Dates of the most significant religious festivals in the UK from 2018 – 2020 and their impact on University work and learning activities
RED dates: It is essential to avoid scheduling University work and learning activities, e.g. examinations, degree ceremonies, day schools, conferences, committees, etc. on these festival dates. The festival has a major working/learning impact on staff and students observing it. AMBER dates: If it is necessary to schedule University work or learning activities on these festival dates, alternative arrangements may be required for some people, especially for Jewish festival dates where some observers will not be able to work or study.
2018
January 2018 5 January 2018 Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
March 2018 30 March 2018 Good Friday (Christian) - RED date Sat-Sun 31 March and 1 April 2018* Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) (first 2 days of the festival) – RED* dates
April 2018 Sun 01 April see above Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) (first 2 days of the festival) – RED* dates Sun 01 April 2018 Easter Sunday (Christian) - RED date Fri-Sat 6 and 7 April 2018* Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) (final 2 days of the festival) - AMBER* dates Sat 14 April 2018 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi (Sikh) - AMBER date Sun 29 April 2018 Wesak (Buddha Day) (Buddhist) - AMBER date
May 2018 16 May 2018 Ramadan month begins (Islam) AMBER date 20-21 May 2018* Shavuot (Pentecost Festival of weeks) (Jewish) – AMBER* dates
June 2018 15 June 2018 Eid-ul-Fitr (Islam) - RED date Sat 16 June 2018 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
September 2018 3 September 2018 Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – AMBER date Mon-Tues 10 -11 September 2018* Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - RED* dates 19 September 2018* Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish) – RED* date 20 September 2018 Ashura (Islam) - AMBER date Mon-Tues 24-25 September 2018 Eid-ul-Adha (Islam) – RED dates Tues-Wed 25-26 September 2018* Sukkot (Tabernacles) (Jewish) - AMBER dates
October 2018 1 October 2018* Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) AMBER* date 2 October 2018* Simchat Torah (Jewish) AMBER* date
November 2018 7 November 2018 Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) (Hindu & Sikh) - AMBER date 21 November 2018 Milad un-Nabi (Islam) – AMBER date 23 November 2018 Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date Sat 24 November 2018 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
December 2016 25 December 2018 Christmas Day (Christian) - RED Date
Saturday every week* Shabbat (Sabbath) (Jewish) – AMBER date
*Note: These festivals start at sundown on the day before the date shown therefore, on RED dates, University work and learning activities should not be scheduled for the late afternoon or evening of the day before.
Further details about these festivals and an assessment of their specific impact on staff and student activities are available on the Calendar of Religious Festivals on the Equality and Diversity intranet at: Dates of the most significant religious festivals in the UK for 2019 and their impact on University work and learning activities
RED dates: It is essential to avoid scheduling University work and learning activities, e.g. examinations, degree ceremonies, day schools, conferences, committees, etc. on these festival dates. The festival has a major working/learning impact on staff and students observing it. AMBER dates: If it is necessary to schedule University work or learning activities on these festival dates, alternative arrangements may be required for some people, especially for Jewish festival dates where some observers will not be able to work or study.
