Religious Observances Academic Year 2025

Please note that individual practices may vary.
“*” denotes holidays that start sundown the day before

Spring 2025 Semester

January 6 –  Epiphany: Christian holiday that celebrates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.

January 7 – Orthodox Christmas: Christian holiday that marks the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar.

January 13 –  *Tu Bishvat: Jewish holiday, also known as “the New Year for Trees”, celebrating nature and agriculture.

January 14 –  Pongal: A Hindu harvest festival thanking the Sun God for the agricultural abundance.

January 14 – Mahayana New Year: Buddhist holiday that celebrates the New Year in Mahayana traditions.

January 29 – Lunar New Year: celebrated by many Asian cultures as the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.

February 2 –  * Imbolc: Pagan and Wiccan holiday that celebrates the beginning of spring and the goddess Brigid.

February 2 – Candlemas: Christian holiday that commemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.

February 8 –  Lailat al Miraj: Muslim observance that commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey and ascension to heaven.

February 12 – Makha Bucha Day: Buddhist holiday in Thailand, commemorating the occasion when 1,250 enlightened monks gathered spontaneously to hear the Buddha’s teachings without prior summons.

February 15 – Parinirvana: Buddhist observance that marks the death of Buddha and his attainment of final Nirvana.

February 26 – Maha Shivaratri: A major Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva.

February 28* Ramadan: A holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims.

March 5 –  Ash Wednesday: Christian observance that marks the beginning of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

March 14 – Holi: Hindi observance known as the festival of colors, celebrating the arrival of spring.

March 14 – Hola Mohalla: A Sikh festival featuring martial arts, poetry, and community gatherings.

March 18 – Nuzul Al-Quran: A Muslim holiday that commemorates the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.

March 20 – * Baha’i: Naw-Ruz: Baha’i observance known as the New Year.

March 29 – Good Friday: Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

March 29 – Nyepi:Is a Balinese Hindu observance marking a day of silence, fasting, and meditation.

March 30 – * Eid al-Fitr: Muslim observance that marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated with a feast and prayers.

April 4 – Ching Ming Festival: Also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, is a Chinese holiday celebrated in Hong Kong and around the world.

April 12 – Jehovah’s Witnesses: Observance that commemorates the death of Jesus Christ.

April 13-20 –  * Passover: Jewish observance that celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

April 14 – Vaisakhi: Marks the Sikh New Year and celebrates the spring harvest.

April 20 – Easter & Orthodox Easter: Christian observance that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

April 21 – Easter Monday:  A public holiday in many countries, Easter Monday is a Christian observance that is often seen as a continuation of the Easter celebrations.

May 1 – * Beltane: Pagan and Wiccan observance that celebrates the peak of spring and the coming of summer.

May 5 – Buddha’s Birthday: Buddhist observance that celebrates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

May 12 – Vesak: Buddhist observance that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.

Summer 2025

May 28 – Baha’i: Ascension of Baha’u’llah*: Baha’i observance that commemorates the passing of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.

May 31 – Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival: Chinese holiday that commemorates Qu Yuan and is celebrated by holding dragon boat races and eating sticky rice dumplings called zongzi.

June 2 – *Shavuot The “Feast of Weeks”: Jewish observance that celebrates the covenant established at Sinai between God and Israel, and the revelation of the Ten Commandments.

June 6 – Eid Al-Adha: Islamic Commemoration of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience of a command from God.

June 8 – Pentecost: Western Christian observance known as Whitsunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and women followers of Jesus Christ.

June 15 –  All Saints Day: Eastern Orthodox Christian observance on the first Sunday after Pentecost, it commemorates all known and unknown Christian saints.

June 20 – Litha or Midsummer: A Pagan holiday to celebrate the sun’s peak power, fertility, and abundance, often marked by rituals, bonfires, and connection with nature.

June 27 – * Islamic New Year (Awal Muharram): Awal Muharram or Hijri New Year is celebrated by Muslims as the day symbolizes two important events in the Islamic year.

June 29 – Ascension Day: Eastern Orthodox Christian observance also that commemorates the ascension of Jesus Christ into Heaven.

