religious observance calendar - the chicago school

Religious Observance Calendar

The following observance calendar was created to expand the University community’s

recognition of its diverse religious perspectives. This calendar is not exhaustive of all major holy

days in every religious tradition and some variances of dates will exist because of regional

differences. It was developed based on the calendar posted by the National Conference for

Community and Justice as well as other calendars or information posted on the web by the

various religions. For questions or comments please contact [email protected]

Faculty and Staff:

Faculty and staff supervisors should accommodate requests for absence for work-restricted

religious holy days, unless it would cause an undue hardship. Further, whether the holy days are

work-restricted or not, supervisors of faculty and staff should always be sensitive to requests

for accommodations. Faculty and Staff Policies on Religious Accommodations can be found in

the Faculty and Staff Handbook. Student Polices on Religious Accommodations can be found in

the Student Handbook.

Work-restricted Religious Worship and Holy Days*

A recognized denominational sacred or holy day that is observed by persons or groups who are

required - through a set or system of religious beliefs, laws/doctrines, tenets, canons or theology -

to restrict or limit work and/or physical or mental activity directed toward the production or

accomplishment of something; toil; labor. This definition may include academic endeavors (e.g.

examinations, classroom activities and research, or out-of-classroom learning experiences).

In the Jewish faith, Saturday (beginning at sunset on Friday) is a work-restricted Sabbath,

Regulations governing observance for worship depends on level of observance.

There are no work-restricted holy days within the Christian faith by tenet. However, Sunday is

the principal day of worship for most Christian communities. By custom, in the United States,

Easter and Christmas (a federal holiday) are considered to be non-work days.

Muslims are mandated by the teachings of Islam to attend a prayer service every Friday, and are

not allowed to attend to work-related issues during the time of the prayers.

*The following definitions were developed by the Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) and are based on a number of standard definitions developed by other universities including DePaul, Louisville, Xavier, and Georgetown.

mailto:[email protected]

https://tcsedsystem.sharepoint.com/sites/tcspp/hr/HRReceivedDocuments/Handbooks/Faculty%20and%20Staff%20Handbook%202019.pdf

http://catalog.thechicagoschool.edu/

*The following definitions were developed by the Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) and are based on a number of standard definitions developed by other universities including DePaul, Louisville, Xavier, and

Georgetown.

Ramadan is 29 or 30 days of fasting based on the lunar calendar. It requires Muslims to fast from an

hour and half before the sunrises until the sun sets. This observance means Muslims neither eat nor

drink during this fasting time, not even water. What is important to know for the classroom is that this

is a holy time for Muslims and their focus may not be 100% as the month continues some people

become weak or tired.

One additional note for Muslims is that if a class is three or more hours in length, please give at least 15

minute breaks at some point for Muslims to be able to make their daily prayers on time.

Special worship: Such religious observances listed below are NOT work-restricted by definition but may

involve a special worship or observance.

Meaningful: Such days are NOT work-restricted by definition but may be particularly significant

to those that observe.

2019 October

8-9 Yom Kippur Judaism Work-Restricted 13-20 Sukkot Judaism Work-Restricted

20-22 Shemini Atzeret Judaism Work-Restricted

21-22 Simchat Torah Judaism Work-Restricted

27 Diwali Hindu, Jain, Sikh Special Worship

28-29 Birth of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

30 Baháúllah's Birthday Bahá'í Work-Restricted

November

1 All Saints Day C/Catholic Special Worship

2 All Souls Day Catholic Special Worship

9-10 Mawlid-al-Nabi Muslim Work-Restricted

12 Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib

Sikh Work-Restricted

24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib


December

1-24 Advent Season Christian Meaningful

3 Feast of St. Francis Xavier C/Catholic Meaningful

8 Bodhi Day Buddhist Special Worship

8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception

C/Catholic Special Worship

12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe

C/Catholic Meaningful

22-30 Hanukkah Judaism Special Worship

https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/Calendar-Religious-Holidays-and-Observances.cfm#WorkRestrict


Georgetown.

25 Christmas Christian Special Worship

26-Jan 1 Kwanzaa Ethnic Meaningful

2020

January

1 Feast of Mary Mother of God C/Catholic Special Worship

5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib

Sikh Special Worship

7 Christmas Eastern Orthodox/ Christian

Special Worship

February

5 Lunar New Year Buddhist Special Worship

9-10 Magha Puja (Sangha) Day Buddhist Meaningful

9-10 Tu B’ Shavt Judaism Special Worship

15 Parinirvana Buddhist Special Worship

21 Maha Shivaratri Hindu Work-Restricted

24-26 Tibetian New Year (Losar) Buddhist Special Worship

25 Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti Hindu Work-Restricted

26 Ash Wednesday C/Catholic Special Worship

March

9-10 Purim Judaism Special Worship

20 Norouz Persian Work-Restricted 20-21 Naw-Ruz Bahá'í Work-Restricted

25 Feast of the Annunciation C/Catholic Meaningful

April

2 Ramanavami Hindu Work Restricted

8 (Pesach)Passover Begins Judaism Work- Restricted 10 Good Friday C/Catholic Special Worship

12 Easter C/Catholic Special Worship 13 Vaisakhi Sikh Special Worship

16 (Pesach) Passover Ends Judaism Work- Restricted

17 Good Friday Eastern Orthodox/Christian

Special Worship

21 Ridvan Begins Bahá'í Work-Restricted

23 Ramadan Begins Islam Work-Restricted

May

2 Ridvan Ends Bahá'í Work-Restricted

7 Vesak Buddhist Work-Restricted


Georgetown.

