Inclusive Strategies for Holiday Displays
2012-2013 Traditional Holiday Observances
Guidance on holidays and religious displays
Strategic Plan for Diversity 2011-2016
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
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Collaborative Training Dinner
5 pm - 7 pm
Faculty Staff Convocation
8:30 am - 10:30 am
Collaborative Training
1 pm - 5:30 pm
Red Cross Blood Drive
11 am - 4 pm
