2024 Calendar of Religious Holy Days & Cultural Observances

This calendar is not an exhaustive list either of religious or cultural traditions or of the holidays observed in those traditions. If we have not included a religious tradition or major religious holiday of significance to you, please notify the Myatt Center for Inclusion and Diversity at CDI@newhaven.edu so that it might be included in future editions of this calendar.

The university has made extensive efforts to verify the accuracy of the information included here, some inaccuracies may remain. Please email CDI@newhaven.edu if you notice that the information provided is inaccurate.

There are recognized religious days and other celebrations observed by persons or groups within our community that are based on faith-based beliefs, laws/doctrines, tenets, canons or theology that may require restriction or limitations to physical or mental activity. This definition may include academic endeavors (e.g. examinations, classroom activities and research, or out-of-classroom learning experiences).

Please be aware that the dates of some holidays, particularly those that are calculated according to a lunar calendar and rely on sightings of the New Moon (e.g., Islamic holidays), vary according to region; other observances and dates (e.g., Buddhist holidays) vary greatly across cultures and strands of a tradition.

Faculty Members

When planning tests, field trips, or other major events for your courses, use the calendar to prepare for impacts to your class on a day that students may take off due to an observance.

The University Student Handbook has a policy on absences related to these various observances. Faculty members have the discretion on how to assist students best. Any flexibility offered will depend on what you deem appropriate based on your course expectations. If the student’s current course progress includes excessive absences, faculty members are encouraged to document student excessive absences through Navigate.

Students

When recognizing any observance, academic requirement may interfere with the date of the observance. It is important that students communicate with their instructors well in advance to know what the expectations will be in they will not be in attendance.

