Religious Festivals 2020 - A Guide for Employers - enei
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Religious Festivals 2020
A Guide for Employers
Published December 2019
1Contents
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji – Sikh ..............................................................................4
Epiphany – Christian ..........................................................................................................4
Makar Sankranti – Hindu ...................................................................................................4
World Religion Day – Bahai ................................................................................................5
Imbolc – Pagan..................................................................................................................5
Magha Puja – Buddhist ......................................................................................................5
Darwin Day – Humanist .....................................................................................................6
Parinirvana – Buddhist.......................................................................................................6
Maha Shivaratri – Hindu ....................................................................................................7
Ash Wednesday – Christian................................................................................................7
Purim – Jewish ..................................................................................................................7
Holi – Hindu ......................................................................................................................8
Hola Mohalla – Sikh ...........................................................................................................8
Spring Equinox – Pagan .....................................................................................................9
Rama Navami – Hindu .......................................................................................................9
Palm Sunday – Christian ....................................................................................................9
Passover (Pesach) – Jewish ................................................................................................9
Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur – Sikh ..............................................................................10
Easter – Christian ............................................................................................................11
Vaisakhi – Sikh ................................................................................................................12
Ramadan, Lailat al Qadr, and Eid-ul-Fitr – Muslim .............................................................13
Wesak (Vesak) – Buddhist ................................................................................................14
Beltaine – Pagan .............................................................................................................14
Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev – Sikh ....................................................................................15
2Dharma Day – Buddhist ...................................................................................................15
Shavuot – Jewish .............................................................................................................16
Pentecost – Christian.......................................................................................................16
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev – Sikh ................................................................................16
Midsummer Solstice – Pagan ...........................................................................................17
World Humanist Day – Humanist .....................................................................................17
Tisha B’av – Jewish ..........................................................................................................17
Eid-ul-Adha – Muslim ......................................................................................................18
Lammas – Pagan .............................................................................................................18
Raksha Bandhan – Hindu .................................................................................................19
Janmashtami (Krishma Jayanti) – Hindu ............................................................................19
Al Hijra (Muharram) – Muslim..........................................................................................20
Ganesh Chaturthi – Hindu ................................................................................................20
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish ...................................................................................................20
Autumn Equinox – Pagan .................................................................................................21
Yom Kippur - Jewish ........................................................................................................21
Sukkot – Jewish ...............................................................................................................22
Simchat Torah – Jewish ...................................................................................................22
Navratri – Hindu..............................................................................................................23
Mawlid an Nabi – Hindu ..................................................................................................23
Diwali – Hindu .................................................................................................................24
Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur – Sikh............................................................................25
Birthday of Guru Nanak – Sikh .........................................................................................25
Hanukkah - Jewish ...........................................................................................................25
Winter Solstice (Yule) – Pagan..........................................................................................26
Christmas – Christian .......................................................................................................26
3Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji – Sikh
The Festival
Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is a religious celebration, which commemorates the birthday of
the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, who instituted the Five Ks and established the
Order of the Khalsa on Vaisakhi.
Sikhs celebrate the occasion with an ‘Akhand Path’, a continuous reading of the Sikh
scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib. The reading takes 48 hours and ends on the day of the
festival.
In addition, Sikhs decorate Gurdwaras (Sikh places of worship) with flowers, and come
together for religious services which include lectures and poems praising the ten Sikh Gurus
who founded the religion. Processions also take place, headed by five people, who
representing the Five Beloved Ones (or Panj Piaras, first five members of the Khalsa).
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti is 2nd January 2020.
Epiphany – Christian
The Festival
The twelfth day of Christmas, celebrating the visit of the magi (wise men) to the infant Jesus,
bearing symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Some Mediterranean Catholic
countries welcome the ‘magic wise men’ who arrive by boat, bearing gifts for children.
Timings
Epiphany takes place on 6th January 2020.
Makar Sankranti – Hindu
The Festival
Makar Sankranti celebrates the movement of the Sun from one sign of the zodiac to another.
Hindus view the sun as the source of light and life. The festival is also significant as it marks
the new harvest season in India. Additionally, it is a day that symbolises the healthy
4relationship between father and son. A holy dip into the River Ganges is a big part of the
festival in India, with the dip seen as washing away the sins of devotees.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Makar Sankranti is 15th January 2020.
World Religion Day – Bahai
The Festival
This day promotes interfaith understanding by emphasizing factors common to all faiths. It
was first introduced among Baha’i communities in the 1950s, and is now celebrated by a
wider spread of communities, including the Baha’i, usually on the third Sunday of January.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of World Religion Day is 19th January 2020.
