Religious & Spiritual Holidays & Observances
Below showcases holidays and observances for various traditions within the spring
and summer 2023 semesters.
Fall holidays and observances will be added in the summertime.
Click the headers to sort by holiday or observance, date and tradition.
| 2023 | Holiday or Observance | Description | Tradition | Recommended Accommodation | Keywords (hidden column) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2023 | Interfaith Harmony Month in SC | ||||
| 01/01/2023 | Gantan Sai | Shinto holy day marking a new year. Traditionally, Shinto practitioners observe this New Year holy day by visiting the shrines, mostly at midnight and praying for the renewal of their heart, prosperity and health in the year to come. It is also common to visit close friends and family to express good wishes. Gantan Sai has become a national holy day in Japan and has expanded out past the Shinto religious practices. | Shintoism | Shinto students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 01/01/2023 | Mary Mother of God | The Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God is a feast day within the Roman Catholic Church, and is considered a “holy day of obligation,” meaning that Catholics are expected to attend Mass on this day. It is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in the incarnation of Jesus, who some Christians believe to be divine. | Christianity; Roman Catholic | ||
| 01/02/2023 | Feast Day of Saint Basil | Religious observance in honor of Saint Basil of Caesarea. Observed by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran churches on this day. (The Eastern Orthodox Church observes the Feast Day of St. Basil on January 1.) | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Anglican; Lutheran | ||
| 01/06/2023 | Day of the Holy Kings - Dia de los Reyes | Roman Catholic holy day is celebrated in multiple Spanish speaking countries and it commemorates the Three Holy Kings. Many Roman Catholic children in the Spanish-speaking world receive presents on this day. | Christianity; Roman Catholic | ||
| 01/06/2023 | Epiphany | Protestant and Roman Catholic Christian holy day celebrating the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ. In Western Christianity, this holy day commemorates the visit of the Magi and Jesus’ physical manifestation to the Gentiles, whereas in Eastern Christianity, it commemorates the baptism of Jesus and his manifestation to the world as Child of God. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 01/07/2023 | Nativity of Christ | Orthodox Christian churches that follow the Julian calendar (the calendar created under the reign of Julius Caesar in 45 BCE) celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on what most of the world views as January 7. The Feast of the Nativity is preceded by 40 days of fasting and austerity, similar to Lent. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | Orthodox Christian students and employees will likely request this day off. | |
| 01/13/2023 | Maghi | Sikh holy day. Maghi is the Punjabi name for the festival of Makar Sankranti which is celebrated all over India as a winter harvest festival. Maghi is celebrated on the first day of Magh as per the Punjabi calendar and is celebrated in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana. It is a cultural, seasonal and religious festival marking the agricultural New Year and the increase in daylight. For Sikhs, the day of Maghi is observed to honor the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, or the Forty Liberated Ones, who sacrificed their own lives defending an attack by the imperial army on 29 December 1705. Pilgrims take a holy dip in sacred waters and also visit shrines. | Sikhism | ||
| 02/06/2023 | Tu B'Shevat | Tu B'Shvat, the 15th day of the Jewish month of Shevat, begins at sunset on the 5th and lasts until sunset on the 6th. Known as the New Year for Trees, Tu B’Shevat is the New Year for the purpose of calculating the age of trees for tithing. The Torah states that fruit from trees may not be eaten during the first three years; the fourth year's fruit is for G-d, and after that, you can eat the fruit. Each tree is considered to have aged one year as of Tu B’Shevat. One custom is to eat a new fruit on this day, or to plant a new tree. | Judaism | ||
| 01/16/2023 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Unitarian Universalists observe Martin Luther King Day, often hosting a social justice program related to race relations. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 01/07/2023 | Mahayana New Year | Mahayana Buddhist New Year. Many Mahayana Buddhists celebrate the New Year on December 31 or January 1 together with the rest of the world, but some wait for the first full moon in January. New Year’s is celebrated by visiting a nearby temple to light candles to bring happiness and good luck for the coming year. Righting the mistakes of the previous year is a common New Year’s resolution. | Buddhism | ||