July 5 – Ashura: Islamic day of fasting observed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram to celebrate Moses’ exodus from Egypt.

July 9 – Martyrdom of the BÁB Bahá’í: Bahá’í Faith observance of the anniversary of the execution by a firing squad in Tabríz, Persia, of the 30-year-old Siyyid ‘Alí- Muhammad, the Báb, the prophet-herald of the Bahá’í Faith.

July 10 – Dharma Day: Buddhist observance also known as Asalha Puja, it commemorates the historical Buddha’s first discourse following his spiritual awakening.

August 3 – Tish’a B’av: Jewish mourning of the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 BCE and 70 CE.

August 15 – Krishna Janmashtami: (Also known as JAYANTI) Hindu Celebrates Krishna’s birthday, Vishnu’s eighth incarnation on earth. Southern Asia

August 18 – Boun Hor Khao Padubdin (Buddhist Lent): Buddhist observance intended to honor the dead and the spirits.

Fall 2025 Semester

September 5 – Mawlid Al-Nabi: (Also known as MILAD AL-NABI) Islamic (Sunni) observance of the birthday of Islam founder Prophet Muhammad.

September 6 – Ullambana: (also known as Obon) is a Buddhist observance that honors the spirits of past ancestors and strives to relieve aching souls from suffering.

Septemeber 21 – * Rosh Hashanah: Marks the beginning of the Jewish New Year and first of the High Holy Days, which marks the beginning of a ten-day period of penitence and spiritual renewal.

September 22 – * Navaratri: A Hindu nine-day festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil.

September 26 – Ganesh Chaturthi: A Hindu celebration of the birthday of Ganesha, the elephant-deity.

October 1 – Dussehra/Das Sera: Hindu anniversary of the day when Rama killed the evil demon Ravana.

October 2 – * Yom Kippur: Jewish “Day of Atonement” marks the end of the Ten Days of Penitence that begin with Rosh Hashanah.

October 6 – Chuseok: South Korean observance also known as Hangawi, it is a major mid-autumn harvest festival and a three-day holiday.

October 7 – * Sukkot: The Jewish week-long “Feast of Booths” commemorates the 40-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert on the way to the Promised Land.

October 14 – * Shemini Atzeret: “The Eighth [Day] of Assembly” is a Jewish observance on the day immediately following Sukkot.

October 15 – * Simchat Torah: “Rejoicing in the Torah” a Jewish celebration marking the conclusion of the public reading of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Hebrew Bible) and its beginning anew.

October 20 – * Diwali:  The Hindu “Festival of Lights,” it celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.

October 21 – Bandi-Chhor Diwas: A Sikh commemorative occasion having no fixed date which occurs in October or November and celebrates the release of the Sixth Guru Har Gobind Sahib from imprisonment and coincides with Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights.

Ocotber 31 – Chung Yeung Festival: A Hong Kong observance where people climb up high mountains, clean their ancestors’ graves, and eat cleansing foods to flush away stagnant energy.

November 1 – All Saints Day: Christian observance commemorating all known and unknown Christian saints.

November 2 – All Soul’s Day: Christian observance commemorating all the faithful Christians who are now dead. In Mexican tradition it is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos between October 31 and November 2, and is an occasion to remember dead ancestors and celebrate the continuity of life.

November 5 – Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday: (Guru Nanak Jayanti) A very important Sikh holiday as Guru Nanak Dev’s was the First Guru of the Sikhs and the Founder of Sikhism.

November 25 – Day of the Covenant:  A Bahá’í faith festival observed to commemorate Bahá’u’lláh’s appointment of His son, Abdu’l-Bahá, as His successor.

December 8 – Bodhi Day: Buddhist observance, also known as Rohatsu, commemorating the day that the Buddha, Siddharta Gautama, experienced enlightenment or spiritual awakening (bodhi).

December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe:  Christian celebration of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (by her title, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico and the Americas) before Juan Diego, an indigenous convert to Roman Catholicism, on the Mexican hill of Tepeyac in 1531.

