Major
Religious Holy Days for 2008-2009 Academic Year
Date(s)
Holy
Day
Faith
Tradition/Religion
Sep.
1
Ramidan
begins (30 days of Fasting)*
Islam
Sep.
4
Shri
Krishna Janamashtami
Hindu/Vedic
Sep.
30 - Oct. 1
Rosh
Hashanah**
Jewish
Oct.
1
Eid
al Fitr (End of Ramadan)*
Islam
Oct.
9
Dusserah
(Dushahara)
Hindu/Vedic
Oct.
9
Yom
Kippur**
Jewish
Oct.
14 - 20
Sukkot
(First 2 days of 7 days observance)**
Jewish
Oct.
20
Birth
of the Bab***
Baha'i
Oct.
21
Sh'mini
Atzeret**
Jewish
Oct.
22
Simchat
Torah**
Jewish
Oct.
28
Diwali
(Deepawali)*
Hindu/Vedic
Nov.
1
Feast
of All Saints+
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Nov.
2
Feast
of All Souls++
Roman
Catholic
Nov.
12
Birth
of Baha'u'llah***
Baha'i
Dec.
8
Feast
of the Immaculate Conception
Roman
Catholic
Dec.
8
Eid Al-Adha*
Islam
Dec.
22 - 29
Hanukkah
Jewish
Dec.
25
Feast
of the Nativity (Christmas)+
Roman
Catholic, Protestant & Orthodox^
Jan.
4
Feast
of the Epiphany+
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Jan. 7
Feast of the Nativity (Christmas)
Orthodox^^
Jan.
7
Aashurah
Islam
Jan.
10
Muharram
(Islamic New Year)
Islam
Feb.
25
Ash
Wednesday++
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Mar. 2
Great Lent begins
Orthodox^^
Mar.
10
Purim
Jewish
Mar.
21
Naw
Ruz, Baha'i New Year***
Baha'i
Apr. 9
- 16
Pesach (First
2 days of 8 days observance)**
Jewish
Apr.
9
Holy
Thursday++
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Apr.
10
Good
Friday
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Apr.
11
Holy
Saturday Vigil (begins at sundown)++
Roman
Catholic & Protestant
Apr.
12
Easter+
Roman
Catholic, Protestant & Orthodox^
Apr.
15 &16
Concluding
days of Pesach**
Jewish
Apr. 19
Pascha (Easter)
Orthodox^^
Apr.
21
First
Day of Ridvan***
Baha'i
Ninth
Day of Ridvan
Baha'i
May
2
Twelfth
Day of Ridvan
Baha'i
May
29 & 30
Shavuot
Jewish
Holy
Days in bold type face are considered very important holy days when students/employees
may be absent from school or work.
* Observance of Buddhist, Hindu/Vedic, and Islamic holy days is dependent on
the sighting of the moon. Please note that the dates listed above
may not be the exact dates but the closest approximates. Buddhists
observe the new moon and full moon as holy days.
** Observance of Jewish holy days begins at sundown of preceding day and ends
at one hour after sunset of the last day.
*** Observance of Baha'i holy days begins at sundown of preceding day and ends
at sunset of the holy days.
+ Roman Catholic obligatory feasts require attendance at service and avoidance
of servile work.
++ Roman Catholic traditional feasts are those days on which it is assumed that
the faithful will attend services and may exclude service work and include various
requirements of prayer and fasting.
^
Orthodox churches that follow the Gregorian Calendar.
^^
Orthodox churches that follow the Julian Calendar.
