Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

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.

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.