Imbolc – Pagan
The Festival
Imbolc (Candlemas) celebrates the awakening of the land and the growing power of the
Sun. Snowdrops, which appear at this time of the year, are seen as the heralds of spring.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Imbolc is 1st February 2020.
Magha Puja – Buddhist
The Festival
1,250 enlightened disciples came to the Bamboo Grove on the full moon of Magha. The
Buddha predicted his death and gave a summary of his teachings and a code of discipline
5which all monks are expected to recite every fortnight. The day is observed with meditation,
chanting and listening to sermons.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Magha Puja is 9th February 2020.
Darwin Day – Humanist
The Festival
International Darwin Day inspires people throughout the globe to reflect and act on the
principles of intellectual bravery, perpetual curiosity, scientific thinking, and hunger for truth
as embodied in Charles Darwin. It is a day of celebration, activism, and international
cooperation for the advancement of science, education, and human well-being.
Timings
Darwin Day is celebrated on 12th February 2020, Charles Darwin’s birthday.
Parinirvana – Buddhist
The Festival
Parinirvana is a Buddhist festival that celebrates the death of Buddha, when he achieved
Enlightenment, or the state of perfect wisdom.
Buddha is said to have died in a state of meditation at the age of eighty years old. On
Parinirvana, passages are read from the Parinirvana Sutra, the scriptures outlining the
Buddha’s final days.
Parinirvana is a day when Buddhists reflect on the passing of their friends or relations. A
central teaching of Buddhism is that all things are temporary. The idea that all things are
temporary is central to Buddhist teaching. Loss is viewed as an element of life that must be
accepted rather than cause grief.
The day is celebrated by Buddhists by visiting temples and meditating for deceased relations.
A large meal is also prepared and gifts are exchanged.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
6The date of Parinirvana is 15th February 2020.
Maha Shivaratri – Hindu
The Festival
This is the night on which Shiva is said to perform the cosmic dance, leading from creation
to destruction. Many Hindus fast at this time. All-
night prayers focus on Shiva and his shrines and statues.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Maha Shivaratri is 21st February 2020.
Ash Wednesday – Christian
The Festival
Marks the first day of Lent when Christians remember the forty days that Jesus spent in the
wilderness and the temptations he faced during this time. In Catholic and some Anglican
churches, services are held where the worshipper’s forehead is marked with a cross of ash,
made from burning the palm crosses of the previous year – hence the name Ash Wednesday.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Ash Wednesday is 26th February 2020.
Purim – Jewish
The Festival
A festival recalling the saving of the Jewish community of Persia through the actions of a
young Jewish woman, which is retold in the Book of Esther. The whole book/scroll is read
twice in the synagogue, once on the evening of Purim and then also on the morning after.
Colourful costumes and masks are often worn amid lots of noise as the name of Haman (the
villain of the story) is drowned out by the congregation with rattles and hooters and boos
whenever it is read.
Considerations for Employers
7Some employees may request leave for this festival.
Timings
Purim takes place on 9th-10th March 2020.
Holi – Hindu
The Festival
In Hinduism, Holi is a festival which celebrates spring and represents the victory of good over
evil.
The legend commemorated by Holi involves an Indian King named Hiranyakashipu who
prohibited his son, Prahlad, from worshipping Vishnu. After his son continued worshipping
Vishnu, Hiranyakashipu challenged Prahlad to sit in a fire along with his wicked aunt Holika
(who was thought to be fireproof). Prahlad prayed to Vishnu before taking on the challenge,
and the result was Holika was burnt to death while Prahlad survived. The burning of Holika is
celebrated as Holi.
Hindus light a public bonfire or ‘Holika Dahan’ on the eve of Holi, which symbolically sets
blaze to all the wrongs in life and the figures that represent evil. The holiday is a time when
celebrants put aside social restrictions and individuals of all statuses congregate and throw
bright coloured powders (which signify victory over evil) at each other.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Holi is 10th March 2020.
Hola Mohalla – Sikh
The Festival
In 1680 Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, introduced this festival at Anandpur in
Punjab, as an alternative to the Hindu festival of Holi. It includes competitive displays of
swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery and wrestling, together with displays of weapons and
symposia of poetry.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
8Timings
Hola Mohalla takes place on 10th-12th March 2020.
Spring Equinox – Pagan
The Festival
By the Spring Equinox (Ostara), the powers of the gathering year are equal to the darkness of
winter and death. The God (the Green Man) awakens during this season.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
Spring Equinox is 20th March 2020.
