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.


2022-23 Date(s)Holiday Faith
July 9-13*Eid al-Adha**Islamic
August 7-8*Ashura**Islamic
August 15Feast of AssumptionRoman Catholic
September 25-27*Rosh Hashanah **Judaism
September 26-October 5NavaratiHinduism
October 4-5*Yom Kippur**Judaism
October 9-16*SukkotJudaism
October 9-November 8KathinTheravada Buddhist
October 24DiwaliHinduism/Sikhism/Jainism
December 8Bodhi DayBuddhism
December 18-26*HanukkahJudaism
December 21 Winter SolsticeTraditions across the world
December 24Christmas EveChristian
December 25Christmas DayChristian
December 26-January 1KwanzaaInterfaith
January 7Buddhist New YearBuddhism
January 9Feast of the Nativity**Orthodox Christian
January 22Lunar New YearBuddhism
February 22Ash WednesdayChristian
February 22-April 6LentChristian
March 8HoliHinduism/Sikhism/Buddhism/Jainism
March 22 - April 21*RamadanIslamic
April 2Palm SundayChristian
April 7Good/Holy Friday**Christian
April 5-April 13*Passover (Pesach)**Judaism
April 8Vesak (Buddha Day)Buddhism
April 9Easter**Christian
April 16Pascha**Orthodox Christian
April 17-18*Yom HaShoahJudaism
April 21-22Eid-al-Fitr**Islamic
May 25-27*ShavuotJudaism
June 21 Summer 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