You are here: 猫咪社区app University Student Affairs Spiritual Life Major Religious Holy Days

Major Holy Days of Observance 2024-2025 Academic Year

The diverse community of 猫咪社区app University celebrates many different religious and cultural holidays. In dedication to the AU mission of inclusive excellence, this calendar was developed by the Kay Spiritual Life Center as an informational tool聽to assist in planning academic, program, and event responsibilities. This list is not meant to be exhaustive of all holidays or observances, nor active religious communities on campus. The聽following dates may require accommodation and are observed by a meaningful proportion of the AU community.鈥

For Jewish and Islamic holidays, one should consider the observance beginning at sundown on the day before the holiday.鈥 Jewish holy days end one hour after sunset of the concluding day. Islamic holy days may vary depending on the sighting of the moon while Hindu holidays are determined by a combination of luni-solar calendar, regions, and sects.

Many religious traditions also observe specific times of fasting. Given the impact that fasting may have on a student鈥檚 ability to demonstrate their full academic potential, students may request alternative scheduling for exams and assignment during these periods. Such arrangements should be sought at the earliest opportunity in conversation with the professor, and we anticipate that a meaningful arrangement can be made.

Accommodations for Religious Observances

For some of the traditions represented on campus, the cessation of regular activities and/or work is a component of the holiday; this would impact a student鈥檚 participation in class and completion of assignments on those dates. It should be noted that preference to observe a religious or cultural holiday at a specific place or time, if not a component of the observance, does not qualify for an accommodation.鈥

The student is responsible for notifying their professor of conflicts with course materials and a religious or cultural observance in a timely manner. The expectation is that an arrangement can be made between the professor and the student. The student is responsible for managing the lost study and work time as a result of an observance. Students should not be penalized for excused absences and are required to make-up materials missed from an accommodation.聽聽聽

If you need to make a request for a religious accommodation, you can do so through our online form聽after first discussing with the professor.

If you have any questions about the policy or about religious observance, please contact the Office of the University Chaplain at KSLC@american.edu.

These are the obvservances that may require an accommodation:

Our communities will celebrate over 60

religious holidays during the year

Holy Days of Observance and Obligation
Month Date Holy Day Belief
August 26 - 27 Krishna Janmashtami Hinduism
September 7 Ganesh Chaturthi Hinduism
October 2 - 4 Rosh Hashanah Judaism
October 11 - 12 Yom Kippur Judaism
October 12 Vijaya Dashami/Dussehra Hinduism
October 16 - 18 First two days of Sukkot Judaism
October 23 - 25 Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Judaism
October 30 - 1 Diwali/Deepawali/Bandi Chhor Divas Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism
October 3 - 11 Navar膩tr墨/Durga Puja Hinduism
November 2 - 3 Twin Holy Birthdays/Birthday of Bab/Birth of Bah谩煤llah 叠补丑谩始铆
November 15 Guru Nanak Jayanti/Gurpurab Sikhism
November 24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikhism
December 25 Christmas Christianity
January 1 - 3 Gantan-sai Shinto
January 7 Julian Christmas Orthodox Christianity
January 15 Makara Sa峁卥r膩nti/Pongal Hinduism
January 29 Lunar New Year Cultural, Confucian, Taoist, Buddhist
February 25 - 26 Mah膩艣ivar膩tr墨/Shiv Ratri Hinduism
February 28 First day of Ramadan Islam
March 1 - 30 Ramadan Islam
March 1 - 19 Nineteen Day Fast 叠补丑谩始铆
March 19 - 20 狈补飞-搁煤锄/狈辞飞谤耻锄/狈补惫谤辞锄 叠补丑谩始铆
March 27- 28 Laylat al-Qadr Islam
March 30 - 1 Eid-al-Fitr Islam
April 8 Wesak / Vai艣膩kha P奴r峁噄ma (Mahayana) Buddhism
April 10 Mahavir Jayanti Jainism
April 12 - 13 First Two Days of Passover Judaism
April 14 痴补颈蝉补办丑墨 Sikhism
April 18 Good Friday Christianity
April 19 Holy Saturday Christianity
April 19 - 20 Last Two Days of Passover Judaism
April 20 Easter Sunday/Pascha Christianity
April 21 1st day of Ridvan 叠补丑谩始铆
April 29 9th day of Ridvan 叠补丑谩始铆
May 2 12th day of Ridvan 叠补丑谩始铆
May 12 Wesak/Vai艣膩kha P奴r峁噄ma (Theravada) Buddhism
May 23 - 24 Declaration of Bab 叠补丑谩始铆
May 28 Ascension of Baha鈥檜鈥檒lah 叠补丑谩始铆