2026-27 Annotated Religious Calendar
CALENDAR OF ONE-STAR, TWO-STAR AND THREE-STAR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 2026-2027
|
Date |
Day |
Observance |
Description |
|
September 12-13, 2026 |
Sat-Sun |
***Rosh Hashanah |
Jewish New Year. Days of renewed responsibility. Begins at sunset on Sept. 11, 2026. |
|
September 21, 2026 |
Monday |
***Yom Kippur |
Day of Atonement; most solemn of Jewish holy days. Observed with fasting, prayer and repentance. Begins at sunset on Sept. 20, 2026. |
|
Sept. 26 - Oct. 2, 2026 |
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. 25, 2026. |
|
October 3, 2026 |
Saturday |
**Shemini Atzeret |
The closing day of the Jewish Festival of Sukkot. A day of prayer. Begins at sunset on Oct. 2, 2026. |
|
October 4, 2026 |
Sunday |
**Simchat Torah |
Jewish holy day. Reading of the law (Torah) is completed and begun anew in the synagogue. Begins at sunset on Oct. 3, 2026. |
|
November 8, 2026 |
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 5 - 12, 2026 |
Sat-Sat |
*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. 4, 2026. |
|
December 25, 2026 |
Friday |
***Christmas |
Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. |
|
December 26, 2026 - January 1, 2027 |
Sat-Fri |
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, 2027 |
Wednesday |
***Epiphany - Orthodox Christmas |
Observed by Eastern and Greek Orthodox Christians who follow the Julian calendar. |
|
January 7, 2026 |
Thursday |
***Feast of the Nativity |
Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians. |
|
February 8 - March 9, 2027
|
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 February 7, 2027. ++Note: This date is approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America. |
|
February 10, 2027 |
Wednesday |
**Ash Wednesday |
Observance to begin the 40-day season of Lent. |
|
March 10, 2027 |
Wednesday |
***Eid al-Fitr
|
Muslim day of feasting to celebrate the end of Ramadan. Festival of breaking of the fast. Begins at sunset on March 9, 2027. ++Note: This date is approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America. |
|
March 21, 2027 |
Sunday |
***Palm/Passion Sunday |
The Sunday before Easter commemorates Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. |
|
March 23 - 24, 2027 |
Tues-Wed |
*Purim |
The Feast of Lots commemorates the deliverance/rescue of the Jewish minority in Persia. Begins at sunset on March 22, 2027. |
|
March 25, 2027 |
Thursday |
*Holy Thursday |
First day of the sacred Triduum and commemorates The Last Supper Jesus shared with his apostles. |
|
March 26, 2027 |
Friday
|
**Good Friday |
Observed by Christians the Friday before Easter. Commemorates Christ’s crucifixion, death and entombment. |
|
March 28, 2027 |
Sunday |
***Easter |
Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection. |
|
April 22-23, 2027 (first 2 days) |
Thurs-Fri |
***Pesach/Passover
|
(First 2 days) Jewish festival marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Begins at sunset on April 21, 2027. |
|
April 25, 2027 |
Sunday |
***Palm Sunday-Orthodox |
Observed by Eastern and Russian Orthodox Christians. |
|
April 27 - 38, 2027 (last 2 days) |
Weds-Thurs |
** Pesach/Passover |
Concluding days. Begins at sunset on April 26, 2027 |
|
April 30, 2027 |
Friday |
***Holy Friday-Orthodox |
Observed by Orthodox Christians the Friday before Easter. Commemorates Christ’s crucifixion, death and entombment |
|
May 2, 2027 |
Sunday |
***Easter/Pascha-Orthodox |
Orthodox Christian celebration of Christ’s resurrection. |
|
May 17, 2027 |
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 May 16, 2027. ++Note: The dates are approximate. Islamic holy days can vary depending upon the sighting of the moon in North America. |
|
June 11, 2027 |
Friday |
**Shavuot |
Jewish festival that commemorates the giving of the law (Torah) to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Begins at sunset on June 10, 2027 |