A sunrise over the Grand Canyon.

Interfaith Observances

Holiday Religion Description Accommodations
Eid al Adha Islam This holiday honors the belief in sacrifice for religion Many observers take off from school and work
Rosh Hashanah Jewish This holiday marks the start of the Jewish New Year and is the day of judgment and remembrance Many Jews will take time off from school and work for a day of prayer in the synagogue
Navaratri Hindu This holiday celebrates the triumph of good over evil. During this time, Hindus worship Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. Many Hindus will visit their mothers during this time, some will fast. The holiday ends with Dussehra, on which some Hindus may take time off from school and work.
Mabon / Alban Elfed / Autumnal Equinox Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday offers a time to offer gratitude for the blessings of the harvest and also to begin to prepare for turning inward, at it marks the equinox of Summer and Autumn No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Yom Kippur Jewish This holiday is the day of atonement and abstinence. This marks the holiest day of the year for Jews. Many Jews will fast and take time off from school and work for a day of prayer in the synagogue
Sukkot Jewish This holiday commemorates the Exodus of Jews from Egypt to Israel and the survival of Jews off of the land Work holiday depends on denomination
Shemini Atzeret Jewish This is a festival that honors the Jewish dead, as well as hopes for rain and fertility in Israel No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Simchat Torah Jewish This holiday marks the completion of the cyclical reading of the Torah and begins the next. No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Diwali Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain This holiday celebrates the festival of lights, the triumph of good over evil and a commitment to hope, goodwill and friendship Many Hindus will take time off from school and work for celebration
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh Baha’i This holiday celebrates the birthday of Bahá’u’lláh, one of the Baha’i faith’s most important figures. Baha’i observers will likely take this day off from school and work
Samhain Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday marks the Wiccan New Year and a time to reflect on the past year while honoring those who have died and welcome those who will be born. No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Feast of All Saints Catholic (and some Christian Churches) This holiday is dedicated to the Saints of the Church (all those souls who have attained heaven) Some observers may need time off from work/school
Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Sikh This holiday marks the birth of the first Sikh Guru Many Sikh observers will take the day off from school and work
Mawlid an Nabi Islam This holiday celebrates the birthday of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. Muslim observers may take off from school or work
Bodhi Buddhist This holiday marks the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama became enlightened No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic This holiday commemorates the conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Some observers may need time off from work/school
Hanukkah Jewish This holiday marks the festival of lights and the Jewish struggle of religious freedom in Syrian Greece No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Yule / Midwinter / Alban Arthan / Winter Solstice Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday is seen as the Pagan New Year. Yule celebrates the rebirth of the solstice sun. No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Christmas Christian This holiday is an annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christianity’s most important figure No accommodations necessary, the University is closed as U.S. recognizes this as a federal holiday
Gantan-sai Shinto This holiday is the annual New Year festival of the Shinto religion Shinto observers may take off this day off from school and work
Mahayana New Year Buddhist This holiday marks the New year for some Mahayana Buddhists, however most celebrate this holiday on the secular New Year No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Epiphany / Twelfth Night / Three Kings Day Christian / Roman Catholic and Protestant This holiday marks the time the three wise men arrived in Bethlehem and presented gifts to the baby Jesus No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Eastern Orthodox Christmas Eastern Orthodox Christian This holiday is an annual celebration commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, Christianity’s most important figure Observers are likely to take the day off
Maghi Sikh This holiday is celebrated throughout India as the harvest festival and the marking of the agricultural New Year. No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
World Religion Day Baha’i This holiday is a celebration of all religions and an acknowledgment in the spiritual purpose of unifying humanity No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Vasant Panchami Hindu This holiday celebrates the coming of spring in the Hindu faith Some Hindu observers may take time off from school or work for this celebration
Tu BiShvat Jewish This holiday marks one of the four Jewish new years, this one celebrating trees No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Imbolc – Lughnassah Wicca/Pagan This holiday marks the beginning of the harvest season No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Setsebun sai Shinto This holiday marks the coming of spring in the Shinto religion Many Shinto observers may take time off for this holiday
Maha Shivaratri Hindu This holiday celebrates and honors of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity Many Hindus may take time off from work or school
St. Valentine’s Day Christian This holiday celebrates romantic love my commemorating St. Valentine of Rome No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ash Wednesday Catholic Beginning of 40 day period of fasting, prayer and almsgiving in preparation of Easter Some observers may need time off from work/school
Nirvana Day Buddhist – Jain – Sikh This holiday celebrates the day that Buddha achieved complete Nirvana Some Buddhist observers may take time off from school or work
Chinese New Year Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist This festival celebrates the turn of the traditional Chinese calendar, the coming of spring and honors ancestors and deities. Many observers may take time off for this celebration
Great Lent begins – Clean Monday Christian This day marks the beginning of a six week period in which Christians give up some sort of luxury No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ayyám-i-Há Baha’i This festival marks the days before the fasting month of the Baha’i faith No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Orthodox Sunday Orthodox Christian
Purim Jewish This holiday celebrates the saving of Jews from genocide in the book of Esther No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Nineteen Day Fast Baha’i This fast is a nineteen day period in which people of the Baha’i faith participate in a sunrise to sunset fast which brings them closer to God Understand that Baha’i students may experience a lack of energy from this fast.
Hola Mohalla Sikh This holiday is a one-day festival in celebration of Holi Many Sikhs may take time off from work or school
Holi Hindu This holiday is the festival of colors and sharing love Many Hindus may take time off from work or school
St. Patrick’s Day Christian This holiday commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ugadi Hindu This holiday marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ramayana Hindu This holiday presents the teachings of ancient Hindu sages in narrative allegory Many Hindus may take time off from work or school
St. Joseph’s Day Christian This holiday commemorates Saint Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ostara / Alban Eilir / Spring Equinox Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday is one of eight major annual sabbats or festivals, this one marking a time of conception and fertility No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Naw-Rúz Baha’i This holiday marks the first day of the Baha’i calendar and the first of 9 holy days Many Baha’i observers may take time off from school or work
Palm Sunday Orthodox Christian This holiday commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ramanavami Hindu This holiday celebrates the birth of the god Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya Many Hindu observers may take time off from school or work
Khordad Sal Zoroastrian This holiday is the celebration of the birth of Zoroaster, the founder of the Zoroastrianism religion Many observers may take time off from school or work
Mahavir Jayanti Jain This holiday celebrates the birth of Mahavira, twenty-fourth and the last of the Teaching Gods Many observers may take time off from school or work
Good Friday Christian This holiday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary No accommodations necessary, the university is closed for this holiday
Passover Jewish This holiday celebrates the exodus of Jews from Egypt Many Observers may take time off from school or work
Lazarus Saturday Orthodox Christian This holiday is the Christian celebration of the raising of Lazarus of Bethany No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Hanuman Jayanti Hindu This holiday celebrates the birth of Hanuman, the Vanara god Many observers may take time off from school or work
Lord’s Evening Meal Jehovah’s Witness This holiday is in memorial of the death of Jesus Christ Many observers may take time off from school or work
Magha Puja Day Buddhist This holiday is a celebration in honor of the Buddhist community Many Buddhists are likely to take off from school and work.
Easter Christian This holiday is the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ No accommodations necessary, the university is closed for this holiday
Yom HaShoah Jewish This day memorializes the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust. No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Lailat al Miraj Islam This holiday commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Baisakhi Sikh This holiday celebrates the harvest festival in the Punjabi and Sikh religions No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
First Day of Ridvan Baha’i This holiday marks the first day of a 12-day festival celebrating Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration that he was a Manifestation of God Many observers may take time off from school or work
4/29/2018 Ninth Day of Ridvan Baha’i This holiday marks the ninth day of a 12-day festival celebrating Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration that he was a Manifestation of God Many observers may take time off from school or work
Visakha Puja Buddhist This holiday commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha Many observers may take time off from school or work
Theravadin New Year Buddhist This holiday is the New year for Buddhists in Theravadin countries Many observers may take time off from school or work
Beltane Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This festival marks the coming of Summer No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Lailat al Bara’ah Islam This holiday marks the night when Allah forgives sinners and determines the fortune of all people. It also is a day in which Muslims honor deceased family. Many observers will take the night off from school or work
Twelfth Day of Ridvan Baha’i This holiday marks the last day of a 12-day festival celebrating Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration that he was a manifestation of God Many observers may take time off from school or work
Ascension of Jesus Christian This holiday marks when Jesus’ resurrected body was taken to heaven some observers may need time off from work/school
Ramadan Begins Islam This holiday is the beginning of a month of fasting for Muslims to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad. Understand that Muslim students may experience a lack of energy due to this fast
Shavuot Jewish This holiday marks the wheat harvest in Israel and the day that the Torah was given from God at Mount Sinai No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Pentecost Christian This holiday celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Declaration of the Bab Baha’i This holiday celebrates the Bab’s first message from God No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Ascension of Baha’u’llah Baha’i This holiday commemorates the death of the baha’u’llah, the founder of Baha’i Many observers may take time off from school or work
Laylat al Qadr Islam This holiday celebrates the night when the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Eid al Fitr Islam This holiday is the festival of breaking the Ramadan fast Many observers may take time off from school or work
Guru Arjan martyrdom Sikh This holiday commemorates the first martyr of the Sikh faith Many observers may take time off from school or work
Litha / Midsomer / Alban Hefin / Summer Solstice Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday celebrates the longest day of the year, the start of summer and the belief of the goddess mother earth and the sun king god No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Martyrdom of the Bab Baha’i This holiday commemorates the death of the Bab, Baha’i belief of the Manifestation of God Many observers may take time off from school or work
Obon Shinto This holiday is a Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Tish’a B’av Jewish This is a day to memorialize the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Pioneer Day Mormon Christian This holiday commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into Utah Many observers may take time off from school or work
Asalha Puja Day Buddhist This holiday celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon. Many observers may take time off from school or work
Lammas / Lughnasadh Pagan, Wiccan, Druid This holiday marks the beginning of the harvest season No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic This holiday commemorates the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life Some observers may need time off from work/school
8/26/2018 Raksha Bandhan Hindu This holiday celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters No significant accommodations are typically needed for observers
Krishna Janmashtami Hindu This holiday celebrates the birth of the Hindu deity Krishna Many observers may take time off from school or work
Paryushana Parva Jain This holiday marks a time when the laity take on vows of study and fasting Many observers may take time off from school or work