29th June 2026
Christian
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a litergical feats in honour of the martydom in Rome of the apostles of Saint Peter and Paul. The celebration is of ancient Christian origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics.
12th June 2026
Christian Catholic
The Feast of the Sacred Heart has been in the Roman Catholic Liturgical calendar since 1856, and is always celebrated 19 days after Pentecost Sunday and always falls on a Friday. The devotion especially emphasises the unmitigated love, compassion, and long-suffering of the heart of Christ towards humanity.
21st June 2026
Humanist
This is a Humanist holiday, celebrated annually around the world but especially in America, on the June solstice. It is seen as a day for spreading awareness of Humanism as a philosophical life stance and as a means for effecting change in the world. It is also seen as a time for Humanists to gather socially and promote the positive values of Humanism.
Humanists are people who believe in a natural universe as understood through reason, people who wish to live ethical and meaningful lives without faith in the supernatural, and people who care for their fellow human being. Humanists are informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion.
The manner in which World Humanist Day is celebrated varies considerably among local Humanist groups, reflecting the individuality and non-dogmatism of Humanism as a whole. Whilst the event might be a simple gathering, such as a dinner or picnic, with ample time for both socialising and reflection, the method of celebration is left to individual Humanists. Some groups develop intricate social rituals, music, and reflective proceedings which highlight the metaphorical symbolism of the solstice and the light of knowledge that brings us out of the darkness of ignorance.
21st June 2026
Wiccan/Pagan
The summer solstice, also known as estival solstice or midsummer, occurs when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. It happens twice yearly, once in each hemisphere (Northern and Southern). For that hemisphere, the summer solstice is when the Sun reaches its highest position in the sky (for areas outside of the tropics) and is the day with the longest period of daylight. Within the Arctic circle (for the northern hemisphere) or Antarctic circle (for the southern hemisphere), there is continuous daylight around the summer solstice. On the summer solstice, Earth’s maximum axial tilt toward the Sun is 23.44°. Likewise, the Sun’s declination from the celestial equator is 23.44°.
(Alban Heruin or Alban Hefin) Druid
The summer solstice is the festival of Midsummer, sometimes called Litha. The light of the sun is at the height of its power. It is a time of plenty and celebration.
16th June 2026
Sikhi
This festival is one of the major Sikh gurpurbs, and as with other gurpurbs, the day is preceded by an akhand path, a continuous reading of the Sikh scriptures. It is observed for several reasons. It marks the day when the fifth Guru was put to death after severe tortures on the orders of the Moghul Emperor, Jehangir. Traditionally, a cooling drink known as a Chabeel is distributed on this day, recalling that the Guru was tortured in the extreme heat of June.
Guru Arjan became the first Sikh martyr, having given his life upholding justice. The Guru lived out the divine message (Gurbani) of conquering death and suffering. He remained fearless in defending the truth, and showed how one can remain steadfast. Guru Arjan said, lived and showed that he could accept Shaheedi (martyrdom) but he would not accept restrictions on individuals being able to practise their faith. He claimed that the way a leader or prophet lives determines the character of the followers of that faith; a Sikh should live in dignity and die with honour, and never tolerate insult or oppression.
The Guru also laid the foundation of the Harmandir Sahib (the Golden Temple) in the middle of the tank (pool) at Amritsar. Many of his followers wanted it to be the tallest building in the new town. Guru Arjan however felt otherwise and reminded his followers that humility should be a great virtue. The temple was therefore built on as low an elevation as possible. To counter the Muslim belief that God’s House is in the west and the Hindu belief that it is in the east where the sun rises, the Harmandir Sahib had entrances on all four sides. Guru Arjan exclaimed; ‘My faith is for the people of all castes and all creeds, from whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow.’ To help raise money for these monumental public works projects, the Guru declared that all Sikhs should donate a tenth of their earnings to charity.
Guru Arjan is equally notable for drawing together compositions by the first five Gurus, to which he added hymns by other saints from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds. In this way he compiled the Adi Granth (the Sikh scriptures), and eliminated the inclusion of other false writings put forward by his brother and others, who not only claimed they had material written by the earlier Gurus but also sought to eliminate his favourable references to Hindu and Muslim viewpoints. When complete, the handwritten version of these scriptures was bound and then lodged in the Harmandir Sahib, where the Adi Granth was opened and read every day.
19th June 2026
Chinese
Most notable now for the great dragon boat races which take place between slim rowing boats (sometimes 100 feet long) shaped like dragons. People also go down to the rivers to picnic and celebrate on boats. Originally the festival commemorated the suicide by drowning of the poet and statesman Ch’u Yuan in about 279 BCE.
4th June 2026
Christian (Roman Catholic)
In some countries, including England & Wales, the festival is celebrated on the Sunday after Trinity Sunday.
The festival of Corpus Christi, a Latin phrase that refers to the body of Jesus, celebrates the institution of the Mass/Eucharist. It falls 60 days after Easter. The feast is celebrated in the Latin Church either on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday or it may be transferred to the following Sunday. Its purpose is to commemorate the institution by Jesus of the Holy Eucharist during the Last Supper on the day before his crucifixion, as described in the gospels. It has been celebrated by Catholic Christians ever since 1246.
At the end of the Mass, it is customary for there to be a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament (often outdoors), followed by the ‘Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament’. Bread and wine are usually offered during Holy Communion/the Eucharist on Corpus Christi. It is also known as the Day of Wreaths, since in the ancient world it was customary to scatter flowers in the path of important people as a sign of respect and reverence, and this custom was adopted by the Church to honour the Blessed Sacrament as it was being carried in procession on this festival day.
In Spain and Provence the processions often feature saints and characters from the Bible as they follow a path decorated with wreaths and flowers. In Portugal the feast is known as Dia de Corpo de Deus and since medieval times has been one of the major religious observances. In the city of Ponta Delgada, in the Azores, the people make a flower-petal carpet almost three quarters of a mile long for the procession of the clergy and priests.
In Germany Corpus Christi is celebrated with colourful processions where the sacrament and other holy symbols are carried throughout villages, towns and even on boats on lakes, while streets are decorated with flowers and greenery. Children dressed in white wear wreaths of flowers accompanied by women in regional costume.
The feast was introduced to England from Belgium at some stage between 1318 and 1325. Before the Reformation, there was a famous procession in London on this day. Although the feast of Corpus Christi is no longer observed as a public holiday in England, there was a time when the city guilds were involved in processions and often performed what was known as ‘Corpus Christi’ plays. In medieval times it was a time for the performance of mystery plays.
Symbols that portray the feast may include images of: the host (the consecrated bread and wine); the chalice (to depict the Blood of Jesus); an altar; a ciborium, which is a chalice-like container used to store the consecrated host of the sacrament; or the simple elements of bread and wine.
Corpus Christi is primarily celebrated by the Catholic Church, but it is also included in the calendar of a number of Anglican churches, such as the Church of England. The feast is celebrated by some Anglo-Catholic parishes even in provinces of the Anglican Communion that do not officially include it in their calendars. In English-speaking Roman Catholic parishes, the feast is known as ‘The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)’. In the Church of England it is known as ‘The Day of Thanksgiving for the Institution of Holy Communion (Corpus Christi)’.
For Catholics the change of the substance of bread into the substance of the Body of Jesus and of the substance of wine into the substance of his Blood is known as Transubstantiation. They hold that the changes are brought about in the eucharistic prayer through the efficacy of the word of Jesus and the action of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, the outward characteristics of the bread and wine remain unaltered.
26th June 2026
Muslims
For Sunni Muslims this is one of the two days of a minor fast that the Prophet kept in his lifetime. The second day of the fast may be observed either on the day preceding or the day following the 10th of Muharram. For Shi’a Muslims this is a day when they recall a great tragedy that took place on Muharram 10, AH 61 (680 CE). The Imam Husayn (son of Ali and Fatimah and therefore grandson of the Prophet) travelling with his family and many followers, was attacked by the troops of the Caliph Yazid.
After eight days without water Husayn was killed and his family and followers massacred at Karbala (now in Iraq). Shi’a Muslims remember the events in the days leading up to Ashura when they fast and recall these terrible events. The importance of this holy day can be judged from a popular Shi’a saying which some attribute to a Muslim poet and some to the sixth Imam, Jafar al-Saadiq: “Live as if every day is Ashura, every land Karbala!”
