Calendar of Holidays and Religious Observances

CSUSM strives to create an inclusive campus environment where campus members understand, respect, and effectively navigate differences. In our increasingly diverse workplace and learning environment, it is important to be aware of major religious holidays that members of our campus community may observe. While it is hard to avoid all conflicting dates, please take into consideration the observance of religious holidays that have a significant impact on academic planning and other activities. Offices, departments, and student organizations are encouraged to refrain from scheduling college-wide or other major events on holy days, especially those dates on which people of a given tradition usually do not work or attend school. Students seeking accommodations for class attendance, academic assignments, or athletic practice/events to observe a religious observance should contact instructors or coaches by the end of the first week of classes. An instructor who believes that the anticipated absences would preclude the successful completion of the course or would seriously affect the student’s grade shall inform the student by the end of the second week of class: Student Absence from class for University Events and Religious Observances Policy.

Please note that the calendar below is not a comprehensive list. A description of each holy day may be found below the calendar. Suggestions for additions to this list may be directed to the Office of Inclusive Excellence. diversity@csusm.edu or 760-750-4039

Religious observances may fall on different dates from year to year because many are calculated based on a lunar calendar. Dates of religious observances may also vary regionally.

Thank you for your part in creating an inclusive environment,
The Office of Inclusive Excellence

2024-2025

*Jewish and Islamic holy days begin at sundown on the first day indicated.
**Holy days on which absence from work or school is common.

• 2024/2025 Calendar

  2024/2025 Calendar

  Date	Holiday	Religious Observations
  June 11-13	Shavuot	Jewish
  June 16-17	**Eid al-Adha	Islam
  July 7-8	New year-Hijra	Islam
  July 16*-17	**Ashura	Islam
  August 19	Raksha Bandhan**	Hindu
  August 26	Krishna Janmashtami**	Hindu
  October 2-4	Rosh HaShanah	Jewish
  October 3-12	**Navaratri	Hindu
  October 11-12	Yom Kippur	Jewish
  October 16-23	Sukkot	Jewish
  November 1	Diwali begins (5 days)	Hindu/Jain/Sikh
  December 25-Jan 2	Hanukkah	Jewish
  December 25	**Christmas	Christian
  December 26-Jan 1	Kwanzaa	Celebrates African heritage, unity and culture/African American, parts of African Disapora
  January 29	Lunar New Year	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  February 28-March 30	Ramadan	Islam
  March 5	Ash Wednesday (Lent begins)	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  March 13*-14	Holi	Hindu
  April 12-20	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
  March 30-31	**Eid al-Fitr	Islam
  April 18	**Good Friday	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 20	**Pascha	Orthodox Christian
  April 20	Easter	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 24*-25	Yom HaShoah	Jewish
  May 1	National Day of Prayer	Interfaith
  June 1*-3	Shavuot	Jewish

   

• 2025/2026 Calendar

  2025/2026 Calendar

  Date	Holiday	Religious Observations
  June 6*-10	Eid al-Adha	Jewish
  June 26	New year-Hijra	Islam
  August 9	Raksha Bandhan**	Hindu
  August 15	Krishna Janmashtami**	Hindu
  July 5* - 6	**Ashura	Islam
  September 22*-24	**Rosh Hashanah	Jewish
  September 22*-October 1	**Navaratri	Hindu
  October 1-2	**Yom Kippur	Jewish
  October 6*-13	Sukkot	Jewish
  October 20	Diwali begins (5 days)	Hindu/Jain/Sikh
  December 16-24	Posadas Navidenas/Las Posadas	LatinX/Christian
  December 14*-22	Hanukkah	Jewish
  December 25	**Christmas	Christian
  December 26-Jan 1	Kwanzaa	Celebrates African heritage, unity and culture/African American, parts of African Disapora
  February 17	Lunar New Year	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  February 18	Ash Wednesday-Lent Begins	Catholic/Protestant
  February 18*-March 19	Ramadan	Islam
  March 3*-4	Holi	Hindu
  April 1*-9	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
  April 3	**Good Friday	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 5	**Easter	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 12	**Pascha	Orthodox Christian
  April 13*-14	Yom HaShoah	Jewish
  April 13-15 (dates may vary)	Water Festival	Many traditions in most Asian natio
  May 7	National Day of Prayer	Interfaith
  May 19*-20 (dates may vary)	**Eid al-Fitr	Islam
  May 21*-23	Shavuot	Jewish

• 2026/2027 Calendar
  
  

  2026 - 2027 Holidays & Religious Observances

  Dates	Holidays	Religious Observances
  August 28	Raksha Bandhan**	Hindu
  September 4	Krishna Janmashtami**	Hindu
  September 11*-13	**Rosh Hashanah	Jewish
  September 20*-21	**Yom Kippur	Jewish
  September 25*-October 2	Sukkot	Jewish
  October 11-20	**Navaratri	Hindu
  November 8	Diwali begins (5 days long)	Hindu/Jain/Sikh
  December 4-12	Hanukkah	Jewish
  December 16-24	Posadas Navidenas/Las Posadas	LatinX/Christian
  December 25	**Christmas	Christian
  December 26-January 1	Kwanzaa	Celebrates African heritage, unity and culture/African American, parts of African Disapora
  February 6	Lunar New Year	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  February 10	Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  February 7*- March 8	Ramadan	Islam
  March 9*-10	Eid al-Fitr	Islam
  March 22*- 23	Holi	Hindu
  March 26	**Good Friday	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 13-15	Water Festival	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  April 21*-29	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
  May 2	**Pascha	Orthodox Christian
  May 3-*4	Yom HaShoah	Jewish
  May 6	National Day of Prayer	Interfaith
  May 16*- 17	Eid al-Adha	Jewish
  June 10*- 12	Shavuot	Jewish
  June 14*-June 15	Ashura	Muslim
  June 6	New year-Hijri	Islam

