Holy Days 2011-2012
This is a partial list of Holy Days that are commonly observed by students, faculty, and staff at Yale. For a complete list, please see our Multifaith Calendar.
Individuals’ observances of these holy days will vary depending on personal practice. If you are curious, simply ask!
Days in bold require observers to fast from food and/or drink. Days in italics require work restriction.
* Holy days begin at sundown the day before this date
Aug 1-31*:Ramadan. Muslim. Adults fast from food and drink from dawn until sunset.
Aug 31*: Eid al Fitr. Muslim. The festival of the breaking of the fast. Celebrates the end of Ramadan.
Sept 2-10: Paryushana. Jain. Eight day festival signifying human emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement.
Sept 28-Oct 5: Navaratri. Hindu. Symbolizes the triumph of good over evil.
Sept 29-30*: Rosh Hashanah. Jewish. The beginning of the Jewish year and the High Holy Days.
Oct 8*: Yom Kippur. Jewish. The Day of Atonement. Most solemn Jewish holy day. Adults fast from food and drink.
Oct 13-19* Sukkot. Jewish. The Feast of the Tabernacles. Harvest Festival. Meals are consumed in a temporary outdoor structure.
Oct 26 : Diwali - Hindu, Jain, Sikh. Festival of Lights that celebrates several sacred stories.
Nov 6*: Eid al Adha. Muslim. The Festival of Sacrifice remembers Abraham’s devotion in offering his son as a sacrifice.
Nov 10: Guru Nanak birthday. Sikh. Celebration of the birth of the founder of Sikhism.
Dec 21-28*: Hanukkah. Jewish. Festival of Lights. Marks the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem.
Dec 8: Bodhi Day. Buddhist. Celebrates the Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment.
Dec 25: Christmas. Christian. Celebrates the birth of Jesus.
Jan 1: Gantan-sai. Shinto. New Years.
Jan 23: Lunar New Year. Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist.
Feb 15: Nirvana Day. Commemoration of the death of Gautama Buddha.
Mar 2-20. Nineteen Day Fast. Bahá’í Faith. Bahá’ís between the ages of 15 and 70 fast
without food or drink from sunrise to sunset.
Feb 22: Ash Wednesday. Christian. The beginning of Lent, the 40-day period that precedes Easter.
Mar 8: Holi. Hindu. Celebrates the life of Krishna.
Mar 8: Purim. Jewish. Celebration of victory over oppressors.
Mar 21 Naw Ruz (New Year). Bahá’í Faith.
Apr 1: Palm/Passion Sunday. Christian. Celebrates the joyful entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem.
Apr 5: Maundy/Holy Thursday. Christian. Commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with his disciples.
Apr 6: Good/Holy Friday. Christian. Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus.
Apr 6: Mahavir Jayanti. Jain. Celebrates the birth of the founder of Jainism.
Apr 7-14* *Pesach (Passover). Jewish. Celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Apr 8: Easter. Christian. Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus.
Apr 14 Vaisakhi/Baisakhi. Hindu,Sikh. Marks the New Year for Hindus and the formation of the Khalsa (religious community of Sikhs) by Guru Gobind Singh.
Apr 21-May 2*: Ridvan. Bahá’í Faith. Commemorates the 12 days when the founder, Baha’u’llah, declared his mission.
May 6: Buddha Day. Buddhist. Commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha.