Multifaith Holiday Calendar - 2023

The multifaith holiday calendar lists many of holidays observed by members of the PVCC community. Dates marked with a double asterisk (**) denote occasions on which the precept of a particular tradition and the practice of nearly all its adherents, includes significant restrictions on academic activity.

Please also note that individual practices may vary.

DATE

DAYS

HOLIDAY

RECOMMENDED ACCOMODATIONS

January 1

Sunday

Gantan-Sai (Shinto) – New Year festival, commemorated by going to shrine, prayer for inner renewal, prosperity, and health

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on this date

January 6

Friday

Epiphany (Christian) – Feast day commemorating the revelation of God through Jesus Christ

None

January 7

Saturday

Christmas (Orthodox Christian) — Day commemorating the birth of Jesus

Many Eastern Orthodox employees/students will probably request this day off

January 22

Sunday

**Chinese New Year (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism) – the most important of traditional Chinese holidays

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Many Chinese employees/students will probably request this day off.

February 15

Wednesday

Parinirvana (Buddhist) – Festival commemorating the death of the
Buddha and attainment of parinirvana

None

February 22

Wednesday

Ash Wednesday (Christian) - Day of fasting that commemorates first day of Lent

Provide food accommodation as requested—prohibitions include animal products.

February 27

Monday

Great Lent begins, Clean Monday (Orthodox Christian) –  Day of fasting and spiritual purification and reflection

Note: Employees/students may be fasting.

March 1 -
March 19

Wednesday
Sunday

**Nineteen Day Fast (Baha’i) – Sunrise to sunset fast also marked with prayer to reinvigorate soul and bring closer to God

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the date. Bahá’ís employees/students may be fasting

March 6 -
March 7

Sundown Monday
Sundown Tuesday

Purim (Judaism) – Commemorates the story of Esther

Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays; however, some sources indicate that Jewish employees/students should not go about their ordinary business at Purim out of respect for the festival. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (kosher restrictions apply)

March 7 -
March 8

Sundown Tuesday
Sundown Wednesday

Holi (Hindu) – "Festival of Colors" celebrated over two days with throwing of colored powder and water; commemorating the triumph of good over evil.

Flexibility when scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Hindu employees/students may request a vacation day on this date

March 20 -
March 21

Sundown Monday
Sundown Tuesday

Nowruz (Baha’i) –  Marks the first day of spring

None

March 22 -
April 21

Sundown Wednesday
Sundown Friday

**Ramadan (Islam) – Month of fasting to commemorate first revelation of the Qur’an to Muhammad

Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines during this time. Be sensitive to the fact that employees/students celebrating Ramadan will be fasting during the day (continuously for 30 days) and will likely have less stamina as a result. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (halal restrictions apply).

March 30

Thursday

Rama Navami (Hindu) – Celebration of birth of Prince Rama, avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya

None

April 2

Sunday

Palm Sunday (Christian) – A commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem

None

April 4

Tuesday

Mahavir Jayanthi (Jain) – Celebrates birth of Mahavira, the founder of Jainism

None

April 5 -
April 13

Sundown Wednesday
Sundown Thursday

**Passover (Judaism) – Week-long observance commemorating liberation of Israelites by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under leadership of Moses

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply—the use of leavening is prohibited so, for example, matzah is eaten in place of bread.)

April 6

Thursday

Hanuman Jayantï (Hindu) – Celebration of birthday of Hanuman, foremost devotee of Sri Rama and Sita

None

April 7

Friday

Good Friday (Christian) – Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary

Provide food accommodation as requested—meat (fish is not considered meat) is prohibited during meals for some.

April 9

Sunday

Easter (Christian) – Annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Because this holiday falls on Sunday, academic accommodations may not be required.

April 14

Friday

Vaisakhi (Sikh) – New year festival and commemorates 1699, the year Sikhism was born. Vaisakhi is also a long-established harvest festival

None

April 16

Sunday

Pascha (Orthodox Christian) – Annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ

Because this holiday falls on Sunday, academic accommodations may not be required.

April 17 -
April 18

Sundown Monday
Sundown Tuesday

Yom Ha’shoah (Judaism) – Holocaust Remembrance Day

Provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

April 21 -
April 22

Sundown Friday
Sundown Saturday

Eid al-Fitr (Islam) – Eid al-Fitr means "break the fast", and is the last day of Ramadan, marking the end of a month of fasting

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Employees will likely ask to take a vacation day on this day. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply).

