GUIDE TO RELIGIONS
Major Religious Holidays and Suggested Accommodations
Note: Dates are assembled from several calendars and begin with the academic year (August through September). Lunar calendars can vary based on region and practice.
| Holiday and Recommended Accommodations | Date |
|---|---|
Ramadan (Islamic)Ramadan signifies the revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad. It is an occasion to focus on faith through fasting and prayer. General Practices: Refrain from food and beverages during the daylight hours; smoking and sexual relations are forbidden; fasting is broken at night with prayer, reading of the Qu’ran and a meal called the iftar. Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested—prohibitions include pork and alchohol if planning an evening event, provide food accommodation after dark |
Aug. 1–29, 2011 |
Eid al-Fitr (Islamic)Marks the end of Ramadan; Eid Al-Fitr meaning "break the fast", is a celebration of the successfull conclusion of Ramadan's month long fasting General Practices: Prayer, gifts, new clothes, children receive money, feasting and celebration with friends and family Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—prohibitions include pork and alchohol |
Aug. 30, 2011 Dates are determined by the lunar calendar. Eid al Fitr is a three day celebration |
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)Start of the Jewish New Year, day of judgement and remembrance; the Jewish calendar celebrates the New Year in the seventh month (Tishrei) as a day of rest and celebration ten days before Yom Kippur General Practices: Prayer in synagogue and festive meals Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on these dates (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat). |
Sept. 28–30, 2011 Begins and ends at sundown; high holy days observed during the ten day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur; and celebrations on the first and second days |
Yom Kippur (Jewish)A day dedicated to atonement and abstinence; often considered the holiest day of the Jewish year General Practices: Fasting—refrain from eating or drinking from before sundown until after sunset, lighting of Yahrzeit candle at sundown on night of Yom Kippur Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on these dates (work holiday), if planning an evening event, provide food accommodation as requestedkosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat), if evening event, provide food accommodation after dark |
Oct. 7–8, 2011 Begins at sundown |
Diwali (Hindu / Buddhist / Sikhism / Jainism)Also known as Festival of Lights, Row of Lights, Deepavali and Diwali; is a celebration of the victory of good over evil; the uplifting of spiritual darkness General Practices: Decorating homes with lights, fireworks, gift giving, prayers, religious rituals Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on these dates (work holiday) |
Oct. 26, 2011 Five day festival beginning on the new moon between Oct. 13 and Nov. 14 |
Sukkot (Jewish)A week long celebration which begins with the building of Sukkah for sleep and meals; Sukkot is named for the huts Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert before reaching the promised land; (last of the three pilgrimage festivals) General Practices: Families in the United States commonly decorate the sukkah with produce and artwork Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on these dates (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
Oct. 12–18, 2011 Begins at sundown; work holiday is limited to first full day of Sukkot |
Shemini (Jewish)Also known as Atzereth; a festival celebrated on the 22nd day of Tishri, marked by a memorial service for the dead and prayers for rain in Israel General Practices: Lighting of Yahrzeit candle at sundown on Shemini Atzereth (8th night of Sukkot) Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
Oct. 19–20, 2011 Begins at sundown on the eighth day of Sukkot |
Simchat (Jewish)Also known as: Torah, Simhat Torah, Simchath; marks the completion of the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah in the synagogue and the beginning of the new cycle General Practices: Dancing in synagogue as all the Torah scrolls are carried around in seven circuits Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
Oct. 20–21, 2011 |
Eid al-Adha (Islamic)Also known as the Festival of the Sacrifice and Id al Qurban or al-ld al-Kabir (Major Festival), takes place at the end of the Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca); the festival commemorates God’s gift of a ram in place of Isma’il, whom God commanded Ibrahim to sacrifice General Practices: Decorating homes with lights, fireworks, gift giving, prayers, religious rituals Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday) |
Nov. 7, 2011 Dates are determined by the lunar calendar, all Islamic days begin at sunset the preceding evening; three day celebration |
Hanukkah (Jewish)Also known as Chanukah; A wintertime Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates religious freedom and national independence; honoring the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Jerusalem Temple; also commemorates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days General Practices: Lighting of the menorah each night, singing songs, prayer, festive meals, playing dreidel game, and giving Hanukkah gelt Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date, provide food accommodation as requested – kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
Dec. 21–27, 2011 Begins at sundown |
Christmas (Christian)Annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth General Practices: Church services, prayer, gift giving, family gatherings, decorating trees Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday) |
Dec. 24–25, 2011 Begins at sundown on the 24th annually and continues with all day celebration on the 25th |
Gantan-sai (Shinto)Shinto New Year festival General Practices: Prayers for inner renewal, prosperity and health; visits to shrines, dressing in nice clothes, visits to friends and family Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date (work holiday) |
Jan. 1, 2012 |
