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Religious Holidays and Observances

The following is a multi-faith listing of religious holidays and observances that occur during the 2023-2024 academic year. This guiding document is produced so that scheduling of activities and exams can accommodate the religious needs of our students, alumnae, faculty and staff. The holidays listed here do not represent an exhaustive list.  Because the list is not exhaustive, faculty and staff should continue to consult with their students to be assured any holidays and observances are recognized and accommodated in accord with NYS law (New York State Education Law 224-A). The list includes holidays for many - but by no means all - faiths in our campus community. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate and inclusive. If you have any additions or corrections, please feel free to contact us.

  • Dates are assembled from various calendar sources and is not an exhaustive list.

  • The dates for Islamic holidays may vary by region or practice. Holidays begin at sundown on the first day and end at nightfall on the last day listed.

  • Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the first day and end at nightfall on the last day listed.

Calendar of Holidays and Observances

Observance Faith or Religion Dates

2023

Autumnal Equinox

 Pagan Saturday, September 23
Rosh Hashanah Judaism Friday, September 15 to Sunday, September 17

Fast of Gedaliah

 Judaism Monday, September 18

Yom Kippur

 Judaism Sunday, September 24 to Monday, September 25

Navratri

 Hinduism Sunday, October 15 to Tuesday, October 24

Mawlid al-Nabi

 Islam Tuesday, September 26 to Wednesday, September 27

Sukkot

 Judaism Friday, September 29 to Friday, October 6

Shemini Atzeret

 Judaism Friday, October 6 to Tuesday, October 8

Simchat Torah

 Judaism Saturday October 7 to Sunday October 8

Birth of Bahá'u'lláh 

 Baha’i Monday, October 16 to Tuesday, October 17

Dussehra

 Hinduism Tuesday, October 24

Samhain

 Pagan Monday, October 31 to Tuesday, November 1

All Saints Day

 Roman Catholic, Unitarian Universalist Wednesday, November 1

All Souls Day

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist Thursday, November 2

Diwali

 Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikh, Jain Sunday, November 12

First Sunday of Advent

 Christian Sunday, December 3

Bodhi Day

 Buddhism Friday, December 8

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

 Roman Catholic Friday, December 8

Hanukkah/Chanukah

 Judaism Thursday, December 7 to Friday, December 15

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

 Roman Catholic
Tuesday, December 12

Yule

 Pagan Thursday, December 21 to Monday, January 1

Joseph Smith's Birthday

 Mormon (CJCLDS) Saturday, December 23

Christmas

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist Monday, December 25

Kwanzaa

 African American Heritage Tuesday, December 26 to Monday, January 1

2024

Gantan-sai 

 Shinto Monday, January 1

The Solemnity of Mary

 Roman Catholic Monday, January 1

Fast of the 10th of Tevet

 Judaism Doesn't occur in 2024

Epiphany

 Christian Saturday, January 6

Christmas 

 Orthodox Christian Sunday, January 7

Pongal 

 Hinduism Monday, January 15 to Thursday January 18

Chinese New Year 

 Multifaith, Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist Saturday, February 10

Imbolc

 Pagan Thursday, February 1

Setsubun-sai

 Shinto Saturday, February 3

Tu BiShvat

 Judaism Wednesday, January 24 to Thursday, January 25

Start of Lent and Ash Wednesday

 Christian Wednesday, February 14

Women's Day of Prayer

 Multifaith Friday, March 1

Maha Shivaratri

 Hinduism Friday, March 8

Clean Monday (Monday of Lent)

 Orthodox Christian Monday, March 18

Ramadan 

 Islam Sunday, March 10 to Tuesday, April 9

Spring Equinox

 Pagan Tuesday, March 19

Fast of Esther

 Judaism
Thursday, March 21

Purim

 Judaism Saturday, March 23 to Sunday, March 24

Holi

 Hinduism
Monday, March 25

Palm Sunday

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist Sunday, March 24

Holy (Maundy) Thursday

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist
Thursday, March 28

Good Friday

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist Friday, March 29

Easter

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist
Sunday, March 31

Laylat al-Qadr

 Islam
Saturday, April 6
Eid al-Fitr Islam

Tuesday, April 9 to Wednesday, April 10

First Day of Riḍván

 Bahá’í Saturday April 20

Fast of the First Born

 Judaism
Monday, April 22

Passover (Pesach)

 Judaism Monday, April 22 to Tuesday, April 30
Ninth Day of Riḍván Bahá’í

Sunday, April 28 to Monday April 29

Twelfth Day of Riḍván

 Bahá’í

Wednesday, May 1 to Thursday May 2

Great Friday

 Orthodox Christian Friday, May 3

Orthodox Easter

 Orthodox Christian
Sunday, May 5

Yom HaShoah

 Judaism
Sunday, May 5 to Monday, May 6

Pentecost

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist

Sunday, May 19

Vesak

 Buddhism
Thursday, May 23

Pentecost

 Christian, Unitarian Universalist

Sunday, May 19

Ascension Day

 Christian

Thursday May 9

Summer 2024

Orthodox Ascension Day

 Orthodox Christian

Thursday June 13

Eid al-Adha

 Islam

Sunday June 16 to Wednesday June 19

Muharram

 Islam

Sunday July 29 to Sunday August 4

Ashura

 Islam

Tuesday July 16 to Wednesday July 17 

Asalha Puja Day

 Buddhism

Sunday July 21