoroastrian and Parsi calendar, when they gather in fire

temples for prayer and celebrate with feasting.

27 Passover (Jewish) FEBRUARY 2021 During the family seder meal the story of the Jews’ exodus from slavery in Egypt is retold.

12 Chinese New Year Demons are driven out with firecrackers and cymbals. 28 Holi (Hindu) Spring festival Houses are decorated with red and gold paper lanterns. Festival best known for people throwing coloured powder over one another. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring and thanksgiving for a good 15 Pari Nirvana/Nirvana day (Buddhist) harvest. Mahayana Buddhist festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death. 29 Hola Mohalla (Sikh) 26 Lantern Festival - Shang Yuan (Chinese) Takes place on the second day of the lunar month of Chett. Marks the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations with Guru Gobind Singh started this festival as a day for Sikhs to dragon dances and the lighting of 100’s of paper lanterns. practise their military exercises and hold mock battles. Sikhs celebrate by watching and partaking in martial arts 25 Purim (Jewish) parades. These are followed by poetry readings and music. Festival celebrating the Jews’ deliverance from the Persian king’s minister. Presents are exchanged. People wear fancy dress to the synagogue.

APRIL 2021 9 Laylat al Qadr (Islam) Muslims in the United Kingdom commemorate the night when Allah revealed the Quran, or Koran, to the prophet Beginning of Ramadan (Islam) 12 Muhammad. It is considered the holiest day of the year. The beginning of 28 days of fasting (called sawm) for Muslims when they do not eat or drink during the hours of daylight. This is one of the five pillars of Islam. Older 13 Eid ul-Fitr (Islam) End of Ramadan children may be encouraged to try at least one day of Children are given money and clothes. There is much fasting. Date approximate -depends on moon cycle. partying and feasting. Families get together. Date approximate -depends on moon cycle.

14 Baisakhi/Vaisakhi (Sikh) In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh gave the Sikhs a new name 28 Anniversary of the Ascension of Baha’U’ llah (Singh) and a new identity of being a nation. Hence forth, (Baha’i) Commemorates the death of Baha’u’llah at Bahji, along with 'inner discipline' the Sikhs were asked to wear near Acre, in 1892. His shrine there has become the place the 5K's. Kesh, Kangha, Kara, Kachera and Kirpan. towards which all Baha’is face when praying

20 Ridvan (Baha’i) First day of 12 that celebrate the occasion when Baha’u’llah said he was the prophet predicted by the Bab. JUNE 2021

14 Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese) MAY 2021 Commemorates the poet Ch’u Yuan with a story which includes colourful dragon boat races. 05 Children’s Day (Japanese)

Families display on tall poles in the garden balloons in the 16 The Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh) shape of carp, and, inside the house, displays of arrows and Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh helmets representing Samurai armour. martyr: he gave up his life for the Sikh people. He also was the first Guru to put all the sacred writing in one book – the 07 Wesak (Buddhist) Guru Granth Sahib. Western Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and attainment of Nirvana. Buddhists attend their local temple remain there throughout the day and celebration will include the practices of Giving, Virtue and Cultivation and the doing of good and meritorious deeds.

aid the spirits who have no resting place. Large paper boats JULY 2021 are made and burnt at temples to help spirits on their journey to Nirvana. 19 Eid ul-Adha (Islam) Festival of sacrifice, 80 days after Eid ul-Fitr. It celebrates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac. Animals are sacrificed, and food shared with friends, family and the poor September 2021

23 Birthday of Haile Selassie I (Rastafarian) 11 Ethiopian New Year (Rastafarian) One of the holiest days of the Rastafarian year, it is celebrated with drumming, hymns and prayers. This is celebrated the world over by Rastafarians who see Ethiopia as their spiritual homeland. 24 Dharma Day (Buddhist) Takes place in July, to celebrate the first time Siddhartha 15 Yom Kippur (Jewish) Gautama taught other people how to become a Buddha. The holiest day of the Jewish year, it is marked by a total Gautama was an Indian prince who went through many trials fast for 25 hours. Jews spend the evening and most of the to understand the universe and overcome suffering. day in prayer for forgiveness and resolving to improve in the future.

