Religious Holidays 2025-2026
Below are many of the religious holidays observed by members of the Muhlenberg community. Please note that individual practices may vary.
Fall 2025
August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic Christianity)
*Obligatory in 2025
September 13: Leil Selichot - Prayers for forgiveness for the New Year (Judaism)
*takes place late evening September 13, no work restriction
September 23-24: Rosh Hashanah - The Jewish New Year (Judaism)
*work restriction both days, begins at sundown September 22
September 25: Tzom Gedaliah - Fast of Gedaliah (Judaism)
*minor fast, no work restriction
October 2: Yom Kippur - Day of Atonement (Judaism)
*fast and work restriction, begins sundown October 1
October 7-13: Sukkot - Feast of the Tabernacles (Judaism)
*work restriction, begins at sundown October 6 through October 8
October 14: Shmini Atzeret - Eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles (Judaism)
*work restriction, begins sundown October 13
October 15: Simchat Torah - Celebrating the beginning of the annual Torah reading cycle (Judaism)
*work restriction, begins sundown October 14
October 20: Diwali - Festival of Lights (Hinduism, Jain, Sikh)
*while the Diwali festival is a multi-day festival that will begin October 18 and last until October 22, Lakshmi Puja (the most significant day of Diwali) will be observed on October 20. Some celebrations of Lakshmi Puja may continue into October 21.
November 1: All Saints’ Day (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christianity)
*Not an obligatory observance in Roman Catholicism in 2025
November 2: All Souls Day (Christianity)
December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhism; secular fixed date)
December 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Roman Catholic Christianity)
December 15-22: Chanukah - Festival of Lights (Judaism)
*begins at sundown December 14, no work restriction
December 24: Christmas Eve (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox Christianity)
December 25: Christmas (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Greek Orthodox Christianity)
Spring 2026
January 1: The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Roman Catholic Christianity)
*Obligatory in 2026
January 6: Christmas Eve (Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
January 7: Christmas (Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
February 2: Tu BiShvat - New Year of Trees (Judaism)
*begins at sundown February 1, no work restriction
February 17-March 19: Ramadan (Islam) is expected to begin the evening of February 17th, but is to be confirmed at that time depending on the sighting of the moon
*month of fasting from sunrise to sunset
February 18: Ash Wednesday (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity)
*fasting
February 23: Ash Wednesday (Orthodox)
*fasting
March 2: Ta'anit Esther - Fast of Esther (Judaism)
*minor fast only when sun up, no work restriction
March 3: Purim - Festival of Lots (Judaism)
*begins at sundown March 2, no work restriction
March 4: Holi - Festival of Colors (Hinduism)
*fasting
March 20: Eid Al-Fitr (Islam) marks the end of Ramadan, expected to begin the evening of March 19, to be confirmed at that time
March 29: Palm Sunday (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity)
April 1-9: Passover - Festival of Freedom (Judaism)
*work restrictions on following set of days: evening of 4/1-evening of 4/3 and evening of 4/7-evening of 4/9, begins at sundown April 1
April 3: Good Friday (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity)
April 5: Easter (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity); Palm Sunday (Orthodox)
April 10: Good Friday (Orthodox)
April 12: Easter (Orthodox)
April 14: Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Memorial Day (Judaism)
*no restriction, begins at sundown April 13
April 21: Yom HaZikaron - Israeli Memorial Day (Judaism)
*no restriction, begins at sundown April 20
April 22: Yom HaAtzma'ut - Israeli Independence Day (Judaism)
*no restriction, begins at sundown April 21
May 5: Lag BaOmer - 33rd day of counting the Omer (Judaism)
*no restriction, begins at sundown May 4
May 14: The Ascension of Jesus (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity)
May 21: The Ascension of Jesus (Orthodox)
May 22-23: Shavuot - Festival of Weeks (Judaism)
*work restriction, begins at sundown May 21
May 24: Pentecost (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christianity)
May 27: Eid Al-Adha (Islam) expected date, beginning the evening of May 26, to be confirmed at that time
May 31: Pentecost (Orthodox)
Feel free to contact a member of the Religious & Spiritual Life staff for more information:
