Major Religious Holy Days for 2008-2009 Academic Year
| Date(s) |
Holy
Day |
Faith
Tradition/Religion |
Sep.
1 |
Ramadan
begins (30 days of Fasting)* |
Islam |
Sep.
4 |
Shri
Krishna Janamashtami |
Hindu/Vedic |
Sep.
30 - Oct. 1 |
Rosh
Hashanah** |
Jewish |
Oct.
1 |
Eid
al Fitr (End of Ramadan)* |
Islam |
Oct.
9 |
Dusserah
(Dushahara) |
Hindu/Vedic |
Oct.
9 |
Yom
Kippur** |
Jewish |
Oct.
14 - 20 |
Sukkot
(First 2 days of 7 days observance)** |
Jewish |
Oct.
20 |
Birth
of the Bab*** |
Baha'i |
Oct.
21 |
Sh'mini
Atzeret** |
Jewish |
Oct.
22 |
Simchat
Torah** |
Jewish |
Oct.
28 |
Diwali
(Deepawali)* |
Hindu/Vedic |
Nov.
1 |
Feast
of All Saints+ |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
Nov.
2 |
Feast
of All Souls++ |
Roman
Catholic |
Nov.
12 |
Birth
of Baha'u'llah*** |
Baha'i |
Dec.
8 |
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception |
Roman
Catholic |
Dec.
8 |
Eid Al-Adha* | Islam |
Dec.
22 - 29 |
Hanukkah |
Jewish |
Dec.
25 |
Feast
of the Nativity (Christmas)+ |
Roman
Catholic, Protestant & Orthodox^ |
Jan.
4 |
Feast
of the Epiphany+ |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
| Jan. 7 | Feast of the Nativity (Christmas) | Orthodox^^ |
Jan.
7 |
Aashurah |
Islam |
Jan.
10 |
Muharram
(Islamic New Year) |
Islam |
Feb.
25 |
Ash
Wednesday++ |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
| Mar. 2 | Great Lent begins | Orthodox^^ |
Mar.
10 |
Purim |
Jewish |
Mar.
21 |
Naw
Ruz, Baha'i New Year*** |
Baha'i |
| Apr. 9 - 16 | Pesach (First 2 days of 8 days observance)** | Jewish |
Apr.
9 |
Holy
Thursday++ |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
Apr.
10 |
Good
Friday |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
Apr.
11 |
Holy
Saturday Vigil (begins at sundown)++ |
Roman
Catholic & Protestant |
Apr.
12 |
Easter+ |
Roman
Catholic, Protestant & Orthodox^ |
Apr.
15 &16 |
Concluding
days of Pesach** |
Jewish |
| Apr. 17 | Good Friday | Orthodox^^ |
| Apr. 19 | Pascha (Easter) | Orthodox^^ |
Apr.
21 |
First
Day of Ridvan*** |
Baha'i |
Apr. 29 |
Ninth Day of Ridvan | Baha'i
|
May
2 |
Twelfth
Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
May
29 & 30 |
Shavuot |
Jewish |
Holy Days in bold type face are considered very important holy days when students/employees may be absent from school or work.
* Observance of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic, and Islamic holy days is dependent on the sighting of the moon. Please note that the dates listed above may not be the exact dates but the closest approximates. Buddhists observe the new moon and full moon as holy days.
** Observance of Jewish holy days begins at sundown of preceding day and ends at one hour after sunset of the last day.
*** Observance of Baha'i holy days begins at sundown of preceding day and ends at sunset of the holy days.
+ Roman Catholic obligatory feasts require attendance at service and avoidance of servile work.
++ Roman Catholic traditional feasts are those days on which it is assumed that the faithful will attend services and may exclude service work and include various requirements of prayer and fasting.
^ Orthodox churches that follow the Gregorian Calendar.
^^ Orthodox churches that follow the Julian Calendar.