- 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.
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 for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Special thanks UC Berkeley, Cornell University, Stonybrook University, Duke University, and Xavier University for compiling this information.
August 2024
Tisha B'Av
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 8/12]
August 12 - 13 Monday - Tuesday
Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Christian/Catholic
August 15 Thursday
Dormition of the Theotokos
Orthodox
August 15 Thursday
Krishna Janmashtami
Hindu
August 26 Monday
September 2024
Mawlid un Nabi
Sunni
September 15 - 16 Sunday - Monday
Nativity of the Theotokos
Orthodox
September 21 Saturday
October 2024
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish New Year [Begins at sundown on 10/2, concludes at nightfall on 10/4]
October 2 - 4 Wednesday - Friday
Yom Kippur
Jewish Day of Atonement [Begins at sundown on 10/11, Observed all day 10/12]
October 11 - 12 Friday - Saturday
Sukkot
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 10/16]
October 16 - 23 Wednesday - Wednesday
Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth
Sikh
October 20 Sunday
Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 10/23]
October 23 - 25 Wednesday - Friday
Reformation Day
Protestant Christian
October 31 Thursday
Bandi Chorh Diwas
Sikh
October 31 Thursday
November 2024
All Saints Day
Christian
November 1 Friday
Diwali
Hindu
November 1 Friday
All Souls Day
Christian/Catholic
November 2 Saturday
Nativity Fast Begins
Orthodox
November 15 Friday
Parkash Guru Nanak
Sikh
November 15 Friday
Presentation of the Theotokos
Orthodox
November 21 Thursday
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
Sikh
November 24 Sunday
December 2024
Bodhi Day
Buddhism
December 8 Sunday
Christmas Eve
Christian
December 24 Tuesday
Christmas
Christian
December 25 Wednesday
Feast of the Nativity
Orthodox
December 25 Wednesday
Chanukah (or Hanukkah, multiple spellings)
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 12/25]
December 25 - January 2 Wednesday - Thursday
Kwanzaa
African American
December 26 - January 1 Thursday - Wednesday
January 2025
The Solemnity of Mary
Catholic
January 1 Wednesday
Epiphany/Theophany
Christian
January 6 Monday
Maghi
Sikh
January 13 Monday
Mahayana New Year
Buddhist
January 14 Tuesday
Laylat al-Mi'raj
Islam
January 27 Monday
Lunar New Year
Buddhist/Taoist/Confucian
January 29 Wednesday
February 2025
Vasant Panchami
Hindu
February 2 Sunday
Tu BiShvat
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 2/12]
February 12 - 13 Wednesday - Thursday
Laylat al Bara'at
Islam [Begins at sundown on 2/13]
February 13 - 14 Thursday - Friday
Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple
Orthodox Christian
February 15 Saturday
Nirvana Day
Buddhist
February 15 Saturday
Maha Shivaratri
Hindu
February 26 Wednesday
Ramadan
Islam [Begins at sundown on 2/28]
February 28 - March 30 Friday - Sunday
March 2025
Great Lent Begins
Orthodox Christian
March 3 Monday
Ash Wednesday
Christian
March 5 Wednesday
Feast of Orthodoxy
Orthodox Christian
March 9 Sunday
Purim
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 3/13]
March 13 - 14 Thursday - Friday
Holi
Hindu
March 14 Friday
Hola Mohalla
Sikh
March 14 - 16 Friday - Sunday
Nowruz
Zoroastrian/Indo-Irani
March 20 Thursday
Feast of the Annunciation
Christian
March 25 Tuesday
Magha Puja/Sangha Day
Buddhist
March 30 Sunday
Ramayana
Hindu
March 30 Sunday
Eid al-Fitr
Islam [Begins at sundown on 3/30]
March 30 - 31 Sunday - Monday
April 2025
Rama Navami
Hindu
April 6 Sunday
Hanuman Jayanti
Hindu
April 12 Saturday
Lazarus Saturday
Orthodox Christian
April 12 Saturday
Passover (Pesach)
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 4/12]
April 12 - 20 Saturday - Sunday
Palm Sunday
Christian
April 13 Sunday
Vaisakhi
Sikh
April 14 Monday
Maundy Thursday
Christian
April 17 Thursday
Good Friday
Christian
April 18 Friday
Easter
Christian
April 20 Sunday
Easter (Pascha)
Orthodox
April 20 Sunday
Yom HaShoah/Holocaust Remembrance Day
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 4/23]
April 23 - 24 Wednesday - Thursday
Divine Mercy Sunday
Christian
April 27 Sunday
May 2025
Lag B'Omer
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 5/15]
May 15 - 16 Thursday - Friday
Visakha Puja Day
Buddhist
May 27 Tuesday
Ascension
Christian
May 29 Thursday
June 2025
Shavuot
Jewish [Begins at sundown on 6/1]
June 1 - 3 Sunday - Tuesday
Eid al-Adha
Islam [Begins at sundown on 6/6]
June 6 - 7 Friday - Saturday
Pentecost
Christian
June 8 Sunday
Eid Ghadeer
Shia Islam [Begins at sundown on 6/14]
June 14 - 15 Saturday - Sunday
Trinity Sunday
Catholic Christian
June 15 Sunday
Corpus Christi
Catholic Christian
June 19 Thursday
July 2025
Ashura
Islam [Begins at sundown 7/5]
July 5 - 6 Saturday - Sunday
Martyrdom of the Bab
Baha'i [Begins at sundown 7/5]
July 8 - 9 Tuesday - Wednesday
Asalha Puja Day (Dharma Day)
Buddhism
July 10 Thursday
Al-Hijra (New Year)
Islam [Begins at sundown 7/26]
July 26 - 27 Saturday - Sunday