{"id":86,"date":"2020-06-15T13:42:07","date_gmt":"2020-06-15T13:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religiousandspirituallife\/?page_id=86"},"modified":"2026-08-20T15:53:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:53:44","slug":"calendar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/calendar\/","title":{"rendered":"Religious Holidays and Celebrations"},"content":{"rendered":"<!-- Inserted by Dropdownizer plugin. Forces video embeds contained in dropdowns to have a size --><style>.dropdownizer__dropdown iframe { width: 100% !important; height: 100% !important; }<\/style>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below are many, but not all, of the religious holidays observed by members of the Vassar community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Please note that individual practices and dates may vary, including for holy days that are determined by the lunar calendar (e.g., the actual start date for Ramadan in the Islamic calendar is determined by the sighting of the new moon).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1Xb1jnFjm5yJEGXXgIt0O0amHo5FYtMwNEHP8HfyDiaQ\/preview?_gl=1*kelvv9*_ga*NTE5Nzk5NjQ5LjE3NTU3MTAxNzg.*_ga_GK60KNYSK7*czE3NjU1NTUzNjAkbzI3MCRnMSR0MTc2NTU1NzYxMSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.*_ga_2VMLM6WYG6*czE3NjU1NTUzNjAkbzIyMSRnMSR0MTc2NTU1NzU4MyRqMTAkbDAkaDA.&amp;tab=t.0#heading=h.1fob9te\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1Xb1jnFjm5yJEGXXgIt0O0amHo5FYtMwNEHP8HfyDiaQ\/preview?_gl=1*kelvv9*_ga*NTE5Nzk5NjQ5LjE3NTU3MTAxNzg.*_ga_GK60KNYSK7*czE3NjU1NTUzNjAkbzI3MCRnMSR0MTc2NTU1NzYxMSRqNjAkbDAkaDA.*_ga_2VMLM6WYG6*czE3NjU1NTUzNjAkbzIyMSRnMSR0MTc2NTU1NzU4MyRqMTAkbDAkaDA.&amp;tab=t.0#heading=h.1fob9te\"><strong>Religious Observances During Class Times Policy<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2026\u20132027 Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1uLs_4TEpkepTMWEVddf2vnXwtzcmLg1IbN1UJCh3HDU\/edit?usp=sharing\">Printable Religious Holidays &amp; Celebrations for 2026-2027<\/a> (Google Doc)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every Friday. Salat al-Jummah<\/strong>&nbsp; (Muslim\/Islam)<br>A weekly congressional prayer service that takes about 30 to 40 minutes between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. and includes both a sermon (khutbah) and prayer. The prayer is kept short so congregants can return to work or class afterwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every Friday. Shabbat <\/strong>&nbsp;(Jewish)<br>A weekly 25-hour Jewish observance from just before sundown Friday to an hour or so after sunset Saturday. There are many ways Jews observe Shabbat, including attending services, gathering for meals with friends\/family\/beloved, refraining from work, intentional or no use of technology, and more. Some Jews do not do any work on Shabbat including classwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Every Sunday. Worship<\/strong> (Christian)<br>For Christians, Sunday is the most important day of the week because it celebrates the Resurrection of Christ. For Roman Catholics, there is an expectation that members come together as a community to participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Catholic students have the opportunity to gather on Sunday evenings at Our Lady Seat of Wisdom Chapel at Marist University or at Vassar Chapel Tower Foyer at least once a month. Local Catholic parishes hold Mass on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings. Other Christian denominations may choose to attend a weekly Ecumenical Service on Sunday afternoons or connect with one of the many local ecclesial communities. Typically, these services are held in the morning and early afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Holy Days<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">July 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>July 10: Martyrdom of the B\u00e1b<\/strong> (Bah\u00e1\u2019i) - the memorial of the execution of The B\u00e1b<br><br><strong>July 22 - July 23:<\/strong> <strong>Tisha b\u2019Av<\/strong> (sundown Wednesday to sundown Thursday)<br>The saddest day of the Jewish year, marking the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and Jewish exile. Also used to mark other Jewish tragedies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">August 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>August 4-5: Arbaeen <\/strong>(sundown August 4\u2013sundown August 5, Shi\u2019a\/Muslim\/Islam)<br>The Shi\u2019a community ends the traditional mourning period over the tragedy of Imam Husayn, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Shi\u2019a are one of two main sects in the Muslim community, the other being Sunni. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day.<br><br><strong>August 15: Assumption <\/strong>(Friday, Catholic)<br>A Feast Day to celebrate the assumption of Mary, Jesus\u2019 mother, into heaven. A holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church.<br><br><strong>August 17: Nag Panchami<\/strong> (Monday, Hindu)<br>A day of traditional worship of Nag or the snake-deities. Nag Panchami falls on the fifth day in the month of Shravana according to the Hindu lunar calendar.<br><br><strong>August 24-25<\/strong>: <strong>Mawlid an-Nabi<\/strong> (sundown Tuesday\u2013sundown Wednesday, Muslim\/Islam) Some Muslim communities commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day. Planning: Most observances will happen in the evening.