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Holidays and Religious Observances

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Conscientious Religious Observance Policy

If religious observances cause absence from class, campus employment, athletic practice, and/or game days or necessitates accommodations, students should notify their faculty, coaches, or supervisors prior to the date(s) of their absence. New York State policy and 91¸£ÀûÉç policy mandates that students be allowed to make up academic work and/or campus employment requirements without penalty. These accommodations should not reduce the overall expectations of a course nor unduly burden the student requesting accommodation. Faculty must permit students to take a makeup examination without any penalty if they have to miss an examination due to religious observances. Similarly, faculty must permit students to submit missed assignments by an agreed upon due date, without penalty.

Although not required, the College highly recommends that students submit written notification of the pending religious observances at the start of the semester or at least one week before the date. As an option, students may use this form [here]. Distributing the written notification during the first week of classes, campus employment, or the start of the athletic season gives students, faculty, coaches, or supervisors time to prepare for the absence.

If a student, supervisor, coach, or faculty member feels the policy is being violated, they should contact the Dean of Faculty Office at 518-580-5705 (Palamountain 416), the Dean of Students Office at 518-580-5760 (Case Center 313), or Human Resources at 518-580-5800 (Barrett Center first floor).

The above language was adopted by CEPP and IPPC in Spring 2020

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Religious Accommodations FAQs from the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

The following language is advice from ORSL. The official Conscientious Religious Observance Policy language is above.  

• What are accommodations? Accommodations vary depending on your situation but might include things like permission to miss class in order to observe a holiday, or changing a work schedule to align with prayer times. The plan you set with your instructor might include makeup work or other adjustments to assignments. 
• When should I request accommodations? We recommend starting the process as early as possible, ideally at or before the start of the semester or season, even if you're not absolutely sure yet about religious service times or other details. 
• Am I guaranteed to receive accommodations? Remember that a request to your instructor or supervisor is the start of a conversation. Some types of accommodations are required by law and College policy. However, the exact details of the accommodation may depend on course requirements and other factors (like whether or not there will be makeup work, and whether or not all of your requested dates will be approved). 
• Can I travel or go home for a holiday? Or can I arrive late or leave early for the semester? Students are generally expected to be present at 91¸£ÀûÉçfor the entire semester. Depending on your schedule it may not be possible to travel for holidays or other religious observances. ORSL can assist in identifying on-campus or local options, including connecting with other students who may be missing the chance to be with family and familiar communities at important times. 
• Where can I ask questions or get help with this? Not sure about any part of the policy or process? We can help. Email orsl@skidmore.edu or see our staff page for more contact information.

Calendar 

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Academic Calendars with information about classes, examinations, and other important dates are available through theRegistrar's Office. 

About this Calendar:  Notes about specific observances are offered based on relevance to event planning (such as dietary or fasting considerations). These notes are not meant to be an exhaustive description of a holiday or observance. This Calendar is a work in progress. It does not contain every holiday or observance that may be important to members of our community. Suggestions and corrections are welcome.  If you have questions, corrections, or additions regarding this calendar, please contact our office. 

Dates change every year and may vary by community and tradition. Calendar systems vary and many religious observances occur on different dates of the (Gregorian) calendar each year. For example, observances that overlap with final exams one year might not overlap the next year. Additionally, members of the same overall religious tradition may observe a holiday on different days based on local traditions or different interpretations of religious guidelines. 

Observance varies within communities and traditions. Not every member of a religious community will observe every holiday listed  for that religion and there may be significant diversity and event strong disagreement regarding observance within and between communities, even when such variance is not specified below. 

Daily, Weekly, and Monthly observances: This page does not include dates and times of daily, weekly, monthly, and other regular observances. We recommend checking the ORSL weekly schedule, asking for feedback from potential participants, and announcing dates and times as early as possible to accommodate these practices. We are happy to discuss potential accommodations including dietary considerations, prayer space, schedules for all-day events, alternative service times, and access to off-campus gatherings.  

Terminology: Many names and terms used in this calendar have multiple spellings and transliterations in English usage. Effort has been made to use widely recognized spellings.  Some terminology is used for efficiency and clarity (such as references to "Western" or "Eastern" Christianity) even as we acknowledge that they do not perfectly reflect current understandings of religious history and demographics. We welcome feedback and suggestions for continuing to improve this resource.

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Spring Semester 2025 

January 2025

• 1 New Year's Day: Traditions vary, including some religious observances 
  • • Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Roman Catholic Holy Day of Obligation
• 6 Epiphany: Christian, Western liturgical
• 6-7 Christmas: Christian, Julian/Eastern - evening of Monday January 6 - Tuesday January 7
• 14 Mahayana New Year:Mahayana Buddhist
• 29 Lunar New Year: according to many lunisolar calendars including Chinese, Korean, Mongolian (Tsagaan Sar), and Vietnamese (Tết). Dates, traditions, and connection to religious sand spiritual practice varies 

February 2025

• 2 Imbolc: Wiccan, Neo-Pagan, and other communities
• 8 or 15 Parinirvana Day: Mahayana Buddhist
• 12-13 Tu B’Shvat: Jewish, evening of Wednesday, February 12 - evening of Thursday, January 13
• 24 or 26 Magha Puja Day: Buddhist
• 25 – 28 Ayyám-i-Há: µþ²¹³óá’í
• 26 Maha Shivaratri: Hindu
• 28 Possible start day of Ramadan in 2025 (See March listings).

