Below are many of the religious holidays observed by members of the Washington University in St. Louis community. Please note that individual practices may vary.

Presented here are many of the religious holidays observed by members of the Washington University in St. Louis community. Please note that individual practices may vary.

Summer 2025

May 23: Declaration of the Bab (Bahá’í Faith) – Celebration of Ali Muhammad’s announcement that he was the “gate” to the promised coming of all religions *Begins evening May 22, work restrictions

May 29: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í Faith) – Commemoration of the death of Bahá u’lláh the founder of the Bahá’í Faith *Begins evening May 28, work restrictions

May 29: Ascension (Christianity) – Commemoration of the ascension of Jesus into heaven

June 2-3: Shavuot (Judaism) – Festival of Receiving the Torah *Begins sundown on June 1, work restrictions

June 7: Eid al-Adha (Islam) – the Festival of Sacrifice, honoring Abraham’s willingness to offer his son to God *Begins sundown of June 6, work restrictions. *While this is the calculated expected date for Eid al- Adha, the date may vary based on regional practice.

June 8: Pentecost (Christianity) – 50 days after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit

June 20: Litha Sabbat (Pagan, Wiccan) – Celebration honoring the Summer Solstice and the peak of light.

June 27: Muharram (Islam) – Islamic calendar new year *Begins evening of June 26

July 5: Ashura (Islam) – Commemoration of martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and when Moses fasted in gratitude for the liberation of the Israelites *Begins at sundown July 4, fasting

July 9: Martyrdom of The Báb (Bahá’í Faith) – The memorial of the execution of The Báb *Work restriction

Fall 2025

August 1: Lughnasadh (Pagan/Wiccan) – festival marking the beginning of the harvest season

August 3: Tisha B’Av (Judaism) – fast marking the destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem *Begins sundown August 2, fasting

August 9: Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism) – festival to symbolize the love between a brother and a sister

August 15: Feast of the Assumption of Mary (Catholic Christianity) – holy day marking the assumption of Mary’s body and soul into heaven

August 15-16: Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism) – commemoration of the birth of Krishna *Fasting

August 21-28: Paryushan Parva (Jainism) – eight-day festival of forgiveness and self-discipline *Fasting 

August 27: Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chaturthi (Hinduism) – commemorates the birth of Ganesh

September 5: Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) – celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad *Begins sundown September 4

September 22: Mabon (Pagan/Wiccan) – celebrates the autumnal equinox

September 23-24: Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) – Jewish New Year and beginning of High Holy Days *Begins sundown September 22, work restriction

September 22-October 1: Navaratri (Hinduism) – festival of the divine mother in all her forms 

September 25: Tzom Gedaliah (Judaism) – Fast of the Seventh Month *Minor fasting 

October 2: Yom Kippur (Judaism) – Day of Atonement *Begins sundown October 1, fasting and work restriction start October 1 and continue through sundown October 2

October 2: Dussehra (Hinduism) – commemoration of the last of the days of judgment *Work restriction 

October 7-13: Sukkot (Judaism) – Feast of Tabernacles *Begins sundown October 6, work restrictions through sundown October 8

October 14: Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) – eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles *Begins sundown October 13, work restriction

October 15: Simchat Torah (Judaism) – celebration the beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle *Begins sundown October 14, work restriction

October 20: Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) – Festival of Lights *Work restrictionfive-day festival, observances may occur on other days

October 22-23: Twin Holy Days (Bahá’í Faith)– celebration of the birth of the founder of the Bahá’í Faith *Begins sundown the October 21, work restriction

October 31: Reformation Day (Protestant Christianity) – celebration in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation

November 1: All Saints’ Day (Christianity) – honors all saints known and unknown 

November 1: Samhain (Wiccan, Pagan) – festival honoring endings, beginnings, and the dead. The start of the Pagan New Year. *Begins sundown on October 31 

November 2: All Souls’ Day (Christianity) – commemoration of the souls of those who have died 

November 5: Guru Nanak Jayanti (Sikh) – celebrates the birth and founder of Sikhism 

November 25: Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í) – celebrates the appointment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as the Centre of Bahá’u’lláh’s Covenant *Begins sundown November 24

December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhism) – celebration of Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment 

December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary (Catholic Christianity) – observes the immaculate conception of Mary by Joachim and Anne 

December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic Christianity) – celebration of the apparitions of Mary to St. Juan Diego in Tepeyac in 1531

December 15-22: Hanukkah (Judaism) – Festival of Lights *Begins sundown on December 14 

December 21: Yule (Pagan/Wiccan) – winter solstice in the northern hemisphere

December 25: Christmas (Christianity) – celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ 

December 26: Zarathosht No-Diso (Zoroastrian) – Commemorates death of Zarathustra

December 30: Asara B’Tevet (Judaism) – The Tenth of Tevet *Minor fasting 

Spring 2026

January 1: Feast of Mary Mother of God (Catholic Christianity) – celebration of the motherhood of Mary

January 1: Oshogatsu (Shinto) – celebration of the New Year, thanking the kami, and asking for good fortune

January 6: Epiphany (Christianity) – feast day celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human in Jesus Christ

