Date

Day

Observance

Description

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.

September 16-17, 2023

Sat-Sun

***Rosh Hashanah           

Jewish New Year.  Days of renewed responsibility. Begins at sunset on Sept. 15, 2023.

September 25, 2023

Monday

***Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement; most solemn of Jewish holy days. Observed with fasting, prayer and repentance. Begins at sunset on Sept. 24, 2023.

September 30 - October 6, 2023

Sat-Fri

**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 Sept. 29, 2023.

October 7, 2023

Saturday

**Shemini Atzeret

The closing day of the Jewish Festival of Sukkot. A day of prayer. Begins at sunset on Oct. 6, 2023.

October 8, 2023

Sunday

**Simchat Torah

Jewish holy day.  Reading of the law (Torah) is completed and begun anew in the synagogue. Begins at sunset on Oct. 7, 2023.

November 12, 2023

Sunday

***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 8-15, 2023

Fri-Fri

*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. 7, 2023.

December 25, 2023

Monday

***Christmas

Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. 

December 26, 2023-January 1, 2024

Tues-Mon

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, 2024

Saturday

***Epiphany - Orthodox Christmas

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

January 7, 2024

Sunday

***Feast of the Nativity

Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

February 14, 2024

Wednesday

**Ash Wednesday

Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent.            

March 11-April 9, 2024

Monday

***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 10, 2024.

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

March 24-25, 2024

Sun-Mon

*Purim

The Feast of Lots commemorates the deliverance/rescue of the Jewish minority in Persia. Begins at sunset on March 23, 2024.

March 24, 2024

Sunday

***Palm/Passion Sunday

The Sunday before Easter commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. 

March 28, 2024

Thursday

*Holy Thursday

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

March 29, 2024

Friday

**Good Friday

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

March 31, 2024

Sunday

***Easter

Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

April 10, 2024

Wed

***Eid al-Fitr

Muslim day of feasting to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Festival of breaking of the fast.  Begins at sunset on April 09, 2024.

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

April 23-24, 2024 (first 2 days)

Tues-Wed

***Pesach/Passover

(First 2 days) Jewish festival marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.  Begins at sunset on April 22, 2024.

April 28, 2024

Sunday

***Palm Sunday-Orthodox

Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians.

April 28-29, 2024 (last 2 days)

Sun-Mon

** Pesach/Passover

Concluding days.  Begins at sunset on April 27, 2024

May 3, 2024

Friday

***Holy Friday-Orthodox

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

May 5, 2024

Sunday

***Easter/Pascha-Orthodox

Orthodox Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection.

June 12, 2024

Wednesday

**Shavuot

Jewish festival that commemorates the giving of the law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai.  Begins at sunset on June 11, 2024

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.