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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

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

Orthodox Ascension Day

 Orthodox Christian

Thursday May 29

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