Religious Holidays & Observances Calendar

Case Western Reserve University, the Office of the Dean of Students, and the Interreligious Council (IRC) promotes the celebration of our culturally and spiritually diverse community and align our core values for a welcoming, inclusive institution. CWRU acknowledges that, on occasion, religious holidays and observances might preclude members of our community, including students, faculty, and staff from participating in academic, professional, and regular duties.

CWRU is committed to ensuring that all members of our community act and engage in good faith efforts when seeking or responding to requests related to religious holidays and observances. The Office of Student Affairs and Office of Equity have established policies for Religious Accommodations and Religious Holidays. The Office of Equity is available to provide guidance, resources, and procedures regarding requests of Religious Accommodations. To review the Office of Equity's presentation/training module about Religious Accommodations, please visit this link. Holiday closings that are included in the University's official Academic Calendar can be viewed here.  The University's main schedule of closings and holidays can be viewed here.

Any student who is unable to attend classes or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day because of their religious beliefs is excused from any such activity. The student will be given the opportunity to make up the examination or work that is missed, provided that the make-up work does not create any unreasonable burden upon the University. When possible, students should give notice to instructors early in the semester about missing class because of a religious observance.

Faculty should accommodate any student who is unable to attend class or participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day because of their religious beliefs. The student will be given the opportunity to make up the examination or work that was missed, provided that the make-up work does not create an unreasonable burden upon the University. Faculty should request that students give notice to instructors as early as possible in the semester.
Source: Faculty Handbook, Chapter 4, Article XVII (page 168)

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS/OBSERVANCES CALENDAR* 

The following calendar is not an exhaustive list of recognized religious observances; therefore, some faith, religious, and spiritual traditions might not be represented on this calendar. In some traditions, the holiday or observance will begin at sundown the evening before the dates listed below. Additionally, in some traditions, local and regional customs may create variation in the date of observance for certain holidays or dates may not be fixed but depend on the lunar calendar or phases of the moon. Not all of the holidays and observances listed below include work restrictions that will interfere with class attendance or professional/work duties.

**Usually begins at sundown the day before this date.

***Local or regional customs may result in variations of this date. Actual date(s) may vary per the moon sighting.

Holiday/Observance Faith, Religion, or Spiritual Tradition 2022 Date 2023 Date 2024 Date
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Roman Catholic January 1 January 1 January 1
Shogatsu Shinto January 1 January 1 January 1
Epiphany or Three Kings Day Christian January 6 January 6 January 6
Maghi Sikh January 13 January 13 January 13
Makar Sankranti Hindu January 14 January 15 January 15
World Religion Day Baha'i January 16 January 15 January 21
Tu BiShvat Judaism January 16 - 17 February 5-6 January 24-25
Mahayana (Lunar) New Year - 3 days*** Buddhist January 30 January 30 January 25
 
Candlemas Christian February 2 February 2 February 2
Setsubun Shinto February 3 February 3 February 3
Tu BiShvat Judaism January 16 - 17 February 5-6 January 24-25
Nirvana Day*** Buddhist February 15 February 15 February 15
Lent Christian March 2 - April 14 February 22 - April 8 February 14 - March 30
Festival of Ayyam-i-Ha Baha'i February 25 - March 1 February 25 - March 1 February 25 - March 1
 
Maha Shivaratri Hindu March 1 March 1 March 8
Lailat al Miraj Islam March 1 March 1 February 6 - 7
Ash Wednesday Christian March 2 February 22 February 14
Lent Christian March 2 - April 14 February 22 - April 8 February 14 - March 30
Ta'anit Esther Judaism March 16 March 16 March 23
Purim Judaism March 16 - 17 March 6-7 March 23-24
Holi Hindu/Sikh/
Buddhist/Jain
March 18 March 7 March 25
Mid-Sha'ban Islam March 18 - 19 March 18 - 19 February 24 -25
Hola Mohalla Sikh March 18 - 20 March 8 - 10 March 25 - 27
Feast of St. Joseph Roman Catholic March 19 March 19 March 19
Naw Rúz** Baha'i/Zoroastrian March 21 March 21 March 20
Magha Puja*** Buddhist March 30 March 30 March 30
 
Ramadan*** Islam April 2 - May 2 March 22 - April 20 March 10 - April 9
Palm Sunday Christian April 10 April 2 March 24
Maundy (Holy) Thursday Christian April 14 April 6 March 28
Vaisakhi Hindu/ Sikh April 14 April 13 April 13
Mahavir Jayanti Jain April 14 April 4 April 21
Good Friday Christian April 15 April 7 March 29
Passover Judaism April 15 - 23 April 5 - 13 April 22 - 30
Holy Saturday Christian April 16 April 8 March 30
Easter Sunday Christian April 17 April 9 March 31
Easter/Pascha (Orthodox) Christian April 24 April 16 May 5
Yom HaShoah Judaism April 27 - 28 April 17 - 18 May 5 - 6
Laylat al-Qadr Islam April 29 April 18 April 6
 
Eid-al-Fitr*** Islam May 2 - 3 April 21 - 22 April 10 - 12
Yom HaZikaron Judaism May 3 - 4 April 24 - 25 May 12 - 13
Yom HaAtzma'ut Judaism May 4 - 5 April 25 - 26 May 13 - 14
Vesak Buddhist May 6 June 2  May 22
Lag B'Omer Judaism May 18 - 19 May  8 - 9  May 25 - 26
 
Shavout Judaism June 4 - 6 May 25 - 27 June 11 - 13
Pentecost Sunday Christian June 5 May 28  May 19 
Guru Arjan Martydom Sikh June 16  June 16 June 16
 
The Hajj Islam July 7 - 12 June 26 - July 1 June 14 - 19
Martyrdom of Báb** Baha'i July 9 - 10 July 9 - 10 July 9 - 10
Eid al-Adha Islam July 9 - 10 June 28 - 29 June 16 - 19
Pioneer Day Christian July 24 - 25 July 24 - 25 July 24 - 25
Islamic New Year Islam July 29 - 30 July 18 - 19 July 7 - 8
 
Lammas Christian August 1 August 1 August 1
Tisha B' Av Judaism August 5 - 6 July 26 - 27 August 12 - 13
Feast of Assumption Roman Catholic August 15 August 15 August 15
Krishna Janmashtami Hindu August 18 - 19 September 6 - 7  August 26 - 27
 
Arba'een Islam September 16 - 17 September 5 - 6  August 24 - 25
Rosh Hashanah Judaism September 25 - 27 September 15 - 17 October 2 - 4
Navarati Hindu September 26 - October 5 October 15 - 23 October 3 - 12
Tzom Gedaliah Judaism September 28 September 18  October 6
 
Yom Kippur Judaism October 4 - 5 September 24 - 25 October 11 - 12
Dussehra Hindu October 5 October 24 October 13
Mawlid Islam October 8 September 27  September 15
Sukkot Judaism October 9 - 16 September 29 - October 6 October 16 - 23 
Shemini Atzeret Judaism October 16 - 18 October 6 - 7  October 23 - 24
Simchat Torah Judaism October 17 - 18 October 7 - 8 October 24 - 25
Diwali Hindu/Sikh/Jain October 24 November 12 October 31
Birthday of Báb** Baha'i October 25 - 26 October 25 - 26 October 25 - 26
Birthday of Baha'u'llah Baha'i October 26 - 27 October 26 - 27 October 26 - 27
Deep Diwali Jain October 31  October 31  October 31 
 
All Saints Day Christian November 1 November 1 November 1
All Soul's Day Christian November 2 November 2 November 2
Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur Sikh November 24 November 24 November 24
Advent Christian November 27 - December 24 December 3 - 24 December 1 - 24
 
Bodhi Day Buddhist December 8 December 8 December 8
Feast of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic December 8 December 8 December 8
Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast Day) Christian December 12 December 12 December 12
Las Posadas Christian December 16 - 25 December 16 - 25 December 16 - 25
Hanukkah Judaism December 18 - 26 December 7 - 15  December 25 - January 2
Yule Christian December 21 December 21 December 21
Christmas Eve Christian December 24 December 24 December 24
Christmas Day** Christian December 25 December 25 December 25
St. Stephen's Day Christian December 26 December 26 December 26

*For more information on religious holidays and observances, the Interfaith Calendar can be viewed here. If any of the information above seems inaccurate, please email deanofstudents@case.edu or interreligiouscouncil@case.edu.