February 2025: Multi-Faith Dates

At intec, we love to celebrate our differences and promote equality & diversity. Every month we compile a list of all the special dates & events from all different religions and faiths around the world, so you can learn more about other cultures and what's improtant to them.

1st February

World Hijab Day/ Imbolc – Lughnassadh (Wicca/PaganNorthern and Southern hemispheres)

Celebrated by Pagans midway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.

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2nd February

Candlemas (Christian) 

Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches).

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3rd February

Saint Blaise Day (Christian)

Blaise, was a physician, and bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia. According to the Acta Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, and beheaded. He is the patron saint of wool combers. In the Latin Church his feast falls on 3 February.

Setsubun-sai (Shinto)

Setsubun is the day before the beginning of spring in Japan. The name literally means "seasonal division", but usually the term refers to the spring Setsubun, properly called Risshun celebrated yearly on February 3 as part of the Spring Festival. It is a special ritual to cleanse away all the evil of the former year and drive away disease-bringing evil spirits for the year to come.

Four Chaplains Sunday (Interfaith)

The Four Chaplains, also sometimes referred to as the "Immortal Chaplains" or the "Dorchester Chaplains", were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel as the troop ship SS Dorchester sank on February 3, 1943, during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats and gave up their own life jackets when the supply ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said prayers, and sang hymns as they went down with the ship.

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9th February

Triodion begins (Orthodox Christian)

May be known as the Sunday of the Prodigal Son - The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. On the previous Sunday, the services of the Church began to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday.

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11th February

Thaipusam (Hindu)

Thai Poosam festival is celebrated by Tamils on the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai, between January and February. It honors Lord Muruga, Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is regarded as a day when good triumphed over evil. The Tamil-speaking community across Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, and South Africa also celebrate it with verve.

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12th February

Tu BiShvat (Judaism)

The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Monday, February 6, 2023—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

This celebration is marked by eating fruit, particularly from the kinds that are singled out by the Torah in its praise of the bounty of the Holy Land: grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates.

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14th February

Saint Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognised as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.

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15th February

Nirvana Day (Buddhist, Jain)

The day when Buddhists from the Mahayana tradition remember the death and enlightenment of the Buddha.

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22nd February

Feast of the chair of Saint Peter (Catholic Christian)

The Feast of the Chair of St Peter is one which makes us appreciate, respect and follow with great love, care and responsibility the spiritual authority which that Chair stands for in the person of the present Pope. The Chair of St Peter is technically known as Cathedra Petri in Latin.

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23rd February

Meatfare Sunday (Orthodox Christian)

It is called Meatfare because it is the last day to eat meat before Lent.

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25th – 28th February

Intercalary days (Baha’i)

A period of celebration devoted to charity, gift-giving and festivities prior to the annual period of fasting. March 2-20, 2023 The month of fasting, during which Bahá’ís from the age of 15 abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.

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26th February

Maha Shivratri - Hindu

The observance and celebration of Mahashivratri among Hindus and Shaivites holds immense importance. It is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. Shivratri is an occasion that falls every lunisolar month in the Hindu Calendar, however, Shivratri in the month of Phalguna (as per North Indian calendar) is what is observed as Maha Shiv Ratri across India.

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28th February

Losar (Buddhist)

Losar is Tibetan New Year and marks the start of the Tibetan year which is based on a 12 lunar month calendar. Losar is popularly celebrated in the Himalayan region, lasting for about 15 days (February 19th to March 5th in 2023). It is a public holiday for Tibet Autonomous Region in China, Nepal, Bhutan, and the state of Sikkim in India.