17th June 2026
Muslim
Al Hijra marks the celebration of the Islamic New Year’s Day. It is a low-key event in the Muslim world, celebrated less than the two major celebrations, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha. The day commemorates the Hijra or migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Medina in 622 CE, which led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. It is not universally celebrated amongst Sunni Muslims but is notable since Muslim years are dated from this time and are marked AH (Anno Hegirae – the year of the Hijrah) or After the Hijrah. In 2021 CE the Muslim year 1443 AH begins.
In the year 622 CE the Prophet Muhammad and a number of his followers moved from Makkah/Mecca to the city of Medina and set up the first Islamic state there. Their arrival marked the beginning of Islam as a community in which spiritual and earthly life were completely integrated. They were a group inspired by and totally obedient to God, bound together by religious faith. By breaking the link with his own tribe the Prophet demonstrated that tribal and family loyalties were insignificant compared to the bonds of Islam.
For some Muslim communities this is a day of celebration at the mosque, where stories are told of the Prophet and his Companions. There are no special religious rituals required at this time but a special prayer service is normally held in the mosque and afterwards people wish one another a happy New Year. On this day Muslims think about the meaning of the Hijra and regard this as a good time for new year resolutions, relating to their following of the example of the Prophet.
For the Shi’a community the more important significance of the New year is that this is the first day of a period of fasting, mourning and remembrance, leading up to the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Husayn and his companions on the Day of Ashura.
Muslims who migrated to Medina in support of the Prophet were called muhajirun (emigrants). Many of them became known as the ‘Companions of the Prophet’. Muhammad praised them highly for having forsaken their native city to follow him and promised that God would favour them. They remained a separate and greatly esteemed group in the Muslim community, honoured both in Makkah and in Medina, and assumed leadership of the Muslim state, through the caliphate, after Muhammad’s death.
As a result of the Hijrah, Muhammad paired many of the muhajirun with members of another distinct body of Muslims who had come into being, the ansar (helpers); they were people of Medinah who welcomed and aided Muhammad and the muhajirun. The ansar were members of the two major feuding tribes of Medinah whom Muhammad had been invited to Medinah to reconcile while he was still a rising figure in Makkah. In time they came to be some of his most devoted supporters.
The significance of Al Hijra for Sunni Muslims relates to their committing themselves to a spiritual form of migration – journeying out of a way of life mired in the worldly affairs of this existence – and disciplining themselves to ensure their fitness for their journey to the next life (akhira). To achieve this result they seek to emulate the mindset the Companions of the Prophet possessed when they performed their original migration (the hijra from Makkah to Medina), a journey undertaken in obedience to Allah’s wishes.
4th June 2026
Muslim (Shi’a)
This is a festival observed by Shi’a Muslims, for whom it is an extremely important day. It commemorates an event shortly before the death of the Prophet. While returning from Makkah to Medina after his final pilgrimage, accompanied by many thousands of his followers, the Prophet stopped at an oasis (the pool of Khumm) to deliver a sermon. While preaching, he is believed (by Shi’a Muslims) to have raised the hand of Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, and proclaimed, ‘For whoever I am his leader, Ali is his leader. O God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him’.
Immediately after this statement the Prophet revealed an ayah (a verse) of the Qur’an: ‘Today I have perfected your religion and completed my favour upon you, and I was satisfied that Islam be your religion’ (Qur’an 5, 3.) For Shi’a Muslims the ‘perfecting’ of the religion of Islam was the announcement concerning Ali, which they understand to be his clear appointment to be successor to the prophet as the spiritual and temporal leader of Islam. This sermon was preached by a pool (ghadir) in an area known as Khumm.
Since Eid ul Ghadir commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s last sermon, preached as it was in the desert whilst returning from Hajj (pilgrimage), it is viewed as being authoritative by members of the Shi’a community. The implication of the statement in the Prophet’s sermon (that Ali, his cousin and son-in-law, would be the first Caliph of Islam) is that the leadership of Islam would remain within the Prophet’s bloodline, the foundation for a line of Caliphs who would succeed the Prophet. It has become the source of many current divisions between Sunni and Shi’a communities throughout the Muslim world.