Events Calendar
Religious Observances

Mount Holyoke College has provided this list In support of our religiously diverse student population. Note that this list is not exhaustive.

We are indebted to the Multifaith Action Society and Kerry Maloney, Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Harvard Divinity School for their collective efforts to provide an invaluable resource to us.

Upcoming Observances
Upcoming Observances Accommodation Possible

Buddhist Dharma Wheel

Losar - Tibetan New Year

Tibetan year 2147. Losar is celebrated for 15 days, with the main celebrations on the first three days.

2/23
 
Christian Cross

Shrove Tuesday (W)

Shrove Tuesday occurs the day before Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent in the Roman Catholic Church. ÒShroveÒ is the past tense of the word Òshrive,Ò...

2/25
 
Christian Cross

Ash Wednesday (W)

The beginning of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance and self-denial that precedes Easter. (Western Churches).

2/26
 
Christian Cross

Great Fast begins (E)

First day of The Great Fast (or the Great Lent), the 40 day period prior to the beginning of Holy Week, ending with Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm...

3/2
 
Mount Holyoke Sign for Generic Use

World Day of Prayer

A world-wide annual day of prayer hosted by women from Protestant, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic traditions. Celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the...

3/6
 
Star of David

Eve of Purim

(Feast of Lots) Observance begins at sundown. Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of ancient Persia from a plot to destroy them as related in the Book of...

3/9
 
Hindu Om

Holi

A religious spring festival celebrated by people throwing colourful powder and coloured water at each other. Holi is dedicated to Krishna or Kama.

3/9
 
Star of David

Purim

(Feast of Lots) Celebrates the rescue of the Jews of ancient Persia from a plot to destroy them as related in the Book of Esther, which is read at this time....

3/10
 
Sikh New Year's Day

Sikh New Year's Day

Beginning of the year 552 of the Nanakshahi era.

3/14
 
Zarathushti symbol

Ghambar Hamaspath-maedem begins

Occurs on the intercalary days (March 16 - 20) and celebrates the creation of human beings and commemorates passed souls.

3/16
 
Zarathushti symbol

Ghambar Hamaspath-maedem ends

Occurs on the intercalary days (March 16 - 20) and celebrates the creation of human beings and commemorates passed souls.

3/20
 
Bahá’í star

Naw-Rúz

Naw-Rúz (New Year 177 BE of the Bahá’í Era). Bahá’ís feast and celebrate during the evening. The first month of the Bahá’í year is Bahá’ (Splendour).

3/20
 
Pagan/Wiccan Pentacle

Ostara

Celebrates the return of the Goddess-as-Maiden, the courting of the Goddess by the God, and the reawakening of the seeds within the earth.

3/20
 
Zarathushti symbol

Now Ruz

Now Ruz (New Day) is New Year's day for 1389 AY or 3758 AZ in the Fasli (seasonal) calendar. It celebrates the renewal of the world and the creation of fire...

3/21
 
Zarathushti symbol

Birth Anniversary of Zarathustra

The birth anniversary of the Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), who was born at the beginning of the first millennium BCE. It is one of the most important...

3/26
 
Hindu Om

Ramanavami

Celebrates the birthday of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the God Vishnu. During the previous eight days, Hindus read the Ramayana, a Hindu epic, which...

4/2
 
Christian Cross

Holy Week begins (W)

Holy Week begins in the Western Churches on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter.

4/5
 
Christian Cross

Palm Sunday (W)

Celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. (Western Calendar)

4/5
 
Mahavira Jayanti

Mahavira Jayanti

Celebrates the birthday of Lord Mahavira (Great Hero), the 24th Tirthankara (and the last of this time cycle).

4/6
 
Star of David

Eve of Passover (Pesach)

Observance begins at sundown. Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and...

4/8
 
Star of David

First Day of Passover (Pesach)

Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home,...

4/9
 
Christian Cross

Maundy (Holy) Thursday (W)

Celebrates the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus.

4/9
 
Christian Cross

Holy (Good) Friday (W)

Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ, i.e., his submission to death by crucifixion. Accommodation Possible for special worship may be required for this...

4/10
 
Star of David

Second Day of Passover (Pesach)

Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home,...

4/10
 
Christian Cross

Holy Saturday (W)

The final day of Lent, of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum Ñ Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It is a day of vigil in preparation for Easter....

4/11
 
Christian Cross

Lazarus Saturday (E)

(Eastern Calendar) Commemorates the raising of Lazarus from the dead by Jesus (John 11:1-45). It is a day of both death and life, marking the final great...

