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. The exact date of Muslim holidays is often determined by the sighting of the moon, so may vary by a day.
Summer Break
- Shavuot (Judaism) - June 1-3, 2025*
- Arafah (Islam) - June 5-6, 2025*
- Eid al Adha (Islam) - June 6-9, 2025* (may be celebrated through June 10)
- Pentecost (Christianity) - June 8, 2025
- Ashura (Islam) - July 5-6, 2025*
- Tisha B'Av (Judaism) August 2 - 3, 2025*
Fall Semester
- Janmashtami (Hinduism) - August 16, 2025
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism) - August 27, 2025
- Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) - September 5, 2025*
- High Holy Days (Judaism) - September 22 - 24, October 1-2, 2025*
- Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) - September 22 - 24, 2025*
- Navaratri (Hinduism) - September 22 - October 2, 2025
- Durga Puja (Hinduism) - September 28 - October 2, 2025
- Yom Kippur (Judaism) - October 1 - 2, 2025*
- Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami (Hinduism) October 2, 2025
- Mid-Autumn Festival (Asian traditional holiday) - October 6 - 8, 2025
- Sukkot (Judaism) - October 6 - 13, 2025*
- Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) - October 13-14, 2025*
- Simchat Torah (Judaism) - October 14-15, 2025*
- Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) - October 20, 2025
- Birth of the Báb and the Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Baha'i) - October 22 and 23, 2025
- All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Christianity) - November 1-2, 2025
- Advent (Christianity) - November 30 - December 24, 2025
- Gita Jayanti (Hinduism) - December 1, 2025
- Bodhi Day (Buddhism) - December 8, 2025
- Hanukkah (Judaism) - December 14 - 22, 2025*
Winter Break
- Christmas (Christianity) - December 25, 2025
- Kwanzaa (African-American) - December 26, 2025 - January 1, 2026
- Makar Sankranti (Hinduism) - January 14, 2026
Spring Semester
- Tu b'Shvat (Judaism) - February 1 - 2, 2026*
- Shivaratri (Hinduism) - February 15, 2026
- Lunar New Year (Buddhism) - February 17, 2026
- Ash Wednesday (Christianity) - February 18, 2026
- Ramadan (Islam) - February 18 - March 19, 2026*
- Losar (Buddhism) - February 18 - February 20, 2026
- Purim (Judaism) - March 3 - 4, 2026*
- Holi (Hinduism) - March 4, 2026
- Eid al-Fitr (Islam) - March 19 - 20, 2026*
- Ram Navami (Hinduism) - March 26, 2026
- Palm Sunday (Christianity) - March 29, 2026
- Holy Week (Christianity) - March 29 - April 5, 2026
- Mahavir Jayanti (Jain) - March 31, 2026
- Passover (Judaism) - April 2 - 9, 2026*
- Easter (Christianity) - April 5, 2026
- Songkran (Buddhism) - April 13-15, 2026
- Ridván (Baháʼí) - April 20 - May 2, 2025
- Vesak or Saga Dawa Düchen (Buddhism) - May 1, 2026 (dates vary)