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Religious Observance Resources

The Office of the Provost maintains a religious observance calendar in accordance with the Religious Observance Policy to identify major holidays and reduce scheduling conflicts in addition to providing resources related to the religious observances and overall policy.

Visit the Office of the Registrar to view the Academic Calendar.

Religious Observance FAQs

Michigan State University's policy on religious observance accommodations is designed to ensure that students and instructors can observe their religious beliefs without academic penalty. It provides guidelines and procedures for requesting and granting religious accommodations. View the Religious Observance Policy here. Faculty do not need to make a request in order to observe a major religious holiday. 
Both students and instructors at Michigan State University are eligible for religious observance accommodations. This policy is applicable to all members of the university community.
Accommodations can include rescheduling of exams, assignments, or classes, as well as alternative arrangements for attendance, to accommodate religious observance.
To request accommodation, students should communicate their request to their instructors as soon as possible, preferably at the beginning of the semester, but need to provide at least a two-week notice. Instructors should communicate their request to their Department Chair at the beginning of the semester or as soon as possible.
Yes, there is a process outlined in the policy, viewable here, for students. Students are encouraged to discuss their needs with their instructors. The process is designed to be collaborative and supportive.
Students are not required to provide documentation of their religious beliefs, and faculty cannot ask any questions about if, or how, they celebrate these holidays. Requests for accommodation should be taken at face value. 
The policy requires instructors and administrators to include reference to the religious observance policy in syllabi and inform incoming students of the policy in all orientation programs. University leadership has also sent out reminders to faculty and administrators about the policy and related guidelines. 
Instructors should make every effort to avoid scheduling exams and oral presentations during the major religious days on campus (Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc.). If a professor or the university has scheduled such an exam or oral presentation, they must be reasonably rescheduled without academic penalty.

You can find detailed information about Michigan State University's religious observance policy, including a link to policy information, academic calendar and specific holidays on the official webpage at provost.msu.edu/academic-resources/religious-observance-calendar

Please note that policies and procedures may evolve over time, so it's essential to refer to the most current information on the university's official website and consult with relevant university offices for the latest guidance on religious observance accommodations. If you have questions, please reach out to inclusion@msu.edu.

Religious Days During the 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27 Academic Years

Religious days of observance that may conflict with academic requirements are reflected in the calendar below. This is not an exhaustive list, as dates may vary and there may be additional days that pose conflicts. Faculty members should provide every opportunity for students to be absent without penalty on all dates.


Faculty will consult the calendar when planning their syllabi to make every effort to avoid having major exams or presentations on major holidays, observed by many adherents of that faith at MSU when the university is open. Reasonable accommodations must be given to individual students celebrating any holiday on the list.

This calendar will be updated annually. To learn more about each religious observance, click on the observance name in the tables below to view an informational PDF. You can also view this same information in the following MS Word documents:


To provide suggestions or feedback, email inclusion@msu.edu. Click here to access an MS Word version of the tables below.


2024-25

Religious
Observance
Faith Date(s) Major Holidays
(University Open)
Krishna
Janmashtami
Hinduism August 26, 2024
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Hinduism September 7, 2024
(date may vary)
Onam Hinduism September 5 - 17, 2024
(dates may vary)
Mabon Pagan/Neopagan September 21 - 29, 2024
Rosh Hashanah New Year -
Judaism (High Holy Days)
October 3 - 4, 20241
X
Navratri Hinduism October 3 - 12, 2024
Yom Kippur Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 12, 20241
X
Vijayadashami, Dasara,
Dussehra Puja
Hinduism October 12, 2024
X
Indigenous Peoples’ Day2 October 14, 2024
Sukkot Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 17 - 23, 20241
(first two days)
X
Shemini Atzeret Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 24, 20241
Simchat Torah Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 25, 20241
Samhain Pagan/Neopagan November 1, 20241
Diwali Hinduism/
Sikh/Jainism
November 1, 2024
X
All Saints Day Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
November 1, 2024
X
All Souls Day Catholicism
and Christianity
November 2, 2024
X
Birth of the Báb
and Baha'u'llah
Bahá'i November 2 - 3, 20241
X
Guru Nanak
Gurpurab
Sikh November 15, 2024
X
Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception
Catholicism and
Christianity
December 8, 2024
X
Yule Pagan/Neopagan December 21, 2024 -
January 1, 2025
Christmas Catholicism and
Christianity
December 25, 2024
Hanukkah Judaism December 26, 2024 -
January 2, 20251
St. Basil's Day
(Eastern)
Eastern Orthodox
Christianity
January 1, 2025
St. Basil's Day Orthodox
Christianity
January 2, 2025
Epiphany Catholicism and
Christianity
January 6, 2025
Makar Sankranti/
Pongal
Hinduism January 15, 2025
Lunar New Year/
Spring Festival
Multicultural Holiday January 29, 2025
(Year of the Snake)
Imbolc Pagan/Neopagan February 1, 2025
Maha Shivaratri Hinduism February 26, 2025
Ramadan Islam February 28 -
March 30, 20251
(dates may vary)
Nineteen Day
Fast Period
Bahá'i March 1 - 19, 2025
Ash Wednesday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
March 5, 2025
Holi Hinduism March 14, 2025
Ostara Pagan/Neopagan March 20, 2025
Nowruz Bahá'i
and Persian
March 22, 20251
X
Eid al-Fitr Islam March 31, 20251
(dates may vary)
X
Mahavir Janma
Kalyanak
Jainism April 10, 2025
X
Passover Judaism April 13 - 19, 20251
(first two days)
X
Passover Judaism April 13 - 19, 20251
(last two days)
Vaisakhi Sikh/
Hinduism
April 14, 2025
X
Good Friday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
April 18, 2025
X
Easter Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
April 20, 2025
X
Easter "Pascha" Orthodox
Christianity
April 20, 2025
X
Ridvan Bahá'i April 22 -
May 2, 20251
(1, 9, 12th days)
X
Beltane Pagan/Neopagan May 1, 2025
Buddha
Purnima
Buddhism May 5, 2025
X
Ascension Christianity May 29, 2025
X
Orthodox
Ascension
Orthodox
Christianity
May 29, 2025
Shavuot Judaism June 2 - 3, 20251
Eid al-Adha Islam June 7 - 9, 20251
(first day, dates may vary)
X
Juneteenth June 19, 2025
Litha Pagan/Neopagan June 20, 2025
Muharram/
Ashura
Islam (Shia) July 5, 20251
X
Lughnasadh Pagan/Neopagan August 1, 2025
Tish'a B'Av Judaism August 3, 20251
Assumption
of Mary
Catholicism
and Christianity
August 15, 2025
X
Krishna
Janmashtami
Hinduism August 16, 2025




