Religious Holidays and Holy Days
Major Religious Holidays and Celebrations 2019-2020
Below is a list of holidays, traditional days of observances and important days of religious significance. This is not a comprehensive list of dates and a more detailed list can be found at www.interfaith-calendar.org.
Please take note of the dates in UPPER CASE and RED. These require abstinence from all secular activity and fall under the attendance policy adopted by the University Senate and the Board of Trustees.
Dates with an asterisk (*) indicate holy days beginning at sundown the day before this date.
Dates with two asterisks (**) indicate that regional customs or moon sightings may cause a variation of this date.
DATE | HOLIDAY |
---|---|
August 12-15, 2019 | * ** Eid al Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) Islam |
August 23, 2019 | ** Krishna Janmashtami Hindu |
September 1, 2019 | * ** Al Hijra (Islamic New Year) Islam |
September 2, 2019 | ** Ganesh Chaturthi Hindu |
September 10, 2019 | * ** Ashura (Tenth of Muharram) Islam |
September 29, 2019 | Saint Michael and All Angels Christian |
September 29-October 8, 2019 | ** Navaratri Hindu |
September 30-October 1, 2019 | * ROSH HASHANAH Jewish |
October 8, 2019 | ** VIJAYA DASAMI (LAST DAY OF NAVARATRI) Hindu |
October 9, 2019 | * YOM KIPPUR Jewish |
October 14-20, 2019 | * Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Jewish |
October 20, 2019 | * BIRTH OF THE BÁB Baha’i |
October 21, 2019 | * Shemini Atzeret (Eighth day of Sukkot) Jewish |
October 22, 2019 | * Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) Jewish |
October 27, 2019 | ** DEEPAVALI (DIWALI) Hindu |
November 1, 2019 | All Saints Day Christian |
November 12, 2019 | * BIRTH OF THE BAHA’U’LLAH Baha’i |
December 1, 2019 | Advent (First Sunday) Christian |
December 8, 2019 | ** Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) Buddhism |
December 23, 2019 | * ** Mawlid-an-Nabi (Muhammad’s Birthday) Islam |
December 23-30, 2019 |
* Hanukkah |
December 25, 2019 |
Christmas |
December 26, 2019 - January 1, 2020 | Kwanzaa African/Interfaith |
DATE | HOLIDAY |
---|---|
January 6, 2020 | Christmas Eve Orthodox Christian (Old Calendar) |
January 7, 2020 | Christmas Orthodox Christian (Old Calendar) |
January 14, 2020 | New Year Orthodox Christian (Old Calendar) |
February 5, 2020 | Chinese New Year Buddhism |
February 26, 2020 |
Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) |
March 10, 2020 | * Purim (Feast of Esther) Jewish |
April 3, 2020 | * ** Lailat al Miraj (Muhammad’s Ascension) Islam |
April 5, 2020 | Palm Sunday Christian |
April 9, 2020 | Maundy Thursday Christian |
April 9-15, 2020 | * Pesach (Passover) Jewish |
April 9-10, 2020 | * PESACH (Passover first two days) Jewish |
April 10, 2020 | Good Friday Christian |
April 12, 2020 | Easter Sunday Christian |
April 12, 2020 | Palm Sunday Orthodox Christian |
April 14-15, 2020 | * PESACH (Passover last two days) Jewish |
April 19, 2020 | Easter Orthodox Christian |
April 24, 2020 | * ** First day of Ramadan (30 days) Islam |
DATE | HOLIDAY |
---|---|
May 23-24, 2020 | * ** Eid al Fitr (End of Ramadan) Islam |
June 7, 2020 | Pentecost Christian |
June 14, 2020 | All Saints Day Orthodox Christian |
July 9, 2020 | * Martyrdom of the Bab Baha’i |
While other religious holidays listed or not listed may not necessarily require abstinence from all secular activity, one should be sensitive to certain other observations that may involve fasting, a dietary change, or special celebrations that may occur during the day or in the evening. Jewish and Islamic days begin at sundown of the day preceding the date shown and end at sundown of the (last) date shown. Orthodox and observant Conservative Jews stop all work-related activities from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday to observe Shabbat (Sabbath). Other religious traditions include similar practices. For example, Seventh-day Adventists observe the Sabbath from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. For more information on religious holidays, visit the Center for American and World Cultures. The Interfaith Calendar and other sources were used to develop this document. Revisions to the calendar should be directed to provost@MiamiOH.edu.