Spiritual & Religious Holidays & Observances

The University of Puget Sound values the rich diversity of religious traditions, observances and beliefs that are a part of our campus community – supporting students, faculty, and staff of any, all, and no particular religious or spiritual identity. While we have specific policies in place to support students’ religious observances in academic programs (https://www.pugetsound.edu/general-counsel-and-risk-management/policies/campuswide-policies/student-religious-accommodations-academic-courses-or-programs), we encourage all members of our community to build cultural literacy, offer broad hospitality, and otherwise respect and affirm the range of ways in which we find and make meaning in the world.

One way to practice this sort of intentional care is to increase awareness of the ways different religious and spiritual observances may impact work, study, and life schedules throughout the academic year – and, whenever possible, to offer reasonable accommodations to adjust schedules and plans to maximize inclusion in campus life.

To that end, below is a LIMITED list of some of the major observances that tend to have impact on members of our community – imperfectly developed from a blend of campus demographics and the significance of different holidays and festivals.

 

Major Observances potentially requiring accommodation:

 

Summer and Fall 2026

  • July 10 - Martyrdom of the Bab - Baha’i

  • July 22-23 - Tish B’Av - Judaism (begins at sundown on 7/22)

  • August 24 - Mawlid al-Nabiy - Islam

  • September 4 - Sri Krishna Jayanti - Hinduism

  • September 11-13 - Rosh Hashanah - Judaism (begins at sundown on 9/11)

  • September 20-21 - Yom Kippur - Judaism (begins at sundown on 9/20)

  • September 25-October 2 - Sukkot - Judaism (begins at sundown on 9/25)

  • October 2-4 - Shemini Atzaret - Judaism (begins at sundown on 10/2)

  • October 11-19 - Navratri - Hinduism

  • October 20 - Dassehra - Hinduism

  • October 20 - Installation of the Holy Scriptures as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Sikh

  • October 31 - Samhain - Pagan/Wiccan

  • November 8 - Diwali - multiple traditions

  • November 10 - Birth of the Bab - Baha’i 

  • November 11 - Birth of Baha’u’llah - Baha’i 

  • November 24 - Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji - Sikh

  • November 24 - Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji - Sikh

  • December 4-12 - Hanukkah - Judaism (begins at sundown on 12/4)

  • December 8 - Bodhi Day/Rohatsu - Buddhism

  • December 21 - Yule/Solstice - Pagan/Wiccan

  • December 25 - Christmas - Christian


Winter and Spring 2027

  • February 6 - Lunar New Year - multiple traditions

  • February 7-March 8 - Ramadan - Islam (begins at sundown on 2/7)

  • March 1-20 - 19 Day Fast - Baha’i (begins at sundown on 3/1)

  • March 9 - Eid al-Fitr - Islam

  • March 14 - Sikh New Year’s Day - Sikh

  • March 21 - Naw Ruz - Baha’i

  • March 22 - Holi - multiple traditions

  • March 26 - Good Friday - Christianity (western)

  • March 28 - Easter - Christianity (western)

  • April 14 - Vaisakhi - Sikh

  • April 21 - First Day of Ridvan - Baha’i

  • April 21-28 - Pesach/Passover - Judaism (begins at sundown on 4/21)

  • April 29 - Ninth Day of Ridvan - Baha’i

  • May 1 - Beltane - Pagan/Wiccan

  • May 2 - Pascha/Easter - Christianity (Orthodox)

  • May 2 - Twelfth Day of Ridvan - Baha’i

  • May 16-17 - Eid al-Adha - Islam (begins at sundown on 5/16)

  • May 20 - Wesak - Buddhism

  • May 24 - Declaration of the Bab - Baha’i

  • May 29 - Ascension of Baha’u’llah - Baha’i

  • June 10-12 - Shavuot - Judaism (begins at sundown on 6/10)

If you have questions about any of these observances, please email dwright@pugetsound.edu

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