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Calendar of Religious Holidays 2008-2009

Calendar covers the following religious groups:
Bahá'i Faith, Buddhist, Catholic, Protestant Christian denominations, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Orthodox Christian.

This list is not all-encompassing. Holidays for certain faiths may have been inadvertently overlooked. Religious groups whose significant holidays do not appear are encouraged to contact the Office of University Life at 703-993-2884 so that holidays will be included in future calendars.

The religious holidays listed below have been designated NON-WORK days by the religions that observe them.

Holiday	Date(s)
Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath (Also Observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)	Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown
Bahá'i Martyrdom of the Bab	July 9, 2008
Rosh Hashanahº	September 30- October 1, 2008
Yom Kippurº	October 9, 2008
Sukkotº	October 14-15, 2008
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torahº	October 21-22, 2008
Bahá'i Birth of the Bab	October 20, 2008
Bahá'i Birth of Baha'u'llah	November 12, 2008
Persian Feast of Naw-Ruz	March 21, 2009
Passover	April 9-10, 2009 April 15-16,2009
Bahá'i 1st day of Ridvan	April 21, 2009
Bahá'i 9th day of Ridvan	April 29, 2009
Bahá'i 12th day of Ridvan	May 2, 2009
Bahá'i Declaration of the Bab	May 23, 2009
Bahá'i Ascension of Baha'u'llah	May 29, 2009
Shavu'otº	May 29-30, 2009
º Jewish Holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. Note: Bahá'i holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting (Mar 2-21, from sunrise to sunset). Work is not forbidden, but because of the fast, exams may be easier to take in the morning or evening.

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The religious holidays listed below have NOT been designated as strictly non-work days by the religions that observe them.

Holiday	Date(s)
Ramadan*	September 2- October 1, 2008
Eid al-Fitr*	October 1, 2008
Diwali	October 28, 2008
Samhain	October 31, 2008
Hanukahº	December 22-29, 2008
Eid al Adha*	December 8, 2008
Christmas	December 25, 2008
Kwanzaa	December 26, 2008 - January 1, 2008
Al-Hijra New Year*	December 29-30, 2008
Ash Wednesday	February 25, 2009
Purimº	March 10, 2009
Holi	March 11, 2009
Holy Thursday	April 9, 2009
Good Friday	April 10, 2009
Holy Saturday	April 11, 2009
Easter Sunday	April 12, 2009
Padwa/Ugadi	April 13, 2009
O.C. Holy Friday#	April 17, 2009
O.C. Holy Saturday#	April 18, 2009
O.C. Easter#	April, 19, 2009

*Islamic dates are approximate. The official days can be plus/minus one day and depend upon the official physical sighting of the new moon. Fasting occurs during Ramadan from sunrise to sunset. Work is not forbidden, but because of the fast, exams may be easier to take in the morning or evening. ºJewish holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. #Orthodox Christian holidays. Most Orthodox Christians would also be excused from work on Christmas.

Revised: September 5, 2006

Ms. Alissa Karton
University Life Program Committee
MSN 2C4, Johnson Center, Room 239E
Phone: (703) 993-1438, Fax: (703) 993-2117
E-mail: akarton@gmu.edu