Religious Holy Days of Observance

The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Chaplain would like for students, faculty, and staff to be aware of a broad range of religious observances. 

Faculty should consider the manner in which holy days might impact student class attendance or their ability to complete assignments on respective due dates. 

Administrative and Academic Units, as well as Student Organizations, should consider holy days when scheduling department-wide or university-wide events and programming. 

Students interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or athletic practice/competition should contact faculty or coaches well in advance with such requests. Students can utilize the Religious Holy Day Accommodation Email Template to reach out to faculty, staff, or coaches, etc.

Below is a list of holy days observed by many students, staff, and faculty members in our community. You can find detailed descriptions of the Holy Days in the next page after the calendar. This list, though exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Consequently, please direct suggestions for accommodations or additions to the list to the Chaplain’s Office.

Dates for 2023-2024

*Note that Jewish and Muslim holy days begin at sundown on the first day indicated.
Holy days on which absence from work or school is common.

June 28*- July 1	‘Eid al-Adha	Muslim
July 27*- 28	‘Ashura	Muslim
September 15* – 17	Rosh HaShanah	Jewish
September 24*- 25	Yom Kippur	Jewish
September 29	Mid-Autumn Day	East and Southeast Asian
September 29* – October 7	Sukkot	Jewish
October 28 – November 27	Kathin	Theravada Buddhist
November 12 – 16	Diwali begins	Hindu/Jain
December 8	Bodhi Day	Mahayana Buddhist
December 7*- 15	Hanukkah	Jewish
December 21	Winter Solstice	Many traditions across the World
December 25	Christmas	Christian
January 7	Feast of the Nativity	Orthodox Christian
February 10	Lunar New Year	East Asian Traditions
Various dates in Spring	Buddhist New Year	Buddhist
February 14	Ash Wednesday	Catholic/Protestant Christian
March 11* – Apr 9	Ramadan	Muslim
March 24 – 25	Holi	Hindu
March 24 – 30	Holy Week	Christian
March 29	Good/Holy Friday	Catholic/Protestant & Orthodox Christian
March 31	Easter	Catholic/Protestant & Orthodox Christian
Various dates in April	Water Festival	Southeast Asian Traditions
April 10* – 13	‘Eid al-Fitr	Muslim
April 22* – 30	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
May 5	Pascha	Orthodox Christian
May 6*- 7	Yom HaShoah	Jewish
June 11*- 13	Shavuot	Jewish
June 21	Summer Solstice	Many traditions across the World

*Note that Jewish and Muslim holy days begin at sundown on the first day indicated.
Holy days on which absence from work or school is common