Religious Observance Dates (July 1st - June 30th)

This resource can be used to guide your planning process for scheduling events and exams on campus. This list of holidays is in no way comprehensive or complete, but this list does highlight the major days of observance of many of the various religious students on campus.

Note: These dates may require some form of accommodation for religious observances.

For more information about Academic Accommodations for Religious Observance, the University of Calgary has a Student Accommodation Policy that supports religious accommodation of students. View the policy here.

Tradition 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 Holiday/Observance/Celebration

The Martyrdom of The Báb - the memorial of the death of Bahá’í July 9, 2021 July 10, 2022 July 10, 2023 The Báb, on this day work is suspended Badí‘Calendar November 6, October 26, October 26, The birth anniversary of The Báb - the Herald of the new age 2021 2022 2023 for Bahá’ís Year 1= 1844 CE, November 7, October 27, October 27, The birth anniversary of Báha’u’lláh - the founder of the marks the beginning 2021 2022 2023 Bahá’í faith of the Bahá'í Era or Naw-Rúz - ’s Day, the first day of the year in the Badí‘Era March 21, 2022 March 21, 2023 March 21, 2024 Bahá’í Era, in which practitioners break- fast and celebrate during the evening. The Festival of Ridván - “the King of Festivals” runs for 12 April 21 – May April 21 - May April 21 – May days to commemorate the 12 days Baha’u’llah spent in the 2, 2022 2, 2023 2, 2024 garden of Ridván outside Baghdad. The 1st, 9th and 12th days are holy days on which work is suspended.

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

The Declaration of The Báb - commemorates the day in 1844 May 24, 2022 May 24, 2023 May 24, 2024 when The Báb announce He is the Herald of the new age. Ascension of Báha’u’lláh - the anniversary of the death of the May 29, 2022 May 29, 2023 May 29, 2024 founder of the Bahá’í faith.

Lunar New Year - the first day after the new moon, a religious Buddhist February 1, 22, February 10, and cultural festival for Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans of 2022 () 2023 () 2024 () Buddhist and other backgrounds. The Buddhist February 21, February 10, Tibetan New Year - - a 15-day celebration, with the Calendars are a set of March 3, 2022 lunisolar calendars 2023 2024 main celebration on the first 3 days primarily used in February 15, February 15, February 15, Nirvana Day - Nehan-e is the Mahayana memorial of the mainland Southeast 2022 2023 2024 historical Buddha's passing away Asian countries Theravada New Year - because the beginning is marked by April 16 -18, April 24 -26, April 6 -8, 2023 sighting the moon, the actual date is not always predictable (3 2022 2024 Types of Buddhists: days from the first full moon in April) Theravada Wesak/ Buddha Day/ Visakha Puja - the most important day Mahayana of the year for Theravada Buddhists that commemorates the Zen birth, awakening and passing away of the historical Buddha, May 16, 2022 May 5, 2023 May 23, 2024 Tibetan Siddhartha Gautama. This date is changed based on sect and area. These dates shown are the dates celebrated at the UN Year 1 = 543–542 BCE headquarters.

C Gregorian December 25, December 25, December 25, Christmas - celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Calendar h 2021 2022 2023 messiah. More importance is given to this holiday in Western (Catholic/Protestant/ Christianity. r Orthodox following modified calendar) April 15, 2022 April 7, 2023 March 29, 2024 Good Friday - commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ and i his submission to death by crucifixion s Year 1= 0 CE April 17, 2022 April 9, 2023 March 31, 2024 Easter - celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

t Julian Calendar January 6th January 6th January 6th Nativity of Jesus on Epiphany/ Armenian Christmas - (Orthodox/ 2022 2023 2024 celebrated by the Armenian Orthodox Church i Ukrainian Catholic/ a Coptic) January 7, 2022 January 7, 2023 January 7, 2024 Christmas - celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the promised messiah n Year 1= 0 CE April 22, 2022 April 14, 2023 May 3, 2024 Holy Friday - commemorates the Passion of Jesus Christ and i his submission to death by crucifixion Pascha - celebrates the resurrection of Jesus t April 24, 2022 April 16, 2023 May 5, 2024 y