<br><br><strong>August 28: Raksha Bandhan<\/strong> (Friday, Hindu)<br>The tying of thread, talisman, or amulet on the wrist as a form of ritual protection. The protection is primarily offered by sisters to brothers, but also by priests to patrons, and sometimes by individuals to real or potential benefactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">September 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>September 4: Krishna Janmashthami<\/strong> (Friday, Hindu)<br>Annual Hindu festival that demarcates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of god Vishnu.<br><br><strong>September 11-13: Rosh Hashanah <\/strong>(sundown Friday to sundown Sunday, Jewish)<br>This marks the beginning of the Jewish year and is the first of the High Holidays and the 10 Days of Awe: Observances may include refraining from work, attending services, hearing the sound of the shofar, and holiday meals<br><br><strong>September 20-21: Yom Kippur <\/strong>(sundown Sunday to sundown Monday, Jewish)<br>The Day of Atonement, at the end of the 10 Days of Awe, and second of the High Holidays is devoted to prayer, repentance and fasting. The Sabbath of Sabbaths in the Jewish calendar, it is one of the most widely observed Jewish holidays of the year. Observance may include refraining from work, refraining from eating and drinking from sundown to sundown, and attending services.<br><br><strong>September 22: Fall Equinox<\/strong> (Tuesday, Pagan\/Wiccan)<br>A celebration of the transition from life to death, the harvest, and the bounty of the earth, as represented by the equal amount of sunlight and darkness.<br><br><strong>September 25 - October 2nd: Sukkot <\/strong>(sundown Friday to sundown Friday, Jewish)<br>The Feast of the Tabernacles is a Fall harvest holiday and commemorates the dwelling of the Ancient Israelites in the wilderness. Jews build sukkot (booths) and spend time in them over the week. Observance may include refraining from work on the first two days, as well as the last two days, and eating in the sukkah. All are invited to use the campus sukkah during this holiday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">October 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>October 2-3: Shemini Atzeret<\/strong> (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, Jewish)<br>The eighth day of Sukkot, this holiday coincides with the beginning of the rainy season in Israel, and incorporates prayers for rain and a good harvest. Observance may include refraining from work.<br><br><strong>October 3-4: Simchat Torah<\/strong> (sundown Saturday to sundown Sunday, Jewish)<br>A celebration of the Torah, this festival marks the end of the annual cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. Observance may include refraining from work and attending services. Some Jews observe Simchat Torah on October 2nd<br><br><strong>October 11-20:<\/strong> <strong>Navaratri<\/strong> (Sunday to Tuesday, Hindu) - A nine day festival dedicated to the Divine Feminine, often associated with Durga Ma, and the Goddesses Saraswati and Parvati.<br><br><strong>October 20: Vijayadashami<\/strong> (Tuesday, Hindu)<br>Hindu celebration of victory and valor. Lord Rama is remembered as winning a victory over evil.<br><br><strong>October 31:<\/strong> <strong>Reformation Day<\/strong> (Friday, Protestant Christian)<br>The Protestant Christian anniversary of their tradition and its emphasis on the place of the Bible and religious freedom.<br><br><strong>October 31\u2013November 1: Samhain <\/strong>(sundown Saturday to sundown Sunday, Pagan)<br>On this night, nearly halfway between the Fall Equinox and Winter Solstice, Pagans honor a liminal time when the boundary between the physical and the spiritual world is thinnest, and access to knowledge of the dead is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">November 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>November 1: All Saint's Day<\/strong> (Sunday, Christian)<br>Honors all the saints, known and unknown. A holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church.<br><br><strong>November 2: D\u00eda de los Muertos<\/strong> (Monday, Mesoamerican native and Christian)<br>A festive Mexican holiday when families remember their dead and the continuity of life.<br><br><strong>November 2: All Souls\u2019 Day<\/strong> (Monday, Christian)<br>A day commemorating the faithful departed. A day of prayer and remembrance for loved ones who have died.<br><br><strong>November 6-10: Diwali, also known as Deepavali<\/strong> (Friday-Tuesday, with a special emphasis on Sunday, November 8, Hindu, Jain, Sikh)<br>The festival of lights, celebrating the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.<br><br><strong>November 10: Birth of the B\u00e1b <\/strong>(Tuesday, Bah\u00e1\u2019i) A holy day celebrating the birthday of the Bab, the forerunner of the Baha\u2019i Faith.<br><br><strong>November 11: Birth of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h<\/strong> (Wednesday, Bah\u00e1\u2019i) A holy day celebrating the birthday of the nineteenth-century Baha\u2019i prophet, Baha\u2019u\u2019llah.<br><br><strong>November 13\u201316: Chhath<\/strong> (Friday to Monday, Hindu)<br>Native to the Madhesh and Mithila regions, Chhath is the worship of the Sun and his wife Usha, thanking them for bestowing the bounties of life on earth and to request the granting of certain wishes.<br><br><strong>November 15\u2013December 24: Nativity Fast<\/strong> (Sunday to Tuesday, Orthodox Christian)<br>The Nativity Fast begins forty days before the Nativity Feast (Jesus\u2019 birth) and is a time to prepare, through fasting and prayer, for the upcoming feast.<br><br><strong>November 25-26: Day of the Covenant<\/strong> (sundown Wednesday to Thursday, Bah\u00e1\u02bc\u00ed ) - celebrates the appointment of \u2018Abdu\u2019l-Bah\u00e1 as the Centre of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1\u2019s Covenant *Begins sundown November 25<br><br><strong>November 26: Thanksgiving Day<\/strong> (Thursday, Interfaith, USA)<br>Celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.<br><br><strong>November 29 \u2013 December 24: Advent<\/strong> (Sunday to Thursday, Christian). The season in which Christians prepare and expectantly wait for the birth of Jesus. In the Western Church, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas Day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>December 2026<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>December 4-12: Hanukkah<\/strong> (sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, Jewish) - the Jewish festival of rededication. Also known as the Festival of Lights, the eight-day festival is observed by lighting the candles of a hanukkiah (menorah).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>December 8: Immaculate Conception<\/strong> (Tuesday, Catholic)<br>A feast in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A holy day of obligation in the Roman Catholic Church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>December 8: Bodhi Day <\/strong>(Tuesday, Buddhist)<br>In the Northern or Mahayana tradition, this day celebrates the Buddha\u2019s attainment of Enlightenment.<br><br><strong>December 21: Winter Solstice\/Yule<\/strong> (Monday, Neo-Pagan\/ Wiccan)<br>The shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice symbolizes the natural cycle of life and death, and the return of light into the world.<br><br><strong>December 25: Christmas<\/strong> (Friday, Christian)<br>The celebration of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth in Bethlehem.<br><br><strong>December 26\u2013January 1: Kwanzaa<\/strong> (Saturday to Friday, African American)<br>An African American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community and culture, Kwanzaa is a secular observance with some religious participation. Seven life virtues are presented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2027 Dates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">January 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>January 1: Feast of Mary, Mother of God<\/strong> (Friday, Catholic)<br>A holy day of obligation during which Mary, the mother of Jesus, is celebrated.<br><br><strong>January 4-5: Laylat al-Isra\u2019wa al-Mi\u2019raj <\/strong>(Friday, Muslim\/Islam)<br>Prophet Muhammad ascended (al-Mi\u2019raj) to the Heavens on this day following a night\u2019s journey from Mecca to Jerusalem (al-Isra).<br><br><strong>January 6: Holy Epiphany\/D\u00eda de los Reyes\/Feast of the Theophany<\/strong> (Wednesday, Christian)<br>A celebration of the epiphany (or manifestation) of Jesus\u2019 divine nature. Eastern or Orthodox Christian churches commemorate the baptism of Jesus; Western churches commemorate the coming of the Magi or \u201cWise Men.\u201d<br><br><strong>January 7: Orthodox Christmas <\/strong>(Thursday, Orthodox Christian)<br>Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.<br><br><strong>January 22: Mahayana New Year<\/strong> (Friday, Buddhist)<br>Begins on the first full moon of January (actual date is not always predictable because the beginning is marked by the sighting of the full moon).<br><br><strong>January 22-23: Tu B'shevat <\/strong>(Sundown Friday to Sundown Saturday, Jewish)<br>The traditional Jewish New Year for trees, this holiday has become a modern celebration of earth and the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">February 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>February 6-7: Chinese\/ Vietnamese\/ Korean New Year<\/strong> (Saturday-Sunday, Buddhist\/ Daoist\/ Confucian) a fifteen day festival<br>Secular in origin; observed across religious and secular communities throughout East Asia cultural regions, excluding Japan. Celebrated as the most important holiday of the year in the East Asian Lunar calendar (also known as the Chinese lunar calendar). The holiday is observed primarily in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Vietnam and Korea, and also many Southeast Asian countries with significant populations from the above regions.<br><br><strong>February 7\u2013March 8: Ramadan<\/strong> (sundown Sunday February 7 to sundown Monday March 8)<br>This is the (lunar) month of fasting for all Muslims. Those who practice abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until sunset. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before. Since Muslims are fasting for most of the day, and for 30 consecutive days, they may experience fatigue. Each Muslim experiences Ramadan differently. Muslims may also be staying up late at night in worship or for community gatherings. The last ten days of the month hold special importance, especially March 5th or 6th (Laylat al-Qadr). Muslims stay up until dawn on many of these nights.<br><br><strong>February 10: Ash Wednesday<\/strong> (Wednesday, Christian)<br>The beginning of Lent, the 40-day period (excluding Sundays) of preparation, prayer and repentance leading up to Easter, the most important time in the Christian calendar.<br><br><strong>February 11: Vasant Pancham<\/strong>i (Thursday, Hindu)<br>A spring festival that is treated as the start of spring. This also marks the start of preparation for Holika bonfire and Holi.<br><br><strong>February 15: Nirvana Day<\/strong> (Monday, Buddhist)<br>This day is the celebration of the day when Buddha is said to have achieved Parinirvana upon the death of his physical body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">March 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 2-20:\u00a0Nineteen Day Fast<\/strong> (Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed) \u2013 fast observed by Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed adults\u00a0<em>*Fasting<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 6: Maha Shivaratri<\/strong> (Saturday, Hindu)<br>A Hindu festival in honor of Lord Shiva and his marriage to Goddess Parvati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 9-10: Eid al-Fitr<\/strong> (sundown Tuesday to sundown Wednesday, Muslim\/Islam)<br>This celebration marks the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting and is known as the \u201cFestival of the Breaking of the Fast.\u201d The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day. Muslims will go to the mosque in the morning to pray and spend the day with friends and family celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 15: Clean Monday <\/strong>(Monday, Orthodox Christian)<br>Eastern Orthodox churches begin the season of Lent, marked by fasting, prayer, and charity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 17: St. Patrick's Day<\/strong> (Wednesday, Christian)<br>Christian celebration of Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland in early days of the faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 20: Spring Equinox<\/strong> (Sunday, Neo-Pagan\/ Wiccan)<br>A day that marks the rebirth of the year, and celebrates the change of seasons and the rebirth of the spirit after death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 21: Naw Ruz<\/strong> (Sunday, Zoroastrian, Bah\u00e1\u2019i and Persian)<br>Celebrating the New Year. Marks the return of spring and symbolizes renewal.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 21\u2013March 28:<\/strong> <strong>Holy Week and Easter<\/strong> (Sunday to Sunday, Protestant and Roman Catholic Christian)<br>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>March 21: Palm or Passion Sunday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 25: Holy or Maundy Thursday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 26: Good Friday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 27: Holy Saturday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>March 28: Easter Sunday<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 22\u201323: Purim <\/strong>(sundown Monday to sundown Tuesday, Jewish)<br>This joyous celebration of the story of Esther commemorates the victory of the Jews over a tyrannical enemy. It is also a celebration of revealing hidden parts of ourselves and celebrating the fullness of our identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>March 22: Holi<\/strong> (Monday, Hindu)<br>A widely-celebrated festival during which participants throw colored water or powder at one another to celebrate episodes in the life of Krishna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">April 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 7: New Year <\/strong>(Wednesday, Hindu) The new year is celebrated at various times of the year, usually during spring harvest time, based on the solar or lunar calendars.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 13\u201315: Songkran\/Thingyan\/ Pi Mai Lao <\/strong>(Tuesday to Thursday, Buddhist)<br>These days mark the New Year for many countries in Southeast Asia. Cleansing rituals are performed, which represent a cleansing of the soul and a washing away of the old year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 15: Rama Navami&nbsp;<\/strong> (Thursday, Hindu)<br>The first day of a nine-day festival in honor of the birth of Rama. The Ramayana, an Indian Epic, is performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 18: Mahavir Jayanti<\/strong> (Monday, Jain)<br>A festival honoring Lord Mahavira on the founder's birthday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 20-May 1: The Festival of Ridv\u00e1n <\/strong>(Bah\u00e1\u2019i)&nbsp;<br>Celebration of Baha\u2019u\u2019llah declaring his mission in 1863.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 21-29: Passover<\/strong> (sundown Wednesday to sundown Friday, Jewish)<br>Commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. Seders, ritual feasts at which the story of the Exodus is recounted, are conducted on the first and second nights, followed by six more days of observance during which dietary restrictions apply.\u00a0Observance may also include refraining from work on the first two days, as well as the last two days<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Seder Nights: Wednesday, April 21st and Thursday, April 22nd.