March 2025

• March 1* – April 29*  Ramadan: Muslim, *anticipated days (official start and end days determined by religious leaders at the time, days begin at evening)
  • Observances may include fasting with abstention from food and drink from sunrise to sunset, attendance at services, and additional prayer times
• 1 - 19 Month of ‘Alá’: µþ²¹³óá’í,
  • Observance may include fasting by abstaining from food and drink from sunrise to sunset 
• 3 CleanMonday: beginning of the Great Lent in many Eastern Orthodox Christian churches
• March 3 or 5 through April 17 or 19 - Great Lent/Lent:  Christian
  • Observances may include abstention from certain foods and drinks, often including meat. Traditions around fasting vary and include both daily and weekly practices. 
• 4 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras: Christian (Western), additional communities and traditions 
• 5 Ash Wednesday: Christian (Western),
  • Observances may include attendance at services and fasting
• 13-14 Purim: Jewish, evening of Thursday March 13 - evening of Friday March 14  
• 14 Holi: Hindu, South Asian cultural, dates vary.
  • At Skidmore: student organizations often organize a Holi celebration for later in the semester closer to the arrival of warmer weather in upstate New York.
• 14-16 Hola Mohalla: Sikh
• 20: Spring Equinox: Northern hemisphere, various traditions 
  • 19-20 Naw-Rúz, Nowruz: µþ²¹³óá’í, Persian cultural, and additional communities, dates vary
  • 19-23 Ostara: Wiccan, Neo-Pagan and other communities, dates vary
• 29-30* Eid al-Fitr: Muslim, *anticipated dates, official date to be determined by religious leaders closer to occurrence
  • Observances may include attendance at extended morning prayers and celebratory gatherings
• March 30 - April 7 Chaitra Navaratri/Vasanta Navaratri: Hindu, dates may vary, includes New Year’s Day for the Hindu lunisolar calendar
• 24 Palm Sunday: Christian, Western/Gregorian

April 2025

• March 3 or 5 through April 17 or 19 - Great Lent/Lent:  Christian
  • Observances may include abstention from certain foods and drinks, often including meat. Traditions around fasting vary and include both daily and weekly practices.
• 4 Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras: Christian (Western), additional communities and traditions 
• March 30 - April 7  Chaitra Navaratri/Vasanta Navaratri: Hindu, dates may vary, includes New Year’s Day for the Hindu lunisolar calendar
• April 12- 20 Passover: Jewish, evening of Saturday April 12 - evening of Sunday April 20
  • Observances scheduled primarily on the first two and last two days, including seder gatherings the evenings of April 12 and 13 and additional observance on April 19 and 20. 
  • Dietary practices include abstention from leavened bread and other grain products
  • At Skidmore: Traditionally a first night seder is held on campus and second night seders hosted on and off campus. Chametz-free dining options are available at the Dining Hall and for catered events.
• 13 Theravada New Year: Theravada Buddhist
• 13 Palm Sunday: Christian (note: for 2025 the dates of Holy Week and Easter/Pascha are the same for most Christian communities, including Easter Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches). 
• 13-14  Vaisakhi: Sikh, Hindu
• 17 Holy/Maundy/Covenant Thursday: Christian 
• 18 Holy/Good Friday: Christian 
  • Observance may include attendance at services and fasting
• 19 Holy Saturday: Christian
  
  • Observance may include fasting and abstention from celebratory gatherings 
• 19-20 Easter/Pascha: Christian
  
  • Note: Services begin on Saturday in some churches. For 2025 the dates of Easter/Pascha are the same for most Christian communities including Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant churches. 

May 2025

• 1 Beltane: Wiccan, Neo-Pagan and other communities, dates vary
• 12 Vesak, Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima: Buddhist, dates may vary by community  
• 15-16 Lag BaOmer: Jewish, evening Thursday May 15 – evening Friday May 16
• 29 Ascension of Jesus: Christian (Western Liturgical) - Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics

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Fall Semester 2025

August 2025

• 15 Sri Krishna Janmashtami: Hindu
• 21-28 Paryushana: Jain, dates and duration vary 
• 26-27 Ganesh Chaturthi: Hindu, dates and duration may vary 

September 2025

• 4-5 Mawlid Nabi: Muslim, observance varies significantly by community, evening Thursday September 4 through evening Friday September 5
• 22 Autumnal Equinox: Northern hemisphere, multiple traditions, including Wiccan and Neo-Pagan observance of Mabon(September 21-29, dates and duration vary). 
• 22-24Rosh Hashanah: Jewish, evening Monday September 22 through evening Wednesday September 24 
  • Observance may include attendance at services including the first evening and during the following two days.

October 2025 

• 1-2 Yom Kippur: Jewish, evening Wednesday October 1 - evening Thursday October 2 
  • Observance may include fasting, attendance at evening and daytime services, and abstention from celebratory gatherings
• 6-13 Sukkot: Jewish, evening Monday October 6 through evening Monday October 13
• 13-15 Shemini Atzeret: Jewish, evening Monday October 13 - evening Wednesday October 15
• 14-15 Simchat Torah: Jewish, evening Tuesday October 14 - evening Wednesday October 15 
• 20 Diwali, Tihar, Lakshmi Puja, Bandi Chhor Divas (Sikh), and additional observances: dates and duration may vary, multiple communities and a variety of observances including Hindu, Jain, and Sikh. 
• 22-23 Birth of the Báb and The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh: µþ²¹³óáʼí&²Ô²ú²õ±è;

November 2024 

• 1-2: Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Saints and All Souls: Multiple overlapping religious traditions and cultures, including Christian and Wiccan/Neo-Pagan communities and Mexican and other Latine/x communities.  Observance and duration vary and may include: 
  • November 1st: All Saints, Christian, Holy Day of Obligation for attendance at Mass for Roman Catholics 
• 5 Guru Nanak Jayanