Religious Observance Calendar

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), Chief Institutional Effectiveness & Inclusion Officer (CIEIO), Dr. Nathan Carter, at nacarter@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. Nathan Carter, Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer at nacarter@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