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Observance of Religious Holidays

Listed below are some religious holidays and the dates on which they fall during the academic year. This is not intended to be an inclusive list. 

 
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
Description:

Rosh Hashanah*

(First Two Days)

September 25-27, 2022

 

September 15-17, 2023

 

October 2-4, 2024

September 22-24, 2025

Jewish New Year. It is the beginning of a ten-day period of introspection and reflection.

Yom Kippur*

October 4, 2022

September 24, 2023

October 11, 2024

October 1, 2025

Day of Atonement. It is the holiest day of the Jewish calendar marked with fasting, worship, and repentance.

Sukkot*

October 10, 2022

September 30, 2023

October 17, 2024

October 7, 2025

Festival of Booths. Commemorates the wandering in the desert of the Israelites as well as the fall harvest. While the festival of Sukkot lasts for 8 days, the first day is considered a day of rest.

Diwali

October 24, 2022

November 12, 2023

November 1, 2024

October 20, 2025

Festival of Lights. This holiday is typically celebrated by families sharing various traditional rituals in their homes.

Ash Wednesday

February 22, 2023

February 14, 2024

March 5, 2025

February 18, 2026

This day marks the beginning of Lent, a six-week period of prayer and fasting in anticipation of Easter.

Good Friday

April 7, 2023

March 29, 2024

April 18, 2025

April 3, 2026

The day Jesus was crucified.

Easter

April 9, 2023

March 31, 2024

April 20, 2025

April 5, 2026

A day commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus.

Passover*

April 6, 2023

April 23, 2024

April 13, 2025

April 2, 2026

Festival of Passover. It commemorates the Exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt. While the Passover lasts for 8 days, the first night is the most significant and the first day is considered a day of rest.

Ramadan

March 22-April 21, 2023

March 10-April 8, 2024

February 28- March 30, 2025

February 17- March 18, 2026

The ninth month of the Islamic lunar year and is the time in which Muslims observe fast from sunrise to sunset.

Vesak

May 5, 2023

May 23, 2024

May 12, 2025

April 8, 2026

Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death (parinirvana) of Guatama Buddha.

Eid al-Fitr

April 21-22, 2023

April 9-10, 2024

March 30-31, 2025

March 19-20, 2026

Marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting, and the holiest month in Islamic tradition. It literally means "breaking the fast."

Eid al-Adha

June 28-29, 2023

June 16-17, 2024

June 6-7, 2025

May 26-27, 2026

Festival of Sacrifice. Commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael. God provided a sheep to sacrifice in Ishmael's place

Hanukkah 

December 18-26, 2022

December 7-15, 2023

December 25, 2024- January 2, 2025

December 14-22, 2025

Hanukkah is an eight-day celebration in the Jewish culture dedicated to celebrating the rededication and miracle witnessed at the Second Temple. The holiday is also known as the Fesitval of Lights. Today, the holiday is often celebrated by lighting the menorah and rejoicing with loved ones. 

*These holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the published date of the holiday.

 Find out more about W&M's Religious Accommodations