Spiritual Life

Religious Holidays & Observance Days

Southwestern University for Religious Holidays, Observance Days, and Related Absences

Southwestern University is a community of members from diverse faith-traditions and members from no faith-traditions. We encourage students, faculty, and staff to be aware and respectful of the diverse religious observances of the University community members. Required accommodations exist for: Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Pesach (Passover), Good Friday, and Easter (see below for Southwestern’s Religious Observance Excused Absence Policy). Suggested accommodations may range: adjusted due dates, proctoring exams (if during fasting) at times best for student fasting, offering halal/kosher/vegetarian options when food is offered.

Major Holy Days 2024–2025

Major Holy Days 2023-2024

The days listed below are the ones most likely to affect the academic calendar.

NOTE: Dates in bold indicate holy days where work is prohibited or fasting is involved. An asterisk (*) indicates the holy day begins at sundown the day before this date and ends at sundown on this date.

Students seeking to request a religious accommodation may use this email template.

Date

Holy Day Name

Tradition

Brief Description

2024

July 17

Ashura

Islam

For Shias, a commemoration of the
martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson
of the Prophet Muhammad, at
Karbala. Only in the evenings.

Aug. 26

Krishna Janmashtami

Hindu

The birthday of Sri Krishna, an
incarnation of Lord Vishnu who
helped restore the balance of good
over evil.

Sep. 7

Ganesh Chaturthi

Hindu

Birthday of Sri Ganesha, revered
as the god of wisdom, prosperity
and good fortune and the remover
of obstacles. Start of celebration is
from 11:01am and ends at 1:30pm
(Time in India)

Aug. 31-Sep. 7

Paryushan
Parva

Jain

Eight-day Festival of Forgiveness
and Self-Discipline.

Oct. 2-4

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish

Beginning of the Jewish Year
and High Holy Days. Work is
generally prohibited. Start of
celebration is in the evening on
the 2nd and ends in the evening
on the 4th.

Oct. 3-12

Navaratri
&
Vijayadashami/
Dusshera

Hindu

Festival of 9 nights celebrating the
Goddess. 10th day is a festival
celebrating the Goddess’
triumph over evil.

Oct. 11-12

Yom Kippur

Jewish

The Day of Atonement. Most
solemn Jewish holy day. Adults
fast from food and drink. Work is
generally prohibited. Start of
celebration is in the evening on
the 11th and end in the evening
on the 12th.

Oct. 16-23

Sukkot

Jewish

The Feast of the Tabernacles.
Harvest Festival. Work is
generally prohibited on the first
two days. Celebrated in the
evenings.

Oct. 24

Shemini Atzeret

Jewish

Marks the end of Sukkot. Work is
generally prohibited. Celebrated
in the evenings.

Oct. 24-25

Simchat Torah

Jewish

Work is generally prohibited.
Marks end and beginning of
public Torah readings.
Celebrated in the evenings.

Oct. 31

Diwali

Hindu,
Jain, Sikh

Festival of Lights. Light symbolizes
a force against darkness,
ignorance, evil. Diwali is celebrated
over 5 days.

Nov. 1

Samhain

Wiccan/
Pagan

Festival of Darkness honoring the
dead. Celebrated in the evenings.

Nov. 1

All Saint’s Day

Christian

Honors all the saints known and
unknown.

Nov. 2

Birth of the Bab

Bahá’í Day honoring the birth of one of the
founders of the Bahá’í Faith.

Nov. 3

Birth of Bahá’u’lláhm

Bahá’í Work is suspended

Dec. 1

Advent

Christian

First Sunday of Advent

Dec. 9

Immaculate
Conception

Catholics

The day where the Virgin Mary was
free of original sin from the moment
of her conception.

Dec. 11

Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Jayanti

Hindu

Gita Jayanti is the date that Lord
Krishna revealed the Bhagavad
Gita, a Hindu sacred text, to Prince
Arjuna.

Dec. 12

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Catholics

According to Catholic tradition,
Mary, mother of Jesus, appeared to
Juan Diego, who was an Aztec
convert to Christianity, on
December 9 and again on
December 12, 1531. Juan Diego
was a young indigenous Indian
who was walking toward the Hill of
Tepeyac when he was stopped by
an appearance of the Virgin Mary.

Dec. 25

Christmas

Christian

Celebration of the Birth of Jesus
Christ.

Dec. 25-Jan.2

Hanukkah

Jewish

Festival of Lights. Marks the victory
of the Maccabees and the
rededication of the Temple in
Jerusalem.

2025

 

 

 

Jan. 7

Feast of the Nativity

Orthodox
Christian

Celebration of the Birth of Jesus
Christ.

Jan. 14

Makar
Sankranti

Hindu

A celebration marking the advent of
the Sun’s northern migration and
forthcoming Spring.

Jan. 27

Lailat al Miraj

Muslim

Commemoration of Prophet
Muhammad’s ascension to
Heaven. Celebrated in the
evenings.