Rama Navami – Hindu
The Festival
The birthday of Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, is celebrated at noon in the aarti
ceremony, performed in front of a doll or of a picture depicting Rama swinging in a cradle.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
Rama Navami is 2nd April 2020.
Palm Sunday – Christian
The Festival
The first day of Holy Week, when Christians remember Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, where
later he would be arrested and crucified. Many churches commemorate the day by
processions, with the congregation carrying symbolic palm leaves folded in the form of a
cross, or branches of palm trees.
Timings
Palm Sunday is 5th April 2020.
Passover (Pesach) – Jewish
9The Festival
A major festival lasting eight days, commemorating the liberation of the Children of Israel
and their Exodus from slavery in Egypt. The highlight is the Seder meal, held in each family’s
home at the beginning of the festival, when the story of their deliverance is recounted, as
narrated in the Haggadah. Matzah, (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as
are other foods that contain no yeast. There is a major spring cleaning in the home shortly
before the festival to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the house during the festival
period.
Considerations for Employers
Flexible Working
Jewish observances start at sunset of the previous day, meaning that some flexibility to start
and leave work a little earlier may be appreciated by employees who may typically work
hours close to sunset.
Leave
A considerable portion of annual leave may be used by employees wishing to observe the
'no work' rules of some Jewish holidays. Where the leave timings can be accommodated, it is
also important to ensure an employee has adequate leave days available for these needs.
Employees may ask for additional leave for religious reasons. There is no legal requirement
to accommodate requests but planning ahead can help and may be met through flexible
working arrangements, annual leave or unpaid leave. It is generally unadvisable to offer paid
special leave for such time off requests because an employer needs to ensure they do not
discriminate in favour of a particular religion.
Timings
The dates of Pesach are 8th – 16th April 2020.
Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur – Sikh
The Festival
Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of the ten Gurus who founded Sikhism, who is honoured
and remembered as the man who championed the rights for all religious freedom. He taught
liberation from attachment, fear and dependence. Strength should be gained through truth,
worship, sacrifice and knowledge.
During the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Islam was imposed on the people. Hindu
temples were demolished and turned into mosques, higher taxes were charged to non-
Muslims and the Emperor persecuted those who would not conform to Islamic law.
10Guru Tegh Bahadur spoke out amid this persecution. He refused to convert to Islam and in
1675, he was beheaded in Delhi.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The Birthday of Guru Tegh Bahadur is celebrated on 11th April 2020.
Easter – Christian
The Festival
Easter is the most important festival in the Christian calendar when Christians celebrate
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Easter is preceded by Lent – a period of preparation and self-discipline through fasting which
lasts for 40 days (6 weeks).
Lent commences with Ash Wednesday – a ceremony which symbolises repentance – and
ends in Holy Week – which contains the important services: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday
and Good Friday.
Considerations for Employers
Lent and fasting
Employers may wish to be aware that some of their employees may be fasting – often
abstaining from some form of food or drink – during the period of Lent (26th February to 9th
April 2020). This may impact on how best you can arrange social activities during this period.
Leave
Employers should ensure that arrangements for the Public Holidays are in place. They
should be aware that there may be a higher number of employees requesting annual leave
over this period, as many schools will have breaks that coincide with Easter. It is good
inclusive practice to allow those who want to take time off for religious observance to do so,
where can be managed from an operational perspective. Employees should be encouraged
to apply for leave as early as possible to allow arrangements to be made to cover work
commitments.
Most observance will need to take place at the weekend or over the Public Holidays, but
those working shifts or night work may need to plan some annual leave via the usual
application processes. Many Christians try to attend a Church service on Ash Wednesday –
whilst there is no need for people to take the whole day off work they may request a half
day. Employees who do not observe Easter may wish to work on the Public Holidays and take
11the time off at a date more convenient to them. If employers can manage this operationally,
then it would be good practice to do so, although employers are under no obligation to
have policies that allow this in every instance.
Pay
Communications on policies such as premium pay rates or time off in lieu for working on
Public Holidays or weekends should be made in advance of the holiday period.
Timings
In Western Churches, Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the March
equinox, and so may fall within a range from 22 March to 25 April. There is a wide variety of
tradition and observance. Orthodox Christians calculate the date of Easter in the same way,
but use the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian calendar, which usually means that the
Orthodox celebrate Easter on a different Sunday to the Western Churches.
The date of Easter Sunday in 2020 is 12th April for Western Churches and 19th April for
Orthodox Churches.
Vaisakhi – Sikh
The Festival
Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is a long established harvest festival in the Punjab. After 1699,
Vaisakhi also commemorated the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa and
became one of the most significant dates in the Sikh calendar.
