1 Aug
(Sat)
Lammas
The festival of the first wheat harvest of the year. On this day it was customary to bring to church a loaf made from the new crop. In many parts of England, tenants were bound to present freshly harvested wheat to their landlords on or before the first day of August. The blessing of new fruits was performed annually in both the Eastern and Western Churches on the first, or the sixth, of August.
1 Aug
(Sat)
Lughnasadh (Pagan)
Pagan harvest festival, during which Pagans give thanks for the bounty of the Goddess as Queen of the Land. Lughnasadh is celebrated either on 1st August, at the time of the ripening of the local berry crop, or on the full moon nearest the midpoint between the summer solstice and autumnal equinox. The festival is generally marked by the lighting of bonfires, music and dancing.
5 Aug
(Wed)
Lailat-ul-Bara'h (Night of Forgiveness)
Occurring two weeks before Ramadan, this is a day on which Muslims seek forgiveness for their sins. Many Muslims believe that a person's destiny for the coming year is fixed on this night. The night is spent in prayer, asking God's guidance and forgiveness. In some Muslim countries believers visit the graves of relatives. Giving to charity is another tradition on this day, while in some places the night is marked with firework displays.
6 Aug
(Thu)
Transfiguration Day
Also known as just the Transfiguration, this day commemorates when Jesus went up a mountain with the disciples Peter, James and John and they saw him transformed, together with Moses and Elijah, and heard a voice saying "This is my own dear Son with whom I am pleased — listen to him".
10 –
19 Aug
(10 days)
Farvardigan/Mukhtad
Ten-day festival during which the Fravashis, souls or spirits of the dead, are welcomed and entertained. The five Gathas (hymns composed by Zarathustra) are recited on the last five days of the festival.
13 - 16 Aug
(4 days)
O-Bon
Japanese Buddhist festival honoring the departed spirits of dead ancestors. During this festival the spirits of these ancestors are welcomed back home with feasting and dancing. Fires are often lit to illuminate their arrival and departure. This festival has evolved into a family reunion holiday, during which people from the big cities return to their home towns and visit and clean their ancestors' graves.
14 Aug
(Fri)
Janmashtami/Krishna Jayanti
This festival celebrates the birthday of Krishna. Krishna was the eighth avatar (earthly incarnation) of Vishnu. Many Hindus will fast until midnight, the time of Krishna's birth, while those unable to fast will take fruit and milk. In temples the birth of Krishna is welcomed with singing, dancing and sweets. In some homes and temples an image of the newborn Krishna is put in a cradle and special sweets are offered and distributed.
16 Aug
(Sun)
Assumption Day
Catholic festival. Also known as the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, this day celebrates the taking up into heaven (assumption) of Mary, mother of Jesus. Most Catholic communities mark the festival with processions and fêtes.
17 Aug
(Mon)
Paryushana begins
Paryushana is the holiest time of the year for Jains, consisting of 8-10 days of meditation, fasting and prayer and ending with a ceremony of atonement meant to prepare the believer for emergence into the world in a state of spiritual and moral refinement. The story of the conception of Lord Mahavira, the man considered to have shaped the Jain religion over 2,600 years ago, is retold, telling how Mahavira’s mother had a series of dreams at the time of his conception, each one prophetic of a quality the future leader would display. Silver figures representing these dreams and symbolic of virtues such as strength, courage and wisdom are paraded through the congregation and up to the altar; the money families bid for the privilege of carrying these symbols is used to support the community.
20 Aug
(Thu)
Noruz (Shenshai)
Noruz, which can be spelt in a variety of ways, is New Year's Day (according to the Shensai calendar).
22 Aug –
19 Sep
(28 days)
Ramadan
A period of fasting lasting for one lunar month. Throughout the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from all food, drink and smoking during daylight hours. Fasting (sawm) is one of the five pillars of Islam, ensuring that everyone gains some experience of deprivation. It is customary to break each day's fast in the evening by consuming dates and water. Those who cannot fast are obliged to give to charity to compensate for the lost days. Children are not required to take part in the fast.
23 Aug
(Sun)
Ganesh Chaturthi
Festival celebrating the birth of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god of good fortune and new beginnings. The festival is particularly significant for Hindus from the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Celebrations can last between one and ten days, concluding with the immersion of the image of Ganesh in water.
24 Aug
(Mon)
Khordad Sal (Shenshai)
This festival celebrates the birth (according to the Shensai calendar) of Zarathustra, the founder of Zoroastrianism. It is a day of rejoicing, when Zoroastrians and Parsis go to fire temples to pay homage and offer prayers. A feast is prepared, and Parsis in India decorate their homes with flowers and rangoli. Amongst the Parsi community, Khordad Sal is an occasion for gathering together and it is regarded as a time for individual believers to review their lives and make resolutions for the future.
