Religious Calendar
Major Religious Observances
Stanford has long supported faculty, students and staff in observing religious holidays of significance to them. In the complex process of creating the academic calendar, religious holy days are but one of many considerations. The university administration has always been helpful in facilitating communication and encouraging respect and understanding when there are academic calendar conflicts with religious holy days.
Most instructors will be cooperative and flexible regarding religious observance when they receive appropriate and early communication. Students should work with their instructors in advance. If a student is planning NOT to attend class or take an exam because of a religious holiday, they should convey this information to instructors at the beginning of the quarter so that the student will not be disadvantaged as a result of religious practice. Students and instructors should work together to plan for the absence and any class notes or assignments that might be missed.
The Office for Religious & Spiritual Life makes available to faculty, staff and students this list of significant religious holidays at the beginning of each academic year. For any questions or concerns, please contact the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life.
How to view the multifaith Religious Observances Calendar
- Log in to your web calendar at webcal.stanford.edu
- On the left side of the screen, click on the “Add Calendar” link
- A window will pop up. On the left-hand side menu, click on “Add from Directory”
- You will be prompted to enter the calendar name. Type in “ORSL CAL Religious Observances” and select it from the drop-down menu
- From the "Add to" drop down menu, select where you would like the calendar to appear and then click on the "Add" button
- The ORSL CAL Religious Observances calendar will now appear under your calendar list for viewing.
List of Observances for the 2023-2024 academic year
This list is not meant to be a comprehensive list of observances from all religions. Instead, the following observances are some that may affect the academic calendar.
| Icon | Meaning |
|---|---|
|
Observance is set and move according to a lunar calendar |
|
Observance begins at sundown on the first day listed |
|
Observance ends at nightfall of the last day listed |
|
Observance has significant work restrictions |
|
Observance involves fasting practices or food accommodations |
Summer Quarter 2023
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| July 18 - July 19 |
First of Muharram
|
Muslim |
| July 26 - July 27 |
Tisha B'Av
|
Jewish |
| July 27 - July 28 |
Ashura
|
Muslim |
| August 1 | Lammas/Lughnasad | Pagan, Wiccan |
| September 7 |
Sri Krishna Jayanti
|
Hindu |
| September 15 - September 17 |
Rosh Hashanah
|
Jewish |
| September 23 (Northern Hemisphere) | Mabon | Pagan, Wiccan |
Fall Quarter 2023
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| September 24 - September 25 |
Yom Kippur
|
Jewish |
| September 26 - September 27 |
Mawlid al Nabi
|
Muslim |
| September 29 - October 6 |
Sukkot
|
Jewish |
| October 6 - October 7 |
Shemini Atzeret
|
Jewish |
| October 7 - October 8 |
Simchat Torah
|
Jewish |
| October 15 - October 24 |
Navaratri
|
Hindu |
| October 16 - October 17 |
Twin Holy Birthdays:
|
Baha'i |
| October 31 | Samhain | Pagan, Wiccan |
| November 12 |
Diwali
|
Hindu |
| December 7 - December 15 |
Chanukah
|
Jewish |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve | Christian |
| December 25 | Christmas | Christian |
| December 26 - January 1 | Kwanzaa | Pan-African |
Winter Quarter 2024
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| February 14 |
Ash Wednesday
|
Christian |
| March 10 - April 9 |
Ramadan
|
Muslim |
| March 20 | Ostara | Pagan, Wiccan |
| March 21 | Nowruz | Zoroastrian |
| March 23 - March 24 |
Purim
|
Jewish |
| March 24 | Palm Sunday | Christian |
| March 24 - March 25 |
Holi
|
Hindu |
| March 29 |
Good Friday
|
Christian |
| March 31 |
Easter
|
Christian |
Spring Quarter 2024
| Date | Name | Faith |
|---|---|---|
| April 9 - April 10 |
Eid al Fitr
|
Muslim |
| April 14 | Vaisakhi | Hindu, Sikh |
| April 20 - May 1 |
Festival of Ridvan
|
Baha'i |
| April 22 - April 30 |
Passover
|
Jewish |
| May 1 | Beltane | Pagan, Wiccan |
| May 4 - May 5 |
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
|
Jewish |
| May 23 |
Vesak/Buddha Day
|
Buddhist |
| May 29 |
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
|
Baha'i |
| June 11 - June 13 |
Shavuot
|
Jewish |
| June 16 - June 17 |
Eid al Adha
|
Muslim |
| June 20 | Litha | Pagan, Wiccan |