Calendar of Religious Holidays

The University of Arizona will remain open on most of the Religious Holidays listed below.
See the General Catalog's Academic Calendar for University-wide holidays and closures.
  • Calendars below cover the following religious groups:
    Bahá'is, Catholic, Episcopalian, Jewish, Lutheran, Muslim, and Orthodox Christian.
  • Calendars compiled by the University Religious Council. Please contact the Hillel Foundation at (520) 624-6561 for further information.

Religious Holidays: Non-work days

The religious holidays listed below have been designated non-work days by the religions that celebrate them.

See also Work Not Strictly Forbidden

• Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date.

* Islamic dates are approximate. The official days can be plus/minus one day and depend upon the official physical sighting of the new moon. This can be confirmed at the time by calling the Islamic Center at 520-624-3233.

** Buddhist: Two aspects to take into account with Buddhist festivals.  Most, with the exception of the Japanese, use the lunar calendar and the dates of festivals vary from country to country and between Buddhist traditions.

Note: Bahá'is holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting (Mar 2-21). Work is not forbidden, but because of the fasting, exams may be easier to take in the morning or evening.
  2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022

Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath: Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown.
(Also observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)
Tibetan New Year Feb 16 Feb 12 Mar 3
Bahá'is Feast of Naw-Ruz Mar 20 Mar 21 Mar 21
Bahá'is 1st day of Ridvan Apr 20 Apr 21 Apr 21
Bahá'is 9th day of Ridvan Apr 29 Apr 29 Apr 29
Bahá'is 12th day of Ridvan May 2 May 2 May 2
Bahá'is Declaration of the Bab May 23 May 23 May 23
Bahá'is Ascension of Baha'u'llah May 29 May 28 May 29
Vesak (Buddhist)** May 29 May 26 May 15
Bahá'is Martyrdom of the Bab Jul 9 Jul 9 Jul 9
Eid al-Fitr* Jul 5 May 13 May 2
Rosh Hashanah• Sept 30-Oct 1 Sept 19-20 Sept 7-8
Yom Kippur• Oct 9 Set 28 Sept 16
Eid al-Adha* Aug 12 Jul 31 Jul 20
Sukkot• Oct 14-15 Oct 3-4 Sept 21-22
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah• Oct 21-22 Oct 10-11 Sept 28-29
Bahá'is Birth of the Bab Oct 29 Oct 20 Oct 20
Bahá'is Birth of Baha'u'llah Oct 30 Nov 12 Nov 12
Passover• Apr 9-10                                      Apr 15-16 Mar 28-29                                      Apr 3-4 Apr 16-17                                      Apr 22-23
Shavu'ot• May 29-30 May 17-18 Jun 5-6

Religious Holidays: Work Not Strictly Forbidden

See also, Religious Holidays: Non-work days

• Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date.

* Islamic dates are approximate. The official days can be plus/minus one day and depend upon the official physical sighting of the new moon. This can be confirmed at the time by calling the Islamic Center at 520-624-3233.

# Orthodox Christian holidays. Most Orthodox Christians would also be excused from work obligations on Christmas.

** Chinese New Year is an important religious and cultural holiday for Asians.
  2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022
Ramadan begins* Apr 23 Apr 12 Apr 2
Ash Wednesday Feb 26 Feb 17 Mar 2
Chinese New Year** Jan 25 Feb 12 Feb 1
Purim• Mar 9-10 Feb 25-26 Mar 16-17
Holy Thursday Apr 9 Apr 1 Apr 14
Good Friday Apr 10 Apr 2 Apr 15
Holy Saturday Apr 11 Apr 3 Apr 16
Easter Sunday Apr 12 Apr 4 Apr 17
Ashura* Aug 28-29 Aug 18-19 Aug 7-8
Hanukah• Dec 10-18 Nov 28-Dec 6 Dec 18-26
Christmas Dec 25 Dec 25 Dec 25