The Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of the Chaplain would like for students, faculty, and staff to be aware of a broad range of religious observances.

Faculty should consider the manner in which holy days might impact student class attendance or their ability to complete assignments on respective due dates. Administrative and Academic Units, as well as Student Organizations, should consider holy days when scheduling department-wide or university-wide events and programming.

Students interested in holy day accommodations for class and lab assignments, attendance, or athletic practice/competition should contact faculty or coaches well in advance with such requests. Students can utilize the Religious Holy Day Accommodation Email Template to reach out to faculty, staff, or coaches, etc.

Below is a list of holy days observed by many students, staff, and faculty members in our community. You can find detailed descriptions of the Holy Days here. This list, though exhaustive in its inclusion of traditions represented on our campus, is not complete. Consequently, please direct suggestions for additions to the list of religious days of observance to the Chaplain’s Office.


2023-24 Date(s)Holiday Faith
June 28-29*Eid al-Adha**Islamic
July 27-28*Ashura**Islamic
August 15Feast of AssumptionRoman Catholic
September 8Feast of the Nativity**Orthodox Christian
September 15-17*Rosh Hashanah **Judaism
September 24-25*Yom Kippur**Judaism
September 29-October 6*SukkotJudaism
October 15-24NavaratriHinduism
October 28-November 27KathinTheravada Buddhist
November 12DiwaliHinduism/Sikhism/Jainism
December 8Bodhi DayBuddhism
December 7-15*HanukkahJudaism
December 21 Winter SolsticeTraditions across the world
December 24Christmas EveChristian
December 25Christmas DayChristian
December 26-January 1KwanzaaInterfaith
February 10Lunar New YearBuddhism
February 14Ash WednesdayChristian
February 14-March 28LentChristian
March 25HoliHinduism/Sikhism/Buddhism/Jainism
March 11-April 9*RamadanIslamic
March 24Palm SundayChristian
March 29Good/Holy Friday**Christian
March 31Easter**Christian
April 9 - 10Eid-al-Fitr**Islamic
April 22-April 30*Passover (Pesach)**Judaism
May 4-5*Yom HaShoahJudaism
May 5Pascha**Orthodox Christian
May 23Vesak (Buddha Day)Buddhism
June 11-13*ShavuotJudaism
June 20Summer SolsticeTraditions across the world

*   Jewish and Islamic observances begin at sundown the evening before the date listed
** Holy days on which absence from work or school is common