East of England Faiths Council (EEFC)

 

Baha’i
Commerce is suspended on the following days: Festival of Ridvan (holy days are 21 April, 29 April, 2 May), Naw Ruz, Birth of Bab, Declaration of Bab, Martyrdom of Bab, Birth of Baha’u’llah, and Ascension of Baha’u’llah.
Buddhism
The nearest Sunday to each of the five main festivals is a no-work day. Differing Buddhist traditions may use alternative days to those shown here.
Christian
Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day are no-work days. Sunday is the most important day for worship; acts of worship can also take place on other days of the week.
Hindu
Most Hindus will make the following a no-work day: Janmashtami (2 September); Diwali (5 November); and Hindu New Year (6 November).
Islam
Believers are expected to observe sacred days of Eid al Fitr and Eid al Adha. Friday is the day for services of prayer and instruction — usually at about noon. The beginning of each Islamic month is subject to confirmation of successful sighting of the new moon.
Judaism
No work is to be done on the Shabbat, which begins at dusk on Friday and ends after dark on Saturday, or on major holidays, which begin at dusk the evening before and end after dark on the day. The major holidays are the first two and last two days of Pesah, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, the first two days of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.
Sikh
There are no specific no-work days, but most Sikhs will take a day off on the birthday of Guru Nanak (21 November).
Zoroastrian
Most Zoroastrians would make the following a no work day: Jamsheedi NoRuz (21 March), Shahenshai Navroze (19 August) and some Zoroastrians would also take time off for Muktads (9–18 August)
Faiths Calendar 2010
This calendar of the major religious festivals in 2010 has been produced by the East of England Faiths Council based on information from representatives of the nine faiths currently in membership. The faiths involved have selected the dates and other information they wish to share, with the purpose of assisting the planning of meetings and consultations.

The practice of no-work days varies within faiths and from culture to culture: some basic guidelines can be found beside the calendar.

We’ve also prepared this calendar in a form suitable for downloading and printing. This is available as two pages of A4 or one page of A3.

