Religion and spirituality
Holy days and festivals
Find out about on-campus and community events which celebrate Holy Days and Festivals.
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At York St John University we pride ourselves on being open, inclusive and increasingly diverse.
On this page you will find details of upcoming religious events and holy days. If there is a specific service, festival or celebration you can join in with, details are here. If you just want to know more, contact details for the relevant Faith Adviser are also here.
Celebrating with a community is a great way to learn about their traditions. Don't be shy – join up with people of your own faith or explore that of others.
You’ll always find a warm welcome!
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Monday, 22 April 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Start of Pesach (Passover)
Passover is one of the most important religious festivals for Jews and begins on the 15th day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish calendar.
Open to everyone
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Sunday, 28 April 2024
12.00 AM to 11.00 PM
Ninth Day of Ridvan
In Bahá'í, the Ninth Day of Ridván honours the day when Baha’u’llah learned that he had been banished from the Ottoman Empire. Get in touch with our Bahá'í Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Wednesday, 1 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Twelfth Day of Ridvan
In Bahá'í, this celebrates the day that Baha’u’llah departed Ridvan and began his 4 month journey to Istanbul. Get in touch with our Bahá'í Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Thursday, 9 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Ascension Day
In Christianity, this day remembers Jesus' Ascension into heaven.
Open to everyone
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Wednesday, 15 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Buddha Day
The birth of the Buddha is celebrated in China and other parts of East Asia. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Sunday, 19 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Pentecost
In Christianity, this is the day the disciples (and therefore the church) receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians wear red and orange on this day. Get in touch with our Chaplain for more information.
Open to everyone
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Declaration of the Bab
In Bahá'í, this day celebrates a spring evening in 1844 when Siyyid Ali-Muhammad announced that He was the bearer of a Divine Revelation. Get in touch with our Bahá'í Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Thursday, 23 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Buddah Day (Theravada Buddhism)
This day marks the Buddha’s birth, Enlightenment and passing in to Nirvana at death. This Holy Day is marked by the May full moon. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Thursday, 23 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Saka Dawa (Vajrayana Buddhism)
This day marks the Buddha’s birth, Enlightenment and passing away. It is held on the day of the full moon. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Monday, 27 May 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
In Bahá'í, this commemorates the anniversary of the death of the founder of Bahá'u'lláh. This solemn anniversary is a day of rest. Get in touch with our Bahá'í Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Tuesday, 11 June 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Shavuot (Pentecost)
In Judaism, Shavuot is one of the Jewish harvest festivals, also known as the festival or feast of 'Week's. It originally marked the beginning of the wheat harvest.
Open to everyone
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Sunday, 16 June 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Eid-al-Adha
Eid-al-Adha is one of the larger festivals celebrated in Islam, where Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim's devotion to Allah with his readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. For more information, contact our Muslim Faith Advisers.
Open to everyone
Friday, 21 June 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Poson Poya (Theravada Buddhism)
This day marks the spreading of Buddhism to Sri Lanka. This Holy Day us marked by the June full moon. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Monday, 8 July 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Martyrdom of the Bab
In Bahá'í, on 9 July, 1850, the Bab, the forerunner to Baha’u’llah was executed in Tabriz, Persia. Get in touch with our Bahá'í Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Tuesday, 9 July 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Choekhor Duechen (Vajrayana Buddhism)
Celebrates the Buddha’s First teaching and is marked by the July full moon. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Saturday, 20 July 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Asalha Puja (Theravada Buddhism)
This day marks the Buddha’s renunciation and first sermon and is marked by the July full moon. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Sunday, 18 August 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Ullambana (Chinese Mahayana Buddhism)
Festival to honour ancestors and feed the Hungry Ghosts. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Monday, 19 August 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Raksha Bandhan (Rakhi)
The Hindu festival which celebrates brotherhood and love. Get in touch with our Hindu Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Monday, 26 August 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Krishna Janmashtami
A festival celebrating the birth of the God Krishna. Get in touch with our Hindu Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Saturday, 7 September 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Ganesha Chaturthi
10 day Hindu festival marking the birth of the elephant-headed deity Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom. Get in touch with our Hindu Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Thursday, 19 September 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Higan-e (Japanese Mahayana Buddhism)
This day serves as a reminder of impermanence. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Wednesday, 2 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Rosh Hashana (New Year) (2 to 4 October)
The Jewish New Year festival, to commemorate the creation of the world. The festival lasts 2 days.
Open to everyone
Thursday, 3 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Navaratri (Durga Puja) (3 to 12 October)
Navaratri (nine nights) is one of the greatest Hindu festivals. It symbolises the triumph of good over evil. Get in touch with our Hindu Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Friday, 11 October 2024
5.00 PM to 5.00 PM
Yom Kippur (11 to 12 October)
Yom Kippur, the most sacred and solemn day of the Jewish year, brings the Days of Repentance to a close.
Open to everyone
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Wednesday, 16 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Sukkot (16 to 23 October)
Sukkot commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult desert conditions.
Open to everyone
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Wednesday, 23 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Shemini Atzeret (23 to 25 October)
Shemini Atzeret is literally the eighth day following the festival of Sukkot. It is a separate - yet connected - holy day devoted to the spiritual aspects of the festival of Sukkot.
Open to everyone
Wednesday, 23 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Simchat Torah (celebration of the Torah) (23 to 25 October)
Jewish religious observance held on the last day of Sukkot, when the yearly cycle of the Torah reading is completed and the next cycle is begun.
Open to everyone
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Thursday, 31 October 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Halloween / All Saints / All Souls
On Halloween we remember that good is stronger than evil by poking fun at 'evil spirits'. Email our Chaplain for more information.
Open to everyone
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Friday, 1 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Bhandi Chor Divas
A Sikh celebration that commemorates the sixth Guru of Sikhs. It symbolises the struggle against political injustice and highlights human rights. Get in touch with our Sikh Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Friday, 1 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Diwali
The Festival of Lights is a major holiday that extends over 5 days and celebrates the victory of good over evil. Join our International team to light candles, eat snacks and explore creative ways to celebrate.
Open to current students
Saturday, 2 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Twin Holy Days (2 to 3 November)
In Baha'i 'Twin Manifestations' refers to the unprecedented Revelation of the Bab and Baha'u'llah in rapid succession. Get in touch with our Baha'i Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Friday, 15 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Kathina (Theravada Buddhism)
On this day, offerings are made to the monastic community after their summer retreat. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Friday, 15 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji
Guru Nanak Dev Ji was born in 1469. When he was 30 he disappeared for 3 days. On his return he began to preach the Sikh faith. Get in touch with our Sikh Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Friday, 22 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Lhabab Duechen (Vajrayana Buddhism)
This day celebrates the Buddha teaching in the Realm of gods to his mother and other gods. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Sunday, 24 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Day of the Covenant (24 to 25 November)
In his will Baha'u'llah instructed all to turn to His eldest son, Abdu'l-Baha, as the perfect exemplar of the Faith's spirit and teachings. Get in touch with our Baha'i Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Tuesday, 26 November 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (26 to 27 November)
An anniversary of Abdu'l-Baha's funeral. Get in touch with our Baha'i Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
Sunday, 1 December 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Advent (1 to 24 December)
The 4 weeks before Christmas. A time of waiting and preparing for the coming of Christ in Christianity. Please contact our Chaplain for more information.
Open to everyone
Sunday, 8 December 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Jodo-e (Japanese Mahayana Buddhism)
This day celebrates the Buddha's enlightenment. Get in touch with our Buddhist Faith Adviser for more information.
Open to everyone
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Wednesday, 25 December 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Christmas Day
The birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Email our Chaplain for more information.
Open to current students
Wednesday, 25 December 2024
12.00 AM to 11.55 PM
Hanukkah (25 December to 2 January)
Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It is celebrated for 8 days and commemorates the Jews' struggle for religious freedom.
Open to everyone
Calendar of religious festivals
Find out more about upcoming dates with the Open University calendar of religious festivals. Their calendar aims to raise awareness of dates that are likely to have an impact on work or study.