21 Feast of the Ascension C/Catholic Special Worship

22-23 Declaration of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

23 Ramadan Ends Islam Work-Restricted

23-24 Eid-al-Fitr Islam Work-Restricted

27-28 Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í Work-Restricted

28-30 Shavuot Begins Judaism Work-Restricted

June

16 Marytrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib


July

9-10 Martyrdom of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

29-30 Tisha B’ Av Judaism Work-Restricted

30-31 Eid al-Adha Islam Work-Restricted

31 Feast of St. Ignatius C/Catholic Special Worship

August

11 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu Work-Restricted

15 Feast of the Assumption of Mary


16-23 Paryushan Jain Special Worship

September

18-20 Rosh Hashanah Judaism Work-Restricted 27-28 Yom Kippur Judaism Work-Restricted

October

2-9 Sukkot Judaism Work-Restricted

9 Shemini Atzeret Judaism Work-Restricted

10-11 Simchat Torah Judaism Work-Restricted

17-26 Navratri Hindu Work-Restricted

17-18 Birth of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

18 Mawlid-al-Nabi Muslim Work-Restricted


November








Georgetown.



December

1-Dec 24 Advent Season Christian Meaningful





10-18 Hanukkah Judaism Special Worship





2021

January 1 Feast of Mary Mother of God C/Catholic Special Worship

5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib

Sikh Special Worship

7 Christmas Eastern Orthodox/Christian

Special Worship

27-28 Tu B’ Shavt Judaism Special Worship

February

5 Lunar New Year Buddhist Special Worship

12 Tibetian New Year (Losar) Buddhist Special Worship

15 Parinirvana (Nirvana) Day Buddhist Special Worship

17 Ash Wednesday C/Catholic Special Worship

25-26 Purim Judaism Special Worship

27 Magha Puja (Sangha) Day Buddhist Meaningful

March

11 Maha Shivaratri Hindu Work-Restricted 8 Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti Hindu Work-Restricted 20-21 Naw-Ruz Bahá'í Work-Restricted 21 Norouz Persian Work-Restricted 25 Feast of the Annunciation C/Catholic Meaningful

27-April 4 Pesach (Passover Begins) Judaism Work Restricted


Georgetown.

April

2 Good Friday C/Catholic Meaningful

4 Easter C/Catholic Special Worship

21 Ramanavami Hindu Work Restricted 13 Vaisahki Sikh Special Worship

13 Ramadan Begins Islam Work-Restricted (Friday)

20-21 Ridvan Bahá'í Work-Restricted

30 Good Friday Eastern Orthodox/Christian

Special Worship

May

11 Ramadan Ends Islam Work-Restricted

12-13 Eid-al-Fitr Islam Work-Restricted

13 Feast of the Ascension C/Catholic Special Worship

16-18 Shavuot Judaism Work-Restricted

22-23 Declaration of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

28 Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í Work-Restricted

June

16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib


July

9-10 Martyrdom of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted

19-20 Eid al-Adha Islam Work-Restricted

18 Tisha B’ Av Judaism Work-Restricted

31 Feast of St. Ignatius C/Catholic Special Worship

August

15 Feast of the Assumption of Mary


29 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu Work-Restricted

27-30 Paryushan Jain Special Worship

September

6-8 Rosh Hashanah Judaism Work-Restricted 15-16 Yom Kippur Judaism Work-Restricted 20-27 Sukkot Judaism Work-Restricted October

6-14 Navratri Hindu Work-Restricted

19 Mawlid-al-Nabi Sikh Work-Restricted

27-28 Shemini Atzeret Judaism Work-Restricted

28-29 Simchat Torah

Judaism Work-Restricted


Georgetown.

November




6 Birth of the Bab Bahá'í Work-Restricted






28- Dec 6 Hanukkah Judaism Special Worship

December

1-24 Advent Season Christian Meaningful









-Hindu, Jain, Islam and Sikh holy days are calculated on a lunar calendar and are observed at different times in different regions.

-All Jewish and Bahá'í holy days begin at sunset the previous day.

-Observances/practices vary from culture to culture within and across denominations. -Please be mindful of work-restricted holidays when scheduling institution wide events. If an

institution wide event takes place on a work-restricted holiday, the committee responsible for

planning the event should know that there may be employees who are unable to attend.
