Skip to main content
Scenes from Faculty Senate

Religious Holidays Calendar

Please note that each holiday is significant in its tradition, however, only major Jewish holidays and some Islamic holidays preclude secular activities and serve as valid reasons for being excused from or for rescheduling academic responsibilities. In addition, secular activity is precluded on Friday night and Saturday until dark for Jews who observe the Sabbath.

An asterisk (*) denotes that the holiday begins on the previous evening.

2012 - 2013 Academic Year

July
20 - Ramadan Begins (Islam, 30 days)

August
20 - Eid al Fitr (Islam, end of Ramadan fast)

September
17-18 - Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year - 2 days)*
26 - Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement)*

October
1-2 - Sukkot (Jewish Festival of Booths)*
8 - Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)*
9 - Simchat Torah (Jewish)*
20 - Birth of the Bab (Baha'i)
26 - Eid al Adha (Islam)

November
12 - Baha-u-llah's Birthday (Baha'i)*
13 - Diwali (Hindu)

December
8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
9-16 - Hanukkah (Jewish)* - Secular activities are not precluded
25 - Christmas (Christian)

January
7 - Christmas (Orthodox Christian)

February
10 - Chinese New Year
13 - Ash Wednesday (Christian)
24 - Purim (Jewish)* - Secular activities are not precluded

March
18 - Great Lent begins (Orthodox Christian)
26-27 - First and second day of Passover (Jewish, lasts 8 days)*
29 - Good Friday (Christian)
31 - Easter (Christian)

April
1-2 - Last two days of Passover (Jewish)*
21 - First day of Ridvan (Baha'i)*

May
3 - Holy Friday (Orthodox Christian)
5 - Easter/Pascha (Orthodox Christian)
15-16 - Shavout (Jewish)*