Calendar of Holidays and Religious Observances
Embodying the culturally and spiritually diverse communities of West Chester University,
this calendar of “Holidays and Religious Observances” serves as a resource to the
campus community and provides information related to holidays, traditional observances,
and major days of religious significance.
Faculty and staff may use this information to aid with the development of a class
syllabus, planning for examinations, special programs, events and activities, or however
it may be helpful. The information is not intended to be an all exhaustive list and
may not cover all religious traditions represented in the West Chester community.
As we update the calendar annually, every effort is made to ensure the information
is as accurate as possible. If the calendar does not include a significant date of
your religious or cultural tradition, please contact Chancey Page.
OEOC staff utilizes the Interfaith Calendar compiled by the Pew Research Center, Forum for Religions and Public Life, to compile
the information on this page.
Major Religious Holidays with Work Restrictions
Several religions prohibit working on certain holidays. To aid staff, faculty and
supervisors with scheduling events and activities, a short list of some holidays on
which students, staff, or faculty may not be able to work or attend class is provided
below. Again, please note the list below is not all exhaustive.
Please try to avoid conflicts in scheduling major meetings, exams and other major
events and work with students, faculty and staff to accommodate these observances.
- *Rosh Hashanah – Jewish
- *Yom Kippur – Jewish
- *Eid al Fitr – Muslim
- *Eid al Adha – Muslim
- *The Birth of the Bab – Baha'i
- *The Birth of Baha'u'llah – Baha'i
- *Mawlid – Muslim
- *Naw Ruz – Baha'i
- *NowRuz – Persian, Muslims in Iran, Zoroastrian
- Christmas – Christian
- Nativity of Christ – Eastern Orthodox
- *Passover – Jewish
- *First Day, 9th Day and 12th Day of Ridvan – Baha'i
- Good Friday – Christian
- Easter – Christian
- Easter – Eastern Orthodox
- *Shavuot – Jewish
- *Declaration of the Bab – Baha'i
- *Ascension of the Baha'u'llah – Baha'i
- *Martyrdom of the Bab – Baha'i
- *Ashura – Muslim
- Vijaya Dashami, also called Dasara – Hindu
Additional Major Holidays
Major holidays that are important cultural or religious celebrations and observances
but do not require students or employees to abstain from work are listed below.
- *Ramadan – Muslim
- Divali (Deepavali) – Hindu
- Chinese New Year
- Holi – Hindu
PLEASE NOTE:
- Many holidays are based on the lunar calendar and so their dates change from year
to year on the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, some of the holidays are celebrated
approximately around the dates listed (e.g., Islamic holidays).
- Dates above listed with an asterisk (*) denote holy days that usually start at sundown
the night before the date.
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
June 11-13, 2024 |
Shavuot |
Judaism |
Tuesday - Thursday |
June 17, 2024 |
Eid-al-Adha |
Islam |
Monday |
July 9, 2024 |
Martyrdom of the Báb * |
Baha'i |
Tuesday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
August 25-26, 2024 |
Arba'een |
Islam |
Sunday-Monday |
August 26-27, 2024 |
Krishna Janmashtami |
Hindu |
Monday - Tuesday |
September 15-16, 2024 |
Mawlid |
Islam |
Sunday - Monday |
September 22, 2024 |
Mabon |
Pagan and Wiccan |
Saturday |
October 2-4, 2024 |
Rosh Hashanah |
Judaism |
Wednesday - Friday |
October 5, 2024 |
Tzom Gedaliah |
Judaism |
Saturday |
October 11-12, 2024 |
Yom Kippur |
