Here is a calendar of religious holidays recognized by Beloit College*.  Below are listed the 2012-13 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 2012

** 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.

July 20 **
First day of Ramadan – Muslim

August 18
Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan) - Muslim
Some variation is possible; date depends on lunar sighting.

September 22
Mabon (Harvest Home) – Pagan

September 17-18 **
Rosh Hashanah – Jewish

September 26 **
Yom Kippur - Jewish

October 1-7 **
Sukkot - Jewish

October 8 **
Shemini Atzeret – Jewish

October 9 **
Simchat Torah – Jewish

October 20
Birthday of the Bab - Baha'i

October 26 **
Eid al Adha - Muslim

October 31-November 1
Samhain- Pagan

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

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

November 13
Diwali - Hindu, Sikh and Jainist

November 24 **
Ashura- Muslim (predominantly Shi'a)

December 2
First Sunday of Advent- Christian

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

December 9-16 **
Hanukkah - Jewish

December 21
Yule- Pagan

December 25
Christmas - Christian

December 26- January 1
Kwanzaa - African Heritage

Spring 2013

February 2
Imbolc- Pagan

February 10
Chinese New Year - Confucian and Taoist (Year of the Water Snake)

February 13
Ash Wednesdayand the beginning of Lent – Christian

February 24 **
Purim- Jewish

March 19
Feast of Saint Joseph- Roman Catholic Christian

March 20
Ostara- Pagan

March 21
Naw Ruz- Baha'i and Zoroastrian

March 24
Palm Sunday and beginning of Holy Week - Christian

March 26
Khordad Sal - Zoroastrian
Memorial of Christ's Death - Jehovah's Witnesses

March 26 ** - April 2
Passover – Jewish

March 27
Holi - Hindus, Sikhs, and Jainists

March 28
Maundy (Holy) Thursday - Catholic and Protestant

March 29
Good Friday – Catholic and Protestant

March 31
Easter Sunday- Catholic and Protestant

April 14
Baisakhi - Sikh

April 21 ** - May 2
Ridvan- Baha'i

May 1
Beltane- Pagan

May 25
Wesak - Buddhist

May 9
Ascension of the Lord - Roman Catholic

* "Recognized by Beloit College":  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.