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
- Pentecost (Christianity) - May 16, 2026
- Arafah (Islam) - May 25 -26, 2026*
- Eid al Adha (Islam) - May 27 - 29, 2026* (may be celebrated additional days)
- Shavuot (Judaism) - May 21 - 23, 2026*
- Ashura (Islam) - June 25 - 26, 2026*
- Tisha B'Av (Judaism) July 22 - 23, 2026*
Fall Semester
- Feast of the Assumption (Catholic Christianity) - August 16, 2026
- Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) - August 25 or 26, 2026
- Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism) - August 27, 2025
- Janmashtami (Hinduism) - September 4-5, 2026
- High Holy Days (Judaism) - September 11 - 13, 20 - 21, 2026*
- Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) - September 11 - 13, 2026*
- Yom Kippur (Judaism) - September 20 - 21, 2026*
- Mid-Autumn Festival (Asian traditional holiday) - September 25 - 27, 2026
- Sukkot (Judaism) - September 25 - October 2, 2026*
- Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) - October 2 - 3, 2026*
- Simchat Torah (Judaism) - October 3 - 4, 2026*
- Navaratri (Hinduism) - October 11 - October 20, 2026
- Durga Puja (Hinduism) - October 17 - October 21, 2026
- Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami (Hinduism) October 20, 2026
- All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Christianity) - November 1-2, 2026
- Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) - November 8, 2026
- Advent (Christianity) - November 29 - December 24, 2026
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic Christianity) - December 8, 2026
- Bodhi Day (Buddhism) - December 8, 2026
- Hanukkah (Judaism) - December 4 - 12, 2026*
- Gita Jayanti (Hinduism) - December 20, 2026
Winter Break
- Christmas (Christianity) - December 25, 2026
- Kwanzaa (African-American) - December 26, 2026 - January 1, 2027
- Makar Sankranti (Hinduism) - January 14, 2027
Spring Semester
- Tu b'Shvat (Judaism) - February 1 - 2, 2026*
- Shivaratri (Hinduism) - February 15, 2026
- Lunar New Year (Asian traditional) - February 17, 2026
- Ash Wednesday (Christianity) - February 18, 2026
- Ramadan (Islam) - February 17 - March 19, 2026*
- Losar (Buddhism) - February 18 - February 20, 2026
- Purim (Judaism) - March 2 - 3, 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 1 - 8, 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)