2025-26

Religious
Observance
Faith Date(s) Major Holidays
(University Open)
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Hinduism August 26, 2025
(date may vary)
Onam Hinduism August 26 -
September 7, 2025
(dates may vary)
Mabon Pagan/Neopagan September 21 - 29, 2025
Navratri Hinduism September 22 -
October 1, 2025
Rosh Hashanah New Year -
Judaism (High Holy Days)
September 23 - 24, 20251
X
Yom Kippur Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 2, 20251
X
Vijayadashami, Dasara,
Dussehra Puja
Hinduism October 1, 2025
(date may vary)
X
Sukkot Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 7 - 13, 20251
(first two days)
X
Indigenous Peoples’ Day2 October 13, 2025
Shemini Atzeret Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 14, 20251
Simchat Torah Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 15, 20251
Diwali Hinduism/
Sikh/Jainism
October 20, 2025
X
Birth of the Báb
and Baha'u'llah
Bahá'i October 22 - 23, 20251
X
Samhain Pagan/Neopagan November 1, 20251
All Saints Day Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
November 1, 2025
X
All Souls Day Catholicism
and Christianity
November 2, 2025
X
Guru Nanak
Gurpurab
Sikh November 5, 2025
X
Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception
Catholicism and
Christianity
December 8, 2025
X
Hanukkah Judaism December 15 - 22, 20251
Yule Pagan/Neopagan December 21, 2025 -
January 1, 2026
Christmas Catholicism and
Christianity
December 25, 2025
St. Basil's Day
(Eastern)
Eastern Orthodox
Christianity
January 1, 2026
St. Basil's Day Orthodox
Christianity
January 2, 2026
Epiphany Catholicism and
Christianity
January 6, 2026
Makar Sankranti/
Pongal
Hinduism January 14, 2026
(date may vary)
Imbolc Pagan/Neopagan February 1, 2026
Maha Shivaratri Hinduism February 15, 2026
Lunar New Year/
Spring Festival
Multicultural Holiday February 17, 2026
(Year of the Horse)
Ramadan Islam February 18 - March 18, 2026
(dates may vary)1
(dates may vary)
Ash Wednesday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
February 18, 2026
Nineteen Day
Fast Period
Bahá'i March 2 - 20, 2026
Holi Hinduism March 4, 2026
Ostara Pagan/Neopagan March 20, 2026
Eid al-Fitr Islam March 20, 20261
(dates may vary)
X
Nowruz Bahá'i
and Persian
March 22, 20261
X
Mahavir Janma
Kalyanak
Jainism March 31, 2026
(dates may vary)
X
Passover Judaism April 2 - 9, 20261
(first two days)
X
Passover Judaism April 2 - 9, 20261
(last two days)
Good Friday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
April 3, 2026
X
Easter Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
April 5, 2026
X
Easter "Pascha" Orthodox
Christianity
April 12, 2026
X
Vaisakhi Sikh/
Hinduism
April 14, 2026
X
Ridvan Bahá'i April 21 -
May 2, 20261
(1, 9, 12th days)
X
Beltane Pagan/Neopagan May 1, 2026
Ascension Christianity May 14, 2026
X
Orthodox
Ascension
Orthodox
Christianity
May 21, 2026
Shavuot Judaism May 22 - 23, 20261
Buddha
Purnima
Buddhism May 24, 2026
X
Eid al-Adha Islam May 26 - 29, 20261
(first day, dates may vary)
X
Juneteenth June 19, 2026
Litha Pagan/Neopagan June 21, 2026
Muharram/
Ashura
Islam (Shia) June 26, 20261
X
Tish'a B'Av Judaism July 23, 20261
Lughnasadh Pagan/Neopagan August 1, 2026
Assumption
of Mary
Catholicism
and Christianity
August 15, 2026
X
Krishna
Janmashtami
Hinduism September 4, 2026