Date	Holiday	Religion
January
1	Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God As a holy day of obligation, Catholics celebrate Mary's motherhood of Jesus.	Roman Catholic
1	Gantan-sai The annual New Year festival of the Shinto religion	Shinto
2	Feast of St. Basil Commemorates St. Basil, a significant leader in the early Christian church, known for his teachings and philanthropy, and the patron saint of hospitality and New Year's traditions.	Orthodox Christian
3	Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus A Roman Catholic feast day that honors the name of Jesus and is celebrated on January 3rd each year.	Orthodox Christian
6	Epiphany A Catholic celebration of the revelation of Jesus as the Son of God and Saviour of the world. It also celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi), together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.	Christian
7	Christmas (Eastern Orthodox) Christian faiths based on the Julian calendar, such as Eastern Orthodox, celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.	Orthodox Christian
17	Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib The tenth and last living prophet of the Sikhs, he passed the guruship onto the Sikh scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, and the Sikh community, Guru Panth.	Sikh
18	Bodhi Day Buddhist celebration of the Enlightenment of Buddha, ca. 596 B.C.E.	Buddhist
20	Timkat A three-day festival that commemorates the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River by John the Baptist.	Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
24-25	Tu Bi’Shevat A Jewish holiday occurring on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. It is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, literally "New Year of the Trees". The day is now celebrated as an ecological awareness day, and trees are planted in celebration.	Jewish
25	Mahayana New Year A traditional Buddhist holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha	Buddhist
February
1	Imbolc A Wiccan and pagan holiday sometimes referred to as Candlemas or Oimelc, symbolizing the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.	Wiccan / Pagan
3	Setsubun Setsubun is a traditional Japanese festival meaning "seasonal division", taking place the day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar.	Shinto
10	New Year China's Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival.	Confucian / Daoist / Buddhist
14	Vasant Panchami Vasant Panchami is a Hindu festival that marks the beginning of the spring season.	Hindu
14	Ash Wednesday The first day of Lent, occurring forty-six days before Easter. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of adherents as a sign of repentance. Lent is a Christian festival of preparation for Easter observed through reflection on the life and death of Jesus Christ.	Christian
14	Lent A Christian festival of preparation for Easter observed through reflection on the life and death of Jesus Christ.	Christian
24	Maghi Maghi is a Sikh festival that honors the 40 Sikh soldiers who died in 1705 while fighting the Mughal Empire army in the Battle of Muktsar.	Sikh
24	Macha Bucha Day A major Buddhist festival that takes place on the full moon of the third lunar month, marking Lord Buddha's teachings to his disciples.	Buddhist
March
8	Maha Shivaratri Hindu celebration of the birth of Lord Shiva.	Hindu
10	Ramadan Begins A holy Islamic festival honoring the first revelations to the Prophet Mohammed through 30 days of reflection and fasting from sun-up to sun-down. Ends April 9.	Muslim
15	Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti A celebration of the anniversary of the birth (Jayanthi), in 1836, of Ramakrishna, a Hindu mystic and yogi who was known for his message of the harmony of religions.	Hindu
17	St. Patrick’s Day Commemorates St. Patrick, the patron sait of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.	Christian
19	Ostara A Pagan holiday that celebrates the spring equinox and is one of the eight Wiccan Sabbats.	Pagan / Wiccan
19-20	Naw-Rúz Bahá'í New Year	Bahá'í
20	Nowruz Persian New Year	Persian
23-24	Purim Purim is a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people living throughout the ancient Persian Empire from persecution by Haman the Agagite.	Jewish
24-25	Holi Holi is a sacred Hindu festival that celebrates the start of spring, good harvests, and the fertility of the land.	Hindu
24	Palm Sunday Begins Christian Holy Week, the last week of Lent and the final week before Easter. It refers to the palms that people spread on the road as Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate the feast day of Passover.	Christian
25	Feast of the Annunciation A Catholic celebration of the announcement made by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus, Son of God.	Christian/Catholic
28	Holy Thursday / Lent Ends Celebrated before Good Friday, Christians commemorate the institution of the Eucharist as the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and the institution of the sacrament of priesthood.	Christian
29	Good Friday Celebrated on the Friday before Easter, Christians remember the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.	Christian
31	Easter The central Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.	Christian
April
9	Ramadan Ends	Muslim
9-10	Eid al-Fitr Islamic festival of the breaking of the fast, Ramadan. One of two major festivals; the other being id al-Adha.	Muslim
13	Vaisakhi Sikh New Year and spring harvest festival.	Sikh
17	Rama Navami A festival celebrating the birth of the most supreme God in Hinduism, Lord Rama.	Hindu
21	Ridván begins Commemorates the declaration of Baháúllah to his followers in 1863. The first, ninth and twelfth days of Ridvan are major Baha'i holy days.	Baháʼí
22-30	Passover Eight-day celebration marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt; Seder ceremonies emphasize the concept of freedom. The first two days and the last two days are observed as holy days.	Jewish
24	Theravadin New Year Observed three days after the first full moon appears in April every year.	Buddhist
May
1	Beltane Beltane, also known as May Day, is a celebration of the sexual union of the Goddess and the God, which is an allegory of Mother Earth being impregnated by the seed of the Green Man.	Pagan / Wiccan
2	Ridiván ends	Baháʼí
3	Good Friday Christian faiths based on the Julian calendar such as Eastern Orthodox remember the crucifixion of Jesus and related events.	Eastern Orthodox
5	Easter The central Christian festival celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.	Eastern Orthodox
5-6	Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance) Yom Hashoah is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany and its collaborators, and for the Jewish resistance in that period.	Jewish
9	Feast of the Ascension The fortieth day after Easter Sunday. As a holy day of obligation, Catholics commemorate the ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and celebrate on the following Sunday.	Christian/Cathlolic
19	Pentecost Held on the seventh Sunday after Easter, Christians commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirits upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. This day also marks the beginning of the Christian church's mission to the world.	Christian/Cathlolic
22	Declaration of the Bab This marks the inception of the Baha'i Faith in 1844. The Bab declared that he was a messenger of God and was sent to prepare the way for the one of all religions who would come to establish universal peace.	Baháʼí
23	Vesak Day The most important of the Buddhist festivals celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha.	Buddhist
26	Trinity Sunday Celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, Christians commemorate the Christian doctrine of the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.	Christian/Catholic
29	Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh This commemorates the day when the founder and prophet of the Baha'i Faith died in 1892.	Baháʼí
30	Corpus Christi Sunday Primarily celebrated by the Catholic Church, this day celebrates the real presence of Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist.	Christian/Catholic
June
7	Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Celebrated on the Friday following Corpus Christi Sunday, Christians honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus.	Christian/Catholic
11-13	Shavout Jewish celebration of the spring harvest season and the gift of the Torah.	Jewish