Judaism |
Friday - Saturday |
October 12, 2024 |
Vijaya Dashami (Dasara) |
Hindu |
Saturday |
October 16-23, 2024 |
Sukkot |
Judaism |
Wednesday - next Wednesday |
October 23, 2024 |
Shemini Atzeret |
Judaism |
Wednesday - Friday |
October 28 - November 2, 2024 |
Diwali |
Hindu |
Monday - Saturday |
November 1, 2024 |
All Saint's Day |
Christian |
Friday |
November 2, 2024 |
All Soul's Day |
Christian |
Saturday |
November 2, 2024 |
Birthday of Báb |
Baha'i |
Saturday |
November 3, 2024 |
Birthday of Baha'u'llah |
Baha'i |
Sunday |
November 15 - December 24, 2024 |
Christmas Fast |
Christian |
Friday - Tuesday |
November 24, 2024 |
Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur |
Sikh |
Sunday |
December 1 - December 24, 2024 |
Advent |
Christian |
Sun - Tues |
December 8, 2024 |
Feast of Immaculate Conception |
Roman Catholic |
Sunday |
December 8, 2024 |
Bodhi Day |
Buddhist |
Sunday |
December 12, 2024 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast Day) |
Christian |
Thursday |
December 16 - 25, 2024 |
Las Posadas |
Christian |
Mon - Tues |
December 21 - January 1, 2025 |
Yule |
Pagan and Wiccan |
Thurs - Mon |
December 25, 2024 |
Christmas |
Christian |
Wednesday |
December 25 - January 2, 2025 |
Hanukkah (Chanukah) |
Judaism |
Wednesday - next Thursday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
January 6, 2025 |
Feast of Epiphany |
Christian |
Monday |
January 7, 2025 |
Orthodox Christmas Day |
Orthodox Christian |
Tuesday |
January 10, 2025 |
Asara B'Tevet |
Judaism |
Friday |
January 14, 2025 |
Makar Sunkranti |
Hindu |
Tuesday |
January 29, 2025 |
Lunar New Year |
Interfaith/National |
Wednesday |
February 15, 2025 |
Nirvana Day |
Buddhist |
Saturday |
February 28 - March 29, 2025 |
Ramadan |
Islam |
*daily |
March 5, 2025 |
Ash Wednesday |
Christian |
Wednesday |
March 19 - 20, 2025 |
Naw Ruz |
Baha'i |
Wed - Thurs |
March 13 - March 14, 2025 |
Purim |
Judaism |
Thurs - Friday |
March 14, 2025 |
Holi |
Hindu |
Friday |
March 31, 2025 |
Eid Al-Fitr |
Islam |
Monday |
April 12 - 20, 2025 |
Pesach (Passover, Feast of Fredom and Unleavened Bread) |
Judaism |
Monday Night - Next Tuesday |
April 14, 2025 |
Vaisakhi |
Sikh |
Monday |
April 18, 2025 |
Good Friday |
Christian |
Friday |
April 20, 2025 |
Easter |
Christian |
Sunday |
April 20 - 21, 2025 |
First Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Sat - Sunday |
April 23 - April 24, 2025 |
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) |
Judaism |
Wed - Thursday |
April 29, 2025 |
Ninth Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Monday |
May 1, 2025 |
Twelfth Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Thursday |
May 12, 2025 |
Vesk (Theravada) |
Bud |
Monday |
May 22 - May 23, 2025 |
Declaration of the Báb |
Baha'i |
Thurs - Friday |
May 28, 2025 |
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh |
Baháʼí |
Wednesday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
June 1 - June 3, 2025 |
Shavuot |
Judaism |
Sunday - Tuesday |
June 6, 2025 |
Eid-al-Adha |
Islam |
Friday |
June 16, 2025 |
Guru Arjan Martyrdom
|
Sikh |
Monday |
June 29, 2025 |
Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul
|
Christian |
Sunday |
July 9, 2025 |
Martyrdom of the Báb *
|
Baha'i |
Tuesday |
July 11, 2025 |
St. Benedict Day |
Catholic Christian |
Friday |
July 13, 2025 |
Obon (Ulambana) |
Buddhist |
Sunday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
August 14-15, 2025 |
Arba'een |
Islam |
Thursday - Friday |
August 15, 2025 |
Krishna Janmashtami |
Hindu |
Friday |
September 4-5, 2025 |
Mawlid |
Islam |