2026-27

Religious
Observance
Faith Date(s) Major Holidays
(University Open)
Onam Hinduism August 15 - 27, 2026
(dates may vary)
Rosh Hashanah New Year -
Judaism (High Holy Days)
September 12 - 13, 20261
X
Ganesh
Chaturthi
Hinduism September 14, 2026
(date may vary)
Yom Kippur Judaism -
High Holy Days
September 21, 20261
X
Mabon Pagan/Neopagan September 21 - 29, 2026
Sukkot Judaism -
High Holy Days
September 26 -
October 2, 20261
(first two days)
X
Shemini Atzeret Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 3, 20261
Simchat Torah Judaism -
High Holy Days
October 4, 20261
Navratri Hinduism October 11 - 20, 2026
Indigenous Peoples’ Day2 October 12, 2026
Vijayadashami, Dasara,
Dussehra Puja
Hinduism October 20, 2026
(date may vary)
X
Samhain Pagan/Neopagan November 1, 20261
All Saints Day Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
November 1, 2026
X
All Souls Day Catholicism
and Christianity
November 2, 2026
X
Diwali Hinduism/
Sikh/Jainism
November 8, 2026
(date may vary)
X
Birth of the Báb
and Baha'u'llah
Bahá'i November 10 - 11, 20261
X
Guru Nanak
Gurpurab
Sikh November 24, 2026
X
Hanukkah Judaism December 5 - 12, 20261
Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception
Catholicism and
Christianity
December 8, 2026
X
Yule Pagan/Neopagan December 21, 2026 -
January 1, 2027
Christmas Catholicism and
Christianity
December 25, 2026
St. Basil's Day
(Eastern)
Eastern Orthodox
Christianity
January 1, 2027
St. Basil's Day Orthodox
Christianity
January 2, 2027
Epiphany Catholicism and
Christianity
January 6, 2027
Makar Sankranti/
Pongal
Hinduism January 15, 2027
(date may vary)
Imbolc Pagan/Neopagan February 1, 2027
Lunar New Year/
Spring Festival
Multicultural Holiday February 6, 2027
(Year of the Goat)
Ramadan Islam February 8 - March 9, 20271
(dates may vary)
Ash Wednesday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
February 10, 2027
Nineteen Day
Fast Period
Bahá'i March 2 - 20, 2027
Maha Shivaratri Hinduism March 6, 2027
Eid al-Fitr Islam March 10, 20271
(date may vary)
X
Ostara Pagan/Neopagan March 20, 2027
Nowruz Bahá'i
and Persian
March 20 - April 3, 20271
(dates may vary)
X
Holi Hinduism March 22, 2027
(date may vary)
Good Friday Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
March 26, 2027
X
Easter Catholicism and
Protestant Christianity
March 28, 2027
X
Vaisakhi Sikh/
Hinduism
April 14, 2027
X
Mahavir Janma
Kalyanak
Jainism April 19, 2027
(dates may vary)
X
Ridvan Bahá'i April 21 -
May 2, 20271
(1, 9, 12th days)
X
Passover Judaism April 22 - 29, 20271
(first two days)
X
Passover Judaism April 22 - 29, 20271
(last two days)
Beltane Pagan/Neopagan May 1, 2027
Easter "Pascha" Orthodox
Christianity
May 2, 2027
X
Ascension Christianity May 6, 2027
X
Buddha
Purnima
Buddhism May 13, 2027
X
Eid al-Adha Islam May 16 - 17, 20271
(first day, dates may vary)
X
Orthodox
Ascension
Orthodox
Christianity
June 10, 2027
Shavuot Judaism June 11 - 12, 20271
Muharram/
Ashura
Islam (Shia) June 15, 20271
X
Juneteenth June 19, 2027
Litha Pagan/Neopagan June 21, 2027
Lughnasadh Pagan/Neopagan August 1, 2027
Tish'a B'Av Judaism August 11 - 12, 20271
Assumption
of Mary
Catholicism
and Christianity
August 15, 2027
X
Krishna
Janmashtami
Hinduism August 25, 2027


1Indicates the holiday begins at sundown the night prior


2Ceremonial and spiritual components include prayer, drumming and singing songs. At MSU, elders are invited through the day for prayer and to teach traditional practices.