16	Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib The 5th Guru and first martyr of the Sikhs. He compiled the the religious text of Sikhism, the Guru Granth Sahib.	Sikh
16-17	Eid al-Adha An Islamic festival of sacrifice that commemorates the faith of Abraham; also a memorial to the dead. One of two major festivals; the other being id al-Fitr.	Muslim
20	Litha Also known as Midsummer, is a pagan and Wiccan holiday that celebrates the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.	Pagan / Wiccan
24	Nativity of St. John the Baptist A Christian solemnity that honors the birth and death of St. John the Baptist and his example as a follower of Christ.	Christian/Catholic
29	Feast of Saints Peter and Paul A Catholic liturgical feast in honor of the martydom of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome. These two apostles hold significance as the leading saints of the early Church.	Christian/Catholic
July
7	New Year/Hijri The Hijri year or era is the era used in the Islamic lunar calendar. It begins its count from the Islamic New Year in which Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Yathrib.	Islam
9	Martyrdom of the Bab This commemorates the day when one of the main figures in founding the Baha'i Faith was executed by a firing squad in Iran in 1850.	Baháʼí
16-17	Ashura Ashura is an Islamic holiday that occurs on the tenth day of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. For Muslims, Ashura marks the day in which the Islamic prophet Musa was saved by Allah when He parted the Sea while leading the children of Israel to the land of Israel.	Islam
31	Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola A Catholic celebration of St. Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus and patron saint of soldiers.	Christian/Catholic
August
1	Lammas A festival in the liturgical calendar to mark the blessing of the First Fruits of harvest, with a loaf of bread being brought to church for this purpose.	Christian
1	Fast in Honor of Holy Mother of Jesus From August 1 to August 14 (inclusive) Orthodox and Eastern Catholics fast from red meat, poultry, meat products, dairy products (eggs and milk products), fish, oil, and wine.	Orthodox Christian
6	Transfiguration of the Lord The Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated by various Christian communities in honor of the transfiguration of Jesus.	Orthodox Christian
12-13	Tisha B'Av An annual fast day in Judaism, on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred, primarily the destruction of both Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple in Jerusalem.	Jewish
15	Feast of the Assumption of Mary A Catholic celebration of Mary's assumption into heaven at the end of her earthly life.	Christian/Catholic
15	Dormition of Theotokos A Greek feast that commemorates the death and resurrection of Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, and her ascension into heaven.	Orthodox Christian
26	Krishna Janmashtami Hindu celebration of the birth of Krishna.	Hindu
29	Beheading of St. John the Baptist The universal Church marks the beheading of John the Baptist on this day.	Christian
31	Paryushan Holiest day for Jains. An eight day festival signifying human emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement.	Jain
September
1	Ecclesiastical Year Begins The start of the Easter Orthodox liturgical year begins on September 1.	Orthodox Christian
1	Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth September 1 is the anniversary of the installation of the Guru Granth Sahib, the main scripture of Sikhism, which is celebrated as the Prakash Utsav.	Hindu
8	Nativity of the Virgin Mary & Feast of the Nativity Also known as Marymas, this feast day commemorates the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus.	Christian
15-16	Mawlid-al-Nabi The observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It is celebrated with carnivals, large street processions, and the decorating of homes and mosques.	Islam
22	Mabon Mabon celebrates the autumnal equinox and is one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated each year.	Pagan/Wiccan
27	Elevation of the Cross This feast commemorates two events: the finding of Christ's Cross by Empress Helen in 326 AD and the crucifixion of Christ. It is a day of fasting and repentance.	Christian
27	Meskel Meskel commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena in the fourth century. The holiday is considered one of the holiest celebrations in the Christian tradition in Ethiopia.	Ethiopian Christian
October
2-4	Rosh Hashanah Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and it marks the beginning of the Jewish year.	Jewish
4	Feast of St. Francis of Assisi Commemoration of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment.	Roman Catholic
11-12	Yom Kippur Yom Kippur translates to "Day of Atonement," and is the holiest day of the year in Judaism and Samaritanism.	Jewish
12	Dasara A major annual festival that celebrates good over evil.	Hindu
16-23	Sukkot Sukkot is a week-long Jewish holiday that celebrates the fall harvest. It is one of the most joyful festivals in Judaism, which also commemorates the 40 years that Jews spent in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt.	Jewish
23-25	Shemini Atzeret Eighth and last day of the Jewish festival Sukkot.	Jewish
24-25	Simchat Torah Joyous festival in which the reading cycle of the Torah is completed and its first book begun again.	Jewish
31	Samhain Gaelic festival on 1 November marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year.	Pagan/Wiccan/Celtic
November
1	All Saints Day As a holy day of obligation, Roman Catholics honor all of the saints, both known and unknown.	Christian/Catholic
1	Diwali A five day festival of lights representing the start of the Hindu New Year. Diwali celebrates the victory of the Good over the Evil and Light over Darkness.	Hindu/Jain
2	Birth of Bab Commemorates the birth of the co-founder of the Bahá'í Faith.	Baha’i
2	All Souls Day A day Roman Catholics pay respect and remember the souls of friends and loved ones who have died and gone to heaven.	Catholic
3	Birth of Baháúllah Commemorates the birth of the co-founder of the Bahá'í Faith.	Baha’i
15	Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Sikh faith.	Sikh
16	Remembering the Martyrs of the UCA A day of remembrance of the six Jesuit priests and two women who were murdered by the Salvadoran military at the University of Central America.	Secular
24	Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib The 9th Guru of the Sikhs, who was killed by Mughal rulers in 1675 for defending Hindus facing forcible conversion to Islam.	Sikh
24	Feast of Christ the King A Catholic solemnity that honors Jesus Christ as lord of all creation.	Christian/Catholic
26-27	Ascension of ’Abdu’l-Bahá Also known as the Day of the Covenant, this day commemorates the appointment of Baha'u'llah's eldest son as the new Head of the Faith.	Baháʼí
27	Jain New Year Jains celebrate New Year after Diwali, which takes place at the end of Ashwina.	Jain
28	Thanksgiving A federal holiday commemorating a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag.	Federal
December
1	Advent Season A period of spiritual preparation when Christians make themselves ready for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas.	Christian
3	Feast of St. Francis Xavier A Catholic celebration of St. Francis Xavier, co-founder of the Society of Jesus and a missionary	Christian/Catholic
8	Feast of the Immaculate Conception As a holy day of obligation, Catholics celebrate that Mary was conceived without original sin so that she could one day conceive Jesus.	Christian/Catholic
12	Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe A Catholic celebration of a man, Juan Diego, who had a vision of Mary who told him to build a church on the spot where they were standing. This vision took place on a hill near Mexico City in 1531.	Christian/Catholic
16	Posadas Navidenas Also known as The Christmas Inn; a religious festival that takes place from December 16–24 in Mexico and parts of Latin America.	Christian/Hispanic
21	Yule Yule is a Pagan celebration of the Winter Solstice, dating back before Christianity.	Pagan
25	Christmas Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.	Christian
25	Hanukkah Begins An eight day Jewish festival of lights that commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians.	Jewish
26	Kwanzaa A week-long, secular celebration honoring African-American heritage, culture, and family culminating in a feast and gift giving.	Ethnic
26	Zartosht No-Diso A commemoration of the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster.	Zoroastrian

