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Office of the Provost

Religious Observances

UConn recognizes and welcomes the variety of religious and cultural observances present in our community. We believe that meaningful inclusion plays a critical role in the well-being of all members of the UConn community. In accordance with this mission, we advise faculty and staff to take dates of religious holidays into consideration when planning events or setting academic deadlines.

A detailed calendar of religious holidays and culturally significant events can be found below. We also encourage you to learn more about individual observances at the Interfaith Calendar. These resources provided to assist faculty and staff in planning activities and deadlines. This list is non-exhaustive, and requests to accommodate sincerely held religious practices must be assessed on an individualized basis. The University’s Religious Accommodation Policy provides further information and guidance.

Guidance for Religious Accommodations in an Academic Settings

Consistent with state law, any student who is unable to attend classes on a particular day or days or at a particular time of day because of the tenets of a sincerely held religious practice or belief may be excused from any academic activities on such particular day or days or at such particular time of day.

Students requesting a religious accommodation should understand the following:

  • Requests must be made directly to the instructor with as much notice as possible.
  • Students are responsible for obtaining the materials and information provided during any class(es) missed.
  • Undergraduate students must work with Dean of Students to reschedule finals; graduate students (excluding law, medicine, and dental medicine) must work directly with their faculty member to reschedule finals.

Faculty and Course Instructors Responsibilities:

  • It is the responsibility of course instructors to make available to each student who is absent from academic activities because of a sincerely held religious practice or belief an equivalent opportunity to make up any examination, study or work requirements which has been missed because of such absence.
  • Course instructors should make every attempt to respect the privacy of students when making accommodations and should not ask the student for proof that their religious practices or beliefs are sincerely held. Course instructors can consult with their department head or dean for assistance.

Students with concerns are encouraged to discuss the matter with their course instructor or department head. Undergraduate students may also contact the Dean of Students Office for additional assistance, and graduate students may consult with The Graduate School (excluding law, medicine, and dental medicine students).

Any individual (students, faculty, and staff) with questions or concerns may also contact the Office of Institutional Equity at equity@uconn.edu or (860) 486-2943 or refer to equity.uconn.edu for further information.

2024 Religious & Cultural Important Dates

Dates marked in bold are major holidays for which accommodations are most requested. This list is not exhaustive and requests for accommodations relating to any religious observances must be assessed on an individualized basis pursuant to the University’s Religious Accommodation Policy.

We also encourage you to learn more about individual observances at the Interfaith Calendar.

*Begins at sundown
^Dietary restrictions or meal adjustments

January 1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Roman Catholic
January 1 Oshogatsu Shinto
January 3 Asara B'Tevet Judaism
January 6 Feast of Epiphany Christian
January 7 Eastern Orthodox Christmas Eastern Orthodox Christian
January 15 Sankranti Hindu
January 18 Bodhi Day Buddhist
February 10 Lunar New Year National
February 14 Feast of Saint Valentine Christian
February 14 Ash Wednesday^ Christian
February 14 - March 28 Lent Christian
March 10 – April 8 Ramadan*^ Islam
March 17 Feast of Saint Patrick Christian
March 18 Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent^ Eastern Orthodox Christian
March 23 – 24 Purim* Jewish
March 24 Palm Sunday Christian (Roman Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christianity)
March 25 Holi Hindu
March 28 Maundy Thursday Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant)
March 29 Good Friday^ Christian (Roman Catholic and Protestant)
March 31 Easter Sunday Christian
April 9 – 10 Eid al-Fitr^* Islamic
April 14 Vaisakhi Sikh
April 22 – 30 Passover* ^ Jewish
May 1 Beltane Pagan, Wiccan, Druid
May 3 Good Friday^ Eastern Orthodox Christian
May 5 Easter Eastern Orthodox Christian
May 9 Feast of the Ascension of Jesus Roman Catholic
May 15 Buddha Day^ Buddhist
May 19 Pentecost Christian
May 30 Feast of Corpus Christi Christian
June 9 Race Unity Day Baha’i
June 11 – 13 Shavout* Jewish
June 14 – June 19 Hajj* Islamic
June 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib Sikh
June 16 – 19 Eid al-Adha* Islamic
June 20 Summer Solstice Pagan and Wiccan
June 21 Litha Pagan and Wiccan
July 7 - 8 Islamic New Year Islamic
July 9 Martyrdom of the Bab Baha’i
July 30 Beginning of Hijri Year (1444 AH)* Islamic
August 1 Lughnasadh Pagan and Wiccan
August 12 - 13 Tisha B’av*^ Jewish
August 15 Feast of the Assumption Roman Catholic
August 25 - 26 Arba'een Islamic
August 26 Krishna Janmashtami Hindu
September 15 - 16 Mawlid Islam
September 17 Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival National
September 22 Mabon Pagan and Wiccan
October 2 - 4 Rosh Hashanah* Judaism
October 3 - 12 Navaratri Hindu
October 5 Tzom Gedaliah Judaism
October 11 - 12 Yom Kippur*^ Judaism
October 12 Dussehra Hindu
October 16 - 23 Sukkot* Judaism
October 16 Birthday of Báb Baha'i
October 23 - 25 Shemini Atzeret* Judaism
October 24 - 25 Simchat Torah* Judaism
Oct 31 - Nov 1 Samhain Pagan and Wiccan
November 1 All Saints Day Christian
November 1  Diwali Hindu/Sikh/Jain
November 2 All Souls' Day Christian
November 3 Birthday of Baha'u'llah Baha'i
November 15 - December 24 Christmas Fast Christian
November 24 Martyrdom of Guru Bahadur Sikh
December 1 - 24 Advent Christian
December 6 St. Nicholas Day Roman Catholic
December 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic
December 12 Our Lady of Guadalupe (Feast Day) Christian
December 16 - 24 Las Posadas Christian
December 21 - January 1 Yule Pagan and Wiccan
December 22 Asara B'Tevet Judaism
December 24 Christmas Eve Christian
December 25 Christmas Day Christian
December 25 - January 3 Hanukkah* Judaism
December 26 St. Stephen's Day Christian
December 26 - January 1 Kwanzaa Interfaith/African-American

Additional Information:

UConn Religious Accommodation Policy: https://policy.uconn.edu/2018/08/01/religious-accommodation-policy/

FAQs Regarding Religious Accommodations: https://policy.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/243/2019/01/Religious-Accommodation-Policy-FAQ-1-17-19.pdf 

Office of Institutional Equity: https://equity.uconn.edu/

UConn Faith: https://faith.studentaffairs.uconn.edu/

UConn Cultural Centers: https://office.diversity.uconn.edu/cultural-centers/

Dean of Students – Rescheduling Final Exams (Undergraduates): https://dos.uconn.edu/reschedule-finals/

The Graduate School: https://grad.uconn.edu/gspa/

Glossary of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Terms: https://diversity.uconn.edu/glossary/

Interfaith Calendar Definitions: http://www.interfaith-calendar.org/calendardefinitions.htm