• 2027/2028 Calendar

  2027 - 2028 Holidays & Religious Observances

  Dates	Holidays	Religious Observances
  August 17	Raksha Bandhan**	Hindu
  August 25	Krishna Janmashtami**	Hindu
  September 30- October 9	**Navaratri	Hindu
  October 2	**Rosh Hashanah	Jewish
  October 11	**Yom Kippur	Jewish
  October 15-*22	Sukkot	Jewish
  October 29	Diwali begins (5 days long)	Hindu/Jain/Sikh
  December 16-25	Posadas Nacidenas/ Las Posadas	LatinX/Chirstian
  December 24- January 1	*Hanukkah	Jewish
  December 25	**Christmas	Christian
  December 26-  January 1	Kwanzaa	Celebrates African heritage, unity and culture/African American, parts of African Disapora
  January 26	Lunar New Year	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  January 28*- February 26	Ramadan	Islam
  February 27	Eid al-Fitr	Islam
  March 1	Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  March 11*-12	Holi	Hindu
  April 10*-18	Pesach/Passover	Jewish
  April 13	Water Festival	Many traditions in most Asian nations
  April 14	**Good Friday	Catholic/Protestant Christian
  April 16	**Pascha	Orthodox Christian
  April 22*-23	Yom HaShoah	Jewish
  May 4	National Day of Prayer	Interfaith
  May 5	Eid al-Adha	Jewish
  May 24*-25	New year-Hijri	Islam
  May 30*- June 1	Shavuot	Jewish
  June 2*-June 3	Ashura	Muslim

Tradition Descriptions

• Ashura
  Shi’a Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Husayn ibn ‘Ali, the third Shi’ite Imam and grandson of Muhammad, observing the day by mourning his death. Sunni Muslims commemorate God’s freeing of the Israelites from slavery to the Pharaoh of Egypt by observing a fast. Absence from work or school is common.
• Ash Wednesday
  Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, the 40-day liturgical season in which many Catholic and Protestant Christians prepare through fasting, prayer, and penance for renewing baptismal promises at Easter.
• Christmas
   A holy day celebrating of the birth of Jesus. Orthodox Christians often refer to it as the Feast of the Nativity and the Incarnation of Christ. Absence from work or school is common.
• Diwali
   A fall festival of lights signifying the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Rituals of lighting candles and other forms of light extend over a five day period, with the primary celebrations on the first night.
• Easter/Pascha
   A day celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Absence from work or school is common.
• Eid al-Adha
   This day commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son to God. Muslims celebrate with the customary sacrifice of animals, sharing of the sacrificed animals’ meat with family and the poor, a special Eid prayer, and social gatherings. Celebrations may last up to three days. Absence from work or school is common.
• Eid al-Fitr
   This day marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the first day of the month of Shawwal. The day begins with a special Eid prayer and involves day-long festivities. Celebrations may last up to three days. Absence from work or school is common.
• Good/Holy Friday
   A solemn holy day commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Many Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians observe it as a fast day. Christians of many denominations attend worship services. Absence from work or school is common.
• Hanukkah
   Hanukkah (alternately spelled Chanukah) is the eight-day celebration commemorating the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian army in 165 B.C.E. Hanukkah is a minor holiday in terms of religious practice, but it is a special and joyous time of year.
• Holi
   A spring festival of colors celebrating life and signifying the victory of good over evil. Participants frolic in parks or other open areas, chasing and covering each other with dry colored powder and water.
• Lunar New Year
   One of the most important festivals celebrated in Asian cultures. In the West, Lunar New Year is often referred to as Chinese New Year. Activities include making offerings to household deities, hosting banquets for family and friends, and festive parades.
• National Day of Prayer

  The National Day of Prayer is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". The president is required by law to sign a proclamation each year, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day.

  
  
• Pesach/Passover
   A major Jewish festival lasting seven days, Pesach (Passover in English) commemorates the Exodus of Jews from slavery in Egypt. The ritual observance of this holiday centers upon a home service called the seder (meaning "order") and a festive meal. Jews often attend ritual observances on the first, second, and final evenings. Many Jews refrain from leavened bread product and matzo is eaten instead.
• Ramadan
   The ninth lunar month of the Islamic calendar, which adult Muslims observe by fasting every day, abstaining from all food, drink, and sex from before dawn to sunset.
• Rosh Hashanah
   The Jewish New Year, which marks the beginning of a 10-day period of prayer, self-examination, and repentance known as the High Holy Days. Many Jews observe it with prayer and reflection in a synagogue. Absence from work or school is common on the first day of Rosh HaShanah.
• Shavuot
   This festival marks the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life.
• Sukkot
   Sukkot, meaning "booths" or "huts," is the seven-day festival of giving thanks for the fall harvest.
• Yom HaShoah
  This solemn day serves as a memorial to those who died in the Holocaust. Shoah, which means catastrophe or utter destruction in Hebrew, refers to the atrocities committed against the Jewish people during World War II. It is also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day.
• Yom Kippur
  The holiest day on the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur means "Day of Atonement" and refers to the annual observance of fasting, prayer, and repentance. Absence from work or school is common.
• Water Festival
  The New Year’s celebration in several Southeast Asian countries. In some regions, dragon boat races are held and lanterns floated on rivers to bring blessings. People splash water at one another in a boisterous cleansing ritual of good will.

Additional Interfaith calendar or Diversity Central calendar information.

For any additional information or to update discrepancies, please e-mail diversity@csusm.edu.