St David's Day

Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, lived in the 6th century CE. A monk, abbot and bishop, he helped to spread Christianity among the Celtic tribes of western Britain.

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Holi

Various stories are associated with the Hindu spring festival. One story involves Krishna and his antics with the gopis (milkmaids), which gives rise to the tradition of throwing coloured powders and dyes. The story of Prahlada and Holika is also associated with Holi. Prahlada worshipped Vishnu in defiance of his father, and survived when his aunt, Holika, immune to fire, held him while she sat on a bonfire, giving rise to the tradition of lighting bonfires.

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Hola Mahalla / Mohalla

Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, introduced the festival as an alternative to Holi, in 1680. It takes place on the day after the end of Holi. First celebrated at Anandpur, in India's Punjab, it includes competitive displays of swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery and wrestling, and displays of weapons and symposia of poetry.

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The Women's World Day of Prayer

This international, interdenominational prayer movement, begun in 1887, looks to a different country each year for service material. This year's order of service comes from Papua New Guinea.

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Mothering Sunday (Simnel Sunday)

Mothering Sunday, the 4th Sunday in Lent, has now become secularised and is popularly known as Mother's Day. It was traditionally a Sunday when Christians visited their 'mother church' and took gifts to their mothers, often including a simnel cake.

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Varsha-Pratipada

Varsha-Pratipada is also called Yugaadi, which is a combination of the words yuga (era) and aadi (beginning). The first day of Chaitra, the first month of the Hindu lunar year, is regarded as an auspicious day for starting anything new. (Divali, in the autumn, is also a new year festival.)

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St Patrick's Day

Patrick lived in the 4th century CE, and was held captive in Ireland as a young man. He escaped, became a priest and then returned to Ireland to spread the Christian Gospel. The shamrock is his symbol and is worn on St Patrick's Day.

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St Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A feast day is held in some churches in honour of Joseph, who, together with Mary, brought up Jesus.

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Passion Sunday

This is the 5th Sunday in Lent, when Christians begin to concentrate their thoughts on the Passion or suffering of Jesus.

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Naw-Ruz

Naw-Ruz is the Baha'i New Year's Day and coincides with the spring equinox. It is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the 'new day' and it marks the end of the annual 19 Day Fast for Baha'is and is one of the nine holy days of the year. Celebrations start at sunset on March 20, often by gathering for prayer and a festive meal.

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Jamshedi Noruz

The Zoroastrian New Year celebration, according to the Fasli calendar used in Iran. Individuals may pray prayers of repentance for thoughts, words and deeds during the past year, and in so doing prepare for a commitment for future goodness in a spiritually cleansed state. There is a special meal and elder members of the household giving younger members gifts. Families may sponsor a thanksgiving ceremony performed by a priest, or priests, at their home or in the temple. Noruz is deeply embedded in Iranian culture, and is still celebrated as the New Year in Islamic Iran, although without any religious connotations.

Rama Navami

Rama Navami, the birthday of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, is celebrated at noon (Rama was born at noon), by arati in front of a picture of Rama swinging in a cradle.

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The Annunciation of the Lord / Blessed Virgin (Lady Day)

Lady Day celebrates the angel Gabriel announcing to Mary that she is to bear a child, and Mary's response in the Magnificat. The day gives opportunity to focus on the doctrine of the incarnation.

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Khordad Sal

The birthday of Zarathustra is celebrated on this day. The date is symbolic as the actual date of his birth cannot be accurately identified. It is one of the most important Zoroastrian festivals - people gather in fire temples for prayers and then celebrate with feasting.

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Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week, when Christians remember Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, followed by his arrest and crucifixion. Many churches commemorate Palm Sunday by processions, where the congregation carry symbolic palm crosses, or branches of trees.

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Holy Week

This is the most solemn week of the Christian year. Christians recall the events of the final week of the earthly human life of Jesus.

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Mahavira Jayanti

Festival celebrating the birthday of Mahavira, the last Tirthankara, or great teacher of the Jains. The events surrounding his birth are re-enacted, and if there are monks or nuns present, there will be readings from the scriptures and teaching about the rest of Mahavira's life. Lay people will also celebrate with a special meal at home.

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Hanuman Jayanti

Hindus celebrate the birth of Hanuman, the monkey-warrior. Hanuman is Lord Rama's supreme devotee, and his story is told in the Ramayana.

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Passover / Pesach

This Jewish festival lasts eight days and commemorates the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. The Seder meal, which takes place at home, at the beginning of Pesach, is an important highlight. The Haggadah, the story of the deliverance, is recounted, and special food, including matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival.

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