Religious Holidays

Religious Holiday	Description
Rosh Hashanah: September 11-13, 2026	Judaism Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year and marks the beginning of the High Holy Days, a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination, and repentance that ends with Yom Kippur. Many Jews observe the holiday through prayer and reflection in a synagogue. Absence from work or school on the first and second days is common.
Yom Kippur: September 20-21, 2026	Judaism Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. The approximately 25-hour period is observed through fasting, prayer, and repentance. Absence from work or school is common. Yom Kippur begins and ends at sundown.
All Saints’ Day: November 1, annually	Christianity All Saints’ Day commemorates all the saints of the Christian church, both known and unknown. Catholics may observe All Saints’ Day by attending Mass. Absence from work or school to attend services is common.
All Souls’ Day: November 2, annually	Christianity All Souls’ Day is a day to honor the faithful departed. On this day, it is common for people to visit and decorate the graves of loved ones. Absence from work or school to attend services is common, particularly among those who have lost a loved one within the past calendar year.
Diwali: November 6-10, 2026	Hinduism and Jainism Diwali is a fall festival of lights signifying the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Observances include lighting candles and other forms of light throughout a five-day period, with the primary celebration occurring on the third night. Absence from work or school during this celebration is common.
Guru Nanak Gurpurab: November 24, 2026	Sikhism Guru Nanak Gurpurab celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism. Observances include processions, call-and-response chants (kirtan), prayer, and a communal meal (langar).
Bodhi Day: December 8, annually	Buddhism Bodhi Day honors Siddhartha Gautama’s awakening under the Bodhi Tree. Observances may include reading sutras, spending extended time in meditation, and gathering for a meal that may include rice and milk. Absence from work or school for prayer or meditation is not unheard of.
Hanukkah: December 4-12, 2026	Judaism Hanukkah is an eight-day Festival of Lights commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 B.C.E., following the Maccabees’ defeat of the occupying Syrian army.
Winter Solstice: December 21, 2026	Various traditions The winter solstice occurs when Earth’s poles reach their maximum tilt away from the sun, resulting in the shortest period of daylight and longest period of night. The solstice has long held significance in many cultures and is marked by a variety of festivals and rituals.
Christmas: December 25, annually	Christianity Christmas is a religious and cultural celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus. It follows the season of Advent and begins the 12-day season of Christmastide. Absence from work or school is common.
Kwanzaa: December 26-January 1, annually	Interfaith Kwanzaa is a weeklong festival celebrating African heritage, unity, and shared values. Observances include daily candle lighting, music, storytelling, poetry, drumming, feasts, and exchanging gifts. Each day highlights one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Orthodox Christmas: January 7, annually	Orthodox Christianity Orthodox Christmas, also known as the Feast of the Nativity and the Incarnation of Christ, commemorates the birth of Jesus according to the Julian calendar, rather than the modern Gregorian calendar. Absence from work or school is common.
Lunar New Year: February 6, 2027	Various traditions Lunar New Year is one of the most important festivals celebrated in Asian cultures and is often referred to in the West as Chinese New Year. During the 15-day festival, family and friends reunite over traditional foods such as dumplings. Observances also include decorating with red lanterns, spring couplets, and paper cutouts; setting off firecrackers; and giving money in red envelopes. Absence from work or school is common.
Ramadan: February 8-March 9, 2027	Islam Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic calendar and lasts approximately 28 to 30 days. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from food and drink from dawn to sundown and focus on prayer, reading the Qur’an, and strengthening their relationship with God. The final 10 nights are considered especially holy. Absence from work or school on the first day or during the final 10 nights, particularly after sundown, is common. The beginning and end dates may vary based on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Ash Wednesday: February 10, 2027	Christianity Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 46-day liturgical season during which many Christians prepare for Easter through fasting, prayer, and penance. The period mirrors Jesus’ 40-day fast and temptation in the wilderness. Some Christians, particularly Catholics, may fast on Ash Wednesday, and Catholics continue to abstain from eating meat on Fridays throughout Lent. Celebrants may also receive ashes on their foreheads as a sign of penance. Ashes will be available throughout the day on campus.
Nirvana Day: February 15, annually	Buddhism Nirvana Day commemorates the Buddha’s passing into nirvana. Practitioners may spend time in quiet meditation and reflect on the Buddhist teaching of impermanence, the idea that all things must change and end.
Eid al-Fitr: March 10, 2027	Islam Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan and the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal. The day begins with a special Eid prayer and includes celebrations with food and sweets, which may continue for up to three days. Absence from work or school is common. The date may vary based on the sighting of the crescent moon.
Maundy Thursday: March 25, 2027	Christianity Maundy Thursday commemorates Jesus’ Last Supper and commandment to love one another. Services are generally held in the evening. Absence from work or school is possible.
Good Friday: March 26, 2027	Christianity Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Many Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christians observe it as a fast day, and Christians of many denominations attend worship services. Absence from work or school is common.
Easter: March 28, 2027	Christianity Easter celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the principal feast of the Christian church. It also begins the 50-day season of Eastertide. Christians of many denominations attend worship services. Absence from work or school is common.
Vaisakhi (Khalsa Sajna Diwas): April 14, 2027	Sikhism Vaisakhi is a spring festival that celebrates the founding of Sikhism in 1699. Observances include vibrant processions, visits to the gurdwara (Sikh place of worship), traditional folk dancing, and communal feasting. Absence from work or school is possible.
Pesach (Passover): April 21-29, 2027	Judaism Pesach, also known as Passover, is a major Jewish festival, approximately one week long, commemorating the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. The observance centers on a home service called the seder, meaning “order,” and a festive meal. Jews often participate in ritual observances on the first, second, and final evenings. Absence from work or school during these evenings, particularly after sundown, is common.
Pascha (Easter): May 2, 2027	Orthodox Christianity Pascha is the Orthodox name for Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It marks the beginning of the 40-day Paschal season, which ends with the Feast of the Ascension. Absence from work or school is common.
Yom HaShoah: May 3-4, 2027	Judaism Yom HaShoah is a solemn memorial to those who died in the Holocaust. “Shoah,” meaning “catastrophe” or “utter destruction” in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities committed against the Jewish people during World War II. The observance is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day.

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