On Vaisakhi day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh called Sikhs from all over India to the city of
Anandpur Sahib. He came out of a tent carrying a sword and challenged any Sikh who was
prepared to give his life to come into the tent. After the first volunteer went into the tent, the
Guru returned alone with his sword covered in blood. He repeated the same action four
times until five men disappeared into the tent.
The crowd were very concerned until they saw the Guru emerge from the tent with all five
men dressed piously in blue. Guru Gobind Singh called these men the Panj Pyare, the Five
Beloved Ones.
In common with other Sikh festivals, 'Akhand Path' (continuous reading of Guru Granth
Sahib, the Holy Book, for 48 hours) is arranged 2 days earlier and 'Bhog' (the completion of
the reading) takes place on the morning of Vaisakhi. The singing of divine hymns follows
this. Later, learned preachers give talks on the importance of Vaisakhi.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
The Timings
12Vaisakhi is on 13th or 14th April each year. In 2020 it’s on 13th April.
Ramadan, Lailat al Qadr, and Eid-ul-Fitr – Muslim
The Festival
Ramadan is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims consider this
month the holiest of the year, and believe that during this month the Qur’an (the central
religious text of Islam) was revealed to the prophet Muhammad. Within this time, Muslims
atone and seek nearness to Allah (God).
Able-bodied adult Muslims are expected to fast during this month, refraining from food or
drink of any sort during daylight hours.
Fasting however has significance beyond not eating and drinking. Ramadan is intended to
increase self-control in all aspects of life. The aim is to be a model human being during the
fast, hoping that the good behaviours will become habits for life. Muslims will therefore try
to give up bad habits during Ramadan, and many will pray or read the Qur’an more.
During Ramadan, most Muslims will wake before dawn for a meal and when daylight is over
will break the fast with a meal. As well as fasting, evenings are often spent at a Mosque in
congregational prayer.
During Ramadan, Lailat al Qadr commemorates the night in 610 CE when the prophet
Muhammad received his first visit from the angel Jibril (Gabriel) and his revelation of the
Qur’an. Muslims believe that the date of this night is kept secret by God, but that they ‘may
seek the Night of Dignity in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan’ (Bukhaari,
quoting Aisha, who heard it from the Prophet).
The end of Ramadan is marked by Eid Ul Fitr (festival of the breaking of the fast). Attendance
at a mosque for special prayer is expected on the first day, and a three-day festival, in which
families and friends socialise and exchange gifts, follows.
Considerations for Employers
Duration of the fast
Employers should be aware that as Ramadan falls in early summer in 2020, the fast will be
around 18 hours per day. Practically this may mean that the following are considerations for
your managers at team level:
• Flexible Working.
With appropriate team consultation and bearing in mind the needs of the business,
you may consider flexible working options such as Muslim employees altering their
start, finish and break times to accommodate fasting and prayer requirements.
Part of the requirement of the fast is to break one’s fast promptly. Where possible
make allocation for employees to do this (around 15-20 minutes).
13• Cultural awareness.
Some Muslim employees who are not particularly observant of daily prayers and
Friday (congregational, typically off-site) prayers may well be during Ramadan.
Also, there are some exceptions to the requirement to fast including women who are
menstruating, and people who take regular medication (taking medicine invalidates
one’s fast). Employers should be aware that there is a balance between the inclusive
good practice of taking an active interest in colleague’s faith vs being unintentionally
intrusive.
• Leave Requests.
Such requests may be presented with little advance notice since the actual day that
Eid falls on will depend on when the new moon is sighted. This leave is normally
taken from the employee’s holiday entitlement or, where applicable, as unpaid leave.
Timings
In 2020 Ramadan is expected to start on or near to 23rd April (at sunset) and will continue for
30 days. Eid ul Fitr is expected to start on or near to 24th May.
The precise date for when Ramadan will start will vary: traditionally the new moon, indicating
the start of the new lunar month, should be physically sighted. In practice, this often means
that different communities follow the timings of different parts of the world where the moon
can be sighted.
Wesak (Vesak) – Buddhist
The Festival
Vesak is a festival that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the
Buddha. The most important event in the Buddhist calendar, Vesak involves meditating at
temples, exchanging gifts, decorating houses with flowers, and walking around Buddha
statues with candles until they are covered in light (to represent how the Buddha showed
people how to become enlightened).
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Vesak is 30th April 2020.
Beltaine – Pagan
The Festival
14The wheel of the year continues to turn and fertile spring yields to the height of
summer. Many pagans celebrate Beltaine (May Eve) by lighting fires and leaping over them,
and/or with maypole dances, symbolizing the mystery of the Sacred Marriage of Goddess
and God.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Beltaine is 2nd May 2020.
Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev – Sikh
The Festival
Guru Arjan was the fifth Sikh Guru and the first Sikh martyr: he laid the foundation of the
Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib) in Amritsar. He also designed the four doors in a
Gurdwara, proclaiming that "My faith is for the people of all castes and all creeds from
whichever direction they come and to whichever direction they bow."
He also declared that all Sikhs should donate a tenth of their earnings to charity.
The greatest contribution he made to the Sikh faith was to compile all of the past Gurus'
writings into one book, now the holy scripture: the Guru Granth Sahib. It was this holy book
that made him a martyr.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
The birthday of Guru Arjan Dev is celebrated on 2nd May 2020.
Dharma Day – Buddhist
The Festival
Dharma Day is a celebration which marks the beginning of the Buddha’s teaching. Dharma
translates as truth, and is the term denoting the Buddhist path to enlightenment. The event
commemorates the birth of the Buddhist religion. In early Buddhism, Dharma Day signified
the beginning of the rainy season, when Buddha would shelter and reflect with his monks
until the end of the monsoon. Buddhists now view the day as an opportunity to express
thanks to Buddha for sharing his knowledge with his followers. Scriptures in temples and
those present reflect on the Buddha’s teachings.
15Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on this date.
Timings
The date of Dharma Day is 6th May 2020.
Shavuot – Jewish
The Festival
A two day festival, also known as the Feast of Weeks, falls seven weeks after Pesach. It
celebrates the revelation of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai, and also marks the time
when the first wheat harvest was taken to the Temple. Synagogues are decorated with
flowers and dairy foods are traditionally eaten. For Orthodox Jews work is not permitted
throughout the festival.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Shavuot is 28th -30th May 2020.
Pentecost – Christian
The Festival
Pentecost, named after the Jewish festival when the disciples of Jesus first proclaimed the
Gospel after the gift of the Holy Spirit,is seen as the ‘birthday’ of the Church. Its alternative
name (Whitsun) comes from the custom of baptizing converts dressed in white.
Timings
Pentecost is on 31st May 2020.
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev – Sikh
The Festival
Guru Arjan Dev included the compositions of both Hindu and Muslim saints which he
considered consistent with the teachings of Sikhism and the Gurus.
In 1606, the Muslim Emperor Jahangir ordered that he be tortured and sentenced to death
after he refused to remove all Islamic and Hindu references from the Holy book.
16Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
The Guru’s martyrdom is celebrated on 16th June 2020.
Midsummer Solstice – Pagan
The Festival
The summer solstice is the festival of Midsummer, sometimes called Litha. The light of the
sun is at the height of its power. It is a time of plenty and celebration.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
Midsummer Solstice is on 21st June 2020.
World Humanist Day – Humanist
The Festival
This Humanist holiday is celebrated annually around the world on the June solstice. It is seen
as a time for Humanists to gather socially to promote the positive values of Humanism.
Methods of celebration are left to individuals, but some groups develop intricate social
rituals, music, and proceedings which highlight the celebration.
Considerations for employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of World Humanist Day is 21st June 2020.
Tisha B’av – Jewish
The Festival
Full day fast mourning the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem and
other tragedies in Jewish history. The Book of Lamentations is read.
Considerations for employers
17Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Tisha B’av is 30th July 2020.
Eid-ul-Adha – Muslim
The Festival
Eid-ul-Adha ('festival of Sacrifice') coincides with the conclusion of Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
and is a public holiday in Muslim countries.
Eid-ul-Adha celebrates the occasion when Allah appeared to Ibrahim (Abraham) in a dream
and asked him to sacrifice his son Isma'il (Ishmael) as an act of obedience.
The devil tempted Ibrahim by saying he should disobey Allah and spare his son. As Ibrahim
was about to kill his son, Allah stopped him and gave him a lamb to sacrifice instead.
Traditionally Muslims who can afford to do so sacrifice a sheep (or sometimes a goat) as a
reminder of Ibrahim's obedience to Allah. In the UK, the animal will be killed at a
slaughterhouse according to halal practice. The meat is divided between family, friends and
the poor, each receiving a third share. Eid starts with Muslims going to the Mosque for
morning prayers, wearing their best clothes, and thanking Allah for all the blessings they
have received. As they celebrate, they remind themselves of their own submission to God,
and their own willingness to sacrifice anything to God's wishes. At the conclusion of the
prayers and sermon, the congregation embrace and exchange greetings, give gifts to
children, and visit one another.
