Religious Holidays and Observances
The following is a multi-faith listing of religious holidays and observances that occur during the 2024-2025 academic year. This guiding document is produced so that scheduling of activities and exams can accommodate the religious needs of our students, alumnae, faculty and staff. The holidays listed here do not represent an exhaustive list. Because the list is not exhaustive, faculty and staff should continue to consult with their students to be assured any holidays and observances are recognized and accommodated in accord with NYS law (New York State Education Law 224-A). The list includes holidays for many - but by no means all - faiths in our campus community. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate and inclusive. If you have any additions or corrections, please feel free to contact us.
- Dates are assembled from various calendar sources and is not an exhaustive list.
- The dates for Islamic holidays may vary by region or practice. Holidays begin at sundown on the first day and end at nightfall on the last day listed.
- Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the first day and end at nightfall on the last day listed.
Calendar of Holidays and Observances
Summer 2024 |
||
Observance | Faith or Religion | Dates |
---|---|---|
Orthodox Ascension Day |
Orthodox Christian |
Thursday June 13 |
Eid al-Adha |
Islam |
Sunday June 16 to Wednesday June 19 |
Muharram |
Islam |
Sunday July 29 to Sunday August 4 |
Ashura |
Islam |
Tuesday July 16 to Wednesday July 17 |
Asalha Puja Day |
Buddhism |
Sunday July 21 |
2024 |
||
Observance | Faith or Religion | Dates |
---|---|---|
Mawlid al-Nabi |
Islam | Sunday, September 15 to Monday, September 22 |
Autumnal Equinox |
Pagan | Sunday, September 22 |
Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | Wednesday, October 2 to Friday, October 5 |
Navratri |
Hinduism | Thursday, October 3 to Saturday, October 12 |
Fast of Gedaliah |
Judaism | Sunday, October 6 |
Yom Kippur |
Judaism | Friday, October 11 to Saturday, October 12 |
Sukkot |
Judaism | Wednesday, October 16 to Wednesday, October 23 |
Shemini Atzeret |
Judaism | Wednesday, October 23 to Friday, October 25 |
Simchat Torah |
Judaism | Saturday October 24 to Wednesday October 25 |
Dussehra |
Hinduism | Saturday, October 12 |
Samhain |
Pagan | Thursday, October 31 to Friday, November 1 |
Diwali |
Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikh, Jain | Thursday, October 31 to Friday, November 1 |
All Saints Day |
Roman Catholic, Unitarian Universalist | Friday, November 1 |
All Souls Day |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist | Saturday, November 2 |
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh |
Baha’i | Sunday, November 3 |
First Sunday of Advent |
Christian | Sunday, December 1 |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
Roman Catholic | Saturday, December 8 |
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Roman Catholic |
Thursday, December 12
|
Yule |
Pagan | Thursday, December 21 to Monday, January 1 |
Joseph Smith's Birthday |
Mormon (CJCLDS) | Monday, December 23 |
Hanukkah/Chanukah |
Judaism | Wednesday, December 25 to Friday, January 2 |
Christmas |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist | Wednesday, December 25 |
Kwanzaa |
African American Heritage | Thursday, December 26 to Wednesday, January 1 |
2025 |
||
Gantan-sai |
Shinto | Wednesday, January 1 |
The Solemnity of Mary |
Roman Catholic | Wednesday, January 1 |
Epiphany |
Christian | Saturday, January 6 |
Christmas |
Orthodox Christian | Tuesday, January 7 |
Fast of the 10th of Tevet |
Judaism | Monday, January 10 |
Pongal |
Hinduism | Tuesday, January 14 to Friday January 17 |
Bodhi Day |
Buddhism | Thursday, January 18 |
Chinese New Year |
Multifaith, Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist | Wednesday, January 29 |
Imbolc |
Pagan | Saturday, February 1 |
Setsubun-sai |
Shinto | Monday, February 3 |
Tu BiShvat |
Judaism | Wednesday, February 12 to Thursday, February 13 |
Maha Shivaratri |
Hinduism | Wednesday, February 26 |
Ramadan |
Islam | Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 30 |
Clean Monday (Monday of Lent) |
Orthodox Christian | Monday, March 3 |
Start of Lent and Ash Wednesday |
Christian | Wednesday, March 5 |
Women's Day of Prayer |
Multifaith | Thursday, March 13 |
Purim |
Judaism | Thursday, March 13 to Friday, March 14 |
Holi |
Hinduism |
Friday, March 14
|
Fast of Esther |
Judaism |
Thursday, March 21
|
Spring Equinox |
Pagan | Thursday, March 20 |
Laylat al-Qadr |
Islam |
Thursday, March 27
|
Eid al-Fitr | Islam |
Saturday, March 29 to Sunday, March 30 |
Palm Sunday |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist | Sunday, April 13 |
Holy (Maundy) Thursday |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist |
Thursday, April 17
|
Good Friday |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist | Friday, April 18 |
Fast of the First Born |
Judaism |
Saturday, April 12
|
Passover (Pesach) |
Judaism | Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20 |
Great Friday |
Orthodox Christian | Friday, April 18 |
Easter |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist |
Sunday, April 20
|
First Day of Riḍván |
Bahá’í | Sunday April 20 |
Orthodox Easter |
Orthodox Christian |
Sunday, April 20
|
Yom HaShoah |
Judaism |
Wednesday, April 23 to Thursday, April 24
|
Ninth Day of Riḍván | Bahá’í |
Monday, April 28 to Tuesday April 29 |
Twelfth Day of Riḍván |
Bahá’í |
Wednesday, April 30 to Thursday May 1 |
Vesak |
Buddhism |
Monday, May 12
|
Ascension Day |
Christian |
Thursday May 29 |
Orthodox Ascension Day |
Orthodox Christian |
Thursday May 29 |
Pentecost |
Christian, Unitarian Universalist |
Sunday, June 8 |
Summer 2025 |
||
Eid al-Adha |
Islam |
Friday June 6 to Saturday June 7 |
Muharram |
Islam |
Sunday July 6 |
Ashura |
Islam |
Saturday July 5 to Sunday July 6 |
Asalha Puja Day |
Buddhism |
Thursday July 10 |