4/11
 
Christian Cross

Easter (W)

Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It initiates the fifty-day period culminating in Pentecost.

4/12
 
Christian Cross

Palm Sunday (E)

(Eastern Calendar) Celebrates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

4/12
 
Christian Cross

Holy Week begins (E)

Holy Week begins in the Eastern Churches the day after Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Friday.

4/13
 
Mount Holyoke Sign for Generic Use

Saka New Year

Observed over two days, the Saka calendar's New Year's Day is a religious and cultural celebration for Sinhalese, Indians, Burmese, Kampucheans, Laotians and...

4/13
 
Hindu Om

Vaisakhi (Solar New Year)

The first day of the solar year, Vaisakhi celebrates the harvest. It is especially important in North India. Vaisakhi, as a Hindu festival, is celebrated in...

4/13
 
Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi

Vaisakhi is important for Sikhs because on this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru, removed the clerical system from Sikhism. Thus he...

4/14
 
Star of David

Seventh Day of Passover (Pesach)

Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home,...

4/15
 
Star of David

Eighth Day of Passover (Pesach)

Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home,...

4/16
 
Christian Cross

Holy Thursday (E)

Celebrates the institution of the Lord's Supper by Jesus.

4/16
 
Christian Cross

Holy Friday (E)

Commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ, i.e., his submission to death by crucifixion. Accommodation Possible for special worship may be required for this...

4/17
 
Christian Cross

Holy Saturday (E)

The final day of Lent, of Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum Ñ Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. It is a day of vigil in preparation for Easter....

4/18
 
Christian Cross

Pascha (E)

(Orthodox Easter) Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. It initiates the fifty-day period culminating in Pentecost.

4/19
 
Star of David

Eve of Yom HaShoah

(Holocaust Remembrance Day) Observance begins at sundown. Memorializes the six milliion Jews who died as victims of the Nazis during World War II and...

4/20
 
Bahá’í star

First Day of Riḍván

The Festival of Riḍván, termed by Bahá’u’lláh the “Most Great Festival” and the “King of Festivals”, commemorates the 12 days that Bahá’u’lláh spent in the...

4/20
 
Star of David

Yom HaShoah

(Holocaust Remembrance Day) Memorializes the six milliion Jews who died as victims of the Nazis during World War II and emphasizes respect for human dignity....

4/21
 
Islamic Mosaic

Ramaḍān begins

Ramaḍān is the month of fasting (ending with Eid Al Fitr) during which physically able Muslims do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn until sunset....

4/24
 
Bahá’í star

Ninth Day of Riḍván

The 9th Day of Riḍván is when Bahá’u’lláh’s family joined Him at the garden of Riḍván in Baghdad.

4/28
 
Zarathushti symbol

Ghambar Maidyozarem

Ghambar Maidyozarem (April 30 - May 4) celebrates the creation of sky and the harvesting of the winter crop.

4/30
 
Bahá’í star

12th Day of Riḍván

The 12th Day of Riḍván concludes this important Bahá'í festival.

5/1
 
Pagan/Wiccan Pentacle

Beltane

Also called Beltain, May Eve [April 30] and May Day, Beltane celebrates the conjoining of the infinite potential of the Goddess with the life-sparking energy...

5/1
 
Buddhist Dharma Wheel

Wesak (Buddha Day)

The most important day of the year for Buddhists. Coming on the full moon, it commemorates the birth, awakening, and passing away (paranibbana) of the...

5/7
 
Islamic Mosaic

Laylat al-Qadr

Also known as the, Night of Power, Laylat al-Qadr commemorates the first revelation of the Qur'an (Islamic scriptures) to Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE....

5/20
 
Christian Cross

Ascension (W)

The anniversary of Jesus's ascension into heaven and enthronement as universal sovereign. It comes forty days after Easter.

5/21
 
Bahá’í star

Declaration of The Báb

The birth anniversary of The Báb (Herald of the new age for Bahá'ís). His shrine is at the Bahá'í World Centre, Haifa, Israel.

5/23
 
Islamic Mosaic

Īd al-Fiṭr

Literally the Festival of Breaking the Fast, 'Īd al-Fiṭr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or...

5/25
 
Christian Cross

Ascension (E)

The anniversary of Jesus's ascension into heaven and enthronement as universal sovereign. It comes forty days after Pascha.

5/28
 
Bahá’í star

Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh

Marks the anniversary of the death of the founder of the Bahá'í faith.

5/28
 
Star of David

Eve of Shavuot

Observance begins at sundown. (Feast of Weeks) Shavuot marks the conclusion of the seven weeks following Passover. It is a celebration of the harvest of...