2019
January 2019 5 January 2019 Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
April 2019 Sun 14 April 2019 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi (Sikh) - AMBER date 19 April 2019 Good Friday (Christian) – RED date Sat – Sun 20 and 21 April 2019* Pesach (Passover) (Jewish ) (first 2 days of the festival) – RED* dates Sun 21 April 2019 Easter Sunday (Christian) – RED date Fri - Sat 26 and 27 April 2019* Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) (final 2 days of the festival) – AMBER* dates
May 2019 6 May 2019 Ramadan month begins (Islam) – AMBER date 18 May 2019 Wesak (Buddha Day) (Buddhist) – AMBER date
June 2019 Wed-Fri 5-7 June 2019 Eid-ul-Fitr (Islam) - RED date Sun-Mon 9 and 10 June 2019 Shavuot (Pentecost Festival of weeks) (Jewish) – AMBER* dates Sun 16 June 2019 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
August 2019 Wed-Thurs 14-15 August 2019 Eid-ul-Adha (Islam) – RED dates 23 August 2019 Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – AMBER date
September 2019 10 September 2019 Ashura (Islam) - AMBER date 30 September – 1October 2019* Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - RED* dates
October 2019 Tues 1 October 2019 see above Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - RED* dates 9 October 2019* Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish) – RED* date Mon-Tues 14-15 October 2019* Sukkot (Tabernacles) (Jewish) – AMBER* dates 21 October 2019* Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) AMBER* date 22 October 2019* Simchat Torah (Jewish) AMBER* date 27 October 2019 Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) (Hindu & Sikh) - AMBER date
November 2019 10 November 2019 Milad un-Nabi (Islam) – AMBER date 12 November 2019 Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date 24 November 2019 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
December 2019 Tues 25 December 2018 Christmas Day (Christian) - RED Date
Saturday every week* Shabbat (Sabbath) (Jewish) – AMBER date
*Note: These festivals start at sundown on the day before the date shown therefore, on RED dates, University work and learning activities should not be scheduled for the late afternoon or evening of the day before.
Further details about these festivals and an assessment of their specific impact on staff and student activities are available on the Calendar of Religious Festivals on the Equality and Diversity intranet at: Dates of the most significant religious festivals in the UK for 2020 and their impact on University events and learning activities
RED dates: It is essential to avoid scheduling University work and learning activities, e.g. examinations, degree ceremonies, day schools, conferences, committees, etc. on these festival dates. The festival has a major working/learning impact on staff and students observing it. AMBER dates: If it is necessary to schedule University work or learning activities on these festival dates, alternative arrangements may be required for some people, especially for Jewish festival dates where some observers will not be able to work or study.
2020
January 2020 5 January 2020 Guru Gobind Singh’s birthday (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
April 2020 Thurs - Fri 9 and 10 April 2020* Pesach (Passover) (Jewish ) (first 2 days of the festival) – RED* dates 10 April 2020 Good Friday (Christian) - RED date 12 April 2020 Easter Sunday (Christian) – RED date 14 April 2020 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi (Sikh) - AMBER date Wed – Thurs 15 and16 April 2020 Pesach (Passover) (Jewish) (final 2 days of the festival) – AMBER* dates 24 April 2020 Ramadan month begins (Islam) - AMBER date
May 2020 7 May 2020 Wesak (Buddha Day) (Buddhist) - AMBER date Fri - Sat 29 and 30 May 2020* Shavuot (Pentecost Festival of weeks) (Jewish) - AMBER* dates
June 2020 Fri – Sun 5 to 7 June 2020 Eid-ul-Fitr (Islam) - RED date 16 June 2020 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
August 2020 Sun – Mon 2 and 3 August 2020 Eid-ul-Adha (Islam) - RED dates 12 Aug 2017 Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – AMBER date
September 2020 Sat-Sun 19-20 September 2020* Rosh Hashanah (Jewish ) RED* date 28 September 2020* Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish) – RED* date 29 September 2020 Ashura (Islam) - AMBER date
October 2020 Sat – Sun 3 and 4 October 2020* Sukkot (Tabernacles) (Jewish) - AMBER* dates Sat 10 October 2020* Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) AMBER* date Sun 11 October 2020* Simchat Torah (Jewish) AMBER* date 29 October 2020 Milad un-Nabi (Islam) – AMBER date
November 2020 Sat 14 November 2020 Diwali (Divali, Deepavali) (Hindu & Sikh) - AMBER date 24 November 2020 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadar (Nanakshahi calendar) (Sikh) – AMBER 30 November 2020 Birthday of Guru Nanak (Lunar calendar) (Sikh) - AMBER date
December 2020 25 December 2020 Christmas Day (Christian) - RED date
Saturday every week* Shabbat (Sabbath) (Jewish) – AMBER date *Note: These festivals start at sundown on the day before the date shown therefore, on RED dates, University work and learning activities should not be scheduled for the late afternoon or evening of the day before.
Further details about these festivals and an assessment of their specific impact on staff and student activities are available on the Calendar of Religious Festivals on the Equality and Diversity intranet at: