Selected Religious Holidays and Celebrations 2007-2008
This calendar is offered by the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life as a resource to the entire Vassar community. As we seek to increase our understanding of the shifting religious landscape of our campus and wider culture, we hope this calendar will increase our familiarity with religious traditions and facilitate thoughtful planning of our schedules and activities.
The calendar below is not an exhaustive list either of religious traditions or of the holidays observed in those traditions. It attempts to list the holidays that may be observed by members of our community, based on our records of the religious traditions represented in our student body. You may also want to check the many websites on religious holidays, including the site maintained by PBS's "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly," available online at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/calendar.html
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (RSL) welcomes questions about and suggestions for this listing—our inter-religious staff can give you additional information or resource people to learn more about these holidays. While every effort has been made to provide clear and accurate information, some inaccuracies may remain—with the rest of the Vassar community, the RSL staff continue to learn what it means to make religious identity and formation a part of a liberal arts education. Please contact Sam Speers, Director, RSL Office, through our contact form or 845-437-5550 with your comments or corrections.
| Date | Holiday | Religion |
|---|---|---|
| September 12-14 (sundown Wednesday until sundown Friday) | ||
| Rosh Hashanah* | Jewish | |
| This marks the beginning of the Jewish year and the beginning of the High Holy Days or the Days of Awe. | ||
| September 13 (date may vary by geographic location) | ||
| First Day of Ramadan* | Muslim | |
| The lunar month of fasting begins. Adult Muslims abstain from food, drink, sexual activity, and other activities from dawn until sunset. | ||
| September 15 | ||
| Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu | |
| This day celebrates the birth of Ganesh, god of new endeavors and remover of obstacles. | ||
| September 21-22 (sundown Friday until sundown Saturday) | ||
| Yom Kippur* | Jewish | |
| The Day of Atonement, the end of the 10 Days of Awe, is devoted to prayer, repentance and fasting. The Sabbath of Sabbaths in the Jewish calendar, it is the most widely observed Jewish holiday of the year. | ||
| September 23 | ||
| Fall Equinox | Neo-Pagan/Wiccan | |
| This is a celebration of the transition from life to death, the harvest and bounty of the earth. | ||
| September 26-October 3 (sundown Wednesday until sundown Wednesday) | ||
| Sukkot* | Jewish | |
| The Feast of the Tabernacles commemorates the dwelling of the Israelites in the wilderness. Jews will build sukkot (booths) and spend time in them over the week. | ||
| October 3-5 (sundown Wednesday until sundown Friday) | ||
| Shemini Atzeret/ Simchat Torah* | Jewish | |
| The last day of Sukkot, this marks the beginning of the prayers for rain. Simchat Torah, the Rejoicing of the Torah (Law or Teaching), marks the end of the Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one. | ||
| October 7-8 (sundown Sunday until sundown Monday) | ||
| Lailat al-Qadr* | Muslim | |
| The Night of Power commemorates the night the first portion of the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (it was revealed over a period of 23 years). | ||
| October 12-20 | ||
| Durga Puja / Navaratri* | Hindu | |
| The festival of the Divine Mother celebrates the goddess Durga’s victory over the demon Mahisasura. | ||
| October 13 (date may vary by geographic location) | ||
| Eid al-Fitr* | Muslim | |
| The Festival of the Breaking of the Fast celebrates the end of Ramadan. The date of this festival is determined by the rising of the New Moon. | ||
| October 21 | ||
| Dussehra | Hindu | |
| This festival celebrates the hero Rama’s victory over King Ravana. | ||
| October 31 | ||
| Samhain | Neo-Pagan/Wiccan | |
| Pagans believe that on this night, the boundary between the physical and the spiritual world is thinnest and access to the knowledge of the dead is possible. | ||
| November 1-2 | ||
| All Saints’ Day / All Souls’ Day | Christian | |
| Celebrates the Christian Saints and those who have died. | ||
| November 9 | ||
| Divali | Hindu / Indian | |
| The Indian festival of lights celebrates many different sacred stories, depending on the region of the country. | ||
| November 24 | ||
| Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Sikh | |
| Commemorates the birth of the founder of Sikhism. | ||
| December 4–12 (sundown Tuesday until sundown Wednesday) | ||
| Hanukkah* | Jewish | |
| Festival of Lights marks the victory of the Maccabees and rededication of the Temple. It is a celebration of religious freedom and an affirmation of God’s saving power. | ||
| December 8 | ||
| Immaculate Conception | Roman Catholic | |
| Feast in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary ( Holy day of obligation). | ||
| December 8 | ||
| Bodhi Day | Buddhist | |
| In the Northern or Mahayana tradition, this day celebrates the Buddha’s attainment of Enlightenment. | ||
| December 20 (date may vary by geographic location) | ||
| Eid al-Adha* | Muslim | |
| The Festival of the Sacrifice commemorates Abraham’s devotion in offering his son as a sacrifice. This holy day occurs at the end of Hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca. | ||
| December 22 | ||
| Winter Solstice | Neo-Pagan / Wiccan | |
| The shortest day of the year symbolizes the natural cycle of life and death and the coming of light into the world again. | ||
| December 25 | ||
| Christmas | Christian | |
| The celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. | ||
| December 26–January 1 | ||
