Interfaith calendar

The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on the council to foster good relations between people of different racial groups.

Increasing general understanding of cultures within the community can help to achieve this.  Why not find out about some of the key religious festivals this year, the links below will take you to the BBC religion website:

Wesak or Buddha day - 5 May 2012

The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death.

Eid-ul-Fitr - 19 August 2012

The end of Ramadan when Muslims celebrate the end of fasting and thank Allah for His help with their month-long act of self-control.

Eid-ul-Adha - 26 October 2012

Festival of Sacrifice marking the day after Arafat. The Day of Arafat is the most important day in the Hajj ritual. This is a four day holiday.

Diwali - 13 November 2012

Diwali, the festival of lights, is the most popular of all the festivals from South Asia. It is an occasion for celebrations by Hindus as well as Jains and Sikhs.

Hanukkah - 9 December 2012

Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and marks the restoration of the temple by the Maccabees in 164 BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated at roughly the same time as Christmas, but there is no connection at all between the festivals.

Christmas - 25 December 2012
The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.