MAIN RELIGIOUS FESTIVALS in 2008

December 

Start of Hajj (Muslim) - Monday 8th December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/hajj_1.shtml

Bodhi Day (Buddhist) - Monday 8th December
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Day  

Eid-Ul-Adha (Muslim) - Thursday 11th December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eiduladha.shtml  

Winter Solstice (Pagan) - Sunday 21 December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/wintersolstice.shtml  

Hanukkah (Jewish) - Monday 22 December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/hanukkah.shtml  

Christmas Day (Christian) - Thursday 25th December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/christmas_1.shtml  

Al-Hijira (Muslim) - Monday 29 December
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/alhijra.shtml  


November

All Saints Day (Christian) - Saturday 1st November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/allsaints_1.shtml  

Rememberance Sunday (Multifaith) - Sunday 9th November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/  

Armistice Day (Multifaith) - Tuesday 11th November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/history/silence_history.shtml  

Birth of Baha’u’llah (Bahai) - Wednesday 12th November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/history/bahaullah_1.shtml  

Birth of Guru Nanak (Sikh) - Thursday 13 November (This festival may be celebrated by some on the date fixed by the Nanakshahi calendar: April 14).
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/nanak.shtml  

Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur (Sikh) - Monday 24th November
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/teghbahadur.shtml  

Advent Sunday (Christian) - Sunday 30th November
http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html  


October

Eid-Ul-Fitr (Muslim) - Wednesday 1st October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/eidulfitr.shtml  

Yom Kippur (Jewish) - Thursday 9th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/yomkippur.shtml  

Dussera (Hindu) - Thursday 9th October
http://www.indiaexpress.com/faith/festivals/dussera.html  

Birthday of Guru Ram Das (Sikh) - Thursday 9th October
http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/gururamdas.asp  

Sukkot (Jewish) - Tuesday 14th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/sukkot_1.shtml  

Birth of the Bab (Bahai) - Monday 20th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/birthbab.shtml  

Diwali (Hindu) - Tuesday 28th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/diwali.shtml  

Diwali (Jain) - Tuesday 28th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/holydays/diwali.shtml  

Diwali (Sikh) - Tuesday 28th October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/diwali.shtml  

Samhain (Pagan) - Friday 31 October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/samhain.shtml  

Halloween (Christian) - Friday 31st October
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/halloween.shtml  


September

Start of Ramadan (Muslim) - Tuesday 2nd September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/practices/ramadan_1.shtml  

Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu) - Wednesday 3rd September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/ganesh.shtml 

Ethiopian New Year (Rastafarian) - Thursday 11th September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/holydays/holydays.shtml  

Autumn Equinox (Pagan) - Monday 22nd September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/autumnequinox.shtml  

Start of Navaratri (Hinu) - Monday 29 September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/navaratri.shtml  

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) - Tuesday 30 September
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/roshhashanah.shtml  


August

Lughnasdah – Lammas (Pagan) - Friday 1st August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/lughnasadh.shtml  

Tisha B’Av (Jewish) - Sunday 10th August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/tishbav.shtml  

Raksha Bandhan (Hindu) - Saturday 16th August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/raksha.shtml  

Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) - Tuesday 19 August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/khordadsal.shtml  

Janmashtami – Krishna Jayanti (Hindu) - Tuesday 19th August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/holydays/janamashtami.shtml  

Paryushana (Jain) - Thursday 28th August
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/holydays/holydays.shtml  


JULY 

Birthday of Guru Hargobind (Sikh) - Saturday 5th July
http://www.sgpc.net/gurus/guruhargobind.asp  

Martyrdom of the Bab (Bahai) - Wednesday 9 July
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/martyrdombab.shtml  

Asala or “Dharma Day” (Buddhist) - Sunday Friday 18th July
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/dharma.shtml  

17th Tammuz (Jewish) - 20th July
http://www.ou.org/yerushalayim/17betammuz/  

Birthday of Guru Har Krishen (Sikh) - Wednesday 23rd July
http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Guru_Har_Krishan  

Birthday of Haile Selassie I (Rastafarian) - Wednesday 23rd July
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafari/beliefs/beliefs_2.shtml  

Khordad Sal (Zoroastrian) - Saturday 26th July
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/zoroastrian/holydays/khordadsal.shtml  


JUNE

Shavot (Jewish) – Monday 9th June
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/shavuot.shtml  

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh) (Nanakshali Calender) – Monday 16th June
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/people/arjandev.shtml  

Summer Solistice – Litha (Pagan) – Friday 20th June
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/pagan/holydays/summersolstice.shtml  


MAY 

Beltane (Pagan) - Thursday 1st May
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/beltane_1.shtml  

Wesak or Buddha Day - Tuesday May 20th
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/holydays/wesak.shtml  

Theravadan Buddhist New Year - Tuesday 20th May
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/  

Declaration of the Bab (Bahai) - Friday 23rd May
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/declarationbab.shtml  


APRIL

Sikh Vaisakhi - Monday 14th April with Edinburgh Vaisakhi Walk on Sunday 20th
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/holydays/vaisakhi.shtml  

Birthday of 'Founder' of modern Jainism - - Friday 18th April
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/jainism/holydays/holydays.shtml  

First Day of Jewish Passover - Sunday 20th April
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/judaism/holydays/passover_1.shtml  

First Day of Rivdan (Bahai) - Monday 21st April
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/holydays/ridvan.shtml  

Easter (Orthodox) - Sunday 27th April http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/holydays/easter.shtml