Considerations for Employers
Employers should expect Muslims to make requests for holiday at Eid but any other
accommodation is unlikely to be required. Note that requesting leave for Eid is complicated,
because it is difficult to determine the precise date in advance, due to the varying traditions
in local communities about how the date of Eid is decided. (Some expatriate Muslim
communities follow the dates as determined for their home country, while others follow the
local dates of their country of residence.)
Timings
The first day of this celebration, which continues for three days, is held on the 10th day of
Duhl-Hijja, which is the last month of the Muslim year. In 2020, Eid-ul-Adha is anticipated to
start on 30st July.
Lammas – Pagan
The Festival
18Lughnasadh, otherwise called Lammas, is the time of the corn harvest, when Pagans reap
those things they have sown and when they celebrate the fruits of the mystery of Nature. At
Lughnasadh, Pagans give thanks for the bounty of the Goddess as Queen of the Land.
Considerations for employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Lammas is 1st August 2020.
Raksha Bandhan – Hindu
The Festival
Raksha Bandhan is the Hindu festival that celebrates brotherhood and love. It is celebrated
on the full moon in the month of Sravana in the lunar calendar.
The word Raksha means protection, whilst Bandhan is the verb to tie. Traditionally, during
the festival sisters tie a rakhi, a bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads, around
their brothers' wrists to celebrate their relationship.
Considerations for employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of Raksha Bandhan is 3rd August 2020.
Janmashtami (Krishma Jayanti) – Hindu
The Festival
Janmashtami is a festival that celebrates the birth of Hindu God, Lord Krishna. Hindus view
Krishna as an incarnation of Vishnu (one of the highest deities responsible for the
construction and destruction of the world). Krishna is considered as a teacher, hero,
philosopher and warrior. Krishna’s birthday takes place eight days after Raksha Bandhan (the
festival celebrating brotherhood and love).
Hindus gather in temples and sing hymns (bhajans) dedicated to Lord Krishna. Some Hindus
also choose to fast for the occasion.
Considerations for employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
19Timings
The date of Krishna Janmashtami is 11th August 2020.
Al Hijra (Muharram) – Muslim
The Festival
Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is the first day of the month of Muharram. It marks the Hijra
(or Hegira) in 622 CE when the Prophet Muhammad moved from Mecca to Medina, and set
up the first Islamic state.
The Muslim calendar counts dates from the Hijra, which is why Muslim dates have the suffix
AH (After Hijra).
It's a low-key event in the Muslim world, celebrated less than the two major festivals of Eid-
ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha.
Timings
Al Hijra is 20th August 2020.
Ganesh Chaturthi – Hindu
The Festival
This is a Hindu festival in honour of Ganesh, the god of good fortune and new beginnings.
He was the elephant headed son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, and is often referred to as
Ganupati. Celebrations conclude with the immersion in water of the image of Ganesh.
Considerations for Employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
Ganesh Chaturthi takes place on 22nd August 2020.
Rosh Hashanah - Jewish
The Festival
Rosh Hashanah, the first of the High Holy Days, is commonly known as Jewish New Year.
Rosh Hashanah marks the beginning of ten days of repentance and self-examination, during
which G-d sits in personal judgment on every individual. The blowing of the ram’s horn
(shofar) in the synagogue is a reminder of Abraham’s sacrifice of a ram instead of his son,
20Isaac. Apples dipped in honey are eaten in the hope of a ‘sweet’ new year. The traditional
greeting is ‘Leshanah Tovah Tikatev’ (may you be inscribed for a good year).
Considerations for Employers
No work is permitted on Rosh Hashanah. Employees observing this festival are likely to
request leave on this day.
Timings
The dates of Rosh Hashanah are from sunset on the 18th September to 20th September 2020.
Autumn Equinox – Pagan
The Festival
Day and night stand hand in hand as equals. As the shadows lengthen, Pagans see the
darker faces of the God and Goddess. For many Pagans, this rite honours old age and the
approach of Winter.
Considerations for employers
Some employees may request leave on this day.
Timings
The date of the Autumn Equinox is 22nd September August 2020.
Yom Kippur - Jewish
The Festival
Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) is the most significant festival in the Jewish calendar. On
this day, Jews reflect on the year that has passed and ask for forgiveness from God for the
sins they have committed. Yom Kippur includes a 25 hour fast. The 10 days between Rosh
Hashanah and Yom Kippur allow Jews to ask for God’s forgiveness and make up for the
wrongs they have committed throughout the year. This period is called The Days of
Repentance or Days of Awe.