Epiphany (Christian)Also known as: Three Kings day, Twelfth Night, or Befana Day; commemorates the revelation of God through Jesus Christ and marks the time the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem and presented gifts to the baby Jesus General Practices: Prayer, festive meals, offerings, gifts |
Jan. 8, 2012 Observed on the Sunday between January 2–8 marking the end of the 12 day season of Christmas festivities; the original date celebrating Christ’s birth |
Chinese New Year (Confucian / Taoist / Buddhist)Most important of traditional Chinese holidays; Also known as Lunar New Year and spring festival General Practices: Families gather together to spend the evening preparing boiled dumplings and festive meals, giving of money to children in red envelopes Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date |
Jan. 23, 2012 Corresponds to the New Moon in Aquarius, which can fall from late January to mid-February |
Ash Wednesday (Christian)First day of Lent and period of forty days before Easter; a time to reflect on Christ’s sacrifice before the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday General Practices: Organized gatherings and prayer, cross of ashes marked on foreheads, abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and Fridays during Lent, abstain or sacrifice from activity of personal choice Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested—prohibitions include animal products |
Feb. 22, 2012 |
Holi (Hindu)Also known as the “Festival of Colors” can be traced to Hindu scriptures commemorating good over evil, a celebration of the colorful spring and farewell to the dull winter General Practices: Festival of joy, sprinkling of colored water and powder on others bonfires and lights signifying victory of good over evil Celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar moon in late February or early March |
March 8, 2012 |
Naw Ruz (Baha’i)Baha’I New Year, a traditional celebration of the new year in Iran adopted as a holy day associated with Baha’I, a celebration of spring and new life General Practices: Festive music dancing, prayers, meetings, meals |
March 21, 2012 |
Passover (Jewish)Week long observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II (one of three pilgrimage festivals) General Practices: Family gatherings, ritualized meals called Seders, reading of the Haggadah, lighting of Yahrzeit candle at sundown on the last night of Passover 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 prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat), and leavened bread is prohibited during passover |
Apr. 6–14, 2012 |
Palm Sunday (Christian)A commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as crowds lined his path with palm fronds General Practices: Prayer, distribution of palm leaves commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem prior to his crucifixion |
Apr. 1, 2012 |
Maundy Thursday (Christian)Thursday before Easter, commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with the Apostles. General Practices: Prayer, Communion (Eucharist), meals, and foot-washing ceremonies among some Christian denominations |
Apr. 5, 2012 Always falls on the Thursday before Easter Sunday |
Good Friday (Christian)Friday before Easter, commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; among some sects of Christianity and in many countries marks a day of fasting General Pratices: Prayer, fasting, and noon or afternoon services in some Christian denominations Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested—meat (fish is not considered meat) is prohibited during meals for some |
Apr. 6, 2012 Always falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday |
Easter (Christian)Annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ General Practices: Celebratory meals, family gatherings, distribution of colored eggs, baskets and chocolate bunnies, celebration of renewal |
Apr. 8, 2012 Easter Sunday is determined by the Gregorian calendar (Gregorian calendar regulates ceremonial cycle of the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches) |
Yom HaSho’ah (Jewish)Holocaust Remembrance Day; a day to remember the lives and names of Jewish victims and activists of the Holocaust General Practices: Ceremonies or events to remember Holocaust victims who died during World War II; activities may include lighting memorial candles and reciting the Kaddish, which is a prayer for the departed 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 prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
Apr. 19, 2012 Begins at sundown. If the date falls on a Friday, Israel observes Yom Hashoah on the preceding Thursday. When the date falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday. |
Shavuot (Jewish)Commemorates receipt of the Torah on Mount Sinai (two of three pilgrimage festivals) General Practices: Evening of devotional programs and studying the Torah, lighting of Yahrzeit candle at sundown on the second night of Shavout Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday (work holiday), provide food accommodation as requested—kosher prohibitions include pork, shellfish, and mixing of any meat with dairy (fish is not considered meat) |
May 26, 2012 Begins at sundown |
Buddha Day (Buddhist)Also known as Vesak; traditionally known as Buddha’s Birthday, Vesak is the major Buddhist festival, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha General Practices: Observers are encouraged to refrain from killing and to avoid eating meat on this date Recommended Accommodations: Provide food accommodation as requested, offer vegetarian options when planning menus for events on this date |
May 27, 2012 |
Ascension of the Baha’ullah (Baha’i)Commemorates the death of the founder of the Baha’I faith; Baha’llah died on May 29, 1892 General Practices: Devotional programs and reading from the scriptures |
May 29, 2012 |
Tisha B’Av (Jewish)Commemorates a series of Jewish tragedies including the destruction of the first and second temples in Jerusalem General Practices: Fasting and mourning |
July 28–29, 2012 Begins at sundown, fast deferred because of the Sabbath |
Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)The Rakhi festivity falls in the holy month of Shravan; The origin and history of Rakhi can be dated back to the mythological Pouranik times. General Practices: A day to acknowledge siblings and their relationships |
Aug. 2, 2012 |
