Religious Holy Days
A listing of the current semester's religious observances. Please note that most Muslim and Jewish holy days begin at sundown before the actual day.
Fall Semester 2021
| Date | Observance | Religion | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 6-8 | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | The Jewish New Year. |
| September 8 | Nativity of the Theotokos | Orthodox Christian | The Nativity of the Theotokos, celebrating the birth of Mary, is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of the Eastern Orthodox liturgical year. |
| September 9 | Fast of Gedaliah (fast begins at dawn) | Judaism | Lament the assassination of Gedaliash, the righteous govern of Judah. |
| September 14 | The Exaltion of the Cross | Orthodox Christian | A feast in commemoration of the historical recovery of the true cross from the Persians and its return to Jerusalem. |
| September 15-16 | *Yom Kippur | Judaism | Also know as the Day of Atonement, it is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. |
| September 20-29 | Sukkot | Judaism | Sukkot commemorates the years that the Jewish people spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult conditions. |
| September 27 | HoShanah Raba | Judaism | Begins the night before at sundown. |
| September 28 | *Shemini Atzeret | Judaism | Eighth Day of Assembly. |
| September 29 | *Simchat Torah | Judaism | Day of Celebrating the Torah. |
| October 6 | Mahalaya Amavasya | Hindu | Day of paying homage to ancestors. |
| October 7 | Navaratri begins | Hindu | Navaratri is the Hindu festival that celebrates the battle and victory of god Rama over the demon king Ravana. |
| October 14 | Buddha’s Return to Heaven | Buddhist | Celebrating to observe the Buddha’s descent from the Trayastrimsa heaven down to earth. |
| October 15 | Navaratri Ends | Hindu | Navaratri is the Hindu festival that celebrates the battle and victory of god Rama over the demon king Ravana. |
| October 15 | Dusshera | Hindu | Festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. |
| October 18/19 | Milad un Nabi | Muslim | (Muslims have differences of opinion whether or not to celebrate mawlid/mawlid al-Nabi or the Prophet’s birthday– It is commemorated in Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar.) |
| October 19 | Sharad Purnima | Hindu | Harvest festival marking the end of the monsoon season. |
| November 1 | All Saint’s Day | Christian/Catholic | Christian festival celebrated in honor of all the saints. |
| November 2 | All Soul’s Day | Christian/Catholic | A day of remembrance for all of the deceased. |
| November 2 | Dhan Teras | Hindu | Marks the first day of Diwali. |
| November 4 | Diwali | Hindu | Festival of lights celebrating victory of light over darkens, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. |
| November 4 | Bandi Chhor Divas | Sikh | Sikh holiday which coincides with the day of Diwali. |
| November 6 | Birth of the Báb | Baha’i | Celebration of the Birth of Bab (founder of Bábism). |
| November 7 | Birth of Bahá’u’lláh | Baha’i | Celebration of the Birth Bahá’u’lláh (founder of Baha’i). |
| November 19 | Guru Nanak Birthday | Sikh | Guru Nanak, also referred to as Baba Nanak, was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. |
| November 21 | The Entrance Into the Temple of the Theotokos | Orthodox Christian | The Feast of the Entrance into the Temple of Our Most Holy Lady the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on November 21 each year. The Feast commemorates when as a young child, the Virgin Mary entered the Temple in Jerusalem. |
| November 21 | Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe | Christian/Catholic | Feast day in honor of Jesus Christ as Lord over all creation. |
| November 24-25 | Day of the Covenant | Baha’i | The Day of the Covenant is the day when Baháʼís celebrate the appointment of ʻAbdu’l-Bahá as the Centre of Baha’u’llah’s Covenant. |
| November 27-28 | Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | Baha’i | Holy day that commemorates the death of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá. |
| November 28 | First Sunday in Advent | Christian/Catholic | Start of the Advent season. |
| November 28 | Chanukah | Judaism | The Jewish festival of rededication, also known as the Festival of Lights. |
| November 29 | Hanukkah Starts | Judaism | Festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. |
| December 6 | Hanukkah Ends | Judaism | Festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple. |
| December 8 | The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Christian/Catholic | Day of celebration for belief in the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary. |
| December 14 | Fast of 10 Tevet (fast begins at dawn) | Judaism | Tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tevet, is a fast day in Judaism. |
