Religious Holidays and Observances

For many, religious practice and observances are an essential part of personal identity and mental well-being; for some, it is inseparable from cultural identity. UC Santa Cruz observes 14 administrative holidays. Students, faculty and staff may observe religious holidays that are not also official university holidays.

The list included on this page does not include all spiritual and faith traditions, but it does reflect a commonly accepted categorization in the United States of major religious groups. We welcome community feedback in expanding and improving upon this list.

To share your feedback, please email publicaffairs@ucsc.edu.

Accommodation Guidance 

For students, a religious accommodation may include being excused from class or lab time, receiving extensions on assignments, and rescheduling impacted quizzes, tests, or examinations. It may also include limiting or avoiding the use of technology, including virtual learning platforms. Some observances require fasting that may impact performance. Offering a refreshment or other break at sundown can serve to provide comfort and attention to observant students.

While absence from classes or exams for religious reasons does not relieve students of responsibility for completing all required coursework, unless approved by the instructor, instructors are encouraged to work with students observing religious holidays to ensure that they have an equitable opportunity to succeed in class.

Academic and administrative units are encouraged to make reasonable accommodations to help instructors support students in obtaining equitable outcomes when their religious practice conflicts with their academic schedule.

Class and assignments

Students are asked to let their instructors know ahead of time if they are going to miss class or if they need an extension on an assignment due to the celebration and observation of the religious days. It is best to do so in writing to ensure that there is documentation of the request.

Tests and examinations

It is the official policy of the University of California, Santa Cruz to accommodate, without penalty, requests for alternate test or examination times in cases where the scheduled time for the test or examination is in conflict with a student’s religious practice, unless the request cannot be reasonably accommodated.

Requests to reschedule a text or exam should be submitted directly to the instructor of record for the course as soon as possible after the test or examination is announced. 

If a student is unable to reach a satisfactory arrangement with the instructor, they should contact the department chair (or equivalent). If the department chair feels the request cannot be reasonably accommodated, they should consult with the Dean of Graduate Studies or the Dean of Undergraduate Education as appropriate.

See UCSC Final Examination Policies

Guidance for employees

Members of UC Santa Cruz’s vibrant employee community practice many religious and spiritual beliefs. Employees may take time off to observe special or religious holidays that are not included in the official UCSC administrative holiday calendar. Supervisors/managers are encouraged to work with employees to ensure they have an equitable opportunity to engage in their faith. Employees may use accrued vacation, paid time off (PTO) if applicable, or compensatory time off. Taking unpaid leave is also an option.

See University of California – Policy PPSM 2.210: Absence from Work

Fall Move-in Scheduling

UC Policy for Addressing Religious Holiday Conflicts with Residence Hall Move-in Days (2007)

Calendar of Religious Holidays 2025-26 Academic Year

Official UCSC 2024-25 Academic and Administrative Calendar

Official UCSC 2025-26 Academic and Administrative Calendar

Religious Holidays during the 2024-25 Academic Year

*Jewish holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.