April 20 -
May 2

Thursday
Tuesday

Ridván (Bahá’í) – Twelve-day festival when founder Bahá’u’lláh declared his mission

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the 1st day, 9th day, and 12th day of Ridván

May 18

Thursday

Ascension Day (Christian) – Celebrates the departure of Christ from Earth into the presence of God

None

May 24

Wednesday

Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) – Commemorates declaration of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh the founder of the Bahá’í Faith

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities.

May 25 -
May 27

Sundown Thursday
Sundown Saturday

**Shavuot (Judaism) – Festival commemorating giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities on the first two and last two days of the holiday. Provide food accommodation as requested. (Kosher restrictions apply—although it is customary to eat dairy).

May 28

Sunday

Pentecost (Christian) – Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension

None

May 28 -
May 29

Sundown Sunday
Sundown Monday

Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) – Anniversary of death of founder

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities.

June 28 -
June 29

Sundown Wednesday
Sundown Thursday

**Eid al-Adha (Islam) – Commemorates Ibrahim’s sacrifice of his son to God

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first day. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (Islamic dietary restrictions apply).

July 9

Sunday

Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’í) – Date the Báb was executed

None

July 26 -
July 27

Sundown Wednesday
Sundown Thursday

**Tisha B’Av (Judaism) – Day of mourning to commemorate many tragedies that have befallen Jewish people, many occurring on the ninth of Av

Plan limited activities after a fast.

July 27

Thursday

Ashura (Islam) – For Shias, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at Karbala

None

August 30

Wednesday

Raksha Bhandan (Hindu) – A celebration harmony. The tying of the rakhi (woven
bracelet) signifies a special bond of unity and affection between two individuals

None

September 6 -
September 7

Wednesday
Thursday

**Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu) – Two-day festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, a widely-worshiped Hindu god

Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines on this day, since it is likely that students will be operating on very little sleep.

September 15 -
September 17

Sundown Friday
Sundown Sunday

**Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) – Beginning of the Jewish Year and High Holy Days

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

September 24 -
September 25

Sundown Sunday
Sundown Monday

**Yom Kipper (Judaism) – Day of atonement to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date and after a day of fasting.

September 26 -
September 27

Sundown Tuesday
Sundown Wednesday

Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) – Commemorates birthday of prophet Muhammad

Muslim employees/students may be fasting

September 29 -
October 6

Sundown Friday
Sundown Friday

**Sukkot (Judaism) – The Feast of the Tabernacles and Harvest festival

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on the first two days. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

October 6 -
October 8

Sundown Friday
Sundown Sunday

**Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) – Marks the end of Sukkot

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

October 7 -
October 8

Sundown Saturday
Sundown Sunday

**Simchat Torah (Judaism) – Celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of public
Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).

October 15-October 24

Sundown Sunday
Sundown Tuesday

Navaratri (Hindu) – Literally meaning “nine nights,” this is a major Hindu event that honors the Goddess Durga and celebrates the triumph of good over evil

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Note that members of the community may be hungry due to fasting

October 16

Monday

**Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í) – Celebrates the birth of the Báb, one of the founders of the
Bahá’í Faith

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Baha’i employees suspend work on this day and will likely request to have this day off.

October 17

Tuesday

Birth of Baha'u'llah (Bahá’í) – Celebrates the birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the
Bahá’í Faith

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Baha’i employees suspend work on this day and will likely request to have this day off.

October 24

Tuesday

Dussehra (Hindu) – The tenth and final day of the Hindu festival honoring Asuj Navratras

None

November 12

Sunday

Diwali (Hindu) – A 5-day festival of light that combines several different festivals in honor of gods, goddesses, harvests, new year’s, etc. It is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains.

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date. Hindu employees will likely request a vacation day on this date.

November 15-December 24

Wednesday
Sunday

Nativity Fast (Orthodox Christian) – A period of abstinence and penance in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus

The rules of fasting are not the same during the whole time of the Nativity Fast. Provide food accommodation as requested.

November 26

Sunday

Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í) – Celebrates the appointment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the
Centre of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant

None

December 7 -
December 15

Sundown Thursday
Sundown Friday

Hanukkah (Judaism) – Festival of lights lasting for eight days. Hanukkah commemorates the Jewish struggle for religious freedom

Provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply—potato pancakes, doughnuts or other fried food is customary).

December 25

Monday

Christmas (Christian) – Annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus

National holiday in the United States, so special accommodations are likely not required.

December 26 -January 1

Tuesday
Monday

**Kwanzaa (Non-religious) - Week-long celebration honoring African heritage in African-American culture

Schools are usually closed during this time so specific accommodations may not be necessary