Date

Day

Observance

Description

June 17, 2024

Monday

***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 16, 2024.

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

October 3-4, 2024

Thurs-Fri

***Rosh Hashanah           

Jewish New Year.  Days of renewed responsibility. Begins at sunset on Oct. 2, 2024.

October 12, 2024

Saturday

***Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement; most solemn of Jewish holy days. Observed with fasting, prayer and repentance. Begins at sunset on October 11, 2024.

October 17 - October 23, 2024

Thurs-Wed

**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. 16, 2024.

October 24, 2024

Thursday

**Shemini Atzeret

The closing day of the Jewish Festival of Sukkot. A day of prayer. Begins at sunset on Oct. 23, 2024.

October 25, 2024

Friday

**Simchat Torah

Jewish holy day.  Reading of the law (Torah) is completed and begun anew in the synagogue. Begins at sunset on Oct. 24, 2024.

October 31, 2024

Thursday

***Diwali

Also called The Festival of Lights, is a five-day festival observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and hope over despair. The third day of Diwali, Lakshmi Puja, is the primary day for worship.

++NOTE: The dates vary annually based on the Hindu lunar calendar

December 25, 2024

Wednesday

***Christmas

Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. 

December 26, 2024-January 2, 2025

Thurs-Thurs

*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. 25, 2024.

December 26, 2024-January 1, 2025

Thurs-Wed

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, 2025

Monday

***Epiphany - Orthodox Christmas

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

January 7, 2025

Tuesday

***Feast of the Nativity

Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

March 1-March 30, 2025

Saturday

***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 February 28, 2025.

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

March 5, 2025

Wednesday

**Ash Wednesday

Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent.            

March 14-15, 2025

Fri-Sat

*Purim

The Feast of Lots commemorates the deliverance/rescue of the Jewish minority in Persia. Begins at sunset on March 13, 2025.

March 31, 2025

Monday

***Eid al-Fitr

Muslim day of feasting to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Festival of breaking of the fast.  Begins at sunset on March 30, 2025.

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

April 13, 2025

Sunday

***Palm/Passion Sunday

The Sunday before Easter commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 

April 13, 2025

Sunday

***Palm Sunday-Orthodox

Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

April 13-14, 2025 (first 2 days)

Sun-Mon

***Pesach/Passover

(First 2 days) Jewish festival marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.  Begins at sunset on April 12, 2025.

April 17, 2025

Thursday

*Holy Thursday

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

April 18, 2025

Friday

**Good Friday

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

April 18, 2025

Friday

***Holy Friday-Orthodox

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

April 18-19, 2025 (last 2 days)

Fri-Sat

**Pesach/Passover

Concluding days. Begins at sunset on April 17, 2025

April 20, 2025

Sunday

***Easter

Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

April 20, 2025

Sunday

***Easter/Pascha-Orthodox

Orthodox Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

June 2, 2025

Monday

**Shavuot

Jewish festival that commemorates the giving of the law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Begins at sunset on June 1, 2025

June 7, 2025

Saturday

***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 6, 2025.

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