The time spent in the synagogue is the most significant aspect of Yom Kippur. There are five
services in the synagogue during Yom Kippur.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect some employees to request annual leave on this day.
Timings
21Yom Kippur starts on the evening of 27th September 2020 and continues the following day.
Sukkot – Jewish
The Festival
Sukkot is a harvest festival celebrated in the 7th month of the Jewish year, and takes place
five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or Feast of
Booths. As one of the most important Jewish holidays, it is celebrated once a year for seven
days to commemorate the way Jewish people lived whilst wandering in the desert for 40
years after escaping from Egypt.
Considerations for Employers
As Sukkot is a 7-day festival, employers would benefit from an early discussion with
employees observing the event in order to be able to give leave requests adequate
consideration.
Sukkot forbids work on the first and second day of the holiday, and many Jews will request
holiday for this period.
The work restrictions that apply during the second period, Chol HaMoed, may mean that
some observant Jews will request changes in any job duties that are prohibited.
Timings
In 2020, Sukkot starts at sunset on 2nd October and continues for seven days until sunset on
9th October.
Simchat Torah – Jewish
The Festival
Simcha Torah marks the completion of the annual cycle of reading from the Torah. As the
reading of the Torah in the synagogue should be continuous, a second scroll is begun again
as soon as the final portion of the Torah has been read from the first scroll; so, the reading
from Deuteronomy ends, and soon after, so that there is no break, Genesis begins - the
Torah is a circle that never ends. All the Torah scrolls are paraded around the synagogue,
with children dancing and singing, as do several of the adults, giving as many people as
possible the honour of carrying a Torah scroll. Most progressive Jews celebrate this one day
earlier, combining it with the eighth day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on these dates.
Timings
22In 2020, Simchat Torah starts in the evening of 10th October and continues the following day.
Navratri – Hindu
The Festival
Navratri (‘Nine Nights’) is one of the most celebrated festivals in Hinduism. It occurs twice a
year, once at the beginning of summer and then again at the onset of winter. It is believed
that it is the divine power that provides energy for the earth to move around the sun and
must be thanked for maintaining the correct balance of the universe. Hindus worship this
divine power to give them strength to maintain their physical and mental balance.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may wish to take annual leave and/or may fast during this period.
Timings
Sharad Navratri, the most popular Navratri, starts on 17th October in 2020 and continues for
nine days until 25th October.
Mawlid an Nabi – Hindu
The Festival
Mawlid an Nabi (or Milad un Nabi) marks the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Mawlid an Nabi falls in the month of Rabi' al-awwal in the Islamic calendar. As the Islamic
calendar is a lunar calendar, the corresponding date in the Gregorian calendar varies each
year.
Many Muslims mark this occasion by gathering to remember the Prophet’s life.
Considerations for Employers
Employers may expect that employees will request annual leave on this day.
Timings
Mawlid an Nabi takes place on 29th October 2020.
Samhain – Pagan
The Festival
The Celtic wheel of the year turns and the veil between life and death is drawn aside.
Samhain is the festival of death when Pagans remember and honour those who have gone
before. Fires are lit and ‘dead wood’ is burned before stepping into the darkness of winter.
23The wheel of the year is seen to begin at Samhain. Pagans celebrate death as part of life. This
is not a time of fear, but a time to understand more deeply that life and death are part of a
sacred whole.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on these dates.
Timings
Samhain takes place on 31st October 2020.
Diwali – Hindu
The Festival
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is a five day festival whose name derives from the Sanskrit word
Deepavali (a row or cluster of lights), and is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in
India, where it is an official holiday.
Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and some Buddhist mark the festival of lights. Each of these faith
traditions celebrate on these days for different reasons but each have similar themes: the
victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, hope over despair.
It welcomes in the New Year and symbolises the defeat of the darkness that hides the light
of knowledge. Traditionally, homes and businesses are decorated with lights around this
time.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on these dates.
Timings
In 2020, Diwali starts on 14th November.
Bandi Chhor Divas – Sikh
The Festival
Sikhs also celebrate at the time of Divali since Guru Hargobind, the sixth Guru, was released
from Gwalior prison on this day. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is illuminated and firework
displays take place there. It is a time for new clothes, presents and sweets.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on this date.
24Timings
Bandi Chhor Divas takes place on 14th November 2020.
Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur – Sikh
The Festival
During the reign of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, Islam was imposed on the people. Hindu
temples were demolished and turned into mosques, higher taxes were charged to non-
Muslims and the Emperor persecuted those who would not conform to Islamic law.
Guru Tegh Bahadur spoke out amid this persecution. He refused to convert to Islam and in
1675, he was beheaded in Delhi.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on this date.
Timings
The Guru’s martyrdom is celebrated on 24th November 2020.
Birthday of Guru Nanak – Sikh
The Festival
Guru Nanak is celebrated as the first Sikh Guru who laid the foundation of Sikhism and is a
reminder for the devotees to follow his teachings and devote their life in the selfless service
of God.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on this date.
Timings
The Guru’s birthday is celebrated on 29th November 2020.
Hanukkah - Jewish
The Festival
25Hanukkah (or Chanukah) is the Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the festival of
lights. It is an eight-day festival beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev (the
ninth month of the Jewish year occurring in November/December).
According to tradition, at the time of the rededication, there was very little oil left pure
enough for the candles in the Temple. There was only enough oil to burn for one day, yet
miraculously, it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of oil. An
eight-day festival was declared to commemorate this miracle.
The festival is observed by the lighting of candles. The candles are arranged in a
candelabrum called a menorah (sometimes called a hanukkiah) that holds nine candles: one
for each night, plus a shammus (servant) at a different height. The shammus is used to light
all the other candles. Candles are lit from left to right (because you pay honour to the newer
thing first). On the eighth night, all nine candles (the 8 Hanukkah candles and the shammus)
are lit.
Hanukkah customs include eating foods fried in oil - latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot
(doughnuts), playing with a dreidel (spinning top) and the giving of Hanukkah gelt, gifts of
money, to children.
Timings
In 2019, Hanukkah lasts from sunset of the 10th December to sunset of the 18th December.
Winter Solstice (Yule) – Pagan
The Festival
Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun is reborn, an image of the return of all
new life. Heathens celebrate Yule for twelve nights and days, starting the evening before the
Winter Solstice (called Mother’s night), when they think of their female ancestors and
spiritual protectors. The night heralds the beginning of the major holiday in Heathenry.
Considerations for Employers
Employees may request annual leave on this date.
Timings
Winter Solstice takes place on 21st December 2020.
Christmas – Christian
The Festival
Christmas is when Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Christ.
26There is a wide variety of tradition and observance. For more observant Christians, Christmas
is part of a broader cycle that begins with the four weeks of Advent, continues through the
twelve days of Christmas and ends on Epiphany and in the Eastern Orthodox churches,
Christmas Day is celebrated in January.
Considerations for employers
Should we try to take the religion out of Christmas?
Some argue that playing down the religious significance of Christmas can avoid upsetting or
alienating non-Christians and that it is inappropriate to impose a Christian festival on
modern multi-cultural Britain. But this stance has been vigorously opposed by many whose
view is that denying Britain’s religious heritage and the celebrations of the Christian calendar
can in fact undermine community relations.
Celebrating Christmas
Many employers display Christmas decorations in the workplace and send Christmas
greetings to employees, customers and others. There is no need to stop on grounds of
religion or belief, although – unless your organisation has a strong Christian culture or ethos
– it may be more sensitive to use seasonal rather than religious imagery.
If you provide catering for employees, you will probably want to offer a Christmas menu.
Remember to ensure there are alternatives to the traditional Christmas lunch so that those
whose diet is restricted by religion, or for other reasons, can celebrate too (for example, the
pork stuffing and chipolatas wrapped in bacon should be cooked and served separately from
other ingredients).
Working Hours and Holidays
Employers should make sure that their policy on the application of any premium pay rates
over the Christmas period is clear to avoid misunderstandings. Many employers who do not
operate a continuous service may close their operations for the period between Christmas
and New Year, or for a longer period. This may leave non-Christians feeling disadvantaged,
since some may have to take holiday to participate in their own religious festivals. An
extended Christmas closedown may therefore indirectly discriminate on the ground of
religion or belief so employers should be clear as to the reasons why it is necessary which
might include cost savings where the majority of staff will want to take holiday and costs can
be saved by closing down completely. Other employers have a different challenge: how to
allow for time off at a popular holiday period when customer demand is high or they are
running a continuous operation such as a utility or a public emergency service. Provided the
ground-rules are both public and transparent (for example, on rostering, shift swaps, ballots
and priority for the granting of holiday requests), the employer should not be unduly
concerned about claims that these arrangements discriminate on grounds of religion or
belief. Where such arrangements are in existence, tribunals have dismissed the notion that
Christians have any privilege for time off for religious reasons.
27Timings
Christmas Day is on 25th December 2020.
28Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion (enei)
7-14 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4YR
t: 020 7922 7790
e: info@enei.org.uk www.enei.org.uk
© Employers Network for Equality & Inclusion 2019
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