Statement on Academic Accommodations for Religious Holidays
This religious holidays calendar is not an exhaustive list of all religious traditions or of the holidays observed in those traditions. If we have not included a major religious holiday of significance to you, please notify Religious and Spiritual Life via email spiritual.life@northwestern.edu.
While we have made an effort to verify the accuracy of the information included here, some inaccuracies may remain. The dates of some holidays, particularly those that are calculated according to a lunar calendar (e.g., Islamic holidays), vary from region to region, and other observances and dates (e.g., Buddhist holidays) vary across cultures.
(language adapted from Harvard Divinity School's Multifaith Calendar webpage)
Calendar Key
Begins at sundown of the first day listed. | |
Ends at nightfall of the last day listed. | |
Significant work restrictions. | |
Involves fasting practices or food accommodations. |
Religious Holiday Calendar 2024-25
Find more information & schedules for Jewish High Holidays click here.
Fall 2024
Holiday |
Affiliation | |
Mabon |
Pagan, Wiccan | Sep. 22 |
|
Judaism | Oct. 2-4 |
|
Hindu | Oct. 3-12 |
|
Judaism | Oct. 11-12 |
Dussehra | Hindu | Oct. 12 |
Mawlid al-Nabi | Islam | Sept. 15-16 |
|
Judaism | Oct. 16-23 |
|
Judaism | Oct. 23-25 |
|
Judaism | Oct. 24-25 |
|
Hindu | Oct. 31-Nov 4 |
|
Bahá’í | Nov. 2-3 |
Samhain | Pagan, Wiccan | Oct. 31-Nov. 1 |
All Saints' Day | Christianity | Nov. 1 |
Día de los Muertos | Christianity | Nov. 1-2 |
Fatimiyyah | Shia Islam | Dec. 5 |
Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday | Sikh | Nov. 15 |
Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Roman Catholicism | Dec. 8 |
Hanukkah |
Judaism | Dec. 25-Jan. 2 |
Yule | Pagan, Wiccan | Dec. 21-Jan. 1 |
Christmas Eve | Christianity | Dec. 24 |
Christmas | Christianity | Dec. 25 |
Kwanzaa | Pan-African | Dec. 26-Jan. 1 |
Gantan-sai |
Shinto | Jan. 1 |
Winter 2025
Holiday | Affiliation | |
Bodhi Day | Buddhism | Jan. 18 |
Epiphany / Twelfth Night / Three Kings Day | Christian | Jan. 6 |
Christmas |
Orthodox Christian |
Jan. 7 |
Imam Ali's Birthday |
Shia Islam | Feb. 2 |
Lunar New Year |
Buddhist, Confucian, Taoist | Jan. 29 |
Mab'ath/ Isra | Islam | Jan. 26 |
Vasanta Pachami | Hindu | Feb. 2 |
Imbolc / Candlemas | Pagan, Wiccan | Feb. 1-2 |
Setsubun-sai | Shinto | Feb. 2 |
Nirvana Day | Buddhist | Feb. 15 |
Maha Shivaratri | Hindu | Feb. 26 |
Ash Wednesday |
Christian | March. 5 |
Magha Puja Day | Buddhist | Feb. 13 |
Mid-Sha'baan |
Islam | Feb. 13-14 |
|
Jewish | Mar. 13-14 |
Holi |
Hindu | Mar. 14-15 |
Ostara / Spring Equinox | Pagan, Wiccan | Mar. 20 |
Naw-Rúz |
Bahá’í | Mar. 20 |
Spring 2025
Holiday | Affiliation | |
|
Islam | Feb. 28 - Mar. 30 |
Palm Sunday |
Christian | Apr. 13 |
Mahavira-Jayanti | Jain | Apr. 10 |
|
Jewish | Apr. 12-20 |
Maundy Thursday | Christian | Apr. 17 |
Good Friday | Christian | Apr. 18 |
Vesak / Buddha Day | Buddhist | May 12 |
Easter | Christian | Apr. 20 |
Imam Ali's Martyrdom |
Shia Islam | April 1 |
Vaisakhi |
Sikh | Apr. 13-14 |
Pascha (Easter) | Orthodox Christian | Apr. 20 |
|
Islam | March 30-31 |
The Festival of Ridván | Bahá’í | Apr. 20-May 2 |
Imam Ja'far Sadiq's Martyrdom |
Shia Islam | April 13 |
|
Jewish |
Apr. 24-25 |
Beltane | Pagan, Wiccan | Apr. 30 - May 1 |
|
Jewish | June 1-3 |
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh | Bahá’í | May 28 |