Below are many of the religious holidays observed by members of the Washington University in St. Louis community. Please note that individual practices may vary.
Download 2023-2024 Calendar (PDF)
Download 2024-2025 Calendar (PDF)
View WashU’s Religious Holiday Class Absence Policy
Spring 2024
January 1: Oshogatsu (Shinto) – Celebration of New Year, thanking the kami, and asking for good fortune
January 1: Feast of Mary Mother of God (Catholic Christianity) – Celebration of the motherhood of Mary
January 6: Epiphany (Christian) – Feast day celebrating the revelation of God the Son as a human in Jesus Christ
January 7: Christmas (Orthodox Christianity) – Celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
January 15: Makar Sankranti (Hinduism) – Celebration of the Sun god
January 17: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh) – Birthday of the last Guru
February 2: Imbolc (Pagan/Wiccan) – Marks the beginning of Spring *Begins sundown of Feb 1
February 7: Lailat al-Miraj (Islam) – Celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s ascent to heaven *Begins at sundown on February 6
February 10: Lunar New Year (Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism) – Celebration of a start of the new lunar cycle
February 14: Ash Wednesday (Christianity) – Beginning of Lent *Fasting
February 14: Vasant Panchami (Hinduism) – Holy day dedicated to Goddess Saraswati
February 24: Magha Puja Day (Buddhism) – Celebration of Lord Buddha’s teaching to an assembly
March 2-20: Nineteen Day Fast (Bahá’í Faith) – Fast observed by Bahá’í adults *Fasting
March 8: Maha Shivrathri (Hinduism) – Festival celebrated in honor of the god Shiva *Fasting
March 11 – April 9: Ramadan (Islam) – Commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad receiving divine revelation as recorded in the Qur’an *Begins evening of March 10, fasting dawn until dusk or sundown
March 18: Clean Monday/Ash Monday (Orthodox Christianity) – Start of Lent for Orthodox Christians
March 21: Nowruz (Zoroastrianism, Bahá’í Faith, etc.) – Persian New Year *Begins in the evening of March 20
March 21: Ta’anit Esther (Judaism) – Fast of Esther *Minor fasting when sun up
March 24: Palm Sunday (Christianity) – Celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem
March 24: Purim (Judaism) – Festival of Lots *Begins sundown March 23
March 24-30: Holy Week (Christianity) – The week of Holy Days before Easter
March 25: Holi (Hinduism) – Festival of Colors *Fasting
March 28: Holy Thursday (Christianity) – Commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper
March 29: Good Friday (Christianity) – Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus *Fasting
March 31: Easter (Christianity) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
April 8: Buddha’s Birthday (Buddhism) – Holiday that commemorates the birth of the Buddha *This holiday is celebrated on different dates by different cultures and regions (usually in April or May)
April 10: Eid al-Fitr (Islam) – Festival that marks the ending of Ramadan *Begins evening of April 9
April 13: Vaisakhi (Sikhism) – Celebration of the formation of the religious community of Sikhs by Guru Gobind Singh
April 21: Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism) – Celebration of the birth of the founder of Jainism
April 21– May 2: Ridvan (Bahá’í Faith) – Commemoration of when the founder of the Bahá’í Faith declared his mission *Begins evening of April 20, Work restrictions April 20 sundown – April 21 sundown, April 28 sundown – April 29 sundown, and May 1 sundown – May 2 sundown
April 22: Ta’anit Bechorot (Judaism) – Fast of the First Born *Fasting
April 23-30: Passover (Judaism) – Festival of Freedom, Exodus from Egyptian Slavery *Begins sundown on April 22, food restrictions all days, Work restrictions 4/22 sundown – 4/24 sundown and 4/28 sundown-4/30 sundown.
April 28: Palm Sunday (Orthodox Christianity) – Celebration of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem
April 28-May 4: Holy Week (Orthodox Christianity) – The week of Holy Days before Easter
May 1: Beltane (Wicca, Paganism) – Festival of Light honoring fertility and creation *Begins at sundown April 30
May 2: Holy Thursday (Orthodox Christianity) – Commemoration of Jesus’ Last Supper
May 3: Good Friday (Orthodox Christianity) – Commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus *Fasting
May 5: Easter (Orthodox Christianity) – Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus
May 9: Ascension (Christianity) – Commemoration of the ascension of Jesus into heaven
May 24: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í Faith) – Celebration of Ali Muhammad’s announcement that he was the “gate” to the promised coming of all religions *Begins evening of May 23, work restriction
May 29: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í Faith) – the anniversary of the passing of Bahá’u’lláh *Begins evening of May 28
June 12-13: Shavuot (Judaism) – Festival of Receiving the Torah *Begins sundown on June 11, work restriction starts sundown June 11 and continues through June 13.
June 17: Eid al-Adha (Islam) – the Festival of Sacrifice, honoring Abraham’s willingness to offer his son to God
July 7: Muharram (Islam) – Islamic calendar new year
July 10: Martyrdom of The Báb (Bahá’í Faith) – the memorial of the execution of The Báb *Work restriction
July 16: Ashura (Islam) – Commemoration of martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and when Moses fasted in gratitude for the liberation of the Israelites *Begins at sundown July 15, fasting
July 23: Tzom Tammuz (Judaism) – Fast commemorating breaching of the walls of Jerusalem *Fasting
For more information, contact The Reverend Callista Isabelle,
Director for Religious, Spiritual & Ethical Life: 314-935-5257
Office for Religious, Spiritual and Ethical Life