- Ann Arbor Public Schools
- AAPS Religious Holiday Calendar
- Annotated Religious Calendar
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.