| Kwanzaa | African-American | |
| An African-American celebration honoring African community values and beliefs. | ||
| January 6 | ||
| Holy Epiphany | Christian | |
| A celebration of the epiphany (or manifestation) of Jesus’ divine nature. Eastern or Orthodox Christian churches commemorate the baptism of Jesus; Western churches commemorate the coming of the Magi or "Wise Men." | ||
| February 6 | ||
| Ash Wednesday | Christian (Western) | |
| This day marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer and repentance that precedes Easter. | ||
| February 7 | ||
| Chinese/ Vietnamese/ Korean New Year | Chinese Religions | |
| The most important holiday of the year in China and many other countries. This year is the Year of the Rat. | ||
| February 8 | ||
| Nirvana Day | Buddhist | |
| The Northern or Mahayana tradition celebrates the death of the Gautama or Shakyamuni Buddha, when he reached total Nirvana; in the Theravada or Southern tradition, the Buddha’s death is commemorated during Visakha, or Buddha Day (see May 20). | ||
| March 2-20 | ||
| Baha’i Fast | Baha’i | |
| Fast observed from sunrise to sunset each day. | ||
| March 6 | ||
| Mahashivratri | Hindu | |
| A major celebration for the devotees of Siva. | ||
| March 10 | ||
| Orthodox Lent (Clean Monday) | Christian (Orthodox) | |
| Eastern Orthodox churches begin the season of Lent, marked by fasting, prayer, and charity. | ||
| March 16-23 | ||
| Holy Week/Easter | Christian (Western) | |
| The most important Christian holidays, marking the Last Supper, Passion, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, with a day of holy observance on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday. | ||
| March 20 | ||
| Spring Equinox | Neo-Pagan/ Wiccan | |
| This day represents the rebirth of the year and celebrates the change of the seasons and the rebirth of the spirit after death. | ||
| March 20-21 (sundown Thursday until sundown Friday) | ||
| Purim* | Jewish | |
| This joyous celebration commemorates the victory of the Jews over their tyrannical enemy. The Jews changed the day marked for their destruction into a day of victory. | ||
| March 21 | ||
| Nav Ruz | Zoroastrian/Baha’i | |
| New Year celebration | ||
| March 22 | ||
| Holi | Hindu/Indian | |
| A very popular festival where people throw colored water or powder at one another to celebrate episodes of life of Krishna. | ||
| April 13 | ||
| Ramnavami | Hindu | |
| This day begins a nine-day festival in honor of Ram; the Ramayana, an Indian epic, is performed. | ||
| April 13 | ||
| Vaisakhi | Sikh/Hindu | |
| This day marks the New Year for Hindus and the formation of the Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh for Sikhs. It is the most important holy day for Sikhs. | ||
| April 13–15 (Dates vary depending on the region.) | ||
| Songkran/ Thingyan/Pi Mai Lao | Buddhist (Southeast Asia) | |
| These days mark the New Year for many countries in Southeast Asia. Cleansing rituals, which represent a cleansing of the soul and a washing away for the old year, are performed. | ||
| April 19–27 (from sundown Saturday until sundown Sunday; dietary restrictions apply throughout the period) | ||
| Passover* | Jewish | |
| Passover commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. On the first and second nights, Seders (a ritual meal) are conducted, retelling the Exodus story, so that Jews never forget that they were once slaves and that God helped set them free. | ||
| April 20–27 | ||
| Orthodox Holy Week/Easter | Christian (Orthodox) | |
| Eastern Orthodox churches observe Holy Week, including Holy and Great Friday (April 25) and Easter or Pascha (April 27). On Holy Friday, adults abstain from food and drink as their health allows. | ||
| April 21–May 2 (from sundown Friday until sundown Tuesday) | ||
| Ridvan | Baha’i | |
| These days commemorate the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the tradition, declared his mission; the 1st, 9th, and 12th days are holy days. | ||
| May 1 | ||
| Yom ha-Shoah | Jewish | |
| Holocaust Memorial Day | ||
| May 1 | ||
| Ascension Day | Christian (Western) | |
| The celebration of Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, which comes forty days after his Resurrection. | ||
| May 11 | ||
| Pentecost | Christian (Western) | |
| Pentecost celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ disciples and the founding events of the Christian church. | ||
| May 20 | ||
| Vesak (Buddha Day—and the name varies throughout Asia) | Buddhist | |
| Holiest of holy days in the Buddhist year, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha; some Buddhists only commemorate the birth of the Buddha on this day. | ||
| June 4 | ||
| Pentecost or Trinity Day | Christian (Orthodox) | |
| Celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit to the disciples; in the Orthodox Church, Pentecost also marks the full revelation of the Trinity. | ||
| June 8-10 (sundown Thursday until sundown Saturday) | ||
| Shavuot* | Jewish | |
| The Feast of Weeks celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. | ||
* Based on a lunar calendar
The dates of some holidays, particularly those that are calculated according to a lunar calendar and rely on sightings of the New Moon (e.g., Islamic holidays), vary according to region; other observances and dates (e.g., Buddhist holidays) vary greatly across cultures and strands of a tradition.
Acknowledgements: The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life gratefully acknowledges resources and help provided by numerous colleagues in the compiling of this list, including faculty colleagues at Vassar. Special thanks go to Kerry Maloney, Chaplain, Bates College; Ian Oliver, Chaplain, Bucknell University; and Richard Spalding, Chaplain, Williams College—for their generous sharing of resources and insights. The calendar listing above is adapted from the one compiled by the Chaplain’s Office at Bucknell University.