Allegheny College
Calendar of Major Religious Holidays
2007-2008 Academic Year

Jewish and Muslim holidays begin at sunset on the previous day.

This calendar is intended to help you be aware of the religious holidays that may affect students during the semester. College attendance policy does include a religious holiday as a valid reason for an excused absence, so long as the student makes arrangements with the faculty member ahead of time. The holidays that occur early in the first semester are Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Ramadan. During the second semester, Ash Wednesday, Passover and Good Friday likewise affect the schedules of many.

SEPTEMBER 2007
12-14 - Rosh Hashanah (begins at sundown Sept 12), Jewish
13 - Ramadan (begins at sundown Sept 13), Islamic
21-22 - Yom Kippur (begins at sundown on Sept 21), Jewish
26 - Sukkot, Jewish

OCTOBER 2007
13 - Eid al-Fitre (begins at sundown Oct 13), Islamic

NOVEMBER 2007
1 - All Saints Day (Holy Day for Catholics), General Christian

DECEMBER 2007
2 - Advent (first Sun), General Christian
4-11 - Hanukkah, Jewish
8 - Immaculate Conception of Mary (Holy Day for Catholics), Roman Catholic
20 - Eid al-Adha, Islamic
25 - Christmas, General Christian
26-Jan. 1 - Kwanzaa

JANUARY 2008
22 - Tu B'Shvat (Jewish Arbor Day), Jewish

FEBRUARY 2008
6 - Ash Wednesday/Lent Begins, Roman Catholic, Protestant

MARCH 2008
16 - Palm Sunday, General Christian
20 - Maundy Thursday, General Christian
21 - Good Friday/Holy Friday, General Christian, Eastern Orthodox
21 - Purim (begins at sundown Mar 21), Jewish
23 - Easter, General Christian, Eastern Orthodox

APRIL 2008
19 - Passover, Jewish

MAY 2008
2 - Yom Hashoah (begins at sundown April 14), Jewish

A Brief Explanation of Religious Holidays

ADVENT Period of 4 weeks in which Christians prepare for Christmas.
ALL SAINTS DAY Christian celebration of the lives of all the saints.
ASH WEDNESDAY Begins General Christian Lent. Name is from symbolic use of ashes to signify penitence.
CHRISTMAS Christian holy day marking the birth of Jesus.
EASTER Commemorates resurrection of Jesus.
EID AL-ADHA Festival of Sacrifice; commemorates the faith of Abraham; also a memorial to the dead.
EID AL-FITR Festival of the breaking of the Fast of Ramadan.
GOOD FRIDAY/HOLY FRIDAY The day of Jesus' crucifixion.
HANUKKAH Literally means dedication. An 8 day holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled.
KWANZAA Seven day celebration of African/American values and traditions and their continued vitality.
LENT Period of preparation for Easter; usually 40 days
MAUNDY THURSDAY Holy day marking the Last Supper.
PASSOVER Celebration marking the deliverance of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
PURIM Festival of hidden miracles. Holiday known for its pageantry, frivolity and generosity to friends and the needy.
RAMADAN Thirty days of fasting from sunup to sundown in honor of the first revelations to the Prophet Muhammed.
ROSH HASHANAH Beginning of the Jewish Year.
SUKKOT Festival commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings in the desert during which time they lived in portable shelters or booths, which is honored by building a Sukkot.
TU B’SHVAT New Year for the Trees. Rejoicing in the fruit of the trees and the vine and celebration of renewal of vision and awareness.
YOM HASHOAH Holocaust Remembrance Day.
YOM KIPPUR Day of Atonement; most solemn Jewish holy day.