Equality and Inclusion Calendar 2022-23
The University is made up of people with diverse backgrounds and circumstances, something which we regard as a great asset. We strive to create an environment where everyone can participate in and contribute to our activities.
The Equality and Inclusion calendar can help create an inclusive work and study environment. It can also enable students, staff and visitors to take part in key celebration and/or remembrance events. The calendar highlights the main faith days observed or celebrated, key diversity days, awareness raising dates, public holidays and academic term dates. Use this resource to support timetabling, schedule work, plan events and help respond to requests for flexibility on the grounds of religion or belief.
The calendar focuses on seven key faiths: Bahai, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism. Sources of information used to produce the calendar include external faith bodies, diversity organisations and national faith calendars. Some dates may vary regionally as they are determined by the lunar calendar. Some holy days may begin at sunset the day before the date shown. More detailed guidance is available on the EIU Religion and Belief Resource webpage, which includes information about prayer spaces, religious observance and responding to requests for flexibility on the grounds of religion.
Please note that the religions, beliefs or non-beliefs that are not included on the calendar are equally as valued. The dates on the calendar were accurate at the time of publication. To provide feedback on the calendar, please contact equality@leeds.ac.uk.
The Equality and Inclusion Calendar is also available to import into a calendar format of your choice (including Outlook and Google). Please use the Equality and Inclusion Calendar 2022-23 ICS link and follow these instructions on how to import an ICS file.
Months (Sep 2022-Aug 2023)
- September 2022
- October 2022
- November 2022
- December 2022
- January 2023
- February 2023
- March 2023
- April 2023
- May 2023
- June 2023
- July 2023
- August 2023
September 2022
- 1 Sep Sikhism: First Parkash
- 23 Sep Bi Visibility Day
- 25 – 27 Sep Judaism: Rosh Hashanah**
- 26 Sep – 2 Oct National Inclusion Week
- 26 Sep – 5 Oct Hinduism: Navratri
October 2022
- 1 – 31 Oct Black History Month
- 1 – 31 Oct ADHD Awareness month
- 3 Oct Autumn semester begins
- 4 – 5 Oct Judaism: Yom Kippur**
- 8 Oct Islam: Mawlid an-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday)*
- 9 – 16 Oct Judaism: Sukko*
- 10 Oct World Mental Health Day
- 16 – 18 Judaism: Simchat Torah**
- 18 Oct World Menopause Day
- 20 Oct Sikhism: Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth
- 24 Oct Hinduism: Diwali
- 26 Oct Bahai: Birth of the Báb
- 27 Oct Bahai: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh
November 2022
- 1 – 30 Nov Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM)
- 1 Nov Christianity: All Saints
- 2 Nov Christianity: All Souls
- 8 Nov Sikhism: Guru Nanak Dev Sahib
- 13 – 19 Nov Trans Awareness Week
- 13 – 20 Nov Inter Faith Week
- 17 Nov International Students’ Day
- 18 Nov LGBTQ+ STEM Day
- 16 Nov – 16 Dec UK Disability History Month
- 19 Nov International Men’s Day
- 20 Nov Trans Day of Remembrance
- 24 Nov Carers Rights Day
- 25 Nov White Ribbon Day
- 28 Nov Bahai: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
December 2022
- 3 Dec International Day of Persons with Disabilities