Jan. 29

Chinese New Year

Confucian,
Daoist,
Buddhist

A festival marking the new year for
the Chinese calendar.

Feb. 25- 28

Ayyám-i-Há

Bahá’í

 

Feb. 26

Maha Shivaratri

Hindu

An evening celebration of the
wedding of Lord Shiva and
Goddess Parvati.

Mar. 1-19

Nineteen Day Fast

Bahá’í

Bahá’ís between the ages of 15 -
70 fast without food or drink
from sunrise to sunset.

Mar. 1-31

Ramadan

Islam

Holy month of fasting without
food or drink from sunrise to
sunset.

Mar. 5

Ash Wednesday

Christian

The beginning of Lent, a 40-day
fast and time of reflection.

Mar. 13-14

Purim

Jewish

Celebration of the story of Esther.
Celebrated in the evenings.

Mar. 14

Holi

Hindu

Festival of colors. A two-day
festival celebrates the advent of
spring and the message that good
is victorious over evil.

Mar. 20

Naw-Rúz (New Year)

Zoroastrian
and Bahá’í

Celebration of the Persian New
Year. Starts at 4:15 on the 20th
and ends at 4:15 on the 21st.

Mar. 31

Eid al Fitr

Islam

Holy day is celebrated to end
Ramadan. Celebrated in the
evenings.

Apr. 6

Rama Navami

Hindu

Celebration of the birth of Sri
Rama, an incarnation of Lord

Vishnu who helped restore balance
of good over evil.

Apr.12

Hanuman
Jayanti

Hindu

Celebrates the birthday of
Hanuman, foremost devotee of Sri
Rama and Sita.

Apr.13

Palm Sunday

Christian

Beginning of Holy Week, prior to
Easter.

Apr. 13

Vaisakhi

Sikh

Marks the formation of the Khalsa
(religious community of Sikhs) by
Guru Gobind Singh.

Apr. 12-20

Pesach
(Passover)

Jewish

Festival of liberation of Israelites
from Slavery in Egypt. Work is
prohibited on the first two and
last two days. Celebrated in the
evenings.

Apr.17

Apr.18

Apr.20

Holy/Maundy
Thursday,
Good/Holy Friday,
Easter

Christian

Commemoration of the Last
Supper of Jesus with the Disciples;
Commemoration of the Crucifixion
of Jesus; Celebration of the
Resurrection of Jesus.

Apr.20

Pascha

Orthodox
Christian

Celebration of Resurrection of
Jesus.

Apr.20 - May 1

Ridvan

Bahá’í

Commemoration of the 12 days
when the founder, Baha’u’llah,
declared a mission.

**Religious holiday dates may vary in observance since they are calculated on a lunar calendar, and because they are celebrated on various days around the world.

Southwestern’s Religious Observance Excused Absence Policy

Policy Reminders: One-time University events should not be scheduled during the following holidays; these are events which either (1) require attendance, (2) may not be mandatory, but those not attending would miss an important opportunity to be included in a campus event, and/or (3) are one-time opportunities for participants to receive the services offered: Eid al-Fitr, Eid alAdha, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Christmas Day, Pesach (Passover), Good Friday, and Easter.

Chapel Services: In addition to the above religious holidays, the following dates and times have been identified for Chapel services during the 2023- 2024 academic year. These are priority events which no student, faculty, or staff member may be denied the opportunity to attend because of a conflicting class, meeting, or event.

  • Interfaith Prayer Service for PEACE, Sunday, August 18, 2024, 5:00 p.m.
  • Spiritual Life Interfaith Fair, Sunday, August 25, 2024, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
  • Homecoming Worship Service, Sunday, October 27, 2024, 10:30 a.m.
  • Willson Lecture, Monday, October 28, 2024, TBD
  • Candlelight Worship Services, Thursday, December 5, 2024,
    6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.
  • Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, March 5, 2025, 12:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
  • Palm Sunday, April 13, 2025, 7:00 p.m.
  • Baccalaureate Worship Service, Friday, May 9, 2025, TBD

Religious Absences: Because the religious holidays listed above reflect some,
but not all, of the most commonly observed holidays, the University policies also permit any student to miss class to observe any religious or cultural holidays that are part of their tradition, including holidays that are not listed above. Students are expected to notify their professor of religious absences as far in advance as possible and fulfill missed assignments before the absence. Additionally, University policies permit faculty and staff, including student employees, to miss work in order to observe religious and cultural holidays that are part of their tradition, including holidays that are not listed above. This time off may be without pay or taken as accrued vacation time, and in the case of student employees, it can include a change in work hours within a pay period to accommodate the absence. The University policy notes that faculty members are still expected to meet their class schedules and should work with their Department chair or the Dean of the Faculty to arrange these absences.

These policies can also be found in the Student and Faculty Handbooks and on the Spiritual Life website: www.southwestern.edu/life-at-southwestern/spiritual-
and-religious-life/holidays/.