1. Religious Events December 2009 Celebrated by Roman Catholics who remember Mary's conception as being without sin, therefore, immaculate. Tuesday 8 December Christian – Feast of the Immaculate Conception Buddhist – Bodhi Day On Bodhi day some Buddhists celebrate Gautama's attainment of enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.

2. Religious Events December 2009 Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights and marks the restoration of the temple by the Maccabees in 164 BCE. Hanukkah is celebrated at roughly the same time as Christmas, but there is no connection at all between the festivals. Saturday 12 December Jewish – Hannukah

3. Religious Events December 2009 Saint Lucy's Day or the Feast of St. Lucy is marked by Catholics and Orthodox Christians and also celebrated by members of the Lutheran Church. Sunday 13 December Christian – St Lucy’s Day

4. Religious Events December 2009 An important Jewish fast day. Thursday 17 December Jewish – 10 th Tevet

5. Religious Events December 2009 Islamic New Year. Marks the migration of the Prophet Mohammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina Friday 18 December Muslim – Al-Hijira

6. Religious Events December 2009 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. Within the Northern Tradition Yule is regarded as the New Year. Monday 21 December Pagan – Winter Solstice - Yule

7. Religious Events December 2009 The day before Christmas Day Thursday 24 December Christian – Christmas Eve

8. Religious Events December 2009 The day when Western Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Friday 25 December Christian – Christmas Day

9. Religious Events December 2009 The day after Christmas Day. A secular festival. Saturday 26 December Secular – Boxing Day Christian – St Stephen’s Day St Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is celebrated on this day by Roman Catholics. The day is also called the Feast of Stephen.

10. Religious Events December 2009 Islamic holy day observed on the 10th of the Islamic month of Muharram. Shi'ite Muslims regard it as a major festival marking the martydom of the Prophet's grandson, Hussein.. Sunday 27 December Muslim – Ashura