- 16 Dec University of Leeds Autumn term ends
- 18 – 25 Dec Judaism: Hanukkah**
- 23 Dec – 2 Jan University of Leeds closed
- 24 Dec Christianity: Christmas Eve
- 25 Dec Christianity: Christmas Day
January 2023
- 5 Jan Sikhism: Birthday of Guru Gobindh Singh
- 6 Jan Christianity: Epiphany
- 7 Jan Buddhism: Mahayana New Year
- 16 Jan – 31 March University of Leeds Spring term
- 16 Jan – 27 Jan University of Leeds Autumn semester examinations
- 22 Jan Chinese Lunar Year
- 26 Jan Hinduism: Vasant Panchami
- 27 Jan Holocaust Memorial Day
February 2023
- 1-28 Feb LGBT+ History Month
- 15 Feb Buddhism: Nirvana Day
- 21 Feb Christianity: Shrove Tuesday
- 22 Feb Christianity: Ash Wednesday
- 25 Feb – 1 Mar Bahai: Intercalary Days
March 2023
- 2 – 20 Mar Bahai: Nineteen Day Fast
- 6 Mar Buddhism: Magha Puja Day
- 6 – 7 Mar Judaism: Purim**
- 7 Mar Sikhism: Holi
- 8 Mar International Women’s Day
- 8 – 10 Mar Sikhism: Hola Mohalla
- 21 Mar Bahai: Naw Rúz (New Year)
- 22 Mar Islam: Ramadan begins (ends 21 April)*
- 27 Mar – 2 Apr World Autism Acceptance Week
- 30 Mar Hinduism: Rama Navami
- 31 Mar International Transgender Day of Visibility
April 2023
- 2 Apr World Autism Awareness Day
- 2 Apr Christianity: Palm Sunday
- 6 – 8 Apr Buddhism: Theravada New Year
- 6 – 11 Apr University of Leeds closed
- 7 Apr Christianity: Good Friday
- 9 Apr Christianity: Easter Sunday
- 5 – 13 Apr Judaism: Pesach (Passover)**
- 14 Apr Sikhism: New Year Vaisakhi
- 17 – 18 Apr Judaism: Yom HaShoah**
- 21 Apr Bahai: First Day of Ridván (1st, 9th, 12th days are holy days)
- 21 Apr Islam: Ramadan ends*
- 21 – 22 Apr Islam: Eid al-Fitr *
- 22 Apr Stephen Lawrence Day
- 24 – 30 Apr Lesbian Visibility Week
- 30 Apr Bahai: Ninth Day of Ridván
May 2023
- 1 May – 23 Jun University of Leeds Summer term
- 1 May University of Leeds closed
- 1 – 7 May Deaf Awareness Week
- 3 May Bahai: Twelfth Day of Ridván
- 5 May Buddhism: Vesak (Buddah Day)
- 8 – 14 May Black Inclusion Week
- 10 May National Day for Staff Networks
- 15 – 21 May Mental Health Awareness Week
- 17 May International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- 18 May Christianity: Ascension Day
- 22 May – 9 Jun University of Leeds Spring semester examinations
- 24 May Bahai: Declaration of the Báb
- 25 – 27 May Judaism: Shavuot**
- 28 May Christianity: Pentecost
- 29 May Bahai: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
- 29-30 May University of Leeds closed
June 2023
- 5-11 Jun Carers Week
- 8 Jun Christianity: Corpus Christi
- 16 Jun Sikhism: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
- 20 Jun Hinduism: Puri Ratha Yatra
- 26 Jun – 1 Jul Islam: Hajj*
- 28 – 29 Jun Islam: Eid al-Adha*
- 29 Jun Christianity: St Peter and St Paul Day
- 22 Jun Windrush Day
- 23 Jun University of Leeds Summer term ends
July 2023
- 14 Jul International Non-Binary People’s Day
- 18 Jul South Asian Heritage Month
- 19 Jul Islam: Muharram/Islamic New Year*
- 27 Jul Islam: Ashura*
- 27 Jul Jewish: Tisha B’va**
August
- Dates TBC Leeds Pride
- Dates TBC UK Black Pride
- 15 Aug Christianity: Assumption
- 28 – 29 Aug University of Leeds closed
- 30 Aug Hinduism: Raksha Bandhan
*Please note the exact dates of the major Islamic festivals will depend on the moon sightings based on the lunar calendar. Please see the Ramadan Guidance for more information.
**Please note the major Jewish festivals begin in the evening of the festival start date. Please see the Jewish Religious Observance guidance for more information.