Religious Holy Days

2024

Days

Holiday

Religion

Jan. 1

Monday

Gantan-sai
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday)

Shintoism

Jan. 7

Sunday

Feast of the Nativity (Christmas)
Religious accommodations: Many Eastern Orthodox employees will probably request this day off.

Christianity (O)

Feb. 10

Saturday

**Chinese New Year
Year of the Dragon. Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Chinese employees may request this day off.

Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism

Feb. 14

Wednesday

Ash Wed, Lent begins
(food accommodation as requested)

Christianity (RC, P)

Mar. 18
May 4

Monday
Saturday

Great Lent begins/Clean Monday
Note: Students and employees may be fasting.

Christianity (O)

Mar. 10
Apr. 9

Sundown-Sun
Sundown-Tues

**Ramadan begins
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines during this time. Be sensitive to the fact that students and employees celebrating Ramadan will be fasting during the day (continuously for 30 days) and will likely have less stamina as a result. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply).

Islam

Mar. 19
Mar. 20

Sundown-Tues
Sundown-Wed

Naw-Rúz
The Baha’i New Year’s Day coincides with the spring equinox. Naw-Rúz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the “new day” and for Baha’is it marks the end of the annual 19-Day Fast and is one of the nine holy days of the year when work is suspended and children are exempted from attending school.

Bahá’í

Mar. 23
Mar. 24

Sat. evening
Sun. evening

Purim
Recommended Accommodations: Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays;  however, some sources indicate that Jews should not go about their ordinary business at Purim out of respect for the festival. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (kosher restrictions apply).

Judaism

Mar. 24

Sunday

Palm Sunday
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Orthodox Christian employees that work on Sundays may ask for this day off.

Christianity (RC, P, O)

Mar. 25

Monday

Holi – Festival of Colors (date may vary)
Note: Celebrated over 2 days by people throwing colored powder and colored water.

Hinduism

Mar. 29

Friday

Good Friday
Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested. Meat (fish not considered meat) is prohibited during meals for many.

Christianity (RC, P)

Mar. 29

Friday

Holy Friday
Recommended Accommodations: Great Fri is a strict day of fasting for many Greek Orthodox Christians in the United States. It is suggested to avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities.

Christianity (O)

Mar. 31

Sunday

Easter
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Christian employees that work on Sundays may ask for this day off.

Christianity (RC, P)

Apr. 10

Wednesday

Eid al-Fitr (date can vary by a day)
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Employees will likely ask to take a vacation day on this day, and that request should be granted if at all possible. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply).

Islam

Apr. 21

Sunday

Mahavira-Jayanti, Vaisakhi
Religious accommodation may be requested.

Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism

Apr. 21

Sunday

Ridván (1st day) of Most Great Festival
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the 1^st day, 9^th day, and 12^th  day of Ridván as work is suspended for Baha’is.

Baha’is

Apr. 22
Apr. 30

Sundown Mon
Sundown Tues

**Pesach/Passover (first two and last two days)
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply—the use of leavening is prohibited so, for example, matzah is eaten in place of bread.)

Judaism

May 5

Sunday

Easter/Pascha
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Orthodox Christian employees that work on Suns may ask for this day off.

Christian (O)

May 5
May 6

Sundown-Sun
Sundown-Mon

Yom HaSho’ah
Recommended Accommodations:
Academics and work are permitted. Provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

Judaism

May 19

Sunday

Pentecost

Christianity (RC, P, O)

May 24
May 25

Friday
Saturday

Declaration of the Báb
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for Baha’is.

Bahá’í

May 29
May 30

Wednesday
Thursday

Ascension of Baha’u’lláh
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Work is suspended for Baha’is.

Bahá’í

June 11
June 13

Tuesday
Thursday

**Shavuot
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday. Provide food accommodation as requested. (Kosher restrictions apply—although it is customary to eat dairy).

Judaism

June 16
June 17

Sunday
Monday

**Eid al-Adha (date can vary by a day)
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first day. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply). Date details: Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice.

Islam

Aug. 12
Aug. 13

Monday
Tuesday

**Tisha B’ Av
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Jewish students and employees may be fasting all day.

Judaism