January 2010
5Birthday of Guru Gobind SinghSikh
6EpiphanyChristian
14LosarBuddhist
14Makar SankrantHindu
14MaghiSikh
17World Religion Day 
19Shahrevar roj ParabZoroastrian
20Vasant PanchamiHindu
27Holocaust Memorial Day 
30Magha PujaBuddhist
30Mahayana New YearBuddhist
30Tu BishvatJewish
30Jashn-e SadehZoroastrian
31Birthday of Guru Har RaiSikh
February 2010
8Parinirvana — Nirvana DayBuddhist
12MahashivratriHindu
14Losar (3 days)Buddhist
15Nirvana Day (alternative date)Buddhist
17Ash WednesdayChristian
17LentChristian
25Fast of EstherJewish
26Milad un Nabi (Prophet’s Birthday)Islam
26–Mar 1Intercalary Days (Preparation for Fast)Baha’i
28PurimJewish
March 2010
1Sushan PurimJewish
1HoliHindu
1Hola Mohalla (3 days)Sikh
2Meher roj ParabZoroastrian
2–20 Fasting PeriodBaha’i
3Milad un Nabi (Shia)Islam
8Aadinath JayantiJain
14Mothering SundayChristian
16Bikarami Samvat — Varsha PratipadaHindu
20HamaspathmaedayaZoroastrian
21Naw-Ruz (New Year)Baha’i
21Jamsheedi NoRuzZoroastrian
24Rama NavamiHindu
24Swaminarayan JayantiHindu
26Ava roj ParabZoroastrian
26Khordad SalZoroastrian
28Palm SundayChristian
28Mahavira JayantiJain
29First night of Passover (Fast of the Firstborn)Jewish
30–31First and Second Day of Pesach (Passover)Jewish
30Theravada New YearBuddhist
30Hanuman JayantiHindu
30Magha Puja (Sangha Day)Ther Budd
April 2010
1–4Intermediate Days of PesachJewish
1Maundy ThursdayChristian
2Good FridayChristian
4Easter SundayChristian
5–6Seventh and Eighth Days of Pesach (Passover)Jewish
9Chaitri Poonam — Patta DarshamJain
12Yom HashoahJewish
13Vaisakhi (Baisakhi)Sikh
14Birthday of Guru NanakSikh
17Akhatrij (Akshay Tritiya)Jain
18Yom HaZikaronJewish
18Birthday of Guru Angad DevSikh
18Birthday of Guru Tegh BahadurSikh
19–20Yom Ha’Atzma’utJewish
21First Day of Ridvan (12 day Festival)Baha’i
24Adar roj ParabZoroastrian
28–May 1Theravada New YearTher Buddhist
29Ninth Day of RidvanBaha’i
May 2010
2Last Day of RidvanBaha’i
2Lag B’OmerJewish
2Birthday of Guru Arjan DevSikh
12Yom YerushalayimJewish
13Ascension of ChristChristian
16Dae Mah Roj HormazdZoroastrian
19–20ShavuotJewish
22Shantinath JayantiJain
23Declaration of the BabBaha’i
23Pentecost — Whit SundayChristian
23Birthday of Guru Amar DasSikh
26Zarthosht-no-DisoZoroastrian
27Vesak or Buddha DayBuddhist
29Ascension of Baha’u’llahBaha’i
30Trinity SundayChristian
June 2010
16Martyrdom of Guru Arjan DevSikh
16Bahman roj ParabZoroastrian
29Fast of TammuzJewish
July 2010
1Jashn-e TirganZoroastrian
5Birthday of Guru HargobindSikh
8Lailat al MirajIslam
9Martyrdom of the BabBaha’i
19Aspandarmad roj ParabZoroastrian
19Qadimi NavrozeZoroastrian
20Tisha B’AvJewish
23Birthday of Guru Har KrishenSikh
24Khordad Sal (Qadimi)Zoroastrian
26Asala — Dharma DayBuddhist
26Lailatul-Bara’atIslam
August 2010
9–18 MuktadsZoroastrian
11Ramadan (start)Islam
15Assumption of the Blessed Virgin MaryChristian
19Shahenshai NavrozeZoroastrian
24Raksha BandhanHindu
24Khordad SalZoroastrian
September 2010
2Janmashtami (Krishna Janma)Hindu
5Lailatul-QadrIslam
5Digambara Paryushan (10 days)Jain
6Fravardin roj ParabZoroastrian
9–10Rosh HashanahJewish
10Eid-Ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan)Islam
11Ganesh ChaturthiHindu
12Fast of GedaliahJewish
18Yom KippurJewish
20Ardibehest roj ParabZoroastrian
23–24First and Second Days of SukkotJewish
25–29Intermediate Days of SukkotJewish
30Shemini AtzeretJewish
October 2010
1Simchat TorahJewish
1Jashn-e MeherganZoroastrian
8Navaratri (9 nights)Hindu
9Birthday of Guru Ram DasSikh
14Saraswati PujaHindu
17DusseraHindu
20Birth of the BabBaha’i
20Guru Granth SahibjiSikh
23Khordad roj ParabZoroastrian
November 2010
1All Saints’ DayChristian
2All Souls’ DayChristian
5DiwaliHindu
5DiwaliJain
5DiwaliSikh
6New Year DayHindu
7New Year DayJain
10Gyan-Panchami (Laabh Pancham)Jain
12Birth of Baha’u’llahBaha’i
15HajjIslam
16Eid-Ul-AdhaIslam
21Kartiki Poonam — Patta DarshamJain
21Birthday of Guru NanakSikh
24Martyrdom of Guru Tegh BahadurSikh
26Day of the CovenantBaha’i
28Ascension of Abdu’l-BahaBaha’i
28Advent SundayChristian
29Tir roj ParabZoroastrian
December 2010
2First Day of HanukkahJewish
7Al-Hijira (Islamic New Year)Islam
8Bodhi DayBuddhist
11Parchvanath JayantiJain
16AshuraIslam
17Fast of Ten of TevetJewish
20Shab-e YaldaZoroastrian
23Amardad ParabZoroastrian
25Christmas DayChristian
26Zarthost-no-DisoZoroastrian