| December 25 | The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) | Christian/Catholic/Orthodox Christian | Celebration of the Birth of Jesus |
Spring Semester 2022
| Date | Observance | Religion | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1st | Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God |
Christian/Catholic | feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ |
| January 13th | Lohri | Sikh | Lohri marks the end of winter, and is a traditional welcome of longer days and the sun’s journey to the northern hemisphere |
| January 16-17th | 15 Shevat – New Year for Trees | Judaism | the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliest-blooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle. |
| Feb 28th-March 1st | Isra and Mi’raj | Muslim | The Israʾ and Miʿraj are the two parts of a Night Journey that, according to Islam, the Islamic prophet Muhammad took during a single night around the year 621 |
| March 1st | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu | Celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva. This solemn festival marks a remembrance of overcoming darkens and ignorance |
| March 7th-April 16th | *Lent | Christian/Catholic | Lent is a season of reflection and preparation before the celebrations of Easter. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days |
| March 7th | Lent Begins | Orthodox Christian | Start of lent, a 40 day time period that represents repentance, fasting and reflection |
| March 16th | Fast of Esther (fast begins at dawn) | Judaism | The fast commemorates one of two events in the Book of Esther: either Esther and the Jewish community of Shushan having fasted for 3 days and 3 nights before she approached the king (Esther 4:16), or a fast which is presumed to have occurred on the 13th of Adar, when the Jews fought a battle against their enemies |
| March 16-17th | Purim | Judaism | Commemorates the (Divinely orchestrated) salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews |
| March 17th | St. Patrick’s Day | Christian/Catholic | Saint Patrick’s Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick, the foremost patron saint of Ireland. |
| March 17-18th | Shushan Purim | Judaism | In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, Purim was celebrated on the 15th of the month of Adar on what is known as Shushan Purim, since fighting in the walled city of Shushan continued through the 14th day of Adar. |
| March 19th | Holi | Hindu | Represents the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil. |
| March 19th | Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Virgin Mary |
Christian/Catholic | Feast day for St. Joesph |
| March 25th | The Annunciation of the Lord |
Christian/Catholic | Feast Day that celebrates when the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she would conceive and bear a son. |
| April 2nd | *Ramadan Begins | Muslim | a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims |
| April 14th | Holy Thursday | Christian/Catholic | Commemorates the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles |
| April 14th | Vaisakhi | Sikh | Commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 |
| April 15th | Good Friday | Christian/Catholic | Commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary |
| April 15-23rd | *Pesach/Passover (First days) | Judiasm | Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread |
| April 15-23rd | *Pesach/Passover (First days) | Judaism | Harvest festival marking the end of the monsoon season. |
| April 17th | Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord | Christian/Catholic | Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus |
| April 18th – April 23 | Holy Week | Orthodox Christian | Week remembering the final week of the life of Jesus |
| April 23rd | *Pesach/Passover (Last days) | Judaism | |
| April 24rd | Pascha (Easter) | Orthodox Christian | On the Great and Holy Feast of Pascha, Orthodox Christians celebrate the life-giving Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ |
| May 18th | Lag BaOmer | Judaism | occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer, the 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot. |
| May 14-15th | Pesach Sheni | Judaism | marks the day when someone who was unable to participate in the Passover offering in the proper time would observe the mitzvah exactly one month later. |
| May 3rd | Eid ul-Fitr (End of Ramadan) | Muslim | |
| May 26th | The Ascension of the Lord | Christian/Catholic | Celebration of the assent of Jesus into Heaven |
Summer Semester 2022
| Date | Observance | Religion | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 4th-6th (begins sundown of June 4th) | Shavuot | Jewish | Festival of Weeks, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. |
| June 5th | Pentecost | Christian/Catholic | Commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit onto the disciples. |
