The Equality Service has drawn up a list of dates of key religious festivals  based on a calendar produced by the East of England Faiths Council.

We have tried to include those faith groups with the highest representation in our student body and in the City of Leeds. Most festivals and holy days move from year to year. Some festivals are linked to the lunar cycle and may be subject to a change of date.

If you are organising a staff or student event and want to avoid a clash with a major religious festival, you can consult the calendar below, or you may find it easier to search by date using the BBC’s faith calendar which contains a more extensive list of religious festivals.

Staff may also wish to consult the University’s guidance on responding to requests for flexibility on grounds of religion and ACAS guidance on religion or belief and the workplace.

Buddhist

The nearest Sunday to each of the main festivals is a no-work day. Differing Buddhist traditions may use alternative days from those shown here.

• Magha Puja - 7 February 2012
• Parinirvana – Nirvana day – 8 February 2012 (celebrated by some on 15 February 2012)
• Theravada New Year – April 6 2012
• Wesak or Buddha Day - 5 May 2012
• Asala – Dharma Day - 13 July 2012

Christian

• Good Friday – 6 April 2012
• Easter Day - 8 April 2012
• Christmas Day - 25 December 2012

Hindu

• Makar Sankranti – 14 January 2012
• Janmashtami (Krishna Janma) - 10 August 2012
• Diwali – 13 November 2012

Jewish

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.

• Passover (8 days – first and last 2 days are non-work days) – 7 April 2012 (1st day)
• Shavuot (2 days) - 27 & 28 May 2012
• Rosh Hashanah (2 days) - 17 & 18 September 2012
• Yom Kippur - 26 September 2012
• Sukkot (7 days; work not permitted the first 2 days) – 1- 2 October 2012
• Shemini Atzeret - 8 October 2012
• Simchat Torah - 9 October 2012

Muslim

• Month of Ramadan begins - 20 July 2012
• Eid-Ul-Fitr - 19 August 2012
• Eid-Ul-Adha - 26 October 2012

Sikh

• Diwali - 13 November 2012 
• Birthday of Guru Nanak (celebrated by some on 14 April) - 28 November 2012