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Traditional Observances and Major Days of Religious Significance

This calendar lists some traditional observances, and major days of religious significance. Also, see link to the NYS Department of Civil Service Calendar of Legal Holidays and Days of Religious Significance http://www.cs.state.ny.us/attendance_leave/pdf/Appendix-B.pdf. Use these dates to aid in developing class syllabus and planning for examinations during the academic year 2012-13. If you are aware of other observances or major days of religious significance that should be listed, or if you see a misrepresentation on this list, please contact the Office of Assistant Provost for Diversity, 585-399-5876 or dlamphro@brockport.edu .

Although classes are in session many of these days, faculty are asked to use this information and their discretion when responding to student requests for time off for religious purposes. Students have certain rights to make up work missed due to observation of religious holidays. The following quote is from S 224-A of the New York State Education Law: “each student who is absent from school, because of her/his religious beliefs, must be given an equivalent opportunity to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements which s/he may have missed because of such absence on any particular day or days.” The full text of this law is found in the affirmative action policy: Student Absence due to Religious Beliefs — Section 224-A of the New York State Education Law. Please take special note of those holidays that have been designated non-work days by the religions that celebrate them. Complaints or appeals related to denial of these rights by instructors should be addressed first with the chairperson of the department offering the course and, if necessary, the dean of the school.

NOTE: All Jewish and Islamic holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.

o These holidays have been designated non-work days by the religions that celebrate them.

Some of these dates are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual sighting of the moon and therefore there may be some variance by a day.

Classes are not in session for holidays indicated in ORANGE

Classes are in session for holidays indicated in BLUE

Early Fall Start 2012

Holiday or Observance Religious Group Dates Additional Notes
Lailat Ul Qadr Islamic Aug. 14  
Eid al-Fitr, (End of Ramadan) Islamic Aug. 19 July 20-Aug. 19
Labor Day   Sept. 3  
Autumn Equinox   Sept. 22  
*Rosh Hashanah (New Year) Jewish Sept. 17-18  

Autumn 2012

Holiday of Observance Religious Group Dates Additional Notes
o Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Jewish Sept. 26  
Columbus Day   Oct. 8  
o Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) Jewish Oct. 1-7 Oct. 1-2 Primary Obligation Days
o Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Jewish Oct. 8  
o Birth of the Báb Bahá'í Oct. 20  
o Diwali Hindu Nov. 13  
Halloween   Oct. 31  
Daylight Saving Time Ends   Nov. 4  
Eid al-Adha Islamic Oct. 26  
Veterans Day   Nov. 11  Observed Nov. 12
o Birth of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í Nov. 12  
Thanksgiving Day   Nov. 22-23  
Day of the Covnant Bahá'í Nov. 26  
Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Bahá'í Nov. 28  
Hanukkah (Chanukah) Jewish Dec. 9-16  
Winter Solstice   Dec. 21  
Christmas (Birth of Jesus) Christian Dec. 25  
Kwanzaa Interfaith / African-American Dec. 26-Jan. 1  

Winter 2013

Holiday or Observance Religious Group Dates Additional Notes
New Year's Day   Jan. 1  
Orthodox Christmas Christian Orthodox Jan. 7  
Martin Luther King Day   Jan. 21  
Mawlid-al-Nabi (Mohammad's Birthday) Islamic Jan. 24  
Valentine's Day   Feb. 14  
President's Day (Washington's Birthday)   Feb. 18  
The Nineteen Day Fast Bahá'í Mar. 2-20  
Daylight Saving Time Starts   Mar. 10  
St. Patrick's Day   Mar. 17  
Vernal Equinox   Mar. 20  
o Naw Ruz (New Year) Bahá'í Mar. 21  

Spring 2013

Holiday or Observance Religious Group Dates Additional Notes
Good Friday Christian/ Christian Orthodox March 29
May 3
 
o Passover (Pesach) Jewish March 26 -  April 2  March 26-27, April 1-2 Primary Obligation Days
Easter Christian/ Christian Orthodox March 31
Apr. 15
 
o First Day of Ridvan Bahá'í Apr. 21  
o Ninth Day of Ridvan Bahá'í Apr. 29  
o Twelth Day of Ridvan Bahá'í May 2  
Cinco de Mayo   May 5  
Mother's Day   May 12  
o Declaration of the Báb Bahá'í May 23  
o Shavuot Jewish May 15-16  
Memorial Day   May 27  
o Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í May 29  
Father's Day   June 16  

Summer 2013

Holiday or Observance Religious Group Dates Additional Notes
Summer Solstice   June 21  
Independence day   July 4  
o Martydom of the Báb Bahá'í July 9  
Beginning of Ramadan Islamic July 9 July 9-Aug. 8
Lailat Ul Qadr Islamic Aug. 8  

Last Updated 7/26/12

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