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July 2009
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3 July |
St Thomas' Day (Catholic Christian) |
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Friday
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St Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday merited for him the title of "doubting Thomas."
His feast day is July 3rd and he is the patron of architects.
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7 July |
Asalha Puja - Dharma Day (Theravada Buddhist) |
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Tuesday
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One of Theravada Buddhism's most important festivals celebrates the Buddha's first sermon in which he set out to his five former associates the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment.
This first pivotal sermon, often referred to as "setting into motion the wheel of dhamma," is the teaching which is encapsulated for Buddhists in the four noble truths: all life is suffering (dukka); suffering is caused by craving (tanha); there is a state (nibbana) beyond suffering and craving; and finally, the way to nibbana is via the eightfold path. Whatever differences there may be between various schools and traditions of Buddhism, they all revolve around the central doctrine of the four noble truths.
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9 July at Noon |
Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha'i) |
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Thursday
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The Bab (a title meaning 'the Gate') had many followers, but as his beliefs did not meet with approval from the leaders of the state religion in Persia, they decided he should be taken from prison and put to death.
To commemorate this day, Bahá'í's read special prayers at noon, which is the time the execution was scheduled for.
This is also a day of rest, when Bahá'í's should not work.
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11 July |
St Benedict's Day (Catholic Christian) |
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Saturday
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Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480 - 543), born at Nursia (Norcia), Italy, was the founder of western monasticism.
Many of the monastic men and women belong to a Christian religious order named in his honor, the Order of Saint Benedict.
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16 July |
Ethiopian Constitution Day (Rastafarian) |
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Thursday
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This commemorates the granting of Ethiopia's first constitution in 1931 CE. |
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20 July |
Lailat al Miraj (Muslim) |
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Monday |
The festival celebrates the Prophet Muhammad's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem in a single night. From Jerusalem he ascended into heaven where he met the earlier prophets and eventually God.
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23 July |
Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie (Rastafarian) |
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Thursday
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The Emperor of Ethiopia, it is one of the holiest days in the Rastafarian faith and is celebrated with drums, chanting and prayer. |
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24 July |
Pioneer Day (Mormon) |
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Friday
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This celebrates the arrival of the first Latter-day Saint pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley in 1847. |
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25 July |
St James the Great Day (Christian) |
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Saturday
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The son of Zebedee and Salome and brother to St. John, he was one of the disciples of Jesus. He is called Saint James the Great to distinguish him from the other apostles named James (St. James the Less and James the Just). Saint James is described as one of the first disciples to join Jesus. |
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30 July |
Tish B'av (Jewish) |
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Thursday |
Tish B'av is the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av which usually falls in July or August in the western calendar.
It is a solemn occasion because it commemorates a series of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the years, many of which have coincidentally happened on this day.
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Further information
Natalie Hill
Equality and Diversity Officer
Telephone: 01743 260 200
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