The Center for Religious & Spiritual life provides a calendar of major holidays and multicultural observances from a variety of traditions. We ask that these days be kept in mind as students, faculty, and staff may be observing them to maintain a connection with their respective communities.
Interfaith & Multicultural Calendar 2022-2023
*Indicates that Holiday begins at sunset of the first date listed
September 2022
September 15 to October 15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 23 – Mabon: This day marks the autumnal equinox in the Wiccan religion
*September 25 to September 27 – Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year beginning at sundown
October 2022
LGBTQ+ History Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
*October 4 to October 5 – Yom Kippur: A Jewish day of atonement to reflect on sins and seek forgiveness from God
October 8 – Mawlid: An Islamic holiday celebrating the birth of the Prophet Mohammad
*October 9 October 16 – Sukkot: Jewish commemoration of when the Jewish people lived in huts after the Exodus from Egypt
October 10 – World Mental Health Day
October 11 – National Coming Out Day: LGBTQ+ Community
October 11 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day
*October 16 to October 18 – Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah: Jewish Holidays
October 24 – Diwali: A 5-day festival of lights that is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains
October 26 – Birth of the Bab: A day honoring the birth of God’s messenger in the Baha’i faith
October 27 – Birthday of Baha’u’llah: A day honoring the birth of the prophet who founded the Baha’i faith
*October 31 to November 1 – Sahmain: A festival in the Wiccan religion that marks the end of the harvest season
November 2022
Indigenous Peoples’ Month
November 1 – All Saints Day; Also known as Day of the Dead or Día de los Muertos–Christianity
November 8 – Birthday of Guru Nanak Ji: A day honoring the birth of the founder of Sikhism
November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance: A day to honor those victims of transphobia
November 24 – Jain New Year
November 24 – Thanksgiving
December 2022
December 1 – World Aids Day
December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception: A feast day celebrated by Roman Catholics
December 10 – International Human Rights Day
*December 18 to December 26 – Chanukah: The 8-day celebration of the “Festival of Lights” that honors the victory of Jews over Syrian Greeks
December 21 to January 1 – Yule: A Wiccan holiday that begins at sundown at the winter solstice
December 25 – Christmas: The holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ
December 26 – The Feast of St. Stephen; Also called Boxing Day, this day commemorates the life of a saint known for his service to the poor who became the first Christian martyr
December 26 to January 1 – Kwanzaa: Annual celebration of African-American culture
December 31 – New Year’s Eve
January 2023
January 1 – Emancipation Proclamation: President Lincoln declared all individuals held in slavery free on this day in 1863
January 6 – Feast of the Epiphany: Christian feast day
January 15 – Makar Sankranti: Hindu festival dedicated to the god of the sun, Surya
January 15 – World Religion Day: Celebrated in the Baha’i tradition
January 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Celebrates one of the best-known civil rights activists, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
January 22 – Lunar New Year: this festival marks the start of the new year in the lunar calendar used in East Asia, Southeast Asia and elsewhere
January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust
February 2023
Black History Month, chosen to celebrate African-American History
*February 1 to February 2 – Imbolic: Pagan festival
*February 5 to February 6 – Tu BiShvat: Jewish Holiday for planting trees and caring for the natural world; Jewish environmental holiday
February 11 – Tammy Baldwin’s Birthday: the birth of the first openly LGBT woman elected to both houses of Congress
February 14 – Frederick Douglass’ birthday: this day celebrates the birth of the abolitionist and social reformer
February 15 – Nirvana Day: an annual festival that remembers the death of the Buddha after reaching Nirvana; also called Parinirvana or “ultimate Nirvana”
February 15 – Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday: a leader of the women’s suffrage movement
*February 17 to February 18 – Lailat al Miraj: Muslim holy day
February 20 – Presidents’ Day
February 22 – Ash Wednesday: the first day of Lent
March 2023
Women’s History Month: honors the role of women in American history
*March 6 to March 7 – Purim: ”Feast of Lots”
March 8 – International Women’s Day: Highlights the achievements of women
March 8 – Holi: Hindu holiday that celebrates the winter harvest and coming of spring
March 10 – Harriet Tubman’s birthday: American abolitionist who is well-known for her key role in the Underground Railroad
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day: Christian feast day
March 20 – Ostara: This Pagan holiday is one of 8 Sabbats
March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 22 to April 21 – Ramadan: the start of Islam’s sacred month. During this time Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk
March 25 – The Annunciation: Christian observance
March 31 – International Day of Visibility
April 2023
Celebrate Diversity Month: highlights unique backgrounds, cultures, and traditions
Asian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern and South Asian (APIMESA) Heritage Month
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
April 4 – Mahavir Jayanti: Celebrates the birth of the founder of Jainism
*April 5 to April 13 – Passover: major Jewish festival that celebrates the freeing Jewish slaves
April 7 – Good Friday: Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ
April 9 – Easter: Christian holiday celebrating Jesus’ resurrection
April 14 – Good Friday: Eastern Orthodox Christians
April 16 – Easter Celebration: Eastern Orthodox Christians
April 16 – Emancipation Day: Commemoration of the abolition of slavery in the U.S capital
April 21 to 22 – Eid al-Fitr: Holiday marking the end of Ramadan
April 22 – Earth Day: holiday that applauds the planet on which we live
April 23 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQIAA+): a vow of silence is taken to protest discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools
April 24 – Armenian Genocide Memorial Day
May 2023
Mental Health Awareness Month
Jewish American Heritage Month: Honors American Jews and their contributions
Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month: Commemorates people with Asian and Pacific Island ancestry
May 1 – Beltane: Wiccan festival honoring life
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo: Mexican-American holiday that celebrates Mexico’s defeat of the French Army
May 5 – Vesak: A Theravadin Buddhist Holiday celebrating the Buddha
May 11 – King Kamehameha Day: Celebration of the Father of the Hawaiian Kingdom
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 19 – Malcolm X’s Birthday: well-known Muslim leader and civil rights activist who was assassinated in 1965
May 23 – Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib: Sikh remembrance of their first martyr
*May 25 to May 27 – Shavuot: Jewish Holiday
May 26 – Buddha’s Birthday
May 29 – Memorial Day
June 2023
LGBT Pride Month
Caribbean American Heritage Month
June 12 – Loving Day: Anniversary of the legalization of interracial marriage
June 19 – Juneteenth: The recognition of the emancipation of slaves of African descent
June 24 – Midsommer Solstice: Pagan Holiday
June 24 – Pride Day: LGBTQIAA+ Commemoration of the Stonewall Riots in New York, 1969
June 28 to June 29 – Eid al-Adha: Commemorates the end of the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca
July 2023
July 4 – Celebrates the passage of the Declaration of Independence
July 6 to July 14 – Dalai Lama’s Birthday: Spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism
July 18 – Nelson Mandela’s Birthday: Nelson Mandela served as South Africa’s first black president and was a strong civil rights leader
July 23 – Haile Selassie’s Birthday: Celebrated in Rastafarianism
July 24 – Pioneer Day: This Utah state holiday marks the arrival of Latter Day Saints church founder Brigham Young to the Salt Lake area
July 26 – Americans with Disabilities Act is passed
August 2023
August 1 – Lughnasadh: Pagan Festival marking the start of the harvest
August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 15 – Feast of the Assumption: This Roman Catholic feast day marks the entry of the mother Mary into Heaven (body and soul)
August 18 – Krishna’s Birthday: Hindu Festival Day
August 26 – Women’s Equality Day: This day marks the anniversary of women gaining the right to vote in the year 1920
August 31 – Ganesh Chaturthi: This Hindu festival celebrates Ganesha’s birthday