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.
Fall Semester
- Janmashtami (Hinduism) - September 6-7, 2023
- Chuseok (Korean traditional holiday) - September 16 - 18, 2024
- 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
- Dussehra or Vijaya Dashami (Hinduism) October 24, 2023
- All Saints Day and All Souls Day (Christianity) - November 1-2, 2023
- Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism) - November 12, 2023
- Advent (Christianity) - December 3 - December 24, 2023
- Bodhi Day (Buddhism) - December 8, 2024
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
- Tu b'Shvat (Judaism) - January 24 - 25, 2024*
- Lunar New Year (Buddhism) - February 10, 2024
- Losar (Buddhism) - February 10 - 12, 2024
- Ash Wednesday (Christianity) - February 14, 2024
- Shivaratri (Hinduism) - March 8, 2024
- Ramadan (Islam) - March 10-April 9, 2024*
- Purim (Judaism) - March 23-24, 2024*
- Palm Sunday (Christianity) - March 24, 2024
- Holy Week (Christianity) - March 24-30, 2024
- Holi (Hinduism) - March 25, 2024
- Easter (Christianity) - March 31, 2024
- Eid al-Fitr (Islam) - April 9-10, 2024*
- Songkran (Buddhism) - April 13-15, 2024
- Ram Navami (Hinduism) - April 17, 2024
- Passover (Judaism) - April 22-30, 2024*
Summer Break
- Pentecost (Christianity) - May 19, 2024
- Vesak or Saga Dawa Düchen (Buddhism) - May 23, 2024
- Shavuot (Judaism) - June 11-13, 2024*
- Eid al Adha (Islam) - June 16-19, 2024*
- Ashura (Islam) - July 16-17, 2024*
- Tisha B'Av (Judaism) August 12 - 13, 2024*
*Jewish and Muslim holidays begin at sundown of the first day listed above. The exact date of Muslim holidays is often determined by the sighting of the moon, so may vary by a day.