Religious Holidays
2024 - 25 Religious Accommodations
Members of the Oglethorpe community observe a variety of religious holidays. The diversity of religious observances across our campus contribute significantly to the unique culture of our institution.
The list below contains many, but not necessarily all, of the religious and cultural holidays celebrated by students, staff, and faculty at Oglethorpe. Use the list below to avoid scheduling conflicts that could negatively impact members of our community and to be mindful of periods when students, staff, and faculty may need greater flexibility and support.
During observances that require fasting, cessation of regular activities, or daily prayer/service attendance, students may have trouble reaching their full academic potential and may seek alternatives for completing assignments or exams. In these cases, students should seek alternative arrangements with their instructor(s) as early as possible to establish reasonable accommodations for their observances. Faculty play an important role in supporting our students as they balance academic responsibilities and religious traditions. Clear communication around the need for accommodations contributes to the well-being of our community members and ensures that students, staff, and faculty feel valued, respected, and heard.
Questions? Please contact the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at [email protected].
*The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar used by Muslims around the world to determine the timing of important religious observations. Dates for religious observances are determined by the movement and observation of the moon as announced by religious authorities.
*It is customary for Jewish observances to begin the holiday before sundown and to extend the holiday after sundown the following night.
Day | Holiday | Religion |
---|---|---|
January 6 | Epiphany | Christianity |
January 7 | Christmas Coptic | Orthodox Christianity |
January 14 | Mahayana New Year | Buddhism |
January 17 | Guru Gobind Singh Gurpurab | Sikhism |
January 19 | World Religion Day | Baha’i |
January 29 | Lunar New Year | cultural holiday |
February 2 | Imbolc | Paganism and Wicca |
February 2 | Candlemas | Christianity |
February 12 | Māgha Pūjā | Buddhism |
February 12 - 13 | Tu BiShevat | Judaism |
February 15 | Parinirvana | Buddhism |
February 26 | Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism |
February 28 - March 19 | Nineteen Day Fast | Baha’i |
February 28 – March 29 | Ramadan | Islam |
March 4 | Shrove Tuesday | Christianity |
March 5 | Ash Wednesday | Christianity |
March 13 - 14 | Holi | Hinduism |
March 13 – 14 | Purim | Judaism |
March 14 | Hola Mohalla | Sikhism |
March 15 | Ramakrishna Jayanti | Hinduism |
March 20 | Spring Equinox | Paganism |
March 20 | Naw-Ruz | Bahai’i |
March 29 | Good Friday | Christianity |
March 29 - 30 | Eid al-Fitr | Islam |
April 5 | Orthodox Good Friday | Christianity |
April 10 | Mahavir Jayanti | Jain |
April 12 | Memorial of Jesus’ Death | Jehovah’s Witness |
April 12 - 20 | Passover | Judaism |
April 13 | Palm Sunday | Christianity |
April 14 | Vaisakhi | Sikhism, Hinduism |
April 17 | Maundy Thursday | Christianity |
April 18 | Good Friday | Christianity |
April 20 | Easter | Christianity |
April 20 | Pascha | Christianity |
April 20 – May 2 | Ridvan | Bahai’i |
April 23 - 24 | Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day | Judaism |
May 1 | Beltane | Paganism |
May 12 | Vesak/Buddha Day | Buddhism |
May 27 - 28 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
May 30 | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib | Sikhism |
June 2 - 3 | Shavuot | Judaism |
June 5 – 9 | The Hajj | Islam |
June 7 - 10 | Eid-al-Adha | Islam |
June 8 | Pentecost (Whit Sunday) | Christianity |
June 19 | Feast of Corpus Christi | Roman Catholic |
June 20 | Summer Solstice | Paganism |
June 26 - 27 | Al-Hijra | Islam |
July 5 | Ashura | Islam |
July 9 | Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha’i |
July 23 | Birthday of Haile Selassie | Rastafarian |
July 24 | Pioneer Day | Church of Jesus Christ Latter-Day Saints |
August 1 | Lughnasadh | Paganism and Wicca |
August 2 -3 | Tish B'Av | Judaism |
August 9 | Raksha Bandhan | Hinduism |
August 15 | Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin | Christianity |
August 16 – 17 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hinduism |
August 21 – 28 | Paryushana | Jainism |
August 27 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hinduism |
September 5 | Mawlid al-Nabi | Islam |
September 11 | Nayrouz | Coptic Orthodox Christianity |
September 22 | Mabon | Paganism and Wicca |
September 23 - 24 | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism |
September 28 - October 2 | Durga Puja | Hinduism |
October 1 - 2 | Yom Kippur | Judaism |
October 2 | Dussehra | Hinduism |
October 7 - 13 | Sukkot | Judaism |
October 13 - 15 | Shemini Atzeret | Judaism |
October 14 - 15 | Simchat Torah | Judaism |
October 20 | Diwali | Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism |
October 22 | Birth of the Bab | Baha’i |
October 23 - 24 | Birth of the Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
October 31 –November 1 | Samhain | Paganism and Wicca |
November 1 | All Saints’ Day | Christianity |
November 2 | All Souls’ Day | Christianity |
November 5 | Guru Nanak Jayanti | Sikhism |
November 21 | The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple | Eastern Orthodox Christianity |
November 24 | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur | Sikhism |
November 27 - 28 | Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá | Bahá'í |
November 30 | Advent | Christianity |
December 6 | Saint Nicholas Day | Christianity |
December 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Christianity |
December 8 | Bodhi Day | Buddhism |
December 12 | Our Lady of Guadalupe Day | Christianity |
December 15 - 22 | Hanukkah | Judaism |
December 16 - 24 | Las Posadas | Mexican/ Southwestern US Christianity |
December 21 | Yule | Paganism and Wicca |
December 25 | Christmas | Christianity |
December 26 – January 1 | Kwanzaa | Pan-African |