Annotated Religious Calendar

  • CALENDAR OF ONE-STAR, TWO-STAR AND THREE-STAR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2022-2023

    Date

    Day

    Observance

    Description

     

    July 10, 2022

    Sun

    ***Eid al-Adha

    Islamic Feast of Sacrifice. The most important feast of Islam. It concludes the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and is a three-day festival recalling Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Begins at sunset on July 9, 2022.

    ++Note: The dates are approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America.

     

    September 26-27, 2022

    Mon-Tues

    ***Rosh Hashanah           

    Jewish New Year.  Days of renewed responsibility. Begins at sunset on Sept. 25, 2022.

     

    October 5, 2022

    Wednesday

    ***Yom Kippur

    Day of Atonement; most solemn of Jewish holy days. Observed with fasting, prayer and repentance. Begins at sunset on Oct. 4, 2022.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    October 10-16, 2022

    Mon-Sun

    **Sukkot

    Feast of Tabernacles. Jewish festival of thanksgiving, and the remembrance of the wandering in the wilderness after their exodus from Egypt. Begins at sunset on Oct. 9, 2022.

     

    October 17, 2022

    Monday

    **Shemini Atzeret

    The closing day of the Jewish Festival of Sukkot. A day of prayer. Begins at sunset on Oct. 16, 2022.

     

    October 18, 2022

    Tuesday

    **Simchat Torah

    Jewish holy day.  Reading of the law (Torah) is completed and begun anew in the synagogue. Begins at sunset on Oct. 17, 2022.

     

    December 19-26, 2022

    Mon-Mon

    *Chanukah – Hanukkah

    Festival of Lights; Jewish holiday commemorating rededication of the Temple by the Maccabees. Primarily a children’s festival - a time for fun, songs, games, and gift giving. Begins at sunset Dec. 18, 2022.

     

    December 25, 2022

    Sunday

    ***Christmas

    Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. 

     

    December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023

    Mon-Sun

    Kwanzaa

    African–American seven-day spiritual festival dedicated to seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith. The American celebration is related to the spirit and rituals of the harvest festivals of Africa.  “Kwanzaa” in Kiswahili, means “first fruits of the harvest.” 

     

    January 6, 2023

    Friday

    ***Epiphany - Orthodox Christmas

    Observed by Eastern and Greek Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar. 

     

    January 7, 2023

    Saturday

    ***Feast of the Nativity

    Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

     

    February 22, 2023

    Wednesday

    **Ash Wednesday

    Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent.            

     

    March 7-8, 2023

    Tues-Wed

    *Purim

    The Feast of Lots commemorates the deliverance/rescue of the Jewish minority in Persia. Begins at sunset on March 6, 2023.

     

    March 23-April 21, 2023

    Thursday

    ***First Day of Ramadan

    The beginning of the Islamic holy month in which Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset each day. Begins at sunset on March 22, 2023.

    ++Note:  This date is approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America.

     

    April 2, 2023

    Sunday

    ***Palm/Passion Sunday

    The Sunday before Easter commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 

     

    April 6-7, 2023
    (first 2 days)

    April 12-13, 2023
    (last 2 days)

    Thurs-Fri


    Wed-Thurs

    ***Pesach/Passover

    (First two days) Jewish festival marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.  Begins at sunset on April 5, 2023.

     

    April 6, 2023

    Thursday

    *Holy Thursday

    First day of the sacred Triduum and commemorates The Last Supper Jesus shared with his apostles.

     

    April 7, 2023

    Friday

    **Good Friday

     

    Observed by Christians the Friday before Easter.  Commemorates Christ’s crucifixion, death and entombment. 

     

    April 9, 2023

    Sunday

    ***Easter

     

    Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

     

    April 9, 2023

    Sunday

    ***Palm Sunday-Orthodox

    Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

     

    April 14, 2023

    Friday

    ***Holy Friday-Orthodox

    Observed by Orthodox Christians the Friday before Easter. Commemorates Christ’s crucifixion, death and entombment

     

    April 16, 2023

    Sunday

    ***Easter/Pascha-Orthodox

    Orthodox Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

     

    April 22, 2023

    Saturday

    ***Eid al-Fitr

    Muslim day of feasting to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Festival of breaking of the fast.  Begins at sunset on April 21, 2023.

    ++Note: This date is approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America.

     

    May 26-27, 2023

    Fri-Sat

    **Shavuot

    Jewish festival that commemorates the giving of the law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Begins at sunset on May 25, 2023

     

    June 29, 2023

    Thursday

    ***Eid al-Adha

    Islamic Feast of Sacrifice. The most important feast of Islam. It concludes the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, and is a three-day festival recalling Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to Allah. Begins at sunset on June 28, 2023.

    ++Note: The dates are approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America.