2 June (Monday) - 3 June (Tuesday) SHAVUOT / THE FEAST OF WEEKS / PENTECOST Jewish

Seven weeks after Pesach, Shavuot celebrates the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai and the early harvest season in Israel. Summer flowers and dairy foods abound.

5 June (Thursday) HAJJ Begins/ PILGRIMAGE TO MAKKAH (8th to 12th Dhul-Hijjah) Muslim

All Muslims who can afford to do so, and are not prevented through ill-health, are required to make this pilgrimage once in their lifetime (although there is no prohibition on making the pilgrimage more than once). A series of ritual acts are performed by the pilgrims during the first two days of Hajj.

7 June (Saturday) EID-UL-ADHA / THE FESTIVAL OF SACRIFICE (10th Dhul-Hijjah) Muslim

This major festival (al-Eid al-Kabir) commem orates Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail. Muslims all over the world sacrifice an animal if they can afford it.  Much of the meat is distributed to the poor, and some is shared with relatives and friends.

8 June (Sunday) PENTECOST / WHIT Christian (Western Churches)

An important festival in the Christian year, Pentecost is often seen as the ‘birthday’ of the Church, since this is when the disciples of Jesus first proclaimed the Gospel after receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is named after the Jewish festival day on which this event happened.

9 June (Monday) END OF HAJJ Muslim

The last day of the Hajj pilgrimage.

15 June (Sunday) THE FESTIVAL OF THE POOL / EID UL GHADEER Muslim (Shi‘a)

This is a festival observed by Shi‘a Muslims, for whom it is an extremely important day. It commemorates an event shortly before the death of the Prophet and his announcement concerning Ali, which they understand to be his clear appointment to be successor to the prophet as the spiritual and temporal leader of Islam.

15 June (Sunday) TRINITY SUNDAY Christian (Western Churches)

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God the father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.

16 June (Monday) MARTYRDOM OF GURU ARJAN DEV (1606) Sikh

The fifth Guru was executed on the orders of the Moghul Emperor, Jehangir, for refusing to pay a fine arising from a charge of treason. Guru Arjan made the first compilation of the Sikh Scriptures, called the Adi Granth, and supervised the completion of what is now the Golden Temple in Amritsar. A gurpurb is held on this day, including  an akhand path.

19 June (Thursday) CORPUS CHRISTI (The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ) Christian (Roman Catholic)

Popular festival to celebrate the institution of the Mass/Eucharist.

21 June (Saturday) MIDSUMMER SOLSTICE Wiccan / Pagan

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.

21 June (Saturday) SUMMER SOLSTICE (Alban Heruin or Alban Hefin) Druid

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.

21 June (Saturday) WORLD HUMANIST DAY National

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.

24 June (Tuesday) MIDSUMMER DAY National

One of the four Quarter Days in the UK legal calendar.

26 June (Thursday) ISLAMIC NEW YEAR 1447 / AL-HIJRA / RA'S UL 'AM (Muharram 1) Muslim

This day commemorates the Hijra or migration of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Medina in 622 CE, which led to the establishment of the Muslim community there. The day is not universally celebrated amongst Sunni Muslims but is notable as Muslim years are dated from this time and are marked AH (After the Hijrah). In 2024 CE the Muslim year 1446 AH begins.

27 June (Friday) SACRED HEART Christian (Roman Catholic)

The Sacred Heart of Jesus is a devotional with long and historic provenance within Christianity, and in modern times has been established as a Solemnity for the universal Church.

27 June (Friday) RATHA YATRA Hindu

‘Chariot journey’. This is observed most notably at Puri in the Indian state of Orissa, where processions of thousands of devotees pull huge waggons (rathas) supporting images of Krishna.  He is known under the name of ‘Jagannath’, (Lord of the Universe), from which the English term ‘juggernaut’ comes. Krishna is attended on his journey by his brother and sister.  The festival and others like it are celebrated in Britain with processions through various parts of London on appropriate Sundays.

29 June (Sunday) SAINTS PETER AND PAUL Christian

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a litergical feats in honour of the martydom in Rome of the apostles of Saint Peter and Paul. The celebration is of ancient Christian origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics.