Religious Observances
The Multicultural Center strives to be inclusive of all religious identities and observances. Below is a list of many observances and their respective dates. This list can be used at the discretion of faculty and staff, to aid in syllabus planning and academic success for students who practice these observances. Observances with an asterisk (*) denote days Georgia State University campuses will be closed.
If you would like more information about religious observances that may not specifically be listed below, please visit the National Conference for Community and Justice for a more comprehensive listing. The interfaith calendar as well as the Interfaith Network have extensive information on various religions and faith-based holidays. If you have suggestions for additional religious observances to include on this webpage, please contact William Britto , student affairs advisor II, multicultural education and competence.
Buddhist Observances
- Pavarana and End of Vassa: October 24, 2018
- Lhabab Duchen: October 31, 2018
- Bodhi Day or Rohatsu: December 8, 2018 or January 13, 2019 (may be celebrated in accordance to lunar calendar).
- Chinese New Year: February 5, 2019
- Losar: February 5–7, 2019
- Parinirvana, or Nirvana Day: February 8 or 15, 2019
- Magha Puja or Sangha Day: February 19, 2019
- Chunga Choepa: February 20, 2019
- Hanamatsuri, Buddha’s Birthday: April 8, 2019
- Water Festivals: April 13–16, 2019
- Buddha’s Birthday in South Korea and Taiwan: May 12, 2019
- Saga Dawa or Saka Dawa: May 18, 2019
- Vesak: May 19, 2019
- Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: July 6, 2019
- Chokhor Duchen: July 6, 2019
- Asalha Puja, Beginning of Vassa: July 16, 2019
- Zhongyuan: August 15, 2019
- Obon: August 13 – 15, 2019
Holy day celebrated on Aashvin full moon of the lunar month. It marks the end of the three lunar months of Vassa, sometimes called Buddhist Lent.
One of the four Buddhist festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha.
Commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment.
An important Chinese festival celebrated at the turn of the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar.
A new year’s festival, celebrated on the first day of the lunisolar Tibetan calendar.
Celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana upon the death of his physical body.
A major holy day observed by most Threravada Buddhists on the first full moon day of the third lunar month.
Celebrates a demonstration of miracles attributed to the historical Buddha, also called Shakyamuni Buddha.
A flower festival that celebrates Buddha’s birthday in Japan.
Water is used for washing homes, Buddha images, monks, and soaking friends and passers-by in celebration of the Lao New Year
Buddha’s birthday in South Korea is celebrated with a weeklong festival
The holiest time of the Tibetan year and a peak time for pilgrimages.
This day commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing into Nirvana of the historical Buddha.
The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born on this day.
Commemorates the Buddha’s first sermon and the teaching of the Four Noble Truths.
Commemorates the first sermon of the Buddha.
According to Chinese folklore, the unhappy dead walk among the living throughout the month and must be placated with items. Paper offerings are burned and floating candles pay respect to deceased ancestors.
The three-day festival honors departed loved ones and loosely correlates to Hungry Ghost festivals held in other parts of Asia.
Christian Observances
- All Hallows Eve: October 31, 2018
- All Saints’ Day: November 1, 2018
- All Souls’ Day: November 2, 2018
- St. Andrew’s Day: November 30, 2018
- Advent – First Sunday: December 2, 2018
- St. Nicholas Day: December 06, 2018
- *Christmas Eve: December 24, 2018
- *Christmas: December 25, 2018
- *Watch Night: December 31, 2018
- Epiphany: January 6, 2019
- Ash Wednesday: March 6, 2019
- Good Friday: April 19, 2019
- Easter Sunday: April 21, 2019
- Easter Monday: April 22, 2019
- Ascension Day: May 30, 2019
- Corpus Christi: June 20, 2019
- Assumption Day: August 15, 2019
A celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints’ Day.
A festival celebrated in honor of all saints, known and unknown.
Commemorates the souls of Christians who have died.
The feast day of Saint Andrew.
Observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.
It is celebrated as a festival with particular regard to St. Nicholas’ reputation as a bringer of gifts.
A day observed on the eve of the birth of Jesus Christ.
Commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christian religious service, also called Freedom’s Eve, held on New Year’s Eve, historically associated in many African American churches with a celebration and remembrance of the Emancipation Proclamation, enacted January 1, 1867, which freed slaves in the Confederate states during the American Civil War.
A feast day that celebrates the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.
A holy day of prayer, fasting and repentance.
Commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
Commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in some countries.
Commemorates the belief of the bodily Ascension of Jesus into heaven.
A Catholic liturgical solemnity celebrating the presence of the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
The bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.
Hindu Observances
- Navaratri: October 9, 2018
- Dassera: October 19, 2018
- Diwali: November 7, 2018
- Maha Shivaratri: March 5, 2019
- Holi: March 21, 2019
- Rama Navami: April 14, 2019
- Raksa Bandhana: August 15, 2019
A festival most celebrated for Goddess Durga.
A festival celebrated at the end of Navratri every year.
The Hindu festival of lights. Diwali symbolises the spiritual victory of good versus evil.
A festival celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva.
A festival signifying the victory of good over evil, the arrival of spring, a day to meet others and repair broken relationships.
A spring festival that celebrates the birthday of god Rama.
A day where sisters of all ages tie a talisman around their brothers symbolically protecting them, receiving a gift in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care.
Jewish Observances
- Rosh Hashana: September 10-11, 2018
- Yom Kippur: September 19, 2018
- Sukkot: September 24-30, 2018
- Shmini Atzeret: October 1, 2018
- Simchat Torah: October 2, 2018
- Chanukah: December 3-10, 2018
- Purim: March 21, 2019
- Passover (Pesach): April 19-27, 2019
- Shavuot: June 9-10, 2019
- Tish’a B’Av: August 11, 2019
The Jewish civil New Year.
The holiest day of the year in Judaism.
Celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the protection provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.
An independent holiday celebrated after Sukkot.
Celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle.
Commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire.
Commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Haman.
Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
Marks the wheat harvest in Israel and it commemorates the anniversary of the day the Torah was given to the nation of Israel.
An annual fast day on which a number of disasters in Jewish history occurred.
Muslim Observances
- Milad un Nabi: November 21, 2018
- Leilat al-Meiraj: April 3, 2019
- Laylat al Barat: April 20, 2019
- Ramadan: May 6-June 5, 2019
- Laylat al-Qadr: June 1, 2019
- Eid al-Fitr: June 5-7, 2019
- Eid al-Adha: August 12-15, 2019
Observance of the birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven.
A holiday preparing for Ramadan.
A month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.
Commemorates the night when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Marks the end of Ramadan.
Honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
Sikh Observances
- Birth of the Bab: October 20, 2018
- Diwali: November 11, 2018
- Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom: November 24, 2018
- Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday: November 25, 2018
- Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib: January 5, 2019
- Maghi: January 14, 2019
- Hola Mohalla: March 21, 2019
- Baisakhi New Year: April 14, 2019
- Guru Arjan Dev martyrdom: June 16, 2019
Commemorates the birth of a significant religious leader and follower of Baha’u’llah.
Celebrates the release from prison of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind.
A celebration honoring the life of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
A celebration of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib.
A celebration of the birth of Guru Gobin Singh Sahib.
Commemorates the forty Sikh martyrs who once had deserted the tenth and last human Guru of Sikhism.
A festival that follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day.
A celebration that marks the Sikh new year.
A celebration honoring the life of Guru Arjan Dev.
