ReligiousHolidays
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We recognize that this resource cannot provide an exhaustive list for all of our faith traditions. Dates may vary depending on region and affiliation.
If you have any questions about interpreting the policy or other concerns or corrections, please contact the Office for Spiritual Engagement. Call (315) 781-4637, or email byrd@hws.edu or bkrieger@hws.edu.Below is a list of major religious holidays that may affect a student’s participation in classes. In order to foster a diverse and inclusive learning environment and in keeping with New York State law, found here, HWS has adopted the following policy regarding religious observance:
No student shall be prevented from participating in any examination, study, or work requirements because of religious obligations and practices. The Colleges accept the responsibility of making available to each student who is absent from class because of religious obligations and practices an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. In effecting these provisions, the Colleges' administration and faculty agree to exercise the fullest measure of good faith and agree that no adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student who avails himself or herself of the Colleges' policy on religious observances. It is the student’s obligation to inform faculty of any necessary accommodation well in advance of the date on which special accommodations are needed. (HWS Faculty Handbook, March 2017)
Some of our students come from very strong religious and cultural backgrounds where no classes are held on Rosh Ha-Shanah, Yom Kippur, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, etc. Here are concrete ways you can support your religiously observant students.
- Avoid scheduling tests, major quizzes, field trips, major lectures and large campus events on major holidays.
- Include a reminder of our campus policy in your syllabus.
- Note the responsibilities students have in requesting accommodation.
- Note the ways you anticipate providing accommodations.
- Talk about the issue when you address your attendance policy at the start of the semester.
- Encourage your students to convey to you in advance when they will miss a previously scheduled class or examination due to religious observance so that they will not be disadvantaged by their religious practice
Nita Byrd,
Chaplain of the Colleges
Policy & Notes
The Colleges’ policy on religious observance includes the following: “The Colleges accept the responsibility of making available to each student who is absent from class because of religious obligations and practices an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirement missed.”
- Bahá’í, Jewish, and Muslim holidays begin at sunset on the evening before date listed.
- The observance dates of any holiday depend on both religious group affiliation and region. For example, Buddha’s birthday is one of the most widely celebrated of Buddhist holidays. However, no one date is accepted by all Buddhists.
- We recognize that for many Christians, the observance of days that commemorate the lives of saints is an integral part of their faith. Many of these days have not been included as part of this calendar because they are vast in number and observance differs greatly by region, denomination, and personal belief.
For more information on observances and traditions, please feel free to examine the interfaith calendar published yearly by North Carolina for Community and Justice (NCCJ), or individual constituencies.
2024-2025 Academic Year
|
Fall 2024 Semester |
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|---|---|
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August 26 |
Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) |
|
August 31 - September 7 |
Paryushana-parva (Jain) |
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September 7 |
Samvastsari (Jain) |
|
September 15 - 16 |
Mawlid al Nabi (Muslim) |
|
September 22 |
Autumn Equinox (Northern Hemisphere), Mabon (Wicca, Pagan) |
|
October 2 - 4 |
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) |
|
October 3 - 12 |
Navaratri (Hindu) |
| October 11 - 12 |
Yom Kippur (Jewish) |
|
October 16 - 23 |
Sukkot (Jewish) |
|
October 20 |
Installation of Scriptures of Guru Granth Sahib |
|
October 23 - 25 |
Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) |
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October 24 - 25 |
Simchat Torah (Jewish) |
|
October 31 |
Halloween/All Hallows Eve (Interfaith) |
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October 31 - November 1 (evening) |
Samhain (Wicca, Pagan), Dia de Los Muertos (Interfaith) |
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November 1 |
All Saints Day (Western Christian), Samhain (Wicca, Pagan), Diwali (Hindu), Mahavira Nirvana (Jain) |
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November 2 |
All Souls Day (Western Christian), Birth of B’ab (Bahá’í) |
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November 3 |
Birth of Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í) |
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November 25 |
Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í) |
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November 27 |
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Bahá’í) |
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November 28 - January 6 |
Nativity Fast Begins (Orthodox Christian) |
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December 1 - 24 |