December 14 – * Hanukkah: Jewish Eight-day “Festival of Lights”, also known as Chanukah, celebrating the rededication of the Temple to the service of God in 164 BCE.

December 21 – Yule: A Pagan time for reflection, celebration, and to honor the return of light, often marked by rituals, feasts, and the lighting of candles or bonfires. Marks the first day of the season of winter.

December 24 – Christmas Eve: Christian Celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.

December 25 – Christmas Day:  Western Christian observance commemorating the birth of Jesus.

December 26 – Kwanzaa: A seven-day celebration honoring African American heritage and its continued vitality. “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits (of the harvest)” in Swahili.

Spring 2026 Semester

January 1 – Shogatsu/Gantan-Sai: In the Shinto Faith this is Japanese New Year.

January 6- Epiphany (also known as “Three Kings Day”): Christian holiday that celebrates the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus.

January 7 – Orthodox Christmas: Christian holiday that marks the birth of Jesus Christ according to the Julian calendar.

January 7 – Mahayana New Year: Buddhist holiday that celebrates the New Year in Mahayana traditions.

January 14 – Makar Sankranti: A Hindu celebration marking the turning of the Sun toward the north in reverence to deity Surya, god of the Sun.

January 18 – Bahá’í Faith Day: Bahá’í Faith will observe the Feast of Sovereignty as part of a 19-day feast cycle, which begins at sunset on January 17th and ends at sunset on January 18. Dedicated to the unity and oneness of the world religions.

January 20 – Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti: Sikh Observance commemorating the birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru.

January 23 – Vasant Panchami: Hindi Festival of spring honoring the goddess of learning.

February 1 – Imbolc: Wicca/Pagan Observance celebrating the passage from winter to spring.

February 2*- Tu BiShvat: a Jewish holiday that is celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.

February 3 – Laylat al Bara’ah (Night of Forgiveness): Muslim observance in which forgiveness of sins is sought.

February 3 – Setsubun-sai: A Shinto Faith Celebration of the traditional beginning of spring and the end of winter.

February 15 – Nirvana Day (Parinivarna Day): Buddhist observance to remember the death of Buddha.

February 17 – Lunar New Year: celebrated by many Asian cultures as the beginning of a new year based on lunar calendars. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.

February 18(note: date may change by 1 day)* – Ramadan: A holy month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for Muslims.

February 18 – Ash Wednesday: Christian, Orthodox Christian Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

February 25 – Ayyám-i-Há | Bahá’í Faith, Zoroastri, Cultural: Bahá’í Faith observance that marks the start of a four day period of gift-giving, hospitality, charity, and spiritual preparation.

March 3* – Purim: Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation.

March 4 – Holi: Hindu observance known as the “festival of colors”, celebrating the arrival of spring.

March 3 – Spring Lantern Festival: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhist observance that marks the final day of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

March 19 – Eid al Fitr: Muslim observance that marks the end of Ramadan, celebrated with a feast and prayers.

March 21 – Ostara (March Equinox): A Wicca/ Pagan celebration of the Spring Equinox, the season’s change from dark winter to brightening spring.

April 1 – Passover/Pesach: Jewish observance that celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

April 3 – Good Friday/Holy Friday: Christian, Orthodox Christian Holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

April 5 – Easter & Orthodox Easter: Christian observance that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

April 14 – Theravada New Year: The Buddhist New Year representing a time of reflection, meditation, and renewal of spiritual commitments.

May 1 – Beltane: A Wicca/ Pagan celebration of the conjoining of the goddess with the energy of the god in sacred marriage, the basis of all creation.

May 1 – Visakha Puja (Buddha Day): Buddhist observance commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Guatama Buddha in the Theravada tradition.

May 21 – Shavuot: Marks the start of the Jewish celebration of the descent of Moses from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments.

May 25 – Day of Arafat: Muslim observance of the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

May 26- Eid al-Adha: Marks the start of the Islamic Commemoration of Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience of a command from God.

May 29* – Ascension of Baha’u’llah: Bahá’í Faith Remembrance of the death of Baha’u’llah, founder of Bahá’í.