| 01/22/2023 | Lunar New Year | Many Asian religions celebrate a New Year that follows a calendar coordinated to the cycles of the moon as well as the sun. The first day of the New Year falls on the new moon between the 21st of January and the 20th of February, and is celebrated with food, fireworks, and a thorough cleaning of living spaces of the dust and bad feelings from the previous year. | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Students and employees who are adherents to these faiths may request to have this day off. | ||
| 02/01/2023 | Imbolc (Northern Hemisphere) | Wiccan/Pagan holy day in the Northern Hemisphere begins at sundown the evening before. Imbolc is a Gaelic traditional festival marking the beginning of spring, held about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It was originally a pagan festival associated with the goddess Brigid, during which feasts were held, holy wells were visited, and Brigid was invoked to protect homes and livestock. Although many of its customs died out in the 20th century, it is still observed as a religious holy day by Celtic Neopagans, Wiccans, and others today. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 02/01/2023 | Lughnasadh (Southern Hemisphere) | Wiccan/Pagan holy day in the Southern Hemisphere begins sundown the evening before. Lughnasadh is a Gaelic traditional festival marking the beginning of harvest season, held about halfway between the summer solstice and the fall equinox (making its placement dependent on whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere). The festival itself is named after the god Lugh, and involved great gatherings that included religious ceremonies, ritual athletics, feasting, matchmaking, and trade. Although many of its customs died out in the 20th century, it is still observed as a religious holy day by Celtic Neopagans and Wiccans today. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 02/02/2023 | Presentation of Christ in the Temple | Also called “Candlemas,” this Christian holy day celebrates the baby Jesus being presented at the Temple in Jerusalem. Traditionally, this is when the last Christmas decorations are taken down, and candles are blessed for use for the rest of the liturgical year. | Christianity | ||
| 02/03/2023 | Setsubun | “Setsubun” literally means “seasonal division” and it is celebrated in Japan the day before the beginning of the spring. Buddhist and Shinto temples all across the country celebrate Setsubun as part of the Spring Festival. | Buddhism; Shintoism | ||
| 01/26/2023 | Vasant Panchami | Hindu holy day marking the preliminary preparations for the arrival of spring and celebrated forty days before Holika and Holi. Also known as Saraswati Puja, for many Hindus this festival is dedicated to Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, language, music, and arts. | Hinduism | ||
| 02/15/2023 | Nirvana Day | Nirvana Day, also called Parinirvana Day, is a Mahayana Buddhist holy day celebrated in East Asia. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body. Passages from the Nirvana Sutra describing the Buddha's last days of life are often read on Parinirvana Day. Other observances include meditation and visits to Buddhist temples. The day is also a time to think about one's own future death and the deaths of loved ones. This thought process reflects the Buddhist teachings on impermanence. | Buddhism | ||
| 02/17/2023 | Waccamaw Recognition Day | At the South Carolina Commission for Minority Affairs meeting on February 17, 2005, the Waccamaw Indian People made history by becoming the first of two state recognized tribes in the history of the state of South Carolina. Today there are eight state – recognized tribes in South Carolina. | |||
| 02/25/2023 - 03/01/2023 | Ayyám-i-Há | In the Baha’i Faith, Ayyám-i-Há (also known as the Intercalary Days) is a period of celebration devoted to charity, gift-giving and festivities prior to the annual period of fasting. | Baha'i | ||
| 02/19/2023 | Meatfare Sunday | This is traditionally the last day before Easter for eating meat in the Orthodox Christian tradition. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | ||
| 02/18/2023 | Maha Shivaratri | Beginning at sunset, Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of Shiva. It is a major festival in Hinduism, but one that is solemn. It marks a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and in the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, doing yoga, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as self-restraint, honesty, non-injury to others, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva. Ardent devotees keep awake all night. Others visit one of Shiva’s temples. | Hinduism | Hindu students and employees may have had little sleep and may request this day off. | |
