High Holy Days Calendar 2026-27

May 2026
Date	High Holy Day	Observances
26–27 (Muslim) NIS	Eid al-Adha ^~	Special payers are held at mosque on the morning of June 6 and evening feast is held the same day. Those traveling to the mosque would be away from campus on May 26.

**September 2026**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
8–15 Jain	Paryushana Parva	Paryushana is a time when the Jains take on their five main vows and observe fasting along with meditation and prayer.
11 Jewish	Erev Rosh HaShanah ~	A festive meal and religious service are held in the evening. From sundown on Sept. 11 through the end of the festival, all “labor” (school and other works as well as travel) ceases.
12–13 Jewish	Rosh HaShanah *~	Religious services are held during the day. Those observing both days of Rosh Hashanah would maintain their abstention from “labor” until nightfall on Sept. 13.
15 Jain	Samvatsari	On this day, Jains forgive and seek forgiveness for their mistakes committed knowingly or unknowingly from all living beings.
20 Jewish	Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre ~	The Day of Atonement, perhaps the most important of Jewish holidays, is devoted to prayer, repentance and fasting. A special meal is eaten before sundown, which marks the beginning of the fast and of religious services. All “labor” ceases throughout the Holy Day.
21 Jewish	Yom Kippur *~	Religious services are held throughout the day, and the fast ends at nightfall.
25 Jewish	First Night of Sukkot ~	Sukkot is an eight-day harvest-related festival which has its origins from the Torah. A non-permanent booth is constructed during these days for people to spend time in for things such as eating, prayer, relaxing, and more. Some people might refrain from work and classes on the first and last days of the holiday.

**October 2026**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
3–4 Jewish	Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ~	Sukkot is an eight-day harvest related festival which has its origins from the Torah. A non-permanent booth is constructed during these days for people to spend time in for things such as eating, prayer, relaxing, and more. Some people might refrain from work and classes on the first and last days of the holiday.
31 Pagan	Samhain	A ritual will be held — often, but not always — in the evening. Those traveling to a Pagan community gathering would be away from campus Oct. 31.

**November 2026**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
8 Hindu & Jain	Diwali ^	Those traveling to a temple for Puja — traditional ritual of worship — may be away from campus Nov. 8.
9 Jain	Jain New Year	After celebrating Diwali at the end of Ashwina, Jains celebrate new year. Ritual of Snatra Puja is performed at the temple. Mahavira’s chief disciple Gautama Swami attained keval gyan on this day.
10 Bahá’í	Birth of the Báb	Celebrates the birth of Siyyid `Alí-Muhammad, the Báb, in 1819 in Shiraz, Persia. May require day off to observe.
11 Bahá’í	Birth of Bahá’u’lláh	Celebrates the birth of Mírzá Ḥusayn-‘Alíy-i-Núrí, Bahá’u’lláh, in 1817 in Tehran, Iran. May require day off to observe.

**December 2026**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
8 Buddhist	Bodhi Day	A full day of remembrance and meditation. Those traveling to a temple for meditation would be away from campus the entire day of Dec. 8.
4–12 Jewish	Chanukah ~*	An eight-day celebration commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its defilement in 164 BCE. It is customary during Chanukah to eat foods fried in olive oil. This is not a holiday where people need to take off work.
25 Christian	Christmas Day NIS	Day of remembrance and celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

**February 2027**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
10 Western Christian	Ash Wednesday	A somber service is held. Some may fast for the entire day. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. It begins and ends with the appearance of the crescent moon.

**March 2027**
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
6–7 Hindu	Maha Shivaratri ^	In a spirit of devotion, fasting, prayer, and keeping vigil begins late evening/early morning of March 6. Those traveling to a temple for puja — ritual worship — would be away from campus the entire day of March 7.
8 Muslim	Eid al-Fitr ^	Beginning at the sighting of the crescent moon, the Feast of Breaking the Fast marks the end of Ramadan.
21 Bahá’í	Naw-Rúz — The Bahá’í New Year	The Bahá’í New Year, celebrated on the vernal equinox, signifying spiritual renewal and the beginning of a new calendar year. May require day off to observe.
22 Hindu	Holi ^	Festival of Colors Celebrating the arrival of spring. Those traveling to a temple would be away from campus March 22.
26 Western Christianity	Good Friday	A somber service is held. Some may fast from Good Friday until Easter, March 28. Those traveling to services would be away from campus the entire day.
28 Western Christianity	Easter	Celebration of Jesus’ resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home for the holiday would be away from campus March 28.

April 2027
Date	High Holy Day	Tradition
21 Bahá’í	First Day of Ridván	Marks the start of the 12-day Festival of Ridván (“Paradise” in Arabic), commemorating Bahá’u’lláh’s declaration of His mission as a Messenger of God in the Garden of Ridván near Baghdad. May require day off to observe.
21–29 (evening of) Jewish	*Passover/Pesach~**	It is customary throughout the eight-day festival to refrain from eating bread or other wheat or common grain products, including fermentation products. The first two and last two days are generally considered festival days, and those who are observant cease from all “labor” on them. Those traveling to synagogue or home may be away from campus April 21–29 and/or April 21–22.
21–22 Jewish	Seders ~	It is customary throughout the eight-day festival to refrain from eating bread or other wheat or common grain products, including fermentation products. The first two and last two days are generally considered festival days, and those who are observant cease from all “labor” on them. Those traveling to synagogue or home may be away from campus April 21–29 and/or April 21–22.
May 1 Pagan	Beltane	May Day A celebratory ritual is held. Those traveling to a Pagan community gathering would be away from campus on May 1.
May 1 Eastern or Orthodox Christianity)	Orthodox Easter Vigil	Vigil for Jesus’ Resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home form the holiday would be away from campus May 1 and 2.
May 2 Eastern or Orthodox Christianity)	Orthodox Easter/ Pascha	Celebration of Jesus’ resurrection A joyful service is held in churches. Those traveling to a church or home form the holiday would be away from campus May 2.
May 2 Bahá’í	^* Twelfth Day of Ridván	The day Bahá’u’lláh and His family departed the garden to begin their journey to Constantinople. May require day off to observe.
May 20 Buddhist	Vesak	Buddha’s Birthday Day is celebrated with vibrant cultural traditions, acts of deep generosity, and quiet meditation.
May 24 Bahá’í	*^NIS Declaration of the Báb**	Commemorates the Báb’s announcement of His mission on the evening of May 22, 1844, in Shiraz, Persia. May require day off to observe.

Codes

~ = Some holy days begin and end at sunset.

^ = Certain Hindu and Muslim holy days are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate.

* = Observance may include ceasing from labor, defined as commerce, writing, work, and travel.

NIS = Not in session