Office of Equity and Inclusive Excellence
Religious Holidays
Religious Holidays
Even though national, local, and university calendars include some holidays, not all culturally relevant holy days are fully known to other communities. Here are some important religious holidays you may see our community members celebrate throughout the year. The university student handbook includes guidelines in the observation of holy days.
There may be variations of additions to this calendar depending on the ways in which a community celebrates it. If you have any suggestions to add here, or want to share information about these, please email equity@tamusa.edu.
|
Religious Holidays |
Faith |
Date(s) |
|
1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year) ** |
Islam |
August 9 |
|
10th of Muharram (Ashura) ** |
Islam |
August 18 |
|
Paryushan ** |
Jain |
September 4-11 |
|
Rosh Hashanah * |
Jewish |
September 6-8 |
|
Yom Kippur * |
Jewish |
September 15-16 |
|
Sukkot * |
Jewish |
September 20-27 |
|
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah * |
Jewish |
September 27-29 |
|
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunni) ** |
Islam |
October 19 |
|
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Shia) ** |
Islam |
October 24 |
|
Diwali ** |
Hindu |
November 4 |
|
Birth of the Báb *** |
Baha'i |
November 6 |
|
Birth of Bahá'u'lláh *** |
Baha'i |
November 7 |
|
Hanukkah * |
Jewish |
Nov. 28-Dec. 6 |
|
Christmas |
Christian |
December 25 |
|
Kwanzaa |
Interfaith/African-American |
December 26 – Jan. 1 |
|
Feast of the Epiphany |
Christian |
January 6 |
|
Eastern Orthodox Christmas |
Orthodox Christian |
January 7 |
|
Sankranti |
Hindu |
January 14 |
|
Lunar New Year |
Interfaith/National |
February 1 |
|
Ash Wednesday
|
Christian |
March 2 |
|
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent
|
Orthodox Christian |
March 7 |
|
Purim * |
Jewish |
March 16-17 |
|
Naw-Rúz *** |
Baha'i |
March 21 |
|
Ramadan **
|
Islam |
April 2-May 1 |
|
Vaisakhi |
Sikh |
April 14 |
|
Passover (Pesach) *
|
Jewish |
April 15-23 |
|
Good Friday
|
Christian |
April 15 |
|
Easter
|
Christian |
April 17 |
|
First Day of Ridván *
|
Baha'i |
April 21 |
|
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday |
Orthodox Christian |
April 22 |
|
Eastern Orthodox Easter
|
Orthodox Christian |
April 24 |
|
23rd Night of Ramadan **
|
Islam |
April 24 |
|
Ninth Day of Ridván *
|
Baha'i |
April 29 |
|
Twelfth Day of Ridván *** |
Baha'i |
May 2 |
|
27 th Night of Ramadan ** |
Islam |
April 28 |
|
Eid al-Fitr ** |
Islam |
May 2 |
|
Declaration of the Báb *** |
Baha'i |
May 24 |
|
Ascension Day |
Christian |
May 26 |
|
Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh *** |
Baha'i |
May 29 |
|
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day |
Orthodox Christian |
June 2 |
|
Shavuot * |
Jewish |
June 4-6 |
|
Juneteenth |
Interfaith/African American |
June 19 |
|
Holy Day of Arafah** |
Islam |
July 9 |
|
Eid-al-Adha** |
Islam |
July 10 |
|
Martyrdom of the Báb *** |
Baha'i |
July 10 |
|
Eid al-Ghadeer ** |
Islam |
July 17 |
Notes:
* Holy days in the Jewish faith and Muslim faith begins and ends at sundown.
** Holidays calculated on the lunar calendar.
*** Baha'i day ends at sunset and a new day begins then. Therefore, the Holy Day begins at sunset of the day before.