Calendar of Holidays and Religious Observances

Embodying the culturally and spiritually diverse communities of West Chester University, this calendar of “Holidays and Religious Observances” serves as a resource to the campus community and provides information related to holidays, traditional observances, and major days of religious significance.

Faculty and staff may use this information to aid with the development of a class syllabus, planning for examinations, special programs, events and activities, or however it may be helpful. The information is not intended to be an all exhaustive list and may not cover all religious traditions represented in the West Chester community. As we update the calendar annually, every effort is made to ensure the information is as accurate as possible. If the calendar does not include a significant date of your religious or cultural tradition, please contact Mr. Hiram G. Martinez.

ODEI staff utilizes the Interfaith Calendar compiled by the Pew Research Center, Forum for Religions and Public Life, to compile the information on this page.

Major Religious Holidays with Work Restrictions

Several religions prohibit working on certain holidays. To aid staff, faculty and supervisors with scheduling events and activities, a short list of some holidays on which students, staff, or faculty may not be able to work or attend class is provided below. Again, please note the list below is not all exhaustive.

Please try to avoid conflicts in scheduling major meetings, exams and other major events and work with students, faculty and staff to accommodate these observances.

  • *Rosh Hashanah – Jewish
  • *Yom Kippur – Jewish
  • *Eid al Fitr – Muslim
  • *Eid al Adha – Muslim
  • *The Birth of the Bab – Baha'i
  • *The Birth of Baha'u'llah – Baha'i
  • *Mawlid – Muslim
  • *Naw Ruz – Baha'i
  • *NowRuz – Persian, Muslims in Iran, Zoroastrian
  • Christmas – Christian
  • Nativity of Christ – Eastern Orthodox
  • *Passover – Jewish
  • *First Day, 9th Day and 12th Day of Ridvan – Baha'i
  • Good Friday – Christian
  • Easter – Christian
  • Easter – Eastern Orthodox
  • *Shavuot – Jewish
  • *Declaration of the Bab – Baha'i
  • *Ascension of the Baha'u'llah – Baha'i
  • *Martyrdom of the Bab – Baha'i
  • *Ashura – Muslim
  • Vijaya Dashami, also called Dasara – Hindu

Additional Major Holidays

Major holidays that are important cultural or religious celebrations and observances but do not require students or employees to abstain from work are listed below.

  • *Ramadan – Muslim
  • Divali (Deepavali) – Hindu
  • Chinese New Year
  • Holi – Hindu

PLEASE NOTE:

  1. Many holidays are based on the lunar calendar and so their dates change from year to year on the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, some of the holidays are celebrated approximately around the dates listed (e.g., Islamic holidays).
  2. Dates above listed with an asterisk (*) denote holy days that usually start at sundown the night before the date.

Spring 2023

Date Holiday or Observance Religious Group Day of the Week
1/1 Shogatsu Shinto Sunday
1/6 Epiphany Christian Friday
1/7 Feast of the Nativity Christian Saturday
1/22 Asian/Lunar New Year– Year of the Rabbit   Sunday
1/26 Vasant Panchami/Saraswati Puja Hindu Thursday
2/2 Candlemas (St. Brigid’s Day) Pagan/Wiccan Thursday
2/22 Ash Wednesday Christian Wednesday
3/7 *Purim Jewish Tuesday
3/8 *Holi Hindu Wednesday
3/20 Vernal Equinox (EDT)   Monday
3/20 Spring Equinox (Ostara) Pagan/Wiccan Monday
3/21 Naw-Ruz (Baha'i New Year) Baha’i Tuesday
3/23 *Beginning of Ramadan Islamic Thursday
4/2 Palm Sunday Christian Sunday
4/6 Maundy Thursday Christian Thursday
4/6-7 *Passover (Pesach), 1st two days Jewish Thurs-Fri
4/7 Good Friday Christian Friday
4/9 Easter Christian Sunday
4/9 Palm Sunday Eastern Orthodox Sunday
4/12-13 *Passover (Pesach), concluding days Jewish Weds-Thurs
4/14 Holy Friday Eastern Orthodox Friday
4/14 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi Hindu/Sikh Friday
4/16 Pascha (Easter) Eastern Orthodox Sunday
4/21 *Ridvan Festival, 1st of 12 days Baha’i Friday
4/22 *Eid al-Fitr 1st day of Shawwal Islamic Saturday
4/29 9th Day of Ridvan Baha’i Saturday
5/1 May Day (Beltane) Pagan/Wiccan Monday
5/2 12th Day of Ridvan *Baha’i Tuesday

 

Summer 2023

Date Holiday or Observance Religious Group Day of the Week
June 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Sikh Friday
June 24 Litha Pagan and Wiccan Saturday
June 26 - July 1 The Hajj Islam Monday-Saturday
June 28 - 29 Eid al-Adha Islam Wed-Thurs
July 5 - 6 Fast of Tammuz Judaism Wed-Thurs
July 9 Martyrdom of Báb Baha'i Sunday
July 18 - 19 Islamic New Year Islam Tues-Wed
July 24 Pioneer Day Christian Monday
July 26 - 27 Tisha B'Av Judaism Wed - Thurs
August 1 Lughnasadh Pagan and Wiccan Tuesday
August 15 Feast of the Assumption Roman Catholic Tuesday

 

Fall 2023

Date Holiday or Observance Religious Group Day of the Week
September 5 - 6 Arba'een Islam Tues - Wed
September 6 - 7 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu Wed - Thurs
September 15 - 17 Rosh Hashanah Judaism Fri - Sun
September 18 Tzom Gedaliah Judaism Monday
September 21 - 29 Mabon Pagan and Wiccan Thurs - Fri
September 24 - 25 Yom Kippur Judaism Sun - Mon
September 26 - 27 Mawlid Islam Tues - Wed
September 29 - October 6 Sukkot Judaism Fri - Fri
October 6 - 8 Shemini Atzeret Judaism Fri - Sun
October 7 - 8 Simchat Torah Judaism Sat - Sun
October 15 - 24 Navarati Hindu Sun - Tues
October 16 Birthday of Báb Baha'i Monday
October 17 Birthday of Baha'u'llah Baha'i Tuesday
October 24 Dussehra Hindu Tuesday
October 31 Samhain Pagan and Wiccan Tuesday
November 1 All Saints Day Christian Wednesday
November 2 All Souls' Day Christian Thursday
November 12 Diwali Hindu/Sikh/Jain Sunday
November 24 Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur Sikh Friday
November 28 - January 6 Christmas Fast Christian Tues - Sat
December 3 - 24 Advent Christian Sun - Sun
December 7 -15 Hanukkah Judaism Thurs - Fri
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Friday
December 8 Bodhi Day Buddhist Friday
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast Day) Christian Tuesday
December 16 - 24 Las Posadas Christian Sat - Sun
December 21 - January 1 Yule Pagan and Wiccan Thurs - Mon
December 22 Asara B'Tevet Judaism Friday
December 24 Christmas Eve Christian Sunday
December 25 Christmas Day Christian Monday
December 26 St. Stephen's Day Christian Tuesday

 

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