- This list is meant to serve as a scheduling guide for university activities. It is not exhaustive and there may be other significant dates for various religious communities. Also, it is not exclusive to all faiths represented among the students, staff, and faculty at George Mason.
- Some dates may vary slightly depending on lunar observations or regional customs.
- The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.
Of note:
- Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the first night/day of Passover are observed by the majority of Jews and are among the most important dates on the calendar for familial and Jewish communal gathering.
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are observed by the majority of practicing Christians and are among the most important days of observance in the Christian faith.
- The month of Ramadan, ending with Eid al-Fitr, is a holy month observed by Muslims practicing the Islamic faith marked by daily fasting, study, and prayer.
- Diwali is celebrated by most Hindus across faiths and includes communal gathering, feasting, and prayer.
- Do you need to request religious accommodation? Contact the university Office of Access, Compliance, and Community.
Special thanks to Loyola University Chicago for compiling this information.
August 2026
August 1 – Lughnasadh / Lammas (Pagan)
August 5 – Arba'een (Islam)
August 13-14 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism)
August 15 – Assumption of Mary / Dormition of Mary (Christian / Orthodox Christian)
August 15 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
August 28 – Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
September 2026
September 19 - 11 – Paryushana Festival (Jain)
September 11 - 13 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish)
September 12 - 21 – Das Laxana Festival (Jain)
September 14 – Fast of Gedaliah (Judaism)
September 14 – Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
September 20 - 21 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
September 23 – Autumn Equinox / Mabon / Alban Elfed (Pagan)
September 25 - October 2 – Sukkot (Jewish)
October 2026
October 2 - 4 – Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah (Jewish)
October 11 - 19 – Navratri (Hinduism)
October 11 - 20 – Sharada Navaratri (Hindu)
October 16 - 21 – Durga Puja (Hinduism)
October 20 – Dussehra (Hinduism)
October 31 – Samhain / Samhuinn (Pagan)
November 2026
November 1 – All Saints Day (Christian)
November 2 – All Souls’ Day (Christian)
November 8 – Diwali (Hindu / Jain / Sikh)
November 9 – Jain New Year (Jain)
November 10 – Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í)
November 11 – Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í)
November 23 – Niinamesai (Shinto)
November 24 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib's Birthday (Sikhism)
November 24 – Guru Tegh Bahadur's Martyrdom (Sikhism)
November 25 – Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Sikh)
November 26 – Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í)
November 26 – Thanksgiving (Federal)
November 27-28 – Ascension of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá (Bahá’í)
November 29 – First Sunday of Advent (Christian)
December 2026
December 4-12 – Chanukah (Judaism)
December 4 - 12 – Hanukkah (Jewish)
December 7 – Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikh)
December 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholicism)
December 12 – Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Catholic)
December 20 – Judaism (Tenth of Tevet)
December 21 – Winter Solstice / Yule / Alban Arthan (Pagan)
December 21 – Yalda (Persian)
December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
December 26 – Kwanzaa begins (Pan-African)
December 26 – Zartosht No-Diso (Zoroastrian)
January 2027
January 1 – Kwanzaa ends (Pan-African)
January 1 – Solemnity of Mary (Catholicism)
January 1 – Gantan-sai (Shinto)
January 6 – Epiphany (Christian)
January 7 – Christmas (Orthodox Christianity)
January 17 – World Religion Day (Baha’i)
January 22 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhism)
January 22-23 – Tu B’Shevat (Judaism)
January 31-February 2 – Tu B’shevat (Judaism); Sundown Sunday to Sundown Monday
February 2027
February 1-2 – Imbolc (Pagan)
February 17 – Lunar New Year (Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism)
February 17-March 18 – Ramadan begins (Islam); Sundown Tuesday to Sundown Thursday
February 18 – Ash Wednesday (Christian, Catholic Lent begins)
February 23 – Great Lent begins, Clean Monday (Orthodox Christian)
March 2027
March 2-3 – Purim (Judaism); Sundown Monday to Sundown Tuesday
March 1 – Magha Puja (Buddhist)
March 3-4 – Holi (Hindu); Sundown Tuesday to Sundown Wednesday
March 15-16 – Laylat al-Qadr (Islam)
March 19-20 – Ramadan ends / Eid al-Fitr (Islam); Sundown Thursday to Sundown Friday
March 20 – Spring Equinox / Ostara / Alban Eilir (Pagan)
March 21 – Naw-Rúz/Nowruz (Persian New Year) (Bahá’í)
March 29 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
April 2027
April 1-9 – Passover (Judaism); Sundown Wednesday to Sundown Thursday
April 3 – Good Friday (Christian)
April 5 – Easter (Christian)
April 14 – Vaisakhi (Sikh)
April 8 – Yom Hashoah (Judaism)
April 20 – Ridván Festival begins (Bahá’í)
May 2027
May 1 – Beltane / Bealtaine (Pagan)
May 31 – Vesak / Buddha Day (Buddhist)
May 1 – Ridván Festival ends (Bahá’í)
May 4-5 – Lag B’omer (Judaism)
May 14 – Ascension Day (Christian)
May 21-23 – Shavuot (Jewish)
May 24 – Pentecost (Christian)
May 27 – Eid al-Adha (Islam)
May 21-23 – Shavuot (Judaism)
June 2027
June 16 – Hijri New Year / Islamic New Year (Islam)
June 21 – Summer Solstice / Litha / Alban Hefin (Pagan)
July 2027
July 21-22 – Tisha B’Av (Jewish)
July 31 – Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola