| Date | High Holy Day | Observances |
|---|---|---|
| 26鈥27 (Muslim) NIS | Eid al-Adha ^~ | Special payers are held at mosque on the morning of June 6 and evening feast is held the same day. Those traveling to the mosque would be away from campus on May 26. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
8鈥15 Jain | Paryushana Parva | Paryushana is a time when the Jains take on their five main vows and observe fasting along with meditation and prayer. |
11 Jewish | Erev Rosh HaShanah ~ | A festive meal and religious service are held in the evening. From sundown on Sept. 11 through the end of the festival, all 鈥渓abor鈥 (school and other works as well as travel) ceases. |
12鈥13 Jewish | Rosh HaShanah *~ | Religious services are held during the day. Those observing both days of Rosh Hashanah would maintain their abstention from 鈥渓abor鈥 until nightfall on Sept. 13. |
15 Jain | Samvatsari | On this day, Jains forgive and seek forgiveness for their mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly from all living beings. |
20 Jewish | Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre ~ | The Day of Atonement, perhaps the most important of Jewish holidays, is devoted to prayer, repentance and fasting. A special meal is eaten before sundown, which marks the beginning of the fast and of religious services. All 鈥渓abor鈥 ceases throughout the Holy Day. |
21 Jewish | Yom Kippur *~ | Religious services are held throughout the day, and the fast ends at nightfall. |
25 Jewish | First Night of Sukkot ~ | Sukkot is an eight-day harvest-related festival which has its origins from the Torah. A non-permanent booth is constructed during these days for people to spend time in for things such as eating, prayer, relaxing, and more. Some people might refrain from work and classes on the first and last days of the holiday. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
3鈥4 Jewish | Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ~ | Sukkot is an eight-day harvest related festival which has its origins from the Torah. A non-permanent booth is constructed during these days for people to spend time in for things such as eating, prayer, relaxing, and more. Some people might refrain from work and classes on the first and last days of the holiday. |
31 Pagan | Samhain | A ritual will be held 鈥 often, but not always 鈥 in the evening. Those traveling to a Pagan community gathering would be away from campus Oct. 31. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
8 Hindu & Jain | Diwali ^ | Those traveling to a temple for Puja 鈥 traditional ritual of worship 鈥 may be away from campus Nov. 8. |
9 Jain | Jain New Year | After celebrating Diwali at the end of Ashwina, Jains celebrate new year. Ritual of Snatra Puja is performed at the temple. Mahavira鈥檚 chief disciple Gautama Swami attained keval gyan on this day. |
10 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | Birth of the B谩b | Celebrates the birth of Siyyid `Al铆-Muhammad, the B谩b, in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia. May require day off to observe. |
11 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | Birth of Bah谩鈥檜鈥檒l谩h | Celebrates the birth of M铆rz谩 岣sayn-鈥楢l铆y-i-N煤r铆, Bah谩鈥檜鈥檒l谩h, in 1817 in Tehran, Iran. May require day off to observe. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
8 Buddhist | Bodhi Day | A full day of remembrance and meditation. Those traveling to a temple for meditation would be away from campus the entire day of Dec. 8. |
4鈥12 Jewish | Chanukah ~* | An eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement in 164 BCE. It is customary during Chanukah to eat foods fried in olive oil. This is not a holiday where people need to take off work. |
25 Christian | Christmas Day NIS | Day of remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
10 Western Christian | Ash Wednesday | A somber service is held. Some may fast for the entire day. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
6鈥7 Hindu | Maha Shivaratri ^ | In a spirit of devotion, fasting, prayer, and keeping vigil begins late evening/early morning of March 6. Those traveling to a temple for puja 鈥 ritual worship 鈥 would be away from campus the entire day of March 7. |
8 Muslim | Eid al-Fitr ^ | Beginning at the sighting of the crescent moon, the Feast of Breaking the Fast marks the end of Ramadan. |
21 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | Naw-R煤z 鈥 The 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 New Year | The 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 New Year, celebrated on the vernal equinox, signifying spiritual renewal and the beginning of a new calendar year. May require day off to observe. |
22 Hindu | Holi ^ | Festival of Colors Celebrating the arrival of spring. Those traveling to a temple would be away from campus March 22. |
26 Western Christianity | Good Friday | A somber service is held. Some may fast from Good Friday until Easter, March 28. Those traveling to services would be away from campus the entire day. |
28 Western Christianity | Easter | Celebration of Jesus鈥 resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home for the holiday would be away from campus March 28. |
| Date | High Holy Day | Tradition |
|---|---|---|
21 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | First Day of Ridv谩n | Marks the start of the 12-day Festival of Ridv谩n (鈥淧aradise鈥 in Arabic), commemorating Bah谩鈥檜鈥檒l谩h鈥檚 declaration of His mission as a Messenger of God in the Garden of Ridv谩n near Baghdad. May require day off to observe. |
21鈥29 (evening of) Jewish | Passover/Pesach*~ | It is customary throughout the eight-day festival to refrain from eating bread or other wheat or common grain products, including fermentation products. The first two and last two days are generally considered festival days, and those who are observant cease from all 鈥渓abor鈥 on them. Those traveling to synagogue or home may be away from campus April 21鈥29 and/or April 21鈥22. |
21鈥22 Jewish | Seders ~ | It is customary throughout the eight-day festival to refrain from eating bread or other wheat or common grain products, including fermentation products. The first two and last two days are generally considered festival days, and those who are observant cease from all 鈥渓abor鈥 on them. Those traveling to synagogue or home may be away from campus April 21鈥29 and/or April 21鈥22. |
May 1 Pagan | Beltane | May Day A celebratory ritual is held. Those traveling to a Pagan community gathering would be away from campus on May 1. |
May 1 Eastern or Orthodox Christianity) | Orthodox Easter Vigil | Vigil for Jesus鈥 Resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home form the holiday would be away from campus May 1 and 2. |
May 2 Eastern or Orthodox Christianity) | Orthodox Easter/ Pascha | Celebration of Jesus鈥 resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home form the holiday would be away from campus May 2. |
May 2 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | ^* Twelfth Day of Ridv谩n | The day Bah谩鈥檜鈥檒l谩h and His family departed the garden to begin their journey to Constantinople. May require day off to observe. |
May 20 Buddhist | Vesak | Buddha鈥檚 Birthday Day is celebrated with vibrant cultural traditions, acts of deep generosity, and quiet meditation. |
May 24 叠补丑谩鈥櫭 | ^*NIS Declaration of the B谩b | Commemorates the B谩b鈥檚 announcement of His mission on the evening of May 22, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia. May require day off to observe. |
Codes
~ = Some holy days begin and end at sunset.
^ = Certain Hindu and Muslim holy days are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate.
* = Observance may include ceasing from labor, defined as commerce, writing, work, and travel.