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 2024–2025
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
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
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