This guide provides information about diverse cultural and religious holidays and observances. This resource can aid you in classroom planning. Below are holidays and observances listed by semester. Check out each page for more details on each holiday and/or observance.
Framingham State University is subject to Massachusetts Law. Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151C, Section 2B states:
"Any student in an educational or vocational training institution, other than a religious or denominational educational or vocational training institution, who is unable, because of his religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study or work requirement on a particular day, shall be excused from any such examination or study or work requirement, and shall be provided with an opportunity to make up such examination, study or work requirement which he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day; provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon such school. No fees of any kind shall be charged by the institution for making available to the said student such opportunity. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student because of his availing himself of the provisions of this section."
* denotes a holiday or observance that begins at sundown the day before.
Sept 5 -- Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi* (Islam)*
Sept 21 - 24 -- Mabon (Wiccan/Pegan)
Sept 23 -- Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (Jewish)*
Sept 22 - Oct. 2 -- Navaratri (Hindu)
Oct 2 -- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish)*
Oct 2 -- Dussehra/Dasera (Hindu)
Oct 7 - 13 -- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish)*
Oct 20 -- Diwali (Hindu)
Oct 22 -- Birth of Bab (Baha'i)
Oct 23 -- Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)*
Oct 24 -- Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)*
Oct 25 -- Simchat Torah (Jewish)*
Oct 31 -- Samhain (Wiccan/Pegan)
Nov 1 -- All Saints Day (Christian)
Nov 25 -- Day of Covenant (Baha'i)*
Nov 27 -- Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (Baha'i)*
Dec 8 -- Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary (Christian)
Dec 8 -- Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
Dec 9 -- Sri Gita Jayanti (Hindu)
Dec 15 - 22 -- Hanukkah (Jewish)*
Dec 21 -- Yule (Wiccan/Pegan)*
Dec 25 -- Christmas Day (Christian)
* denotes a holiday or observance that begins at sundown the day before.
Jan 3 -- Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
Jan 6 -- Epiphany (Christian)
Jan 7 -- Orthodox Christmas (Orthodox Christian)
Feb 17 -- Lunar (Chinese) New Year (Confucianism/Taoism/Buddhism)
Jan 20 -- 1st Day of Sha'ban (Islam)*
Feb 1 -- Imbolc (Wiccan/Pegan)
Jan 23 -- Vasant Panchami (Hindu)
Feb 15 -- Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
Feb 15 -- Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
Feb 18 -- Ash Wednesday/Beginning of Lent (Christian)
Feb 18 - Mar. 19 -- Ramadan (Islam)*
Feb 23 -- Beginning of Lent (Orthodox Christian)
Mar 2 -- Purim (Jewish)*
Mar 3 -- Holi (Hindu)*
Mar 3 -- Magah Puja Day (Buddhist)
Mar 8 -- Holy Night during Ramadan (Shia)
Mar 16 -- Laylat al Qadr (Islam)*
Mar 20 -- Naw-Ruz (Baha'i)*
Mar 20 -- Ostara (Wiccan/Pegan)
Mar 26 -- Ram Navami (Hindu)
Mar 29 -- Palm Sunday (Christian)
Mar 30 -- Eid al-Fitr (Ed of Ramadan) (Islam)*
Apr 1 - 9 -- Passover (Pasach) (Jewish)*
Apr 3 -- Good Friday (Christian)
Apr 5 -- Easter (Christian)
Apr 10 -- Holy Friday (Christian Orthodox)
Apr 12 -- Orthodox Easter (Christian Orthodox)
Apr 13 -- Yom Shoah (Jewish)*
Apr 21 -- 1st day of Ridvan (Baha'i)*
May 1 -- Beltane (Wiccan/Pegan)
May 1 -- Visakha Puja (Hindu)
May 2 -- Last day of Ridvan (Baha'i)*