Hindu September 6, Sri Krishna Jayanti (Janmashtami) - celebrates the birthday of August 30, 2021 August 18, 2022 th 2021 Krishna, the 8 incarnation of the God Vishnu The Indian national Diwali - a popular festival known as the Festival of Lights, calendar or "Saka November 4, October 24, November 12, celebrated continuously for five days, associated with a story calendar" was 2021 2022 2023 about the destruction of evil by Lord Vishnu in one of his many introduced in 1957 manifestations. *Also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains based on the traditional regional January 14th January 14th January 14th Makar Sankranti - a harvest festival that marks the increase of Hindu calendars; 2022 2023 2024 the sun twinned with the Punjab celebration Lohri, which these share the marks the passing of the winter solstice names of the twelve February 5, January 26, February 14, Vasanta Panchami - is a North Indian celebration associated months but have 2022 2023 2024 with Saraswati and Lakshmi, the Goddess of Learning and the some different Goddess of Wealth as well as the colour yellow festivals and the Mahashivaratri - "the Great Night of Shiva", is a major festival month which starts February 18, in Hinduism, but one that is solemn and marks a the year also varies March 1, 2022 March 8, 2024 2023 remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life from region to region. and the world and honors the God Shiva Holi - the Festival of Colours that welcomes in Spring, March 19, 2022 March 8, 2023 March 26, 2024 generally celebrated over two days, with people throwing colourful powder and coloured water on each other.

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

Usually around the same time as Convocation Indigenous Graduation Banquet & Pow-wow - around Indigenous (Check with the Writing Symbols Lodge for exact convocation dates) Spirituality Occurs in the summer season Sundance - a ceremony that occurs in the summer season (Check with Writing Symbols Lodge for exact The Indigenous dates) calendar is cyclical following the moon, June 1-30, 2021 June 1-30, 2022 June 1-30, 2023 Indigenous History Month connected to the Land and the seasons. June 21, 2021 June 21, 2022 June 21, 2023 National Indigenous People’s Day - a day for solidarity for This calendar includes First Nations People. the typical yearly Occurs mid-September Sage Picking - a ceremony to collect sage, usually done mid- events offered September, weather permitting. through UCalgary’s (Check with Writing Symbols Lodge for exact dates) Writing Symbols Lodge National Day for Truth and Reconciliation/ Orange Shirt Day - September 30, September 30, September 30, the national day of remembrance for the victims of the 2021 2022 2023 Canadian Residential School System.

Islam Eid al-Adha’ - the Festival of Sacrifice, as Abraham offered his son, Ishmael, to God, so Muslims offer , sheep & camels July 9-July 13, June 28 – July 2, and then distribute the meat to the poor. This is the Hijri calendar July 19-23, 2021 Year 1 = 622 CE 2022 2023 concluding act of pilgrimage (Hajj) but also observed even when not on pilgrimage. (observance begins at the sunset of *Because the the previous day, but special worship and prayers begin on beginning of the this day) month is marked by First day = First day = First day = First Day of the Holy Month of Ramadan - the month of sighting the moon, the April 2 until March 22 March 10 fasting, self-examination and devotion during which physically actual dates are not Last day = until until able Muslims do not eat or drink from the first sign of dawn always predictable May 1, 2022* Last day= Last day = until sunset. April 20, 2023* April 8, 2024*

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

Eid al-Fitr - the last day of the month and is “the breaking of the fast” that celebrates the end of Ramadan (observance begins at the sunset of the previous day, but special worship and prayers begin on this day) - the spring equinox and the New Year. It is March 21,2022 March 21, 2023 March 20, 2024 celebrated by many religious communities originating in Persia including some Muslims.

Jain Paryushana-parva - the holiest periods of the year for the September 4 September 11, August 24, 2022 Shvetambara sect, includes fasting, worship, and reading the 2021 2023 life story of Lord Mahavira from the Kalpasutra. It is The Jain calendar (Panchanga) is a celebrated over 8 days ending on Samvastsari Indian lunisolar September 11, September 1, September 20, Samvastsari - the Day of Forgiveness, is the last day of calendar. 2021 2023 2023 Paryushana-parva and is observed by fasting, introspection, confession and penance November 4, October 24, November 12, Mahavira Nirvana & Diwali - on this day the 24th Tirthankara 2021 2022 2023 attained nirvana and release from the cycle of rebirth Mahavira-Jayanti - celebrates the birth of the Lord Mahavira, April 14, 2022 April 4, 2022 April 21, 2024 “Great Hero”, the 24th and last Tirthankara of his time: a savior who has succeeded in crossing over life's stream of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow.

Judaism Tish’a B’Av - the ninth of the month of Av, is a major fast day July 18, 2021 Aug 6, 2022 July 27, 2023 that commemorates the destruction of the first and second Hebrew Calendar temples in Jerusalem in ancient times September 25- September 6 - September 15- - New Year’s Day in the Jewish calendar Year 1= 3760 BCE September 27, Sept 8 2021 17, 2023 (5777), anniversary of the creation of the world and the first 2022 of the Ten days of Awe

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

***Note Yom Kippur - The Day of Atonement, is the year’s holiest day While a day in the September 16, September 25, October 5, 2022 and a day of fasting. Jews ask forgiveness from and forgive secular calendar 2021 2023 others, as to re-establish oneness with God, as well ask begins and ends at confessing their sins and asking God for forgiveness. midnight, a Jewish day Sukkot - a pilgrimage feast and a time of thanksgiving for goes from nightfall to September 20- October 9-11, September 29- nightfall. 22, 2021 2022 October 1, 2023 God’s presence in creation and among the Jewish people

September 27- October 16-18, October 6-8, Shmini Atzeret - the Eighth Day of Assembly, is a holiday that 29, 2021 2022 2023 concludes Sukkot and marks the beginning of winter in Israel

September 29, October 18, Simhat Torah - Rejoicing of the Law, celebrates the beginning October 8, 2023 2021 2022 of the annual Torah reading cycle at the synagogue

Pesah (Passover) - commemorates to departure of the April 15 – April April 5 -12, April 22 -29, Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Celebrated over 7/8 days, the 22, 2022 2023 2024 first two days and the last two are holidays.

Shavuot - marks the closing of the seven weeks that follow June 4-June 6, May 25-27, June 11-13, Pesah and commemorates the giving of the Torah to Moses 2022 2023 2024 and the Israelites. It is celebrated over one day in Israel and 2 days by Jews in the Diaspora (outside of Israel).

Sikh October 20, October 20, October 20, Installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - celebrates Guru th 2021 2022 2023 Gobind Singhi Ji (the 10 Guru) passing the Guruship to the Nanakshahi Calendar Holy Scriptures Year 1= 1469 CE Bandi Chhor Divas - commemorated the return of Guru November 4, October 24, October 12, Hargobind Ji (the 6th Guru) to the holy city of Amritsar after ***Note 2021 2022 2023 negotiating the release of himself and 52 princes held for political reasons. This festival falls on the same day as Diwali.

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

Dates of some November 18, November 2, November 27, Birth Date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji - the founder of the Sikh festivals are fixed to 2021 2022 2023 faith, an accomplished poet and the first of the Ten Gurus in the Indian Calendar 1469 CE. (shift every year) and Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji - the ninth of the Ten some have been November 24, November 24, November 24, Gurus, he is remembered for his defense of the Sikh faith, but changed to fit to the 2021 2022 2023 also for being willing to give up his life for religious liberty of all faiths (1621-1675) March 14, 2022 March 14, 2023 March 14, 2024 Sikh New Year’s Day - marks the first day of the year in the Nanakshahi Era - commemorates the day in 1699 that Guru Gobind April 13, 2022 April 13, 2023 April 13, 2024 Singh Ji, the 10th Guru, removed the clerical system from Sikhism and affirmed the direct connection between Sikhs and the Divine.

Shinto Gantan-Sai/ ’s Day – people , 2022 January 1, 2023 January 1, 2024 welcome in the new year with prayers for renewal of hearts, good health and prosperity. Those celebrating visit shines in Shinto Calendar = Nen-chu-gyo-ji their best clothes.

Wicca September 22, September 22, September 22, Mabon – Fall equinox. Similar to Canadian Thanksgiving, this is 2021 2022 2023 a time to spend with family and food to give thanks and appreciate the goddess for her bounty. Including Pagan October 31, October 31, October 31, Samhain – The end and the beginning of the Celtic year. traditions using the 2021 2022 2023 Celebrated by honoring and paying respect to the dead. Gregorian calendar December 21, December 21, December 21, Yule – Winter solstice. A time of hope and renewal as the sun 2021 2022 2023 begins to return after this day. Ostara – Spring equinox. The first day of spring celebrates a March 20, 2022 March 20, 2023 March 20, 2024 time of growth and balance.

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc

Beltane – Beginning of summer. Celebrated through a festival May 1, 2022 May 1, 2023 May 1, 2024 of fire and fertility.

Zoroastrian December 26, December 26, December 26, Death of Prophet Zarathustra, the founder of the Zoroastrian

2021 2022 2023 faith who lived somewhere between ~6000-2000 BCE Qadimi Calendar Nowruz - “new day,” is New Year's Day in the Fasli seasonal March 21, 2022 March 21, 2023 March 21, 2024 calendar celebrating the renewal of the world, the creation of fire and the day Zarathustra received his revelation

Faith and Spirituality Centre www.ucalgary.ca/fsc