HOLIDAYFAITHWORK RESTRICTIONSFASTINGDATE(S)
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev SahibSikhismYesFri, May 30, 2025
Holy Day of Arafah**IslamYesYesFri, June 5, 2025
Eid-al-Adha **IslamYesThu, June 5 – Mon, June 9, 2025
Saga Dawa DüchenBuddhistWed, June 11, 2025
Eid al-Ghadeer **IslamSat, June 14 – Sun, June 15, 2025
Awal MuharramIslamThu, June 26 – Fri, June 27, 2025
Asalha Puja/Dharma DayBuddhismTues, July 10, 2025
The Seventeenth of TammuzJudaismYesSun, July 13, 2025
Martyrdom of the BábBaha’iWed, July 9, 2025
Tisha b’AvJudaismYesYesSat, Aug 2 – Sun, Aug 3, 2025
Krishna JanmashtamiHinduismYesSat, Aug 16, 2025
Arba’een **IslamThu, Aug 14 – Fri, Aug 15, 2025
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad(Sunni) **IslamFri, Sept 5, 2025
Rosh Hashanah*JudaismYesMon, Sep 22 – Wed, Sep 24, 2025
Fast of GedaliahJudaismYesThu, Sep 25, 2025
Yom Kippur*JudaismYesYesWed, Oct 1 – Thu, Oct 2, 2025
Sukkot*JudaismYesMon, Oct 6 – Mon, Oct 13, 2025
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah* JudaismYesWed, Oct. 13 – Thur, Oct 14, 2025
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad(Shia) **IslamFri, Sep 5, 2025
Diwali**HinduismYesMon, Oct. 20, 2025
Birth of Báb ***Baha’iYesWed, Oct 22, 2025
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh ***Baha’iYesWed, Oct 22 – Thu, Oct 23, 2025
Guru Nanak GupurabSikhismYesWed, Nov 5, 2025
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh BahadurSikhismYesMon, Nov 24, 2025
Bodhi DayBuddhismSun, Dec 8, 2025
Hanukkah *JudaismDuring time candles are litSun, Dec 14 – Mon, Dec 22, 2025
ChristmasChristianityThu, Dec 25 (UCSC holidays Wed, Dec 24 – Thu, Dec 25, and Wed. Dec 31 – Thu, Jan 1, 2026)
Kwanzaa
Interfaith/African American
Fri, Dec 26 – Thu, Jan 1, 2026
The Tenth of TevetJudaismYesTue, Dec 30, 2025
Birthday of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib **IslamThu, Jan 1 – Fri, Jan 2, 2026
Feast of EpiphanyChristianityTue, Jan 6, 2026
Eastern Orthodox ChristmasOrthodox ChristianWed, Jan 7, 2026
SankrantiHinduismWed, Jan 14, 2026
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh SahibSikhismYesTue, Jan 20, 2026
Tu BiShvatJudaism Sun, Feb 1 – Mon, Feb2, 2026
Parinirvana BuddhismSun, Feb 15, 2026
Mah ShivaratriHinduismYesSun, Feb 15 – Mon, Feb 16, 2026
Lunar New YearInterfaith/National/InternationalTue, Feb 17, 2026
Ramadan **IslamYesTue, Feb 17 – Thu, Mar 19, 2026
Ash WednesdayChristianityWed, Feb 18, 2026
Ramakrishna JayantiHinduismYesThu, Feb 19, 2026
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of LentOrthodox ChristianMon, Feb 23, 2026
Nineteen-Day FastBaha’iSun, Mar 1 – Fri, Mar 20, 2026
Fast of EstherJudaismYes Mon, Mar 2, 2026
PurimJudaismMon, Mar 2 – Tue, Mar 3, 2026
Magha PujaBuddhismTue, Mar 3, 2026
Laylat Al-QadrIslamYesYesMon, Mar 16, 2026
Eid al-FitrIslamYesYesThu, Mar 19 – Sat, Mar 21, 2026
NowruzPersian New YearYesFri, Mar 20, 2026
Naw-Rúz ***Interfaith/Baha’i/ZoroastrianYesSat. Mar 21, 2026
Passover (Pesach) *JudaismYes
Firstborn children only. Food restrictions everyone.
Wed, Apr 1 – Thu, Apr 9, 2026
Good FridayChristianityFri, Apr 3, 2026
EasterChristianitySun, Apr 5, 2026
Eastern Orthodox Good FridayOrthodox ChristianityFri, Apr 10, 2026
Eastern Orthodox EasterOrthodox Christianity Sun, Apr 12, 2026
VaisakhiSikhismYesTue, Apr 14, 2026
Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)JudaismMon, Apr 13 – Tue, Apr 14, 2026
Ridván ***Baha’iYesMon, Apr 20- Sat, May 2, 2026
Ascension DayChristianityThu, May 14, 2026
Declaration of the Báb ***Baha’iSat, May 23 – Sun, May 24, 2026
Vesak BuddhismFri, May 1, 2026
Shavuot *JudaismYesThu, May 21 – Sat, May 23, 2026
Easter Orthodox Ascension DayOrthodox ChristianityThu, May 21, 2026

**These holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate. Islamic holidays begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed. 

***The Baha’i day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a holy day is observed begins at sunset the day before the Gregorian calendar dates given above.

Sources: A variety of sources were consulted to compile a list that includes religious holidays and observances in widely practiced religions.

Last modified: Jun 11, 2025