2018 Diversity Calendar Equality and Diversity UK
2018 Diversity Calendar
Special dates this month 4 January 2018 World Braille Day 21 January 2018 World Religion Day 27 January 2018 Holocaust Memorial Day January Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 Special Days in January New Year's Day (BANK HOLIDAY) Gantan-sai (Shinto) Shinto New Year 2 Mahayana New Year - Buddhist 5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh ) 6 Epiphany (Christian) 7 Christmas Day (Orthodox Christian) 13 22 27 Maghi Lohri (Sikh) Vasant Panchami (Hindu) Festival that welcomes spring Holocaust Memorial Day 29 30 31 31 Tu B'Shevat (Jewish) The Jewish New Year for trees Birthday of Guru Har Rai Sikh
2018 Diversity Calendar
February Special Days in February Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 3 Rissun (Setsubun) (Shinto) A Spring festival that marks the division between Winter and Spring Special dates this month 8 Nirvana day (Buddhist) festival marking the anniversary of Buddha's death February 2018 LGBT History Month 4 February 2018 World Cancer Day 3 February 11 February 2018 Sexual Abuse and Sexual Violence Awareness Week 16 February 2018 Chinese New Year 27 February - 5 March 2018 Eating Disorders Awareness Week 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 13 14 15 16 19 Shivaratri (Hindu) day and night fast in honour of Lord Shiva Ash Wednesday (Christian) The first day of Lent. Nirvana day (Jain) Chinese New Year (Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist) Clean Monday (Eastern Orthodox) Start of Great Lent
2018 Diversity Calendar
March Special Days in March Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 1 Purim (Jewish) Commemorates the time when Jewish people living in Persia were saved by Esther. Special dates this month 5-9 March 2018 National Apprenticeship Week 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 14 Holi (Hindu) Hindus celebrate spring with the Festival of Colours. Nineteen Day Fast (start) (Bahai) During this period Baha'is go without food or drink from sunrise to sunset. Nanakshahi New Year (Sikh) 8 March 2018 International Women's Day 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 18 21 Hindu New Year (Hindu) Naw-Ruz (Bahai, Zoroastrian) New Year 11 March Mother s Day 18-24 March 2018 Down's Syndrome Awareness Week 21 March 2018 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 25 28 29 30 Palm Sunday The beginning of Holy Week - the week leading up to Easter Rama Navami (Hindu) Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Rama Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) The birthday of Zoroaster Mahavir Jayanti (Jain): The most important religious holiday for Jains Good Friday (Christian) Good Friday commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. (BANK HOLIDAY) 31 Passover (1st day) (Jewish) The start of the festival of Passover
2018 Diversity Calendar
April Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 1 Special Days in April Easter Sunday (Christian) Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Christ 2 Easter Monday (BANK HOLIDAY) Special dates this month 2 April 2018 Autism Awareness Day 28 April 2018 World Day for Health and Safety at Work 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 14 18 20 30 Vaisakhi (Sikh) Sikh New Year Festival Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikh Birthday of Guru Angad Dev Sikh Ridvan - first day (Bahai) The start of a 12 day festival Theravada New Year (Buddhist) New Year festival for Theravada Buddhists 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
2018 Diversity Calendar
Special dates this month 7-13 May 2018 Mental Health Awareness Week 14-20 May 2018 Deaf Awareness Week 17 May 2018 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOT) 14-20 May 2018 Learning Disabilities Week 21 May 2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity Dialogue and Development May Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 Special Days in May Lailat al Bara'a (Islam) The Night of Forgiveness - takes place two weeks before the beginning of Ramadan 2 Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev Sikh 7 Early May BANK HOLIDAY 16 17 19 20 23 24 28 29 Ramadan (start) (Muslim) Ramadan is the Muslim month of fasting. Ascension Day (Christian) marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Shavuot (Jewish) Shavuot is a 2 day festival that marks the time that the first harvest was taken to the Temple. Pentecost - Whitsun (Christian) Commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church. Birthday of Guru Amar Das (Sikh) Declaration of the Bab (Bahai) Bab was the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith. Spring BANK HOLIDAY Vesak (Buddha day) (Buddhist) The most important of the Buddhist festivals - The Buddha's birthday
2018 Diversity Calendar
June Special Days in June Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 10 Laylat al Qadr (Muslim) The holiest night in the Islamic calendar. The night the Quran was sent down from the heaven to the Earth Special dates this month June 2018 Gypsy, Roma & Travellers History Month 1-7 June 2018 Volunteers' Week 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 15 16 21 Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim) The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of selfcontrol. Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh) Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr. Summer Solstice - Litha (Pagan) Longest day of the year 11-17 June 2018 Carers Week 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 29 St Peter and St Paul's Day (Christian) The martyrdoms of both these saints are observed by the Church today 23 June 2018 International Women in Engineering Day 18-24 June 2018 Refugee Week 25 26 27 28 29 30
2018 Diversity Calendar
Special dates this month 2 6 July 2018 School Diversity Week 15 July 2018 Disability Awareness Day 22 July 2018 Parents Day July Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Special Days in July 5 Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Sikh) 10 22 23 27 Martyrdom of the Bab (Bahai) Anniversary of the Bab's execution in 1850 in Tabriz, Iran. Tisha B'Av (Jewish) A solemn day that commemorates a series of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have coincidentally happened on this day. Birthday of Haile Selassie I (Rastafari) Haile Selassie was the Emperor of Ethiopia. Rastas believe Haile Selassie is God, and that he will return the black community who are living in exile to Africa. Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Sikh) Asalha - Puja Day (Buddhist) The anniversary of the start of Buddha's teaching - his first sermon, "The Wheel of Truth", after his enlightenment.