Advent (Western Christian) |
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December 7 |
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) - South Korea, China & Vietnam |
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December 8 |
Bodhi Day (Buddhist) - Japanese |
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December 21 |
Winter Solstice (Northern Hemisphere), Yule (Wicca, Pagan) |
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December 25 |
Christmas (Western and Orthodox Christian) |
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December 25 - January 2 |
Hanukkah (Jewish) |
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December 26 |
Death of the Prophet Zarathustra |
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December 26 - January 1 |
Kwanzaa (Interfaith) |
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Spring 2025 Semester |
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|---|---|
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January 1 |
Shogatsu/Gantan-sai (Shinto) |
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January 6 |
Epiphany (Western Christian), Feast of the Epiphany (Orthodox Christian), Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) |
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January 7 |
Christmas (Orthodox & Rastafarian) |
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January 14 |
Maghi (Sikh), Mahayana New Year (Buddhist), Makar Sankranti (Hindu) |
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January 29 |
Chinese New Year (Interfaith, Buddhist) |
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February 3 |
Imbolc (Wicca, Pagan), Setsebun (Shinto) |
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February 7 |
Isra’ Mi’raj/Lailat Mi’raj (Muslim) |
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February 12 |
Tu B’Shevat (Jewish), Magha Puja Day (Buddhist) |
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February 13 |
Shrove Tuesday (Western Christian) |
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February 14 |
Lailat al Bara-ah (Muslim) |
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February 15 |
Nirvana Day/Parinirvana Day (Buddhist, Sikh) |
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February 25 |
Intercalary/Ayyam-i-ha Begins (Bahá’í) |
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February 28 |
Ramadan Begins (Muslim), Intercalary/Ayyam-i-ha Ends (Bahá’í) |
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March 1 |
Ala/19 Day Fast Begins (Bahá’í) |
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March 3 |
Clean Monday & Lent Begins (Orthodox Christian) |
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March 3 |
Ash Wednesday & Lent Begins (Orthodox Christian) |
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March 5 |
Ash Wednesday & Lent Begins (Western Christian) |
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March 13 |
Holika Dahan (Hindu) |
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March 13 - 14 |
Purim (Jewish) |
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March 14 |
Hola Mohalla (Sikh), Holi (Hindu), Khordad Sal/Birth of the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian) |
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March 20 |
Spring Equinox (Northern Hemisphere), Ostara (Wicca, Pagan), Naw-Ruz (Bahá’í), Norooz (Zoroastrian, Persian) |
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March 26 |
Lailat al-Qadr (Muslim) |
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March 28 |
Khordad Sal/Birth of the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrian) |
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March 29 - 30 |
Eid-al-Fitr (Muslim) |
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March 30 |
Ramadan Ends |
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April 10 |
Mahavira-Jayanti (Jain) |
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April 12 - 20 |
Pesach/Passover (Jewish) |
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April 13 |
Palm Sunday (Western Christian) & (Orthodox Christian) |
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April 13 - 15 |
Theravada New Year (Buddhist) |
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April 13 - 19 |
Holy Week (Western Christian) |
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April 13 - 21 |
Holy Week (Orthodox Christian) |
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April 14 |
Baisakhi/Vaisakhi (Sikh) |
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April 18 |
Good Friday (Western Christian) |
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April 20 |
Easter (Western Christian), Pascha/Easter (Orthodox Christian), Ridvan Begins (Buddhist) |
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April 23 |
Yom Hashoah (Jewish) |
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April 30 |
Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Jewish) |
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May 1 |
Beltane (Wicca, Pagan) |
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May 2 |
Ridvan Ends (Buddhist) |
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May 12 |
Buddha Day/Visakha Puja/Vesak (Buddhist) |
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May 22 |
Declaration of the Bab (Bahá’í) |
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May 29 |
Ascension Day (Western Christian) |
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June 1 - 3 |
Shavuot , Festval of Weeks (Jewish) |