Equality and Inclusion Calendar 2022

1 – 3 January   University closed
5 January   Birthday of Guru Gobindh Singh – Sikhism
6 January   Epiphany – Christianity
10 January   Spring term begins
10 – 21 January   Examinations: Autumn semester
18 January  Mahayana New Year – Buddhism
24 January   Spring semester teaching begins
27 January   Holocaust Memorial Day

1 – 28 February   LGBT+ History Month
1 February   Chinese New Year/ New Lunar Year
5 February   Basant Panchami-Saraswati Puja – Hinduism
7-13 February  Race Equality week
15 February   Nirvana Day – Buddhism
16 February   Magha Puja Day – Buddhism
25 February – 1 March   Intercalary Days – Baha

1 March   Shrove Tuesday – Christianity
2 March   Ash Wednesday – Christianity and Lent begins – Christianity
2 – 20 March   Nineteen Day Fast – Bahai
3 March   University Mental Health Day
7 – 13 March Islam Awareness Week
8 March   International Women’s Day
16 – 17 March   Purim – Judaism *
18 March   Holi – Hinduism
18 March   Hola Mohalla – Sikhism
20 March   Naw Rúz (New Year) – Bahai
25 March   Spring term ends
28 Mar – 3 Apr   World Autism Acceptance Week
31 March   International Transgender Day of Visibility

*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.

2 April   Ramadan begins – Islam*
2 April   World Autism Awareness Day
10 April   Palm Sunday – Christianity
10 April   Rama Navami – Hinduism
14 April   Lent ends – Christianity and Vaisakhi – Sikhism
14 – 19 April  University closed
15 April   Good Friday – Christianity
15 – 23 April   Pesach (Passover) – Judaism**
16 April   Theravada New Year – Buddhism
17 April   Easter Sunday – Christianity

21 April   First Day of Ridván – Bahai
22 April   Stephen Lawrence Day
25 April   Summer term begins
27 – 28 April    Yom HaShoah – Judaism**
29 April   Ninth Day of Ridván – Bahai

*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.

1 May Ramadan ends – Islam*
1-2 May  Eid al-Fitr – Islam*
2 May   Last Day of Ridván /Twelfth Day of Ridván – Bahai
2 May   University Closed
4 – 9 May   Deaf Awareness Week
9 – 15 May  Black Inclusion Week
9 – 15 May   Mental Health Awareness Week
12 May   National Day for Staff Networks
16 May   Ascension Day – Christianity
16 May   Spring semester exams
16 May   Vesak (Buddah Day) – Buddhism
17 May   International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
23 May   Pentecost – Christianity
24 May   Declaration of the Báb – Bahai
28 May   Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh – Bahai

*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.

2 – 3 June  University closed
3 June  Spring Semester: Exams Starts
4 – 6 June Shavuot – Judaism*
5/13 June Pentecost – Christianity
6 – 12 June Carers Week 
16 June Corpus Christi – Christianity
16 June Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev – Sikhism
17 June Summer term ends
22 June   Windrush Day
29 June   St Peter and St Paul Day – Christianity
30 June   Puri Ratha Yatra – Hinduism

*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.

1- 12 July   Hajj – Islam*
UK Black Pride (dates to be confirmed)
9-13 July   Eid al-Adha – Islam*
10 July   Martyrdom of the Bab – Bahai
11 – 24 July   Degree ceremonies
13 July   Dharma Day (Asalha Puja) – Buddhism
14 July   International Non-Binary People’s Day
18 July – 17 August   South Asian Heritage Month
30 July   Muharram/Islamic New Year – Islam*

*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.

7 August   Leeds Pride
8 August   Ashura – Islam*
11 August   Raksha Bandhan – Hinduism
15 August   Assumption – Christianity
19 August   Krishna Janmashtami – Hinduism
29 – 30 August   University Closed 

*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.

1 September   First Parkash – Sikhism
23 September   Bi Visibility Day
25 – 27 September Rosh Hashanah – Judaism*
26 September – 2 October   National Inclusion Week
26 September – 5 October  Navratri – Hinduism

*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.

1 – 31 October Black History Month
1 – 31 October ADHD Awareness month
3 October   Autumn semester begins
4 – 5 October   Yom Kippur – Judaism*
8 October   Mawlid an-Nabi (Prophet Muhammad’s birthday) – Islam**
9 – 16 October   Sukkot – Judaism*
10 October   World Mental Health Day
16 – 18 October   Simchat Torah – Judaism*
18 October   World Menopause Day
20 October   Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth – Sikhism
24 October   Diwali – Hinduism
26 October   Birth of the Báb – Bahai
27 October    Birth of Bahá’u’lláh – Bahai

*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.

**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.

1 – 30 November  Islamophobia Awareness Month (IAM) 
1 November   All Saints – Christianity
2 November   All Souls  – Christianity
8 November   Guru Nanak Dev Sahib – Sikhism
13 – 19 November   Trans Awareness Week 
13 – 20 November   Inter Faith Week
17 November   International Students’ Day 
18 November   LGBTQ+ STEM Day 
18 November – 18 December   UK Disability History Month
19 November   International Men’s Day
20 November   Trans Day of Remembrance 
25 November   White Ribbon Day
26 November   Carers Rights Day
28 November   Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá – Bahai

3 December   International Day of Persons with Disabilities
16 December   Autumn semester ends
18 – 25 December   Hanukkah – Judaism*
23 December – 2 January 2023   University closed
24 December   Christmas Eve – Christianity
25 December   Christmas Day – Christianity

*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.