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 2023-24 Academic Year
Official UCSC 2022-23 Academic and Administrative Calendar
Official UCSC 2023-24 Academic and Administrative Calendar
Religious Holidays during the 2023-24 Academic Year
| HOLIDAY | FAITH | WORK RESTRICTIONS | FASTING | DATE(S) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahib | Sikhism | Yes | Fri, Jun 16 | |
| Holy Day of Arafah** | Islam | Yes | Yes | Tue, Jun 27 – Wed, Jun 28 |
| Eid-al-Adha ** | Islam | Yes | Thu, Jun 29 | |
| Asalha Puja/Dharma Day | Buddhism | Mon, July 3 | ||
| The Seventeenth of Tammuz | Judaism | Yes | Wed, July 5 – Thu, July 6 | |
| Eid al-Ghadeer ** | Islam | Fri, July 7 | ||
| Martyrdom of the Báb | Baha’i | Mon, July 10 | ||
| Awal Muharram | Islam | Tue, July 18 – Wed, July 19 | ||
| Tisha b’Av | Judaism | Yes | Yes | Wed, July 26 – Thu, July 27 |
| Krishna Janmashtami | Hinduism | Yes | Fri, Aug 18 – Sat, Aug 19 | |
| Arba’een ** | Islam | Tue, Sept 5 – Wed, Sept 6 | ||
| Rosh Hashanah* | Judaism | Yes | Fri, Sept 15 – Sun, Sept 17 | |
| Fast of Gedaliah | Judaism | Yes | Mon, Sept 18 | |
| Yom Kippur* | Judaism | Yes | Yes | Sun, Sept 24 – Mon, Sept 25 |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad(Sunni) ** | Islam | Wed, Sept 27 | ||
| Sukkot* | Judaism | Yes | Fri, Sept 29 – Fri, Oct 8 | |
| Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah* | Judaism | Yes | Fri, Oct 6 – Sun, Oct. 8 | |
| Birth of the Prophet Muhammad(Shia) ** | Islam | Thu, Oct 12 | ||
| Birth of Báb *** | Baha’i | Yes | Sun, Oct 15 – Mon, Oct 16 | |
| Birth of Bahá’u’lláh *** | Baha’i | Yes | Mon, Oct 16 – Tue, Oct 17 | |
| Diwali** | Hinduism | Yes | Sun, Nov 12 | |
| Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur | Sikhism | Yes | Fri, Nov 24 | |
| Guru Nanak Gupurab | Sikhism | Yes | Mon, Nov 27 | |
| Hanukkah * | Judaism | During time candles are lit | Thu, Dec 7 – Fri, Dec 15 | |
| Bodhi Day | Buddhism | Fri, Dec 8 | ||
| The Tenth of Tevet | Judaism | Yes | Fri, Dec 22 | |
| Christmas | Christianity | Mon, Dec 25 (UCSC holidays Mon, Dec 25 and Tue, Dec 26) | ||
| Kwanzaa | Interfaith/African American | Tue, Dec 26 – Mon, Jan 1 | ||
| Feast of Epiphany | Christianity | Sat, Jan 6 | ||
| Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Christian | Sun, Jan 7 | ||
| Sankranti | Hinduism | Mon, Jan 15 | ||
| Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Sahib | Sikhism | Yes | Wed, Jan 17 | |
| Birthday of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib ** | Islam | Wed, Jan 24 | ||
| Tu BiShvat | Judaism | Wed, Jan 24 – Thu, Jan 25 | ||
| Lunar New Year | Interfaith/National/International | Sat, Feb 10 | ||
| Ash Wednesday | Christianity | Wed, Feb 14 | ||
| Parinirvana | Buddhism | Thu, Feb 15 | ||
| Magha Puja | Buddhism | Sat, Feb 24 | ||
| Nineteen-Day Fast | Baha’i | Yes | Fri, Mar 1 – Tue, Mar 19 | |
| Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism | Yes | Fri, Mar 8 | |
| Ramadan ** | Islam | Yes | Yes | Mon, Mar 11 – Wed, Apr 10 |
| Ramakrishna Jayanti | Hinduism | Yes | Tue, Mar 12 | |
| Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent | Orthodox Christian | Mon, Mar 18 | ||
| Naw-Rúz *** | Interfaith/Baha’i/Zoroastrian | Yes | Tue, Mar 19 – Wed, Mar 20 | |
| Nowruz | Persian New Year | Yes | Thu, Mar 21 | |
| Fast of Esther | Judaism | Yes | Sat, Mar 23 | |
| Purim | Judaism | Sat, Mar 23 – Sun, Mar 24 | ||
| Good Friday | Christianity | Fri, Mar 29 | ||
| Easter | Christianity | Sun, Mar 31 | ||
| Laylat Al-Qadr | Islam | Yes | Yes | Fri, Apr 5 – Sat, Apr 6 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islam | Yes | Yes | Tue, Apr 9 – Wed, Apr 10 |
| Vaisakhi | Sikhism | Yes | Sat, Apr 13 | |
| Ridván *** | Baha’i | Yes | Sat, Apr 20- Thu, May 2 | |
| Passover (Pesach) * | Judaism | Yes | Firstborn children only. Food restrictions everyone. | Mon, Apr 22 – Tue, Apr 30 |
| Eastern Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox Christianity | Fri, May 3 | ||
| Eastern Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Christianity | Sun, May 5 | ||
| Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) | Judaism | Sun, May 5 – Mon, May 6 | ||
| Ascension Day | Christianity | Thu, May 9 | ||
| Declaration of the Báb *** | Baha’i | Wed, May 22 – Thu, May 23 | ||
| Vesak | Buddhism | Thu, May 23 | ||
| Shavuot * | Judaism | Yes | Tue, June 11 – Thu, June 13 | |
| Easter Orthodox Ascension Day | Orthodox Christianity | Thu, June 13 |
*Jewish holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
**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.