Thursday - Friday |
September 22, 2025 |
Mabon |
Pagan and Wiccan |
Monday |
September 23-24, 2025 |
Rosh Hashanah |
Judaism |
Tuesday - Wednesday |
September 25, 2025 |
Tzom Gedaliah |
Judaism |
Thursday |
October 1-2, 2025 |
Yom Kippur |
Judaism |
Wednesday - Thursday |
October 2, 2025 |
Vijaya Dashami (Dasara) |
Hindu |
Thursday |
October 6-13, 2025 |
Sukkot |
Judaism |
Monday - next Monday |
October 13-15, 2025 |
Shemini Atzeret |
Judaism |
Monday - Wednesday |
October 20, 2025 |
Diwali |
Hindu |
Monday |
October 22, 2025 |
Birthday of Báb |
Baha'i |
Wednesday |
October 23, 2025 |
Birthday of Baha'u'llah |
Baha'i |
Thursday |
November 1, 2025 |
All Saint's Day |
Christian |
Saturday |
November 2, 2025 |
All Soul's Day |
Christian |
Sunday |
November 15 - December 24, 2025 |
Christmas Fast |
Christian |
Saturday - Wednesday |
November 24, 2025 |
Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur |
Sikh |
Monday |
December 1 - December 24, 2025 |
Advent |
Christian |
Monday - Wednesday |
December 8, 2025 |
Feast of Immaculate Conception |
Roman Catholic |
Monday |
December 8, 2025 |
Bodhi Day |
Buddhist |
Monday |
December 12, 2025 |
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast Day) |
Christian |
Friday |
December 16 - 24, 2025 |
Las Posadas |
Christian |
Tuesday - next Wednesday |
December 21 - January 1, 2025 |
Yule |
Pagan and Wiccan |
Sunday - Thursday |
December 25, 2025 |
Christmas |
Christian |
Thursday |
December 14 - December 22, 2025 |
Hanukkah (Chanukah) |
Judaism |
Sunday- next Monday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
January 6, 2026 |
Feast of Epiphany |
Christian |
Tuesday |
January 7, 2026 |
Orthodox Christmas Day |
Orthodox Christian |
Wednesday |
January 14, 2026 |
Makar Sunkranti |
Hindu |
Wednesday |
February 15, 2026 |
Nirvana Day |
Buddhist |
Sunday |
February 17, 2026 |
Lunar New Year |
Interfaith/National |
Tuesday |
February 17 - March 19, 2026 |
Ramadan |
Islam |
*daily |
February 18, 2026 |
Ash Wednesday |
Christian |
Wednesday |
March 20 - March 21, 2026 |
Naw Ruz |
Baha'i |
Wed - Thurs |
March 2 - March 3, 2026 |
Purim |
Judaism |
Monday - Tuesday |
March 4, 2026 |
Holi |
Hindu |
Wednesday |
March 20, 2026 |
Eid Al-Fitr |
Islam |
Friday |
April 1 - 9, 2026 |
Pesach (Passover, Feast of Fredom and Unleavened Bread) |
Judaism |
Wednesday-next Thursday |
April 3, 2026 |
Good Friday |
Christian |
Friday |
April 5, 2026 |
Easter |
Christian |
Sunday |
April 13 - April 14, 2026 |
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) |
Judaism |
Monday - Tuesday |
April 14, 2026 |
Vaisakhi |
Sikh |
Tuesday |
April 20 - 21, 2026 |
First Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Tuesday- Wednesday |
April 29, 2026 |
Ninth Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Wednesday |
May 1, 2026 |
Vesak (Theravada) |
Buddhist |
Friday |
May 2, 2026 |
Twelfth Day of Ridvan |
Baha'i |
Saturday |
May 22 - May 23, 2026 |
Declaration of the Báb |
Baha'i |
Saturday - Sunday |
May 28, 2026 |
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh |
Baháʼí |
Friday |
Date |
Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Day of the Week |
May 21 - May 23, 2026 |
Shavuot |
Judaism |
Thursday - Saturday |
May 27, 2026 |
Eid-al-Adha |
Islam |
Wednesday |
June 16, 2026 |
Guru Arjan Martyrdom
|
Sikh |
Tuesday |
June 29, 2026 |
Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul
|
Christian |
Monday |
July 10, 2026 |
Martyrdom of the Báb *
|
Baha'i |
Friday |
July 11, 2026 |
St. Benedict Day |
Catholic Christian |
Saturday |
August 27, 2026 |
Obon (Ulambana) |
Buddhist |
Thursday |