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. 7 -- Ganesh Chaturti (Hindu)

Sept. 11 -- Sri Radhastami (Hindu)

Sept. 16 -- Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi* (Islam)*

Sept. 21-29 -- Mabon (Wiccan/Pegan)

Oct. 3-4 -- Rosh Hashanah (New Year) (Jewish)*

Oct 3-12 -- Navaratri (Hindu)

Oct. 11-12 -- Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Jewish)*

Oct 12 -- Dussehra/Dasera (Hindu)

Oct. 16- 23 -- Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) (Jewish)*

Oct. 24-25 -- Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)*

Oct. 25 -- Simchat Torah (Jewish)*

Oct. 31- Nov. 1-- Diwali (Hindu)

Oct. 31 -- Samhain (Wiccan/Pegan)

Nov 1 -- All Saints Day (Christian)

Nov 2 -- Birth of Bab (Baha'i)

Nov. 3 -- Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)*

Nov 25 -- Day of Covenant (Baha'i)*

Nov 27 -- Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (Baha'i)*

Dec 9 -- Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary (Christian)

Dec 11 -- Sri Gita Jayanti (Hindu)

Dec 21 -- Yule (Wiccan/Pegan)*

Dec 25 -- Christmas Day (Christian)

Dec 25- Jan. 2 -- Hanukkah (Jewish)*

* denotes a holiday or observance that begins at sundown the day before.

Jan. 1 - 1st day of Rajab (Islam)*

Jan. 6 -- Epiphany (Christian)

Jan. 7 -- Orthodox Christmas (Orthodox Christian)

Jan. 18 -- Bodhi Day (Buddhist)

Jan. 14 -- Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)

Jan. 29 -- Lunar (Chinese) New Year (Confucianism/Taoism/Buddhism)

Jan. 31 -- 1st Day of Sha'ban (Islam)*

Feb. 1 -- Imbolc (Wiccan/Pegan)

Feb. 2 -- Vasant Panchami (Hindu)

Feb 13 -- Magah Puja Day (Buddhist)

Feb 15 -- Nirvana Day (Buddhist)

Feb. 26 -- Maha Shivarati (Hindu)

Feb. 28 - Mar. 30 -- Ramadan (Islam)*

Mar. 3 -- Beginning of Lent (Orthodox Christian)

Mar. 5 -- Ash Wednesday/Beginning of Lent (Christian)

Mar. 14 -- Purim (Jewish)*

Mar. 19 -- Holi (Hindu)

Mar. 20 -- Naw-Ruz (Baha'i)*

Mar. 20 -- Ostara (Wiccan/Pegan)

Mar. 26 -- Holy Night during Ramadan (Shia)

Mar. 27 -- Laylat al Qadr (Islam)*

Mar. 30 -- Eid al-Fitr (Ed of Ramadan) (Islam)*

Apr. 6 -- Ram Navami (Hindu)

Apr. 13 -- Palm Sunday (Christian)

Apr 13-20 -- Passover (Pasach) (Jewish)*

Apr. 18 -- Good Friday (Christian)

Apr. 18 -- Holy Friday (Christian Orthodox)

Apr. 20 -- Easter (Christian)

Apr. 20 -- Orthodox Easter (Christian Orthodox)

Apr 21 -- 1st day of Ridvan (Baha'i)*

Apr. 24 -- Yom Shoah (Jewish)*

May 1 -- Beltane (Wiccan/Pegan)

May 2 -- Last day of Ridvan (Baha'i)*

May 12 -- Visakha Puja (Hindu)