January 7: Christmas (Orthodox Christianity) – celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ 

January 14: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh)

January 14: Makar Sankranti (Hinduism) – celebration of the Sun god

January 16: Lailat al-Miraj (Islam) – celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s ascent to heaven *Begins at sundown on January 15

January 23: Vasant Panchami (Hinduism) – holy day dedicated to Goddess Saraswati

February 1: Imbolc (Pagan/Wiccan) – marks the beginning of Spring *Begins sundown of January 31

February 15: Maha Shivratri (Hinduism) – festival celebrated in honor of the god Shiva *Fasting

February 17: Lunar New Year (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism) – celebration of a start of the new lunar cycle *Celebration may begin the evening before

February 18: Ramadan (Islam) – commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad receiving divine revelation as recorded in the Qur’an *Begins evening of February 17, fasting daily dawn until sundown. *While these are the calculated expected dates of Ramadan, dates may vary based on regional practice.

February 18: Ash Wednesday (Christianity) – beginning of Lent *Fasting

February 23: Clean Monday/Ash Monday (Orthodox Christianity) – start of Lent for Orthodox Christians 

February 25-28: Nineteen Day Fast (Bahá’í Faith) – fast observed by Bahá’í adults *Fasting

March 2: Ta’anit Esther (Judaism) – Fast of Esther *Minor fasting 

March 3: Purim (Judaism) – Festival of Lots *Begins sundown March 2 

March 4: Holi (Hinduism) – Festival of Colors *Fasting  

March 4: Magha Puja Day (Buddhism) – celebration of Lord Buddha’s teaching to an assembly 

March 20: Eid al-Fitr (Islam) – festival that marks the ending of Ramadan *Begins evening March 19 *While this is the calculated expected date for Eid al-Fitr, the date may vary based on regional practice.

March 20: Ostara (Pagan, Wiccan) – honors the awakening of the Earth, balance, renewal, and rebirth. Spring Equinox celebration. 

March 21: Nowruz (Zoroastrianism and Bahá’í Faith) – Persian New Year *Begins evening March 20

March 29: Palm Sunday (Christianity) – celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem 

March 31: Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism) – celebration of the birth of the founder of Jainism 

April 1: Ta’anit Bechorot (Judaism) – Fast of the First Born *Minor Fasting

April 2-9: Passover (Judaism) – Festival of Freedom *Begins sundown on April 1, food restrictions all days, work restrictions 4/1 sundown – 4/3 sundown & 4/7 sundown – 4/9 sundown 

April 2: Holy Thursday (Christianity) – commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper 

April 3: Good Friday (Christianity) – commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus *Fasting

April 5: Easter (Christianity) – celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus 

April 5: Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christianity) – celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem 

April 9: Holy Thursday (Orthodox Christianity) – commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper 

April 10: Good Friday (Orthodox Christianity) – commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus *Fasting

April 12: Easter (Orthodox Christianity) – celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus

April 14: Vaisakhi (Sikhism) – celebration of the formation of the religious community of Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh 

April 21-May 2: Ridvan (Bahá’í Faith) – commemoration of when the founder of the Bahá’í Faith declared his mission *Begins evening April 20, Work restrictions 4/20 sundown – 4/21 sundown, 4/28 sundown – 4/29 sundown, 5/1 sundown – 5/2 sundown

May 1: Beltane (Wicca, Paganism)– Festival of Light honoring fertility and creation 

May 14: Ascension (Christianity) – commemoration of the ascension of Jesus into heaven 

May 24: Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhism) – *This holiday is celebrated on different dates by different cultures and regions (usually in April or May) 

May 24: Declaration of the Bab (Bahá’í Faith)– celebration of Ali Muhammad’s announcement that he was the “gate” to the promised coming of all religions *Begins evening May 23, work restrictions

May 29: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í Faith) – commemoration of the death of Bahá u’lláh the founder of the Bahá’í Faith*Begins evening May 28, work restrictions

May 22-23: Shavuot (Judaism)– Festival of Receiving the Torah *Begins sundown on May 21, work restrictions

May 24: Pentecost (Christianity) – 50 days after Easter, commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit

May 27: Eid al-Adha (Islam) – the Festival of Sacrifice, honoring Abraham’s willingness to offer his son to God *Begins sundown of May 26, work restrictions *While this is the calculated expected date for Eid al-Adha, the date may vary based on regional practice.

June 17: Muharram (Islam) – Islamic calendar new year *Begins evening of June 16

June 21: Litha (Pagan, Wiccan) – celebration honoring the Summer Solstice and the peak of light.

June 26: Ashura (Islam) – commemoration of martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and when Moses fasted in gratitude for the liberation of the Israelites *Begins at sundown June 25, fasting 

July 2: Fast of 17 of Tamuz (Judaism) – Commemorating the breach of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple. *Fasting 

July 10: Martyrdom of The Báb (Bahá’í Faith) – the memorial of the execution of The Báb *Work restriction

July 23: Tish’a B’av (Judaism) – marking the destruction of the first and second Temple in Jerusalem. *Begins sundown July 22, fasting