At Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), we understand that our students come from diverse backgrounds and have various religious beliefs. To ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all, we have created this calendar to highlight the dates of important religious observances throughout the year. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you have additional observances you wish to add, please email the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Associate Director of DEI, Dr. Mia Harper, at mharper@nvcc.edu.
At NOVA, we also have a policy on religious accommodation that aims to support students, faculty and staff in practicing their faith. If you have any questions or concerns regarding religious accommodation, please refer to the policy or contact Dr. Mia Harper at mharper@nvcc.edu for further assistance.
Thank you for helping us foster a respectful and inclusive community at NOVA.
| 2024 Date | Holiday | Religion |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | Gantan-sai | Shinto |
| January 1 | Feast of Mary Mother of God | Catholic/Christian |
| January 6 | Epiphany | Catholic/Christian |
| January 7 | Christmas/Feast of the Nativity | Eastern Orthodox Christian |
| January 17 | Guru Gobind Singh Sahib Birthday | Sikh |
| January 18 | Bodhi Day | Buddhist |
| January 24–25 | Tu BiShvat | Jewish |
| February 10 | Asian (Chinese) Lunar New Year | Buddhist/Confucian/Taoist |
| February 14 | Ash Wednesday | Christian |
| March 8 | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu |
| March 10–April 9 | Ramadan | Islam |
| March 15 | Shri Ramakrishna Jayanti | Hindu |
| March 19–20 | Naw Ruz | Baha’i |
| March 19–20 | Nowruz | Persian |
| March 21 | Ta’anit Esther | Jewish |
| March 23–24 | Purim | Jewish |
| March 24 | Palm Sunday | Christian |
| March 25 | Holi | Hindu |
| March 28 | Holy Thursday | Christian |
| March 29 | Good Friday | Christian |
| March 31 | Easter | Christian |
| April 8 | Feast of the Annunciation | Catholic/Christian |
| April 9–10 | Eid al-Fitr | Islam |
| April 13 | Vaisakhi | Sikh |
| April 17 | Rama Navami | Hindu |
| April 20–May 2 | Ridvan | Baha’i |
| April 22–30 | Passover | Jewish |
| May 5 | Easter | Eastern Orthodox Christian |
| May 5–6 | Yom HaShoah | Jewish |
| May 9 | Feast of the Ascension | Catholic/Christian |
| May 19 | Pentecost | Catholic/Christian |
| May 22 | Declaration of the Bab | Baha’i |
| May 23 | Vesak | Buddhist |
| May 26 | Trinity Sunday | Catholic/Christian |
| May 29 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
| June 7 | Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus | Catholic/Christian |
| June 11-13 | Shavuot | Jewish |
| June 16 | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib | Sikh |
| June 16–17 | Eid al-Adha | Islam |
| June 29 | Feast of Saints Peter and Paul | Catholic/Christian |
| July 7 | Islamic New Year (Hijri Year) | Islam |
| July 8–9 | Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha’i |
| July 16–17 | Ashura | Islam |
| July 23 | Fast of Tammuz | Jewish |
| July 31 | Feast of St. Ignatius Loyola | Catholic/Christian |
| August 12–13 | Tish’a B’Av | Jewish |
| August 15 | Feast of Assumption | Catholic/Christian |
| August 25 | Arbaeen | Islamic |
| August 26 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu |
| August 31–September 7 | Paryushan | Jain |
| September 15–16 | Mawlid an-Nabi | Islamic |
| October 2–4 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish |
| October 11–12 | Yom Kippur | Jewish |
| October 16–23 | Sukkot | Jewish |
| October 24–25 | Simchat Torah | Jewish |
| October 31 | Deepavali/Diwali | Hindu/Jain/Sikh |
| November 1 | All Saints Day | Catholic/Christian |
| November 2 | Birth of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
| November 2 | All Souls Day | Catholic/Christian |
| November 15 | Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib | Sikh |
| November 26–27 | Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha | Baha’i |
| December 1 | Advent | Christian |
| December 9 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Catholic/Christian |
| December 25 | Christmas | Christian |
| December 25–Jan 2, 2025 | Hanukkah | Jewish |
| December 26–Jan 1, 2025 | Kwanzaa | Ethnic |
Resource dates retrieved March 2024, include Google search, https://drexel.edu/provost/policies-calendars/religious-observances/, https://www.xavier.edu/jesuitresource/online-resources/calendar-religious-holidays-and-observances/index#WorkRestrict, and https://students.dartmouth.edu/tucker/sites/students_tucker.prod/files/students_tucker/wysiwyg/pdf_holy_days_2024-_with_work_and_other_restrictions.pdf