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Religious awareness days this February

29 Jan 2025

Observing religious celebrations this February

Religious Celebrations

We recognise that many members of our University community will be observing a variety of religious traditions and celebrations in the coming weeks. They include:

Saturday, 1 February

Imbolc (Spiritualist): Imbolc marks the end of winter and beginning of spring as part of a traditional Gaelic festival. People light candles, perform rituals honouring Saint Brigid and are encouraged to connect with nature ahead of spring. 

Sunday, 2 February

Vasant Panchami (Hinduism): This day honours Goddess Saraswati by wearing yellow to signify vibrancy and life, in addition to worshipping and decorating Saraswati idols.  

Sunday, 2 February

Candlemas (Christian): the presentation of Christ in the Temple. Last of the Christmas feasts, marking forty days after his birth, when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to the Temple, he was greeted by Simeon and Anna. Christians bless candles on this day, acclaiming Christ as Light to the world.     

Tuesday, 11 February

Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes/World Day of the Sick (Christianity): This day honours the Virgin Mary's apparitions in Lourdes during which people pray for the sick and their caregivers. 

Wednesday, 12 February

Māgha Pūjā (Buddhism): Māgha Pūjā (Sangha day) commemorates Buddha's teachings to 1,250 of his first disciples, celebrating an exemplary community. 

Saturday, 15 February

Nirvana Day (Buddhism): Nirvana Day marks Buddha's death in his physical body as he achieved Nirvana. The day is treated as an opportunity to reflect on our own mortality and those who have recently passed. 

Tuesday, 25 February

Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism): This day honours the deity Shiva, during which devotees fast, chant prayers, and attend nighttime worship at temples and gatherings. 

Friday, 28 February

Start of Ramadan (Islam): This day marks the start of the holy month of fasting, during which Muslims fast from dawn to dusk, pray, and engage in charitable activities. 

Following our EDI Diversity Calendar, we focus on the six major world faiths currently represented within our community – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Sikhism. This does not mean we do not recognise that there are many more faiths equally as important. 

We also recognise that a large proportion of our community may have no religion or belief or observe other secular events.

More information 

We aim to take an integrated approach that celebrates individuals and their many identities to ensure that we are truly inclusive of all our community. This is set out in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion strategy.  Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Religion or belief (including no belief);