Embedded Files
Welcome to our LUU Cultural Calendar, which includes key international and national events alongside LUU staff events and dates for your diaries. We'll be adding new events regularly, so don't forget to check back.
Is there something you'd like to see added? Get in touch with the People Team via unihr@leeds.ac.uk.
April 2025
April 2025
Tuesday 1 April - Wednesday 30 April
Stress Awareness Month
The aim of Stress Awareness Month is to help individuals and organisations recognise and reduce stress, fostering a happier, healthier, and more resilient world.
This year's theme is #LeadWithLove
Wednesday 2 April - Wednesday 30 April
Autism Acceptance Month
Beginning on Autism Awareness Day, the month is an opportunity for everyone to come together and raise awareness, foster acceptance, and create a society where autistic people are supported, understood, and empowered.
Wednesday 2 April
World Autism Awareness Day
The UN General Assembly declared this day to highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.
Find out more: World Autism Awareness Day
Sunday 6 April
Rama Navami
Rama Navami is a Hindu festival that celebrates the birthday of the god Rama- hero of the Ramayana and seventh avatar of the god Vishnu. It is also the ninth and final day of the spring Vasant Navratri festival.
Learn more: Rudra Centre
Monday 7 April
World Health Day
World Health Day is celebrated annually and draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world.
This year's campaign is on maternal and newborn heath, titled "Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures"
Friday 11 April
World Parkinson's Day
#StartAConversation Every April, the Parkinson's Foundation engages the global Parkinson's community to support Parkinson's Awareness Month.
Find out more: World Parkinson's Day
Saturday 12 April - Sunday 13 April
Hanuman Jayanti
Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu celebration that marks the birthday of the Lord Hanuman.
Saturday 12 April - Sunday 20 April
Passover (Pesach)
Passover (Pesach)
A major Jewish spring festival, celebrating freedom and family. The Passover story is of Moses and The Ten Plagues, you can read a summary here - The Passover Story in a Nutshell.
If you want to find out more visit - Everything you need to know about Passover.
Saturday 12 April
The Memorial of Jesus’ Death
Also known as the Lord's Evening Meal, it is an annual Jehovah’s Witness' commemoration of Jesus' death.
Sunday 13 April - Tuesday 15 April
Songkran
Songkran
Songkran is an annual Thai festival. Events during the festival include water throwing, the ritual bathing of Buddha images, processions and performances. The final day of Songkran marks Thai new years day.
Find out more: Songkran
Sunday 13 April
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian holiday that celebrates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem the Sunday before his resurrection. It also marks the beginning of Holy Week, the remembrance of Jesus' last days.
Sunday 13 April
Theravada New Year
Theravada New Year is a Buddhist celebration that marks Buddha's birth, death, enlightenment. It is observed 3 days after the first full moon appears in April every year.
Read more: DharmaCrafts
Monday 14 April
Vaisakhi
Vaisakhi (also known as Baisakhi) is a festival that signifies the 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, founding the Khalsa Panth in 1699. It also coincides with the traditional Punjabi festival that celebrates the start of the harvest season.
Friday 18 April
Good Friday
Good Friday is a Christian observance which commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Sunday 20 April
Easter Sunday
Easter is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
Monday 21 April - Thursday 3 May
The Festival of Ridvàn
The Festival of Ridvàn is a Bahá’í 12- day festival that celebrates Baháʼu’lláh’s declaration that he was a Manifestation of God
Tuesday 22 April
Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
Find out more: Earth Day
Tuesday 22 April
Stephen Lawrence Day
The Stephen Lawrence Trust wants young people to have a strong voice in building a fairer and more inclusive society. The aim of the day is for events to take place that inspire young people about what they can achieve in their own lives.
Visit: Stephen Lawrence Day
Wednesday 23 April
St George's Day
St. George’s Day, observed annually on 23 April, commemorates the life and legend of St. George, the patron saint of England.
English Heritage: 9 Things You Didn't Know About St George
Thursday 24 April - Wednesday 30 April
Global Intergenerational Week
Global Intergenerational Week is an annual campaign celebrating all things intergenerational and is an opportunity for workplaces to celebrate good inclusive intergenerational practices.
