A Guide to Religious Observances
Have you ever wondered about the significance of Sukkot? The importance of Easter? The customs of Ramadan?
Brandeis is home to rich and diverse cultural and religious traditions. We invite you to explore the significance of just some of the celebrations you might encounter here on campus.
View Brandeis' Academic Coursework and Religious Observance Policy.
*Note that Muslim and Jewish holidays begin at sundown on the first day listed.
Summer Break
- Eid al Adha (Islam) - June 28-29, 2023*
- Ashura (Islam) - July 27-28, 2023*
Fall Semester
- Janmashtami (Hinduism) - September 6-7, 2023
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism) - September 19, 2023
- High Holy Days (Judaism) - September 15-17, 24-25, September 29 - October 6, 2023*
- Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) - September 15-17, 2023*
- Yom Kippur (Judaism) - September 24-25, 2023*
- Milad al-Nabi (Islam) - September 26-27, 2023*
- Sukkot (Judaism) - September 29 - October 6, 2023*
- Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) - October 6-7, 2023*
- Simchat Torah (Judaism) - October 7-8, 2023*
- Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Baha'i) - October 15-16, 2023
- Navaratri (Hinduism) - October 15-24, 2023
- Durga Puja (Hinduism) - October 20 - 24, 2023
- Vijaya Dashami or Dussehra (Hinduism) October 24, 2023
- Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) - November 12, 2023
- All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Christianity) - November 1-2, 2023
- Advent (Christianity) - December 3 - December 24, 2023
Winter Break
- Hanukkah (Judaism) - December 7-15, 2023*
- Gita Jayanti (Hinduism) - December 22, 2023
- Christmas (Christianity) - December 25, 2023
- Kwanzaa (African-American) - December 26, 2023 - January 1, 2024
- Makar Sankranti (Hinduism) - January 15, 2024
Spring Semester
- Shivaratri (Hinduism) - February 18, 2023
- Ash Wednesday (Christianity) - February 22, 2023
- Purim (Judaism) - March 7, 2023
- Holi (Hinduism) - March 8, 2023
- Ramadan (Islam) - March 22 - April 21, 2023
- Ram Navami (Hinduism) - March 30, 2023
- Palm Sunday (Christianity) - April 2, 2023
- Passover (Judaism) - April 6-13, 2023
- Easter (Christianity) - April 9, 2023
- Eid al-Fitr (Islam) - April 22, 2023
Summer Break
- Shavuot (Judaism) - May 26 - 27, 2023
- Pentecost (Christianity) - May 28, 2023
*Jewish and Muslim holidays begin at sundown the night before the date listed above