Here is a calendar of religious holidays recognized by Beloit College*.  Below are listed the 2011-12 date for each one, the faith tradition(s) in which it is celebrated, and a helpful link to follow if you want to find out more.

Click here for more information about college policy regarding religious holidays and excused absences from class and/or work.

Fall 2011

** Please note: in the Jewish and Muslim calendars, a holiday begins at sunset the day beforehand. Holidays marked here with ** begin at sunset of the day before the date given.

August 1
First day of Ramadan– Muslim

August 31
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) - Muslim
Some variation is possible; date depends on lunar sighting.

September 23
Mabon (Harvest Home) – Pagan

September 29-30 **
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish

October 8 **
Yom Kippur - Jewish

October 13-19 **
Sukkot - Jewish

October 20 **
Shemini Atzeret – Jewish
Birthday of the Bab - Baha'i

October 21 **
Simchat Torah – Jewish

October 26
Diwali - Hindu, Sikh and Jainist

October 31-November 1
Samhain- Pagan

November 1
All Saints Day - Christian (particularly Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans)

November 7
Eid al Adha- Muslim

November 12
The Birth of Baha'u'llah- Baha'i

November 27
First Sunday of Advent- Christian

December 5 **
Ashoura- Muslim (predominantly Shi'a)

December 8
Immaculate Conception - Roman Catholic Christian
Bodhi Day– Buddhist

December 21-28 **
Hanukkah - Jewish

December 22
Yule- Pagan

December 25
Christmas - Christian

December 26- January 1
Kwanzaa - African Heritage

Spring 2012

January 23
Chinese New Year - Confucian and Taoist (Year of the Dragon)

February 2
Imbolc- Pagan

February 22
Ash Wednesdayand the beginning of Lent – Christian

March 8 **
Purim- Jewish

March 8-9
Holi - Hindus, Sikhs, and Jainists

March 19
Feast of Saint Joseph- Roman Catholic Christian

March 20
Ostara- Pagan

March 21
Naw Ruz- Baha'i and Zoroastrian

March 28
Khordad Sal - Zoroastrian

April 1
Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week - Christian

April 5
Memorial of Christ's Death - Jehovah's Witnesses
Maundy (Holy) Thursday - Christian

April 6
Good Friday– Christian

April 7-14 **
Passover – Jewish

April 8
Easter Sunday- Catholic and Protestant

April 13
Baisakhi - Sikh

April 21-May 3 **
Ridvan- Baha'i

May 1
Beltane- Pagan

May 5
Wesak - Buddhist

May 17
Ascension of the Lord - Roman Catholic

* This list is not exhaustive, but indicates the major holidays of religious faiths currently represented in our campus community. These religions are, in descending order according to population percentage on campus, Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Baha'i, Hinduism, various Pagan religions, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Taoism, Sikhism and the Chinese folk religions.