Below is a calendar of religious holidays observed. If you would like to add a holiday to the calendar please contact chaplain@centenary.edu.
Hijiri • August 29, 2022
Islam
Hijiri is known as Islamic New Year, this is the start of the Islamic lunar calendar, which begins when the crescent moon is sighted
Pitru paksha • September 10, 2022
Hindu
A time when Hindus pay homage to their ancestors
Coptic New Year • Sep 10-Sep 25
Orthodox Christian
Feast of El-Nayrouz - it is the day on which the Dog Star, Sirius, rises in the Egyptian sky, announcing the flooding of the Nile and the new planting season.
Arbaeen • September 27, 2022
Islam
A day of observance that commemorates the martyrdom of Al-Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, who was martyred on the 10th day of the month of Muharram.
Mabon • September 23, 2022
Pagan and Wiccan
This day celebrates the Autumal equinox
Paryushana • Sep 23-31, 2022
Jain
A Jain festival about forgiveness that is the faith’s most important religious observance.
Rosh Hashana • Sep 25- Sep 27, 2022
Jewish
The Jewish New Year beginning at sundown that encourages reflection
Sept 26-Oct 4, 2022 • Navaratri
Hindu
A Hindu festival that celebrates the Goddess Durga.
Yom Kippur • October 4, 2022
Jewish
A Jewish day of atonement to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God.
Dussehra • October 5, 2022
Hindu
The tenth and final day of the Hindu festival honoring Asuj Navratras
Mawlid • October 8, 2022
Islam
The observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
Birthday of Bab • October 26, 2022
Baha'i
One of the central figures of the Baha'I religion that honors the birthday of God’s messenger in the Baha’i faith
Birthday of Baha'u'llah October 27, 2022
Baha'i
A day honoring the birthday of the prophet-founding of the Baha’i faith
All Saint's Day • November 1, 2022
Christian
Also known as Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos, this day honors the saints who have attained heaven in the Christian faith, whether they are known or unknown.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe • December 12, 2022
Roman Catholic
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrates the Virgin Mary – who is the Patron saint of Mexico – and commemorates her appearing to a man in Mexico City twice in 1531.
Hanukkah • November 18-December 26, 2022
Jewish
The 8-day celebration of the “Festival of Lights” that honors the victory of Jews over Syrian Greeks; the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple
Jain New Year • November 24, 2022
Jain
This holiday always following Diwali; Jains celebrate their new year on the first day after the month of Kartika
Feast of St. Andrew • November 30, 2022
Roman Catholic
The feast day of the Apostle Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, Greece, Russia, Ukraine, Barbados, and Romania in the Roman Catholic Church.
Yule • December 21, 2022
Pagan and Wiccan
A Pagan and Wiccan holiday that begins at sundown at the winter solstice
Christmas • December 25, 2022
Christian
The holiday that celebrates the birthday of Jesus
Kwanzaa • Dec 26, 2022- Jan 1, 2023
Pan-African
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day.
Gantan-Sai Shinto • January 1, 2023
Shinto
Celebration of New Year
Feast of the Nativity • January 7, 2023
Orthodox Christian
The date when Christian Orthodox celebrate the birth of Jesus
Lunar New Year • January 21- Jan 27,2023
ConfucianTaoist, Buddhist
Beginning of the calendar year for those whose months are the moon cycles.
Purim • Mar 6-8,2023
Jewish
The Feast of Lots in the Jewish faith that honors the survival of ancient Persian Jews who were marked for death
Ash Wednesday • February 22, 2023
Christian
The day in the Christian Church that marks the start of Lent, the 40-day period of prayer and fasting before Easter
Magha Puja Day • March 6, 2023
Buddhist
Magha Puja is an important day in Buddha’s life and the second important Buddhist holiday. It is celebrated on the full moon day of the third lunar month
Holi • Mar 6-7, 2023
Hindu
Holi, also called the festival of sharing and love or the festival of colors is a Hindu two day festival in the Spring. It celebrates the eternal and divine love of Radha Krishna
Naw Ruz • Mar 20-21,2023
Baha'i
The first day of the Baháʼí calendar year and one of eleven holy days for adherents of the Baháʼí Faith
Ramadan • March 22 - April 20, 2023
Islam
It is considered one of the holiest Islamic months. It's also one of the Five Pillars of Islam. These are five principles that Muslims believe are compulsory acts ordered by God. It is during the month of Ramadan that Muslims fast. A month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community
Palm Sunday • April 2, 2023
Christian
This holiday falls on the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem
Passover • April 5-13, 2023
Jewish
Also called the Feast of Unleavened Bread and commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt.
Good Friday • April 7, 2023
Christian
Good Friday is a Christian observance held two days before Easter Sunday and it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ at Calvary (located right outside the walls of Jerusalem)
Easter • April 9, 2023
Christian
Easter also called Resurrection Sunday or Pascha is one of the most important days in the Christian faith commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead according to the New Testament.
Holy Friday Orthodox • April 14, 2023
Christian Orthodox
Good Friday also called Great Friday and Holy Friday or just Great Friday is a day of remembrance of Jesus's death on the cross.
Pascha • April 16, 2023
Orthodox Christian
The day Orthodox Christians celebrate easter which is the day Jesus rose from the tomb
Yom HaSho'ah • Apr 17-18, 2023
Jewish
Holocaust Remembrance Day
Eid al-Fitr • Apr 21-22, 2023
Islam
It marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan
Beltane • May 1, 2023
Pagan and Wiccan
The holiday celebrates spring at its peak, and the coming summer. Beltane also sometimes goes by the name May Day
Twelfth day of Ridvan • May 2, 2023
Baha'i
Twelfth Day of Ridván is the day on which Bahá'u'lláh and His family left the garden to travel to Constantinople.
Declaration of Bab • May 24, 2023
Baha'i
It commemorates when the Báb announced in 1844 that he was the new messenger of God.
Vasakha • May 27, 2023
Buddhist
The festival commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism and Navayana.
Ascension of Baha'u'llah • May 29, 2023
Baha'i
The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the death of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith.
Litha Summer Solstice • June 22, 2023
Pagan and Wiccan
Litha (also known as Midsummer) occurs on the summer solstice, and celebrates the beginning of summer.
Martyrdom of Bab • July 10, 2023
Baha'i
A commemoration of the martyrdom of one of the founders of the Bahai religion
St Benedict Day • July 11, 2023
Roman Catholic
The feast day of Saint Benedict of Nursia, the sixth-century abbot who gave Christian monasticism its lasting foundation in Western Europe
Obon • July 13, 2023
Buddhist/Shinto
Bon Festival, also known as Obon is a holiday in Japan that celebrates ancestors.
St Vladimir the Great Day • July 15, 2023
Orthodox Christian
Originally a follower of Slavic paganism, Vladimir converted to Christianity in 988 and Christianized the Kievan Rus'
Pioneer Day • July 24, 2023
Mormon
Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24 in the American state of Utah, with some celebrations taking place in regions of surrounding states originally settled by Mormon pioneers.
Asalha Puja Day • July 26, 2023
Buddhist
Asalha Puja is a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the month of Āsādha.