5/28
 
Star of David

First Day of Shavuot

(Feast of Weeks) Shavuot marks the conclusion of the seven weeks following Passover. It is a celebration of the harvest of first fruits and commemorates the...

5/29
 
Star of David

Second (Last) Day of Shavuot

(Feast of Weeks) Shavuot marks the conclusion of the seven weeks following Passover. It is a celebration of the harvest of first fruits and commemorates the...

5/30
 
Christian Cross

Pentecost (W)

Also known as Whitsunday in some Western churches, Pentecost is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus following his...

5/31
 
Christian Cross

Pentecost (E)

Pentecost is the commemoration of the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus following his ascension (Acts 2:1-11). It comes fifty days after...

6/7
 
Christian Cross

Trinity Sunday (W)

A celebration of the Christian understanding of God in Three Persons (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). It comes one week after Pentecost. (Western Churches)

6/7
 
Christian Cross

All Saints Day (E)

A day to honor Christian saints throughout the ages. (Eastern Churches)

6/14
 
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji

Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563-1606) was the first Sikh Martyr and the fifth Guru. He built the Harimandir Sahib (Home of the Divine) in which Sikhs could meet to...

6/16
 
Pagan/Wiccan Pentacle

Litha

Also called Midsummer's Eve, Litha celebrates the consummation of the sacred marriage in which the energy of the God is poured out in the service of life....

6/20
 
Zarathushti symbol

Ghambar Maidyoshem begins

Ghambar Maidyoshem (June 29 - July 4) celebrates the creation of water, the sowing of the summer crop and the harvesting of grain.

6/29
 
Zarathushti symbol

Ghambar Maidyoshem ends

Ghambar Maidyoshem (June 29 - July 4) celebrates the creation of water, the sowing of the summer crop and the harvesting of grain.

7/3
 
Buddhist Dharma Wheel

Asalha Puja (Dhamma Day)

Asalha Puja (Dhamma Day) commemorates the BuddhaÕs first discourse, given to the five monks at the Deer Park at Sarnath, near Varanasi. The day is observed...

7/5
 
Bahá’í star

Martyrdom of The Báb

The Martyrdom of The Báb memorializes His death.

7/9
 
Star of David

Eve of Tisha B'Av

Observance begins at sundown. Tisha B'Av, the Ninth day of the month of Av, is a major fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples...

7/29
 
Islamic Mosaic

Day of Arafat/Day of Hajj

This day commemorates the last revelation to Prophet Muhammad at Mount Arafat shortly before his death. Muslims on _ajj (pilgrimage) attend a service on the...

7/30
 
Star of David

Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av, the Ninth day of the month of Av, is a major fast day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in ancient...

7/30
 
Islamic Mosaic

Īd al-Aḍḥá

Also called the Festival of Sacrifice, this day is the concluding act of pilgrimage and is observed even when not on pilgrimage. As Abraham offered his son,...

7/31
 
Pagan/Wiccan Pentacle

Lammas

(Also called Lughnasad) Lammas is the celebration of the grain harvest, the Harvest of First Fruits. Many traditions celebrate Lammas as the funeral of Lugh,...

8/1
 
Hindu Om

Raksha Bandhan

Raksha Bandhan (tying on protection) is a festival in which married and unmarried girls and women tie amulets on the wrists of their brothers for protection...

8/3
 
Christian Cross

Transfiguration (W, E - New Calendar)

Transfiguration celebrates the appearance of Jesus in a transfigured state during his earthly life to three of his disciples.

8/6
 
Hindu Om

Sri Krishna Jayanti

(Also called Janmashtami) celebrates the birthday of Krishna, the eighth of the 10 incarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu. Krishna is considered the preserver...

8/11
 
Paryushana-parva begins

Paryushana-parva begins

The holiest period of the year for the ascetic Shvetambara sect. This 8 day period, concluding on Samvatsari, is a time of dedication to Jain ideals through...

8/17
 
Christian Cross

Transfiguration (E - Old / Julian Calendar)

Transfiguration celebrates the appearance of Jesus in a transfigured state during his earthly life to three of his disciples.

8/19
 
Islamic Mosaic

First of Muḥarram (New Year's Day, 1442 AH)

The First of Muḥarram (first month of the Islamic year 1442 AH) celebrates the Ḥijra (migration) of Muḥammad and his followers in 622 CE, from Mecca to...

8/20
 
Find Events
Accommodation Form
Switch to January 2020 Switch to March 2020

February

Calendar Date Navigation
S M T W T F S
2627282930311
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
Other Calendars