Saturday 26 April
Lesbian Visibility Day
Lesbian Visibility Day takes place on 26 April every year as part of Lesbian Visibility Week which starts on 22 April and runs through to the 28 April. It is a time to celebrate progress and to raise awareness and visibility of lesbian women and non-binary people.
Monday 28 April - Sunday 4 May
MS Awareness Week
MS is unpredictable and different for everybody. Symptoms can come and go and change over time, and it’s difficult to know how your condition might progress. MS Awareness Week helps to raise awareness of the uncertainty of MS.
Visit: MS Society
Monday 28 April
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
Beginning in 2003, World Day for Safety and Health at Work is an annual international campaign to promote safe, healthy and decent work.
Click here to learn more about LUU's commitments to safe workplaces.
May 2025
May 2025
Thursday 1 May - Thursday 8 May
Time for a Cuppa
Time for a Cuppa is Dementia UK’s annual tea party event that aims to raise funds for families facing dementia.
Visit: Dementia UK
Thursday 1 May
Beltane
Beltane is a pagan celebration that marks the return of summer. Like Samhain, which lies directly opposite from Beltane on the Wheel of the Year, this was seen as a time when the veil between worlds was at its thinnest.
Find out more: Beltane
Monday 5 May - Sunday 11 May
Deaf Awareness Week
This year's Deaf Awareness Week theme is “Beyond Silence''. The aim of this year's Deaf Awareness Week s to break down the barriers that are holding back full accessibility for those with hearing loss.
Find out more: Signature
Monday 12 May - Sunday 18 May
Black Inclusion Week
Black Inclusion Week is an annual event which aims to celebrate and highlight the importance of Black inclusion and uplift Black voices.
Find out more: blackinclusionweek.org
Monday 12 May- Sunday 18 May
Learning at Work Week
Learning at Work Week is an annual event that promotes lifelong learning at work and aims to build learning cultures. This year's theme is 'Get Connected!'.
Explore: Learning at Work Week
Monday 12 May- Sunday 18 May
Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week is an opportunity to come together to focus on mental health, tackling stigma and helping people understand and prioritise their and others' mental health.
Monday 12 May
Buddha Day
Also known as "Buddha's Birthday", it is a Buddhist and Hindu festival that is celebrated in Nepal, in India, and in most of South and East Asia, commemorating the birth of the prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and founded Buddhism.
Find out more: Nan Tien Temple
Monday 12 May
Vesak
A Theravada Buddhist festival that observes the birth, death, and enlightenment of the Buddha. Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, Buddha Day, and Phật Đản, is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia, as well as Tibet and Mongolia.
Find out more: Behind the News
Wednesday 14 May
National Day for Staff Networks
The National Day for Staff Networks is a nationwide day dedicated to recognising networks/resource groups and the incredible value they add to the workplace.
Learn more about it here: National Day for Staff Networks
Thursday 15 May - Sunday 15 June
Tourette's Awareness Month
A month dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of Tourette Syndrome, it's focus is to educate the public, reduce stigma and advocate for individuals and families with Tourette Syndrome.
Saturday 17 May
Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
Founded in 2004, this aims to raise awareness of violence and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people to drive positive change.
Wednesday 21 May
UN Cultural Diversity Day
UNESCO leads the celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development highlighting not only the richness of the world's cultures, but also the essential role of intercultural dialogue for achieving peace and sustainable development.
Wednesday 28 May
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
Ascension of Baha'u'llah commemorates the passing of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith
Wednesday 28 May
Menstrual Hygiene Day
MH Day is a global campaign thats goal is to promote good menstrual health and hygiene through the aims of breaking taboo, raising awareness, and encouraging leaders to prioritise and act on mental health.
The theme for this year is “Together for a #PeriodFriendlyWorld.”
Thursday 29 May
Ascension Day
Ascension Day is a Christian celebration that commemorates Jesus Christ's ascension into heaven. It is officially celebrated on the 40th day of Easter.
Friday 30 May
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib
The day commemorates the anniversary of the martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh guru. Approximately 30 million Sikhs around the world celebrate and remember the religious figure that gave up his life for the Sikh people.
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