The celebration of the 'first fruits' when bread made from the first harvest is placed on the alter.

Fri 8 Aug - Sun 24 Aug 2008

During Ramadan, Muslims celebrate the time when the verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties.

The Braemar Gathering and Highland Games is possibly the most famous of its kind in the world. Each year thousands of visitors descend on the samll village on the first Saturday in September to watch one of the more colourful Scottish traditions. It has been regularly attended by members of the Royal Family since Queen Victoria first attended in 1848.

A Prom means a Promenade Concert, or a concert where part of the audience stands in a "promenade" area of the hall.

The BBC Proms is an annual music festival running from mid-July to mid-September and comprising over seventy Prom concerts.

13 and 14th September. Two days of free music and entertainment on the south bank of the Thames, between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge. The event starts at 12 noon and ends at about 10pm on each day.

Over 200 different rowing boats race along the River Thames, from Ham House (Richmond) to Island Gardens (Isle of Dogs).

The MCS Beachwatch litter survey and clean-up is a national event that has taken place on the third weekend of September every year since 1993.

The 27th day of Ramadan.

Jewish New Years Day

During the first week of October every year, the British Deaf Association(BDA) run a campaign throughout the United Kingdom to encourage the public to join in, enjoy themselves and learn British Sign Language (BSL).

Each October there are events across the UK to celebrate the contributions of the black communities both now and in recent history.

This festival marks the end of Ramadan and begins with the sighting of the new moon. It is a joyful festival, people rise early to bathe, put on new clothes and attend the mosques to pray and give alms. Later, meals are shared and gifts distributed.

Celebrating animals and the important role they play in our lives.

An international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition.

Held on the second Thursday of October each year, the event focuses attention on the problem of global blindness.

People act out the story of Rama's victory over demon Ravana.

This is the final day of the Ten Days of Penitence, which began in the New Year (Rosh Hashanah). It is also called the Day of Atonement when Jews ask for forgiveness and look to the future. It is the holiest day of the year in the Jewish calendar.

The 2008 World Conker Championships will be held on the Green at Ashton, Northamptonshire on 12th October 2008. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. (Ashton Time) and finishes at 3:00 p.m.

Wed 15 Oct - Thu 30 Oct 2008
Previews of British and international films, plus interviews with film-makers and other events.

Diwali celebrations in London's Trafalgar Square.

A free autumn harvest celebration on the South Bank of the Thames in London. It starts at midday in front of Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.

If you are in the UK, change all clocks back 1 hour. You can have one extra hour's sleep. The time change is during the night: at 2am on Sunday morning the time is changed to 1am.

This day provides a chance to offer thanks for the work and witness of all saints, recognising that not all are known or specially celebrated.

The Bonfire Night celebrations at Lewes remember not only the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, but also the burning on the stake of 17 Protestants in the town in 1555.

Barrels which have been soaked with tar are lit and are then carried on people's backs through the streets. This has been done since the 17th century.

Celebration of the failure of a plan by a group of Catholics to blow up the Houses of Parliament on 5th November 1605.

In the Theravada Buddhist tradition, Kathina Day is celebrated by the lay community offering monks new Kathina robes at the end of their three month Rains Retreat. The date of the festival varies according to when the rainy season arrives in different countries.

Since 1189 (during the rule of King John) there has been a Lord Mayor of London elected each year who represents the City of London, the traditional business centre of London .

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the signing of the Armistice, on 11th November 1918, to signal the end of World War One.

At 11 am on 11 November 1918 the guns of the Western Front fell silent after more than four years continuous warfare.

This day celebrates the first Sikh guru, and is marked by reading the Sikh holy book, the Granth Sahib.
Note : The birth date of Guru Nanak was 15 April 1469, but it is traditionally celebrated in November.

Sangha Day is a celebration of friendship. Buddhists come together to celebrate their worldwide community, the Sangha.

Christmas lights are switched on at Marylebone High Street

The switch-on ceremony for Edinburgh's Christmas lights.

Americans celebrate the harvest season, often eating a family meal including turkey and pumpkin pie.

A Big Wheel and other rides, an ice rink and a Christmas market are put up in London's Hyde Park

Each year since 1947, a Christmas tree has been given to the people of London from the people of Norway in gratitude for Britain's support for Norway during World War II.

From Monday 8 December to Friday 19 December 2008 Trafalgar Square plays host togroups performing Christmas carols in the square, by the traditional Norwegian Christmas Tree.

Teams dressed in fancy clothes race around an obstacle course in Covent Garden.

Start of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims should complete at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The festival marks the end of the Hajj (holy pilgrimage to Mecca).

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Since 1912 there has been an annual variety show performance attended by the king or queen, with the money raised going to a fund to help retired entertainers in need

At 11am on Saturday 13th December there will be celebratory procession of Traditional Thames Cutters carrying Frost Fair flags on the River Thames between Southwark and Blackfriars Bridges. The Livery men will disembark at Bankside Pier and parade in full uniform. Visitors should watch the boats from the best vantage point on the Millennium Bridge.

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Groups of carol singers will perform each evening (at various times between 5-9pm) next to the Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, raising money for charity.
Mon 8 Dec - Fri 19 Dec 2008

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

Join members of the capital’s Jewish community to celebrate Chanukah on Sunday 21 December, at a Menorah lighting ceremony in Trafalgar Square.

Tue 16 Dec - Mon 22 Dec 2008
A top showjumping event at Olympia, Hammersmith Road (horses jumping over fences, inside a hall).

The Bankside Winter Festival 2008 will be open for ten days from 10am on Friday 12th to 6pm on Sunday 21st December 2008 along the Bankside riverwalk outside the iconic Tate Modern. commemorative Thames Cutters Frost Fair

The shortest day has been important since early times: many standing stones and stone circle are aligned with the sun on either this day or the summer solstice (the longest day of the year).

Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun child is reborn, an image of the return of all new life born through the love of the Gods.

This Jewish festival (known as Hanukkah, Hannuka or Chanukah) starts at sundown on 21 December and lasts for 8 days. Each day one candle on an eight-stemmed candelabra (called a Menorah) is lit.

Christmas Eve is not a public holiday in the UK, but many people will not work a full day because they need to travel to their families. Public transport services may finish earlier than usual.

At 3pm at King's College Chapel in Cambridge is a traditional carol service called "A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols": the carols are sung by the famous King's College choir.

A public holiday in the UK. Some shops start their post-Christmas sales now

A traditional part of the early Hogmanay (New Year's) celebrations in Edinburgh is a procession leaving Parliament Square. People carry torches and are accompanied by bagpipes and drums. The procession ends at Calton Hill, where a Viking long-ship is burnt and there is a firework display.