Reed’s Heritage and Cultural Awareness Calendar
*This calendar reflects the heritage months, cultural awareness days, and religious observances that Reed currently acknowledges. We recognize that the list is not exhaustive. If you have any questions, or have a suggestion for this list, please reach out to our office at institutional.diversity@reed.edu
Religious Observances
Fall Semester 2024
|
Holiday |
Date(s) |
Religion/Culture |
Notes |
|
Lammas/Lughnasadh |
Aug 1 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Tisha B’Av |
Aug 12-13 |
Jewish |
|
|
Arba’een |
Aug 25-26 |
Muslim |
|
|
Paryushana Festival |
Aug 30-Sep 7 |
Jainism |
|
|
Das Laxana Festival |
Sep 8-17 |
Jainism |
|
|
Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos |
Sep 8 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Ghambar Paitishem |
Sep 12-16 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Mawlid an-Nabi |
Sep 15 |
Muslim |
Begins at sundown |
|
Mabon |
Sep 22 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Rosh Hashanah |
Oct 2-4 |
Judaism |
|
|
Shemini Atzeret |
Oct 5-8 |
Judaism |
|
|
Simchat Torah |
Oct 7 |
Judaism |
|
|
Yom Kippur |
Oct 11-12 |
Judaism |
Begins at sundown |
|
Ghambar Ayathrem |
Oct 12-16 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Indigenous Peoples’ Day |
Oct 14 |
Indigenous American |
|
|
Birth of the Bab |
Oct 15 |
Baha’i |
|
|
Navaratri |
Oct 15-23 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Birth of Baha’u’llah |
Oct 16 |
Baha’i |
|
|
Sukkot |
Oct 16-23 |
Judaism |
|
|
Installation of Granth Sahib Ji as Guru |
Oct 20 |
Sikhism |
|
|
Dusseral (Vijaya Dashami) |
Oct 23 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Reformation Day |
Oct 31 |
Christian Protestant |
|
|
Samhain |
Oct 31 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Diwali |
Oct 31-Nov 4 |
Hinduism, Sikhism Jainism, |
|
|
All Saints Day |
Nov 1 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
All Souls Day |
Nov 2 |
Christian Roman Catholic |
Also known as The Day of the Dead |
|
Guru Nanak’s Birthday |
Nov 15 |
Sikhism |
|
|
Day of the Covenant |
Nov 24 |
Baha’i |
Begins at sundown |
|
First Sunday of Advent |
Nov 24 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji |
Nov 24 |
Sikhism |
|
|
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha |
Nov 26 |
Baha’i |
Begins at sundown |
|
Bodhi Day |
Dec 8 |
Buddhism |
|
|
Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
Dec 8 |
Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe |
Dec 12 |
Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Yule |
Dec 21 |
Wicca/Paganism |
Begins at sundown |
|
Christmas |
Dec 25 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ |
Dec 25 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Hanukkah |
Dec 25-Jan 2 |
Judaism |
|
|
Death of Prophet Zarathustra |
Dec 26 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Kwanzaa |
Dec 26-Jan 1 |
African American |
|
|
Ghambar Maidayarem |
Dec 31-Jan 4 |
Zoroastrianism |
Spring Semester 2025
|
Holiday |
Date(s) |
Religion/Culture |
Notes |
|
Hanukkah |
Dec 25-Jan 2 |
Judaism |
|
|
Ghambar Maidayarem |
Dec 31-Jan 4 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
Jan 5 |
Sikhism |
|
|
Epiphany |
Jan 6 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Theophany |
Jan 6 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Laylat al-Isra’wa al-Mir’raj (Mi’raj al-Nabiy) |
Jan 27 |
Islam |
|
|
Lunar New Year Day |
Jan 29 |
Asian, Asian American |
|
|
Sadeh |
Jan 30 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Imbolc |
Feb 1 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Vasant Panchami (Sr Pancami) |
Feb 2 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Tu B’Shevat |
Feb 12 |
Judaism |
|
|
Laylat al’Bara’ah |
Feb 14 |
Islam |
Begins at sundown |
|
Maha Shivaratri |
Feb 26 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Nineteen Day Fast |
Feb 28-Mar 19 |
Baha’i |
|
|
Ramadan |
Mar 1-31 |
Islam |
|
|
Sri Ramahrishna Jayanti |
Mar 1 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Great Lent |
Mar 3-Apr 19 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Ash Wednesday |
Mar 5 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Purim (Feast of Lots) |
Mar 13 |
Judaism |
|
|
Holi |
Mar 14 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem |
Mar 16-20 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Ostara |
Mar 20 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Naw Ruz |
Mar 21 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Birthday of Prophet Zarathustra (Khordad Sal) |
Mar 26 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Laylat al-Qadr |
Mar 27 |
Islam |
|
|
Ei al-Fitr (‘Id al-Fitr) |
Mar 30-31 |
Islam |
|
|
Hydesville Day |
Mar 31 |
Spiritualism |
|
|
Anniversary of the Founding of the Church |
Apr 6 |
Latter Day Saints |
|
|
Ramanavami |
Apr 6 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Mahavir Jayanti |
Apr 10 |
Jainism |
|
|
Passover (Pesach) |
Apr 12-20 |
Judaism |
|
|
Palm Sunday |
Apr 13 |
Christian Orthodox, Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Vaisakhi |
Apr 13 |
Sikhism |
|
|
Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) |
Apr 14 |
Hinduism |
|
|
Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday |
Apr 17 |
Christian Orthodox, Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Good Friday |
Apr 18 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Holy Friday |
Apr 18 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Easter Sunday |
Apr 20 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
|
|
Easter Sunday (Pascha) |
Apr 20 |
Christian Orthodox |
|
|
Ridvan |
Apr 20-May 1 |
Baha’i |
|
|
Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) |
Apr 23 |
Judaism |
Begins at sundown |
|
Beltane |
Apr 30 |
Wicca/Paganism |
|
|
Ghambar Maidyozarem |
Apr 30-May 4 |
Zoroastrianism |
|
|
Wesak (Buddha Day) |
May 12 |
Buddhism |
|
|
Declaration of the Bab |
May 22 |
Baha’i |
Begins at sundown |
|
Ascension of Baha’u’llah |
May 27 |
Baha’i |
|
|
Ascension of Jesus |
May 29 |
Christian Protestant, Christian Roman Catholic |
Non-Religious Heritage Dates/Months
|
Holiday |
Date(s) |
|
Mexican Independence Day |
Sep 16 |
|
Constitution and Citizenship Day |
Sep 17 |
|
National Coming Out Day |
Oct 11 |
|
Dia De Los Muertos |
Nov 1-2 |
|
Election Day |
Nov 5 |
|
Black History Month |
Feb |
|
National Women’s Heritage Month |
Mar |
|
International Women’s Day |
Mar 8 |
|
Arab American Heritage Month |
Apr |
|
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month |
May |
|
Jewish American Heritage Month |
May |
|
LGBTQ+ Pride Month |
Jun |
|
Immigrant Heritage Month |
Jun |
|
Juneteenth |
Jun 19 |
|
World Refugee Day |
Jun 20 |
|
Disability Pride Month |
Jul |
|
International Non-Binary People’s Day |
Jul 14 |
|
Women’s Equality Day |
Aug 26 |
|
National Hispanic Heritage Month |
Sep 15-Oct 15 |
|
LGBT History Month |
Oct |
|
Native American Heritage Month |
Nov |
|
Transgender Awareness Week |
Nov 13-19 |
|
Transgender Day of Remembrance |
Nov 20 |
|
International Day of Persons with Disabilities |
Dec 3 |