Click here for the 2025 Calendar.

Supportive Resources

Hindu, Jain, and Sikh holy days are calculated on a lunar calendar and are observed at different times in different regions.
All Jewish and Bahá'í holy days begin at sunset the previous day.
Observances/practices vary from culture to culture within and across denominations.
Individuals of some faith will be fasting each day from sunrise until sunset. Some faiths are required to fast for a month.
As we strive to foster a sense of belonging for all Chargers in our community, acknowledging those who are practicing and their courage to practice their fasting schedule can go a long way.
Be sensitive to eating situations during fasting.
Review the Multifaith Observances Policy in the Student Handbook.
If you see something that may affect those celebrating, please report it to the Dean of Students Office or Human Resources.

Dining On Campus

Dining services are open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and until 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Students can swipe twice during dinner meal periods for their "break of fast" meal to keep in their rooms.
Dining locations will be observing Passover on campus. Certain meals will be available in the dining halls during this time. The University of New Haven is not Kosher Certified.

Resources for managing well-being and mental health

As members of the University community continue to practice diverse traditions and rituals, please know you are not alone. The University has resources to support you in your celebration.

Dean of Students: Deanofstudents@newhaven.edu
Myatt Center for Diversity & Inclusion: CDI@newhaven.edu

Faculty and Staff
Health & Wellness Resources (myCharger)
officeofhumanresources@newhaven.edu

Meditation and Spirituality Center
15 Ruden Street (lower level), Opens 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. daily
Spiritual Life & Campus Ministry

University of New Haven Campus Pantry
Career Closet and Campus Pantry
ClosetPantry@newhaven.edu

If you are seeking a faith community to fit your particular needs and background outside of the campus community, please visit the Spiritual Life & Campus Ministry page and download the Spiritual Resource Guide. Please note that the list of resources listed is not endorsed by the University of New Haven.

Admissions Visit Opportunities

2024 Calendar of Religious Holy Days & Cultural Observances