2018 Diversity Calendar
August Special Days in August Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun Special dates this month 6 August 2018 International Friendship Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 13 15 Lughnasadh - Lammas (Pagan) A harvest festival and one of the Pagan festivals of Celtic origin Obon (Buddhist, Shinto) Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian) A largely Roman Catholic festival celebrating their belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken body and soul into heaven. 12 August 2018 International Youth Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 22 Eid-Ul-Adha (Islam) Festival of Sacrifice marking the day after Arafat, the most important day in the Hajj ritual. This is a four day holiday 23 August 2018 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 25 27 Raksha Bandhan (Hindu) celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. Summer BANK HOLIDAY 27 28 29 30 31
2018 Diversity Calendar
September Special Days in September Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 2 7 Janmashtami Hindus celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna Paryushan The most important Jain festival of the year Special dates this month 8 September 2018 International Literacy Day 10 September 2018 World Suicide Prevention Day 21 September 2018 International Day of Peace 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 8 10 12 19 Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christian) Roman Catholic and Anglican churches celebrate the birth of Mary, mother of Jesus. Rosh Hashanah (1st day) (Jewish) Jewish New Year. A two-day festival during which work is not permitted. Al-Hjira (Islam) Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad from Mecca to Medina. Ganesh Charurthi Hindus celebrates the birth of Ganesh, god of wisdom and prosperity. Yom Kippur (Jewish) Day of Atonement - the most solemn day of the Jewish year. 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 20 23 Ashura (Islam) Marks the martyrdom of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein. Sukkot (Jewish) commemorates the years Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.
2018 Diversity Calendar
October Special Days in October Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 9 Navaratri (start) (Hindu) Navaratri) symbolises the triumph of good over evil and marks the start of autumn Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Sikh) The fourth of the Sikh Gurus. Special dates this month October 2018 Black History Month 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 18 Dasara (Hindu) Celebrates Lord Rama's victory over the evil Ravana. October 2018 ADHD Awareness Month 1 October 2018 Older People's Day 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 1-7 October 2018 Dyslexia Awareness Week 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 10 October 2018 World Mental Health Day 11 October 2018 National Coming Out Day 29 30 31 22 October 2018 Stammering Awareness Day
2018 Diversity Calendar
Special dates this month 1 November 2018 National Stress Awareness Day 11-18 November 2018 Inter-Faith Week 16 November 2018 International Day of Tolerance 12-18 November 2018 Anti-Bullying Week 20 November 2018 Transgender Day of Remembrance/Awareness November Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 2 4 7 8 9 11 20 24 Special Days in November All Souls' Day (Christian) All Souls' Day is an opportunity to commemorate the faithful departed. Coronation of Emperor Haile Selassie I (Rastafari) Haile Selassie was the Emperor of Ethiopia. Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib (Sikh) Founder of the Sikh religion Diwali (Hindu, Sikh, Jainism) Diwali, the festival of lights is the most popular of all the South Asian festivals Birth of the Bab (Bahai) Celebrates the birth of the precursor of the founder of the Baha'i faith. Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bahai) This day celebrates the birth in 1817 of the founder of the Baha'i faith. Armistice Day (Multifaith) Marks the end of the First World War Milad un Nabi (Sunni Muslim) Birthday of the Prophet Muhammad Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Sikh Guru
2018 Diversity Calendar
December Special Days in December Special dates this month 1 December 2018 World AIDS Day 2 December 2018 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery 3 December 2018 International Day of Persons with Disabilities Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat Sun 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 2 8 12 25 26 Advent Sunday (Christian) The beginning of the ecclesiastical year Bodhi Day (Buddhist) On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India. Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic) Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate. Hanukkah (Jewish) Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and marks the restoration of the temple by the Maccabees in 164 BCE. Christmas Day (Christian) BANK HOLIDAY - Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Boxing Day BANK HOLIDAY 10 December 2018 Human Rights Day 31 26 Zarathosht Diso Zoroastrians remember the death of their prophet, Zoroaster.
Equality and Diversity UK are a specialist training company focusing on equality and diversity in the private, public and voluntary sectors. We provide training courses, seminars, resources and the Equality and Diversity Network Telephone: 0161 763 4783 Email: info@equalityanddiversity.co.uk Website: www.equalityanddiversity.co.uk