| 02/21/2023 | Shrove Tuesday | Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras) is a Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day that takes place the day before Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is observed by many Christians, including Anglicans, Lutherans, United Methodists, and Roman Catholics, who make a special point of considering amendments of life or areas of spiritual growth that they especially need to ask God's help in dealing with. In many communities this is a carnival day, and the last day of indulging in foods and luxuries before the fasting period of Lent. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 02/22/2023 | Ash Wednesday | Roman Catholic and Protestant holy day. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. It is traditionally celebrated with prayer, fasting, and repentance. Participants receive ashes on their foreheads with the instructions, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 03/02/2023 - 03/20/2023 | Month of Fasting | The month of fasting, during which members of the Baha’i Faith, from the age of 15, abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. There are exemptions, including for those who are ill, elderly, traveling, pregnant or breastfeeding. | Baha'i | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Baha'i students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 02/26/2023 | Cheesefare Sunday | Also known as Maslenitsa or Forgiveness Sunday, Cheesefare is an Orthodox Christian religious holy day and Slavic folk festival celebrated during the last week before Great Lent. Friends and relatives offer each other small gifts and ask for each other’s forgiveness. Since Lent excludes parties, secular music, dancing, and other distractions from spiritual life, Cheesefare represents the last chance to take part in social activities that are not appropriate during the more prayerful, sober, and introspective Lenten season. This includes eating foods that are forbidden during Lent, such as cheese and wine. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | ||
| 02/27/2023 | Clean Monday | Clean Monday is the first day of Great Lent, as Eastern Catholics and Eastern Orthodox refer to the Lenten season. Clean Monday is a reminder that we should begin Lent with good intentions and a desire to clean our spiritual house. It is a day of strict fasting for Eastern Catholics, including abstinence not only from meat but from eggs and dairy products as well. It is customary to go to confession during this week, and to clean the house thoroughly. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Orthodox Christian | ||
| 03/12/2023 | Edisto Natchez-Kusso Recognition Day | The Natchez-Kusso Tribe of SC, also known as the Edistos, is a Native American tribe located in Dorchester and Colleton Counties.They became recognized as a Tribe in South Carolina on March 12, 2010. | |||
| 03/14/2023 | Santee Recognition Day | The Santee were recognized as a Tribe in South Carolina on March 14, 2006. | |||
| 03/14/2023 | Chaloklowa Chicksaw Recognition Day | The Chaloklowa Chicksaw were recognized as a Group in South Carolina on March 14, 2006. | |||
| 03/15/2023 | Pee Dee Recognition Day | The Pee Dee people, located along the Pee Dee River, were recognized as a Tribe in South Carolina on March 15, 2006. | |||
| 03/06/2023 | Fast of Esther | In Judaism, the Fast of Esther is a fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve, commemorating the three-day fast observed by the Jewish people in the story of Purim. As the Fast of Esther is not one of the four public fasts ordained by the Prophets, the laws concerning its observance are more lenient. | Judaism | Jewish students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 03/17/2023 | Feast Day of Saint Patrick | Roman Catholic holy day also known as Saint Patrick’s Day. The Feast of St. Patrick commemorates the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. | Christianity; Roman Catholic | ||
| 03/07/2023 | Purim | Begins at sundown March 6th. Purim is one of the most joyous holy days on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. It is customary to hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, to perform plays and parodies, to give to charity, and to eat and drink. The primary commandment related to Purim is to hear the reading of the book of Esther. It is customary to boo, hiss, stamp feet, and rattle noise makers whenever Haman, the genocidal character in the story, is mentioned in the service. The purpose of this custom is to "blot out the name of Haman." | Judaism | Purim is not subject to work restrictions, but some sources indicate Jewish students and employees should not go about ordinary business at Purim in order to respect the festival. If planning and event, provide food accommodations if requested (kosher dietary restrictions apply). | |
