Mount Holyoke College has provided this list In support of our religiously diverse student population. Note that this list is not exhaustive. The Upcoming Observances tab shows the next 100 observances. The other tabs show observances for the three months as they are labeled.
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.
Thu, May 21, 2026
(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 giving of the Torah and Commandments at...
Fri, May 22, 2026
(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 giving of the Torah and Commandments at...
Sat, May 23, 2026
(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 giving of the Torah and Commandments at...
Sun, May 24, 2026
Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension.
Fri, Dec 25, 2026
Christmas celebrates the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Christmas is given more importance in Western Christianity than in Eastern. College offices are closed. Accommodation may be required...
Sun, Feb 1, 2026
This is a past event.
Marks the beginning of Spring. Also called Imbolg, Candlemas, Brigantia, The Feast of the Waxing Light, and Oimelc. Imbolc celebrates the increasing strength of the God, given as the first and...
Sun, Feb 1, 2026
This is a past event.
New Year of the Trees. One of four New Year's days, Tu B'Shevat (the 15th day of the month of Shevat) is the New Year's Day for Trees, and traditionally the first of the year for tithing fruit of...
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
This is a past event.
Celebration of the wedding night of Lord Shiva and his Consort Goddess Parvati.
Sun, Feb 15, 2026
This is a past event.
Memorial of the historical Buddha passing away. (Mahayana) Japan, North America
Tue, Feb 17, 2026
This is a past event.
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. It is a time of self-examination and...
Wed, Feb 18, 2026
This is a past event.
The beginning of Lent, the forty-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance and self-denial that precedes Easter.
Mon, Feb 23, 2026
This is a past event.
The forty-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance and self-denial that precedes Easter.
Wed, Feb 25, 2026
This is a past event.
Days of preparation for the Fast, marked by hospitality and charity to poor and sick.
Mon, Mar 2, 2026
This is a past event.
Commemorates the story of Esther. (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....
Tue, Mar 3, 2026
This is a past event.
Holiday associated with exuberant flinging of colored powders, celebrates the advent of spring and the enduring message that good will always be victorious over evil; light will always overcome...
Fri, Mar 20, 2026
This is a past event.
Celebrates Spring, also known as the vernal equinox. 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.
Thu, Mar 26, 2026
This is a past event.
Celebration of birth of Prince Rama, avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu, to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya
Sun, Mar 29, 2026
This is a past event.
Holy Week begins in the Eastern Churches the day after Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Friday.
Sun, Mar 29, 2026
This is a past event.
Feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Wed, Apr 1, 2026
This is a past event.
Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home, starting with the Seder, a ritual meal that...
Wed, Apr 1, 2026
This is a past event.
Holy Week begins in the Eastern Churches the day after Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Friday.
Wed, Apr 1, 2026
This is a past event.
The forty-day period (excluding Sundays) of prayer, repentance and self-denial that precedes Easter.
Wed, Apr 1, 2026
This is a past event.
Commemorates liberation of Israelites by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under leadership of Moses. (Work is prohibited on first and last two days)
Fri, Apr 3, 2026
This is a past event.
Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary.
Sun, Apr 5, 2026
This is a past event.
Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Thu, Apr 9, 2026
This is a past event.
Commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home, starting with the Seder, a ritual meal that...
Mon, Apr 20, 2026
This is a past event.
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 garden of Riḍván outside Baghdad. The...
Fri, May 1, 2026
This is a past event.
Honors life and fertility. 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 of the God...
Fri, May 1, 2026
This is a past event.
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 historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama.
Thu, May 21, 2026
(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 giving of the Torah and Commandments at...
Sun, May 24, 2026
Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension.
Wed, Oct 1, 2025
This is a past event.
(Day of Atonement) The conclusion of the 10 Days of Awe, Yom Kippur is the holiest and most solemn of all days in the the Jewish year. It is characterized by repentance, fasting, and forgiveness.
Mon, Oct 6, 2025
This is a past event.
(Feast of Booths) Observance begins at sundown. An eight-day Jewish festival of booths (or tabernacles) and the fall harvest. The name refers to the booths (sukkot) used by Israelites during desert...
Mon, Oct 13, 2025
This is a past event.
Shmini Atzeret (the Eighth Day of Assembly) is a separate holiday concluding Sukkot and the entire fall holiday season. It marks the beginning of winter in the land of Israel.
Tue, Oct 14, 2025
This is a past event.
Simcḥat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) is the beginning of the synagogue's annual Torah reading cycle. Reform Jews celebrate it along with Shemini Atzeret.
Thu, Oct 23, 2025
This is a past event.
The anniversary of the birth of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith.
Sat, Oct 25, 2025
This is a past event.
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.
Fri, Oct 31, 2025
This is a past event.
This day celebrates the Celtic New Year. The dying God returns to the womb of the Goddess in preparation for rebirth at Yule. The souls of those who have died during the turning of the past year's...
Sat, Nov 1, 2025
This is a past event.
A day to honour Christian saints throughout the ages.
Mon, Dec 8, 2025
This is a past event.
Anniversary of the historical Buddha's awakening. (Mahayana) Japan, North America
Mon, Dec 8, 2025
This is a past event.
A Roman Catholic feast day that celebrates the belief that Mary, mother of Jesus, was conceived without sin.
Sun, Dec 14, 2025
This is a past event.
The Feast of Lights (Feast of Dedication) is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the rededication of the Temple following the Jews' victory over occupying forces in 165 B.C.E., which...