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>April 25-May 2: Orthodox Holy Week and Pascha<\/strong> (Easter) (Sunday to Saturday, Orthodox Christian). Eastern Orthodox churches observe Holy Week, including Holy Thursday and Great Friday and Easter or Pascha. On Holy Friday, adults abstain from food and drink as their health allows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>April 25: Palm Sunday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 29: Holy Thursday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>April 30: Great Friday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 1: Holy Saturday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>May 2: Pascha.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">May 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>May 3-4: Yom HaShoah<\/strong> (sundown Monday to sundown Tuesday, Jewish) - Holocaust Remembrance Day.<br><br><strong>May 6: Ascension<\/strong> (Thursday, Catholic and Orthodox Christian)<br>A Feast Day to commemorate the ascension of Jesus into heaven after his resurrection.<br><br><strong>May 16: Pentecost<\/strong> (Sunday, Christian)<br>Pentecost celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit and the founding events of the Christian church.<br><br><strong>May 16-17: Eid al-Adha <\/strong>(sundown Sunday\u2013sundown Monday, Muslim\/Islam)<br>One of the two main Islamic festivals celebrated by all Muslims (the other is Eid al-Fitr), this festival commemorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son and celebrates the end of the Hajj pilgrimage. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day. Many Muslims attend morning prayers and spend the day celebrating with family and community.<br><br><strong>May 23-24: Declaration of the Bab<\/strong> (Sundown Sunday-Sundown Monday, Bah\u00e1\u2019i) - celebration of the Bab\u2019s announcement that he was the \u201cgate\u201d to a prophet soon to reveal himself.<br><br><strong>May 24-25: Eid Al Ghadir<\/strong> (sundown Monday\u2013sundown Tuesday, Shi'a\/Muslim\/Islam)<br>This Eid is celebrated by the Shi'a Muslim community. It commemorates the time when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was said to have appointed Ali ibn Abi Talib as his successor. Shi'a are one of two main sects in the Muslim community, the other being Sunni. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day.<br>May 29: Ascension of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h (Saturday, Bah\u00e1\u2019i) - commemoration of the death of Bah\u00e1\u2019u\u2019ll\u00e1h, the founder of the Bah\u00e1\u2019i Faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">June 2027<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>June 10-12: Shavuot<\/strong> (sundown Thursday to sundown Saturday) - A harvest festival celebrating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Observance may include refraining from work and all night Jewish learning.<br><br><strong>June 14-15: Ashura <\/strong>(Monday-Tuesday, Shi'a\/Muslim\/Islam)<br>The Shi'a Muslim community honors this as a day of great mourning, marking the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, Prophet Muhammad's grandson. Shi'a are one of two main sects in the Muslim community, the other being Sunni. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day.<br><br><strong>June 6-July 4: Muharram<\/strong> (Shi'a\/Muslim\/Islam)<br>During this time, the Shi'a community honors the Hijra or migration of Muslims from Mecca to Medina in 622 C.E. It is the start of the first Islamic community. June 6 is also the first day of the first month of the Islamic year. Shi'a are one of two main sects in the Muslim community, the other being Sunni. The start date of a Muslim holiday is determined by the sighting of the new moon the night before, so it can vary by a day.<br><br><strong>June 20: Orthodox Pentecost<\/strong> (Sunday, Orthodox Christian)<br>Pentecost celebrates the giving of the Holy Spirit and the founding events of the Christian church.<br><br><strong>June 21: Summer Solstice <\/strong>(Monday, Pagan)<br>Midsummer, or the day of \u201csolstinium\u201d (\u201cstanding still of the sun\u201d) is associated with symbols of fertility, rebirth, the harvest and the bounty of nature.<br><br><strong>June 29: <\/strong>The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Tuesday, Christian)<br>A liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Below are many, but not all, of the religious holidays observed by members of the Vassar community. Please note that individual practices and dates may vary, including for holy days that are determined by the lunar calendar (e.g., the actual start date for Ramadan in the Islamic calendar is determined by the sighting of the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":227,"parent":0,"menu_order":2,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-86","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86"}],"version-history":[{"count":64,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1567,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/86\/revisions\/1567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/offices.vassar.edu\/religious-and-spiritual-life\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}