| June 6th | Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church | Christian/Catholic | The Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary. |
| June 12th | Trinity Sunday | Christian/Catholic | A feast in honor of the holy Trinity following the Sunday after Pentecost. |
| June 16th | Corpus Christi Sunday | Christian/Catholic | Is the celebration of the Real Presence of the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the elements of the Eucharist. |
| June 24th | Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus | Christian/Catholic | A movable feast, it is celebrated each year on a Friday in the spring on the nineteenth day after Pentecost. |
| June 24th | Solemnity of the Nativity of John the Baptist | Christian/Catholic | The Nativity of John the Baptist is a high-ranking liturgical feast, kept in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox and Lutheran churches. |
| June 25th | The Immaculate Heart of Mary | Christian/Catholic | The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This Marian devotion focuses on the Blessed Mother’s interior life, celebrating her joys and sorrows, her virtues, and her love for God. |
| June 29th | Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul | Christian/Catholic | The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honour of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. |
| June 30th | Puri Rath Yatra | Hindu | Celebrated by devotees of the Hindu God, Lord Krishna, the Rath Yatra is the festival of chariots. |
| July 9th | Martyrdom of the Báb | Bahá’í | This holiday commemorates the 1850 execution of the co-founder of the Baha’i faith. |
| July 9th-10th | Eid al-Adha | Muslim | The Muslim festival marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham. |
| July 13th | Guru Purnima | Hindu | Guru Purnima is a day to pay ode to the selfless contributions of a Guru. |
| July 17th | Fast of 17 Tammuz | Jewish | The Seventeenth of Tammuz is a Jewish fast day commemorating the breach of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple. |
| July 29-30 | Mulsim New Year | Muslim | The Islamic New Year, also called the Hijri New Year or Arabic New Year, is the day that marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented. |
| August 2nd | Nag Panchami | Hindu | Nag Panchami is a day devoted to the Nag Devta or the snake god in the Hindu tradition. Every year, this day is celebrated during the auspicious month of Sawan, according to the Hindu calendar. |
| August 5th-6th | Tish’a B’Av | Jewish | The Fast of the Ninth of the Jewish month of Av, Tisha b’Av, marks the end of a three week period of mourning during which our people remember the series of events that led to the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of our people’s first Temple. |
| August 6th | The Transfiguration of the Lord | Christian/Catholic | The Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated by various Christian communities in honor of the transfiguration of Jesus. |
| August 11th | Raksha Bandhan | Hindu | Raksha Bandhan or Rakhi is an important Hindu festival, dedicated to brothers and sisters. On this auspicious day, sisters tie a thread on her brother’s wrist and pray for his long and prosperous life. In return, the brother gives a token of love to his loving sister. |
| August 12th | Varalakshmi Vrat | Hindu | The worshipping the goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, many devotees come together to celebrate Varalakshmi Vratam every year. |
| August 15th | Solemnity of the Assumption | Christian/Catholic | The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven is the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. |
| August 18th-19th | Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu | A Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of the birth of Krishna. |
| August 22nd | The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Christian/Catholic | Is the time to remeber the Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven and the Mother of God. |
| August 31st | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu | A Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of Lord Ganesh to earth from Kailash Parvat with his mother Goddess Parvati/Gauri. |
| August 30-septemebr 9th | Onam | Hindu | The 10-day long festival marks the beginning of harvest season as well as the appearance of the Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu along with the homecoming of King Mahabali. |
*Indicates religious observance that may interfere with academic work. Please be mindful when assigning work on these days.
Location
Ruth S. Harley University Center, 303
Hours
- Catholic Mass Tue: 6:00 pm Sun: 7:00 pm
- Muslim Services (Jummah) Fri: 1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
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