20 Sukkot - Harvest festival (Jewish) AUGUST 2021 Jews remember the 40 years in the wilderness escaping

slavery in Egypt and getting to the promised land. A

13 Obon (Japanese) temporary hut ‘sukkah’ is used for meals and socialising. Dates in August vary across the regions of Japan The roof is made of palm branch, myrtle and willow. A Japanese Buddhist event that is a time to remember ancestors’ spirits. There are special visits to relatives, dances, food offerings at the temple and lanterns are used to guide the spirits to visit their descendants. OCTOBER 2021 www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk/

22 Raksha Bandhan – Rakhi Purnima (Hindu) Festival of brothers and sisters. Presents and special 02 Mehregan (Zoroastrian Iran) bracelets called Rakhi are exchanged. Celebration to honour the , the divine figure

who is responsible for friendship, affection and love. It is

22 Hungry Ghost Festival (Chinese) also widely referred to as the Persian Festival of Autumn. Festival of the hungry ghosts is a Chinese Buddhist ancestral festival. Paper objects are made and offered to 7th/11th/15th Navratri / DurgaPuja / Dussehra 28 Hanukkah (Jewish) (Hindu) Jewish families gradually light an 8-branched candlestick Ten-day celebration of the victory of the goddess Durga (hanukkiah) to remember the rededication of the Temple in over evil demons. This festival is universally popular 168 BC. throughout India.

18 Milad al-Nabi (Islam) Birthday of the prophet. Celebration of birth and remembrance of the death of DECEMBER 2021 Mohammed. People remember his life and work.

Bodhi Day (Buddhist) 08 On Bodhi Day, some Buddhists celebrate Gautama’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India. NOVEMBER 2021

26 Dec - 01 Jan Kwanza 02 Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie celebrations A seven-day festival celebrating Black cultures. Each day (Rastafarian) has a special theme, for example, Unity, Faith, Purpose; and everyone is encouraged to use these ideas to Emperor Haile Selassie was crowned in 1930 and is viewed strengthen family and community life. as a god by Rastafarians.

Diwali (Hindu and Sikh) 04 Hindus remember Rama’s defeat over Ravana, the demon king. Homes are lit with tiny lamps and gifts are exchanged. Sikhs remember Guru Hargobind who refused to accept freedom unless 52 imprisoned Hindu princes were released too.

15 Shichi-go-san (Japanese) Festival celebrating children. Girls of 3 and 7, and boys of 3 and 5 are dressed in new clothes and taken to Shinto shrines to pray for their future.

19 Birthday of Guru Nanak (Sikh) Sikhs celebrate by performing Akhand Path, a complete reading of their holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib.

Baha’i Buddhism The Bahai religion originally grew out of the Babism faith, Buddhism is a way of life taught by the Buddha. Buddhists which was founded in 1844 by Mirza Ali Mohammad of do not believe in a divine being or creator or in the promise Shiraz (Iran). He proclaimed a spiritual doctrine of salvation through prayers and belief. Buddhists believe emphasising the forthcoming appearance of a new that all actions have consequences called Karma. This links messenger of God who would overturn old beliefs and to the continuing cycle of life, death and rebirth. The cycle is customs. Mirza Husayn Ali claimed to be this new only broken when the enlightened state is reached. messenger of the era and was renamed Baha Ullah. Buddhists practice Wisdom, Compassion and Morality to reach enlightenment, otherwise known as the state of Before Baha Ullah died in 1892, he appointed his eldest Nirvana. The type of worship and practice for Buddhists son, Abdul-Baha (1844-1921), to be his successor, lead the depends on the school of Buddhism being followed. Bahai community and act as the authorised interpreter of Congregational meetings take place in centres or Temples his teachings. The Bahai community is governed according and sometimes peoples’ homes but there is no set time for to general principles proclaimed by Baha Ullah and through Buddhists to worship. institutions created by him that were elaborated and expanded by Abdul-Baha. In building a unified network of local, national and international governing councils the Bahai community has, comparative to other religions, social and political movements, achieved unity and is free of any schism. However, they have no clergy, so they administer the affairs Chinese Taoism of the faith themselves. Chinese traditional religion is the term used to categorise the common religion of the majority Chinese culture. This refers to a way of life as much as any spiritual or religious significance. A combination of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism as well as the traditional non-scriptural/local practices and beliefs make up this way of life. The traditional practices are found in the context of Chinese culture and social structures, which like many throughout East Asia, are not bound up in a single belief system. The Chinese tradition has a rich cultural meaning and a long history where Chinese festivals form an important part of the culture.

