1. Religious Events May 2010 Pagans celebrate Beltane with maypole dances, symbolizing the mystery of the Sacred Marriage of Goddess and God. Saturday 1 May Pagan – Beltane

2. Religious Events May 2010 Guru Arjan Dev (1563-1606) was the fifth of the Sikh Gurus Sunday 2 May Sikh – Birthday of Guru Arjan Dev Jewish – Lag B’Omer A minor holiday on the 33rd day of the Omer commemorating a break in the plague during the lifetime of Rabbi Akiva.

3. Religious Events May 2010 Jerusalem Day Wednesday 12 May Jewish – Yom Yerushalayim

4. Religious Events May 2010 Ascension Day marks the last earthly appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Christians believe Christ ascended into heaven. It is celebrated 40 days after Easter. Thursday 13 May Christian – Ascension Day

5. Religious Events May 2010 Shavuot is a two-day festival that marks the time when the first harvest was taken to the Temple. Also known as the Festival of Weeks. Work is not permitted for the duration of the festival. Wednesday 19 May Jewish – Shavuot (1 st day)

6. Religious Events May 2010 The seventh Sunday after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the Christian Church. Sunday 23 May Christian – Pentecost - Whitsun Bahai – Declaration of the Bab The Bab was the Forerunner of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith. His mission was to prepare the world for the coming of Baha'u'llah and he declared it in the evening of May 22 1844.

7. Religious Events May 2010 The most important of the Buddhist festivals. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his enlightenment and death. Thursday 27 May Buddhist – Buddha Day

8. Religious Events May 2010 Anniversary of Baha'u'llah's death in in 1892 near Akka, Israel. Saturday 29 May Bahai – Ascension of Baha’U’llah

9. Religious Events May 2010 The first Sunday after Pentecost. Christians meditate on the nature of God as "Three in one". Sunday 30 May Christian – Trinity Sunday Christian – All Saints’ Day (Orthodox) This day honours all saints, known and unknown, of the Christian church. Western churches celebrate All Saints Day on November 1.