2015 Holidays and Holy Days

2015 School Terms – Western Cape

First Term:	21 January – 1 April 2015
Second Term:	13 April – 26 June 2015
Third Term:	20 July – 2 October 2015
Fourth Term:	12 October – 9 December 2015

Holy Days & Festivals 2015

Christian Holy Days

Ash Wednesday	18 Feb
Palm Sunday	29 Mar
Holy Week (commence)	30 Mar
Good Friday	3 Apr
Easter Sunday	5 Apr
Ascension Day	14 May

Pentecost	24 May
Whit Monday	9 Jun
All Saints Day	1 Nov
Christ the King	22 Nov
Advent Sunday (commence)	29 Nov
Christmas Day	25 Dec

Islamic Holy Days

Islamic fasts and festivals are determined by an actual sighting of the appropriate new moon.

Meelaad-un Nabee Muhammad (S.A.W)	(Birth of Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him)	4 Jan
Laylatul Meeraj (eve)	(Ascension to Heaven)	15 May
Commencement of Ramadaan	(Start of the month of fasting)	18 Jun
Eid-ul-Fitr	(Celebration after fasting)	18 July
Eid-ul-Adgha	(Day of Sacrifice)	24 Sept
1st Muharram (1437)	(Muslim New Year)	15 Oct
Day of Aashura	(10th day of Muharram)	24 Oct
Meelaad-un Nabee Muhammad (S.A.W)	(Birth of Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him)	24 Dec

Jewish Holy Days

All Holy Days begin at sunset on the previous day and end at nightfall.

Tu-B’Shvat	3-4 Feb
Ta’Anit Esther (Fast of Esther)	4-5 Mar
Purim	8 Mar
Pesach (1st day)	4 Apr
Pesach (2nd day)	5 Apr
Pesach (7th day)	10 Apr
Pesach (8th day)	11 Apr
Yom Hazikaron	22 Apr
Yom Ha’atzmaut	23 Apr
Lag B’Omer	7 May
Yom Yerushalaymim	17 May
Shavuot (1st day)	24 May
Shavuot (2nd day)	25 May

Fast of Tammuz (17th Tammuz)	5 Jul
Tisha B’Av (Fast of the 9th of Av)	26 Jul
Rosh Hashanah (1st day)	14 Sep
Rosh Hashanah (2nd day)	15 Sep
Fast of Gedalya	16 Sep
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)	23 Sept
Succot (1st day)	28 Sept
Succot (2nd day)	29 Sept
Shimini Atzeret	5 Oct
Shimchat Torah	6 Oct
Channukah (1st day)	7 Dec
Channukah (8th day)	14 Dec

Hindu Festivals

Makar Sankranti	14 Jan
Maha Shivaratri	17 Feb
Ramayan Week (begins)	21 Mar
Ramanavami	28 Mar

Krishna Janmashtami	5 Sept
Pitr-paksha	28 Sep
Navaratri	13 Oct
Deepavali / Diwali	11 Nov

Baha’i Faith Holy Days

Naw-Ruz (New Year)	21 Mar
Feast of Ridvan (1st day)	21 Apr
Feast of Ridvan (9th day)	29 Apr
Feast of Ridvan (12th day)	2 May
Declaration of the Bab	23 May
Ascension of Baha’u’llah	29 May

Martyrdom of the Bab	9 Jul
Birth of the Bab	20 Oct
Birth of Baha’u’llah	12 Nov
Day of the Covenant	26 Nov
Ascencion of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá	28 Nov

Chinese Calendar 2015

The Chinese calendar is a mixed Chinese/Gregorian calendar with both Gregorian and Chinese holidays and festivals.

News Year’s Day	(Gregorian)	1 Jan
Chinese Lunar New Year – Year of the Sheep (Lunar Year 4713)	(Spring Festival)	19 Feb
Lantern Festival – 15th day of 1st lunar month	(End of Spring Festival)	5 Mar
Qingming Festival		5 Apr
International Labour Day		1 May
Dragon Boat Festival – 5th day of 5th lunar month	(Duanwu Festival)	20 Jun
Moon Festival – 15th day of 8th lunar month	(Zhongqiu or Mid-Autumn Festival)	27 Sep
Chinese National Day	(Independence Day)	1 Oct
Christmas		25 Dec

The days and dates of the various religious holy days have been provided by various sources, but may be subject to change. Please bring any errors or omissions on these pages to our attention.


Public Holidays 2015
New Year’s Day	1 Jan
Human Rights Day	21 Mar
Good Friday	3 Apr
Family Day	6 Apr
Freedom Day	27 Apr
Worker’s Day	1 May
Youth Day	16 Jun
Women’s Day (Public holiday)	9 Aug 10 Aug
Heritage Day	24 Sep
Day of Reconciliation	16 Dec
Christmas Day	25 Dec
Day of Goodwill	26 Dec
Environmental Calendar 2015
World Wetlands Day	2 Feb
National Water Week	16-22 Mar
World Water Day	22 Mar
World Meteorological Day	23 Mar
Earth Day	22 Apr
World Environment Day	5 Jun
World Oceans Day	8 Jun
World Desertification Day	17 Jun
National Arbor Week	31 Aug -6 Sept
World Ozone Day	16 Sep
World Tourism Day	27 Sep
World Habitat Day	5 Oct
National Marine Week	19-25 Oct
World Aids Day	1 Dec

2015 Holidays and Holy Days