Judaism Shinto / Japanese The Jewish religion dates back over 3500 years. Jewish The word Shinto means ‘way of the divine’ and represents people believe God made a covenant with the people, an almost entirely Japanese way of thinking. The essence which required the observance of 613 commandments, of Shinto is the devotion to invisible spiritual beings and including the ten commandments revealed to Moses. powers called Kami, they are not gods and there are Orthodox and Progressive Jews differ in their interpretations millions of them. They are spirits concerned with human of these laws, but all Jews believe there to be one God, who beings and earth. There is no defining morality of its own. revealed the Torah - the Jewish Holy Book. Jewish Followers of Shinto believe the world is good, the people collective worship happens in in Synagogues. The Sabbath are good and there is harmony, however, evil spirits, which begins with the lighting of candles at sunset on Friday and must be kept at bay, threaten these ideals. ends with sundown on Saturday evening.

Islam Hinduism Islam is an Arabic word, which means to submit to God to Hinduism has its origins in India. Hindus regard their religion achieve peace and security. The followers of Islam are as Sanatan Dharma, an eternal religion. It is considered to called Muslims and they believe there is one God called be a way of life. Although Hinduism has many gods Allah who created the universe and whose power and (deities), Hindus believe in one supreme universal spirit, the majesty are supreme. Muslims believe that God sent creator and eternal God Brahman. prophets to interpret his will. It is Muhammad, the last Hindus recognise the other deities as different aspects of prophet, who Muslims believe completed the expression of the Brahman. They believe that all of life is bound by the Allah’s divine will which was revealed in the Qur’an. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth governed by Karma. The Qur’an, also known as the Holy Book, is a source of law and principal Hindu scriptures are the Vedas which are believed practical guidance. Islamic law stands on five pillars. These to be direct revelation from God and are the two epics, the are to: witness that there is no God, but Allah and that Bhagvad Gita and the Ramayana. Hindus worship in Muhammad is the prophet of Allah; pray 5 times a day; fast temples and will often also have a shrine at home where during Ramadan; make a pilgrimage to Makkah; and give they will worship and make offerings. alms to the poor (each Muslim should give a percentage of their yearly savings to the needs of the poor). The place of worship where Muslims gather for prayer is called a Mosque or Masjid.

Rastafarianism The Rastafarian religion is guided by the concept of peace Zoroastrianism was founded between 2000 and 1800 BC. and love and has its origins in Jamaica. In the early 1920s Its founder was Prophet Zoroaster, who is said to have seen Marcus Garvey, an influential Black spokesman, proclaimed God. Zoroaster was conscious of ’s (God’s) presence “Look to Africa for the crowning of a Black King, he shall be and heard his words which were then used to comprise five the Redeemer”. songs/ poems called which became the sacred text, The coronation of Haile Selassie I as King of Ethiopia in . Zoroastrians believe in a single God, , 1930 saw the fulfilment of this prophecy and he was and that the world is based on good versus evil. recognised by Rastafarians as Jah (the living manifestation Zoroastrianism is a religion of free choice and personal of God). The Kebra Negast (the Ethiopian Bible) and parts responsibility with great emphasis on truthfulness and care of the Christian Bible are important sources of reference for for the natural environment. Ceremonies are performed in the Rastafarian way of life. front of a sacred fire and worship is made up of prayers and symbolic ceremonies. In this calendar the dates are for Iranian Zoroastrian. Where communities have spread out in the world dates may differ according to whether they follow Iranian, Shenshai or Kadmi calendar.

Sikhism Sikhism began around 1500 with Guru Nanak and he was followed by 9 other Gurus. The Guru Granth Sahib holy book contains the teachings of the ten Gurus. The early Gurus preached the love of God and the love for each other, but Pacifism finally gave way to the militant Khalsa with the tenth guru, Guru Gobind Singh. He allowed his followers to fight persecution and in 1699 the Khalsa brotherhood was formed. Guru Gobind Singh proclaimed the book Guru Granth Sahib to be the future Guru of the Sikhs. Men and women have five distinctive signs of faith seen in their style of dress and personal appearance. These are the 5Ks - Kesh -uncut hair; Kangha -comb; Kara -steel bracelet; Kachha -underwear/trousers; Kirpan - dagger. Sikhs meet and worship in Gurdwaras.