| 03/08/2023 | Holi | Holi is celebrated by Hindus at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the lunar month Phalgun, which usually falls in March, or sometimes in late February. The festival has many purposes; most prominently, it celebrates the beginning of spring. The night before Holi, bonfires are lit in a ceremony known as Holika Dahan or Little Holi. People gather near fires, sing, and dance. The next day, people pour into the streets and temples to spray colored powder solutions at each other, laugh, and celebrate. After playing with colors, people bathe, put on clean clothes, and visit friends and family. | Hinduism | ||
| 03/07/2023 - 03/08/2023 | Lailat al Bara'ah | Begins at sunset on the 7th. This Muslim holy day marks Allah’s writing of everyone’s destiny for the coming year. Many Muslims try to stay awake the entire night in prayer and worship, hoping for good fortune and forgiveness. For the majority of Muslims worldwide, Lailat al Bara’ah is a cause for celebration, fireworks, and food. Families that have lost a member in the past year are showered with sweet treats by friends, and acts of charity are performed. | Islam | Muslim students and employees may have had little sleep. | |
| 03/19/2023 | Feast Day of Saint Joseph | The Feast Day of St. Joseph is a Roman Catholic holy day that commemorates Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary. | Christianity; Roman Catholic | ||
| 03/20/2023 | Spring Equinox/Ostara (Northern Hemisphere) | Pagan holy day, known as Ostara in Wicca, is a celebration of the spring equinox, named for a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. Similar to those observed at Easter, symbols for Ostara include eggs, rabbits, flowers, and seeds. These symbols represent the fecundity of spring and are incorporated into rituals, altars, and celebratory feasts. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 03/20/2023 | Autumn Equinox/Mabon (Southern Hemisphere) | Pagan holy day, known as Mabon in Wicca. A harvest festival, the second of three, encourages pagans to “reap what they sow,” both literally and figuratively. It is the time to reflect on the previous year to celebrate successes (likened to bringing in the harvest) and assess which crops, projects, or dreams didn’t come to fruition. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 03/21/2023 | Nowruz | Nowruz, meaning “New Day,” is the Zoroastrian and Baha’i New Year. Nowruz is typically celebrated with fireworks, flowers, and spring cleaning. Work is suspended. | Baha'i; Zoroastrianism | ||
| 03/25/2023 | Annunciation of the Virgin Mary | The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary is a Christian celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Child of God. Many Christians observe this event, an approximation of the northern vernal equinox nine full months before Christmas, the ceremonial birthday of Jesus. | Christianity | ||
| 03/31/2023 | International Transgender Day of Visibility | Unitarian Universalist’s LGBTQ social justice observance. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 03/22/2023 - 04/22/2023 | Month of Ramadan Begins | The Holy month of Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which begins at sunset. It is observed by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the revelation of the Holy book, The Qur’an to Muhammad {Peace be upon him(PBUH)}. Muslims fast from dawn to sunset but also engage in enhanced prayer, reflection, compassion and charity towards humanity as it is a month when Spiritual rewards and closeness to Allah is multiplied especially by sharing of meals. This annual observance is obligatory for all healthy adults, and is regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The month lasts 29–30 days based on the visual sightings of the crescent moon. Eid al Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, commemorates the end of Ramadan and is expected on April 21-22. | Islam | Muslim students and employees will be fasting for an extended time during daylight hours, which may result in less stamina. For evening events, provide food accommodations as requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply). | |
| 04/08/2023 | Day of Silence | Observed by Unitarian Universalists, the Day of Silence is a silent and peaceful protest to highlight bullying, harassment, and name calling directed towards LGBTQ community. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 04/02/2023 | Palm Sunday | Palm Sunday is a Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day that falls on the Sunday before Easter. This celebration commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem before the crucifixion. In many Christian denominations, worship services on Palm Sunday include a procession carrying palms, representing the palm branches that the crowd scattered in front of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 03/30/2023 | Ram Navami | Hindu holy day that commemorates the birth of Rama. This day is typically celebrated with Rama Katha recitals, or reading of the stories of Rama. Some celebrate by visiting a temple or organizing community meals, while others pray