Religious/Spiritual Holidays

The following holidays are listed to avoid potential schedule conflicts involving large numbers of students. In some traditions, on some holidays adherents are not allowed to work, or attend class. All such holidays are marked with an asterisk (*) to so indicate. All students are responsible for negotiating their religious/spiritual practice needs with their professor(s).

Please Note:

  • Muslim holidays begin at sunset on the evening before the date given. Muslim holidays are based on a lunar calendar, and the actual dates are determined by direct observation of the moon and announced by the mosque. (The most observant Muslims will observe all days; others may observe the first two days of Eid-al-Fitr and Eid-al-Ahda.)
  • Orthodox Christian holidays begin at sunset on the evening before the date given.
  • All Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the evening before the date given.
  • The Chinese/Lunar New Year festivities begin the evening before the date given.
  • On some holidays (marked with * below), no work can be done.
2023-2024 Religious Holidays
DateReligious HolidayReligion
January 7, 2023Orthodox ChristmasChristian Orthodox
January 22, 2023Chinese/Lunar New Year
February 1-2, 2023ImbolcPagan
February 15, 2023Parinirvana DayMahayana Buddhism
February 18, 2023Maha ShivaratriHindu
February 22, 2023Ash WednesdayChristian
February 27, 2023Beginning of LentChristian Orthodox
March 6, 2023 (February 5 in Cambodia)Magha Puja (Sangha Day)Theravada Buddhist, South and Southeast Asia
March 7, 2023PurimJewish
March 8, 2023HoliHindu
March 20, 2023Ostara/Spring EquinoxPagan
March 21–22, 2023Naw RuzPersian/Zoroastrian/Bahai New Year
March 23–April 21, 2023RamadanIslamic
March 30, 2023RamanavamiHindu
April 6, 2023Passover Begins*Jewish
April 7, 2023Good FridayChristian
April 9, 2023EasterChristian
April 12–13, 2023Passover Concludes*Jewish
April 14, 2023Orthodox Good FridayChristian Orthodox
April 14, 2023VaisakhiSikh
April 16, 2023Orthodox EasterChristian Orthodox
April 17, 2023Lailat al-Qadr*Islamic
April 21, 2023Ridvan (Lasts 12 days.* Days 9 and 12 are also observed holidays.)Bahai
April 22, 2023Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)*Islamic
May 1, 2023Beltane/May DayPagan
May 5, 2023Vesak (birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha)Theravada Buddhism
May 26, 2023 (Date may vary depending on the country in which it is being celebrated)Buddha’s BirthdayMahayana Buddhism
May 26–27, 2023Shavuot*Jewish
June 21, 2023Litha/Summer SolsticePagan
June 29, 2023Eid al-Adha*Islamic
July 3, 2023Asalha Puja – Dhamma Day (Commemorates Buddha’s first sermon)Theravada Buddhism
August 1, 2023Lammas or LughnasdahPagan
September 16–17, 2023Rosh Hashanah*Jewish
September 22, 2023Mabon (Autumn Equinox)Pagan
September 25, 2023Yom Kippur*Jewish
September 30–October 6, 2023SukkotJewish
October 7, 2023Shemini AtzeretJewish
October 8, 2023Simchat TorahJewish
October 15–24, 2023NavaratriHindu, Jain, Sikh
October 16, 2023Birth of the Báb*Baha'i
October 17, 2023Birth of Baha'u'llah*Baha'i
October 31, 2023SamhainPagan
November 12, 2023DiwaliHindu, Jain, Sikh
December 8–15, 2023HanukkahJewish
December 21, 2023Yule (Winter Solstice)Pagan
December 25, 2023ChristmasChristian
January 7, 2024Christmas*Orthodox Christian
February 1, 2024ImbolcPagan
February 10, 2024Chinese New YearLunar New Year
February 10, 2024LosarTibetan New Year (Celebrations last for 15 days, with emphasis on the first three)
February 14, 2024Ash WednesdayChristian
February 15, 2024Parinirvana DayMahayana Buddhist
February 24, 2024Magha Puja (Sangha Day)Theravada Buddhist (South and Southeast Asia)
March 3, 2024Good Friday*Orthodox Christian
March 11–April 9, 2024Ramadan*Muslim
March 18, 2024Great Lent begins*Orthodox Christian
March 19, 2024Ostara (Spring Equinox)Pagan
March 20, 2024Naw-Rúz*Persian/Zoroastrian/Baha'i New Year
March 24, 2024Purim*Jewish
March 25, 2024HoliHindu
March 29, 2024Good FridayChristian
March 31, 2024EasterChristian
April 10, 2024Eid al-Fitr*Muslim
April 13, 2024VaisakhiSikh
April 13–15, 2024South and Southeast Asian New Year 
April 21, 2024Ridvan begins*Baha'i
April 23–24, 2024Passover begins*Jewish (Orthodox Jews observe the first and last 2 days of Passover as no work holidays.)
April 29, 20249th Day of RidvanBaha'i
April 29–30, 2024Passover endsJewish
May 1, 2024BeltanePagan
May 2, 202412th Day of RidvanBaha'i
May 5, 2024Easter (Pascha)*Orthodox Christian
May 15, 2024Buddha's BirthdayMahayana Buddhism
May 23, 2024VesakTheravada Buddhism
June 12–13, 2024Shavuot*Jewish
June 17, 2024Eid al-Adha*Muslim
July 21, 2024Asalha Puja (Dhamma Day)Theravada Buddhism
June 21, 2024Litha (Summer Solstice)Pagan
October 3–4, 2024Rosh Hashanah*Jewish
October 3–12, 2024NavaratriHindu, Jain, Sikh
October 12, 2024Yom Kippur*Jewish
October 15–23, 2024Sukkot*Jewish
October 24, 2024Shemini Atzeret*Jewish
October 25, 2024Simchat Torah*Jewish
October 31, 2024DiwaliHindu, Jain, Sikh
November 2, 2024Birth of the Báb*Baha'i
November 3, 2024Birth of Baha'u'llah*Baha'i
December 25, 2024ChristmasChristian
December 26, 2024–January 2, 2025Hanukkah*Jewish