or fast at home. It is often considered an opportunity for moral reflection. | Hinduism | Hindu students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 04/14/2023 | Mahavir Jayanti | Jain holy day that commemorates the birth of Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of present Avasarpiṇ. It is celebrated with a procession called rath yatra in which the idol of Lord Mahavir is carried out on a chariot. On this day, many Jains will practice acts of charity, pray, fast, and make offerings. | Jainism | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Jain students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 04/06/2023 | Maundy Thursday | Maundy Thursday is the Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day that falls on the Thursday before Easter. It commemorates the Last Supper and the foot washing of followers by Jesus Christ. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. The worship service is normally celebrated in the evening, and includes worshipers washing each other’s feet. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 04/07/2023 | Good Friday | Good Friday is a Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. Specific practices of observance vary greatly among Christian denominations, but are generally somber and ascetic. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | Some Christian students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 04/05/2023 - 04/13/2023 | Passover | Passover begins on the evening of April 5, 2023. Work is restricted on the first two days (sunset on the 5th through sunset on the 7th) and the last two days (sunset on the 11th through sunset on the 13th). There are food restrictions (which vary based on families’ country of origin) for the duration of the holiday. Passover is a Jewish holy day to commemorate Jewish liberation from slavery in Egypt. In the narrative of the Exodus, G-d helped the Children of Israel escape from their slavery in Egypt by the death of all Egyptian first-borns. The Israelites were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a slaughtered spring lamb. Upon seeing this, the spirit of the G-d knew to pass over the first-born in these homes, hence the English name of the holy day. When Pharaoh freed the Israelites, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread dough to rise. In commemoration, matzo (flat unleavened bread) is eaten during this holy day. | Judaism | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Provide food accommodations as requested (kosher dietary restrictions apply; the use of leavening is prohibited). | |
| 04/16/2023 | Cheraw Recognition Day | The Cheraw were recognized as a Tribe in South Carolina on April 16, 2014. | |||
| 04/06/2023 | Theravada New Year | In Theravadin Buddhist communities – primarily in Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Lao – the New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. Practitioners may bathe Buddha images, sprinkle water, or build sand mounds at temples or on riverbanks. In Buddhist tradition, each grain of sand is representative of a wrongdoing. When the sand is washed away by the river or by other means, that bad deed is washed away, for a clean slate at the start of the year. | Buddhism | ||
| 04/09/2023 | Easter | Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day. On Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year. Many Christians believe that Jesus was raised from the dead three days after death on the cross, and that through death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin and purchased salvation for all who believe. Easter Sunday marks the end of Lent, a period of fasting and spiritual discipline. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Christian students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 04/21/2023 | First Day of Ridvan | Begins at sunset. Ridvan is a 12-day Baha’i festival that is one of the holiest celebrations in the Baha’i calendar. "Ridván" means paradise, and is named for the Garden of Ridván outside Baghdad, where Bahá'u'lláh stayed for twelve days before commencing his journey to Constantinople after the Ottoman Empire exiled him from the city. The festival starts two hours before sunset on the first day, and major celebrations also occur on the ninth and twelfth days. On those days, work is prohibited, and the celebration is usually observed with a community gathering where prayers are shared. Work is suspended. | Baha'i | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Baha'i students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 04/14/2023 | Holy Friday | Holy Friday is an Orthodox Christian holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. It is observed on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Orthodox Christian students and employees may be fasting. | |
| 04/16/2023 | Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Christian holy day. On Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year. Many Christians believe that Jesus was raised from the dead three days after his death on the cross, and that through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin and purchased salvation for all who believe. Easter Sunday marks the end of Lent, a period of fasting and spiritual discipline. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Orthodox Christian students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 04/18/2023 | Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) | Begins at sunset on the 17th. Yom HaShoah is a day of remembrance for the events of the Holocaust. Most Jewish communities hold a solemn ceremony on this day, but there is no institutionalized ritual accepted by all Jews. Lighting memorial candles and reciting the Kaddish — the prayer for the departed — are common. In Israel, Yom HaShoah is a state holy day. Flags on public buildings are flown at half-mast. At 10:00 a.m., an air raid siren sounds throughout the country and almost everyone stops what they are doing, including motorists who stop their cars in the middle of the road, for two minutes of silent reflection as the siren is sounded. | Judaism | Academics and work are permitted. Provide food accommodations as requested (kosher dietary restrictions apply). | |
| 04/29/2023 | Ninth Day of Ridván | In the Baha’i Faith, this is the day on which Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him in the Garden of Ridván. Work is suspended. | Baha'i | Baha'i students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 05/01/2023 | Flower Communion | In Spring, many Unitarian Universalists celebrate a ritual called Flower Ceremony or Flower Communion. The Flower Communion is an annual service in which we each bring a flower, create an altar full of bouquets, and end by each taking away a flower that another person brought. It is a way to celebrate our diversity. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 05/01/2023 | Beltane (Northern Hemisphere) | Pagan/Wiccan holy day in the Northern Hemisphere that begins at sunset on the evening before. Beltane celebrates the fertility and new life of the spring, often celebrated with a Maypole dance and goddess ritual celebrating the sacred feminine and fertility. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 05/01/2023 | Samhain (Southern Hemisphere) | Pagan/Wiccan holy day begins in the Southern Hemisphere at sunset the evening before. Samhain, one of the 8 Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, is a Celtic Festival of the Dead that honors the ancestors, when the veil between this world and the next is the thinnest. As Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate Beltane and the coming of Spring, Pagans in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate Samhain. This ancient tradition survives in secular culture as Halloween. Neo-pagans reclaiming this harvest festival consider it the Witches New Year and the most important holy day of the year. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 04/21/2023 | Eid al-Fitr/ End Of Ramadan | For Muslims, Eid al Fitr, or the Festival of Breaking the Fast, commemorates the end of Ramadan. It begins with the first sighting of the new moon, at sunset and it is a day of Celebration on which Muslims are not permitted to fast. Celebrations begin with the Eid prayer in large, open-air spaces and move on to feasts and festivals that vary by region. It is the first day of the 10th month of the Lunar calendar | Islam | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Muslim students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 05/02/2023 | Twelfth Day of Ridván | In the Baha’i Faith, this is the day on which Bahá’u’lláh and His family left the garden to travel to Constantinople. Work is suspended. | Baha'i | Baha'i students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 05/14/2023 | Mother's Day | Unitarian Universalists celebrate Mother’s Day by reading the Mother’s Day Proclamation written by Julia Ward Howe, an honored Unitarian. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 04/08/2023 | Vesak | Vesak, also called Buddha Day, is a holy day traditionally celebrated in Mahayana Buddhism to commemorate the birth of the Prince Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Gautama Buddha and the founder of Buddhism. Celebrations vary between the many East Asian countries that observe this holy day, but some commonalities are public processions, visits to shrines, and offerings of food and flowers. | Buddhism | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Buddhist students and employees will likely request to have this day off. | |
| 05/09/2023 | Lag B'Omer | This Jewish holy day begins at sunset on the 8th and commemorates Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a sage in the 2nd century, and the day on which he revealed the deepest secrets of kabbalah in the form of the Zohar (Book of Splendor), a landmark text of Jewish mysticism. This association has spawned several well-known customs and practices on Lag B’Omer, including the lighting of bonfires and pilgrimages to the tomb of Bar Yochai in the northern Israeli town of Meron. | Judaism | ||
| 05/24/2023 | Declaration of the Bab | Baha’i holy day celebrating the day on which The Bab (“the Gate”) declared a mission as a messenger of God and taught that the Baha’u’llah would soon appear with further revelations. Work is suspended. | Baha'i | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Baha'i students and employees suspend work on this day and will likely request to have this day off. | |
| 05/18/2023 | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Roman Catholic & Protestant) | Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day. The Ascension of Jesus is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God. It takes place 40 days after the Resurrection. The Feast of the Ascension is always celebrated on a Thursday on the 40th day of Easter. The Orthodox tradition has a different calendar up to a month later than in the Western tradition. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 05/29/2023 | Ascension of Baha'u'llah | This Baha’i holy day commemorates the anniversary of the day that Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, passed away from this life in 1892. During this holy day, celebrants abstain from attending work and school, and reflect on their founder’s suffering and resilience throughout the whole day. This day is seen as a time to read through Baha’u’llah’s writings to understand a better vision for the world. Work is suspended. | Baha'i | Baha'i students and employees may request this day off. | |
| 06/01/2023 | Ascension of Jesus Christ (Orthodox) | Orthodox Christian holy day. The Ascension of Jesus is the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God. It takes place 40 days after the Resurrection. The Feast of the Ascension is always celebrated on a Thursday on the 40th day of Easter. The Orthodox tradition has a different calendar up to a month later than in the Western tradition. | Christianity; Orthodox Christian | ||
| 05/25/2023 - 05/27/2023 | Shavuot | Begins at sunset on May 25, 2023. Work is suspended until sunset on May 27, 2023. Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day G-d gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai. Shavuot is characterized by many customs, including dairy-heavy dishes and all-night Torah study. | Judaism | Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities.These are non-work days and Jewish students and employees may request these days off. Jewish students and employees may have had little sleep. | |
| 05/28/2023 | Pentecost | The Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian holy day of Pentecost is celebrated 50 days from Easter Sunday to commemorate events described in the New Testament, in which the Holy Spirit descends upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ. | Christianity; Roman Catholic; Protestant | ||
| 06/19/2023 | Juneteenth Day | Unitarian Universalists recognize Juneteenth Day as a day of remembrance and a call to social justice against racism. | Unitarian Universalism | ||
| 06/21/2023 | Midsummer/Litha (Northern Hemisphere) | Midsummer is a Pagan holy day, known as Litha in Wicca. The Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. Many agricultural societies have observed the longest day of the year in some way: Stone Henge was created to glorify the rising of the sun on the Summer Solstice, the Saxons and Celts built bonfires to celebrate the power of the sun over darkness, and the Romans had a festival for Juno, wife of Jupiter, the Goddess of marriage, women, menstruation, and children during Midsummer. A time of fertility, growth, warmth, and light, Midsummer/Litha is one of the 8 Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year for modern Pagans and Wiccans. | Wicca; Paganism | ||
| 06/21/2023 | Midwinter/Yule (Southern Hemisphere) | Midwinter is a Pagan holy day in the southern hemisphere, known as Yule in Wicca. In the darkest of winter, Yule celebrates the return of the sun, when the days begin to get longer again and bring more light into the world, with feasting and merrymaking. Decorating a tree, wreathes, the Yule log, and caroling come from ancient Norse traditions. Yule is associated with Odin and the Wild Hunt, a ghostly procession of horsemen through the sky—which became Santa Claus and his flying reindeer. Romans held feasts, decorated trees with tin ornaments, practiced fertility rites under mistletoe, and exchanged gifts during the week-long festival of Saturnalia. The Celts believed the Oak King and the Holly King fought at this time of year to see if light or darkness would win out, which some Wiccans re-enact as part of their celebrations today. Midwinter/Yule is one of the 8 Sabbats of the Wheel of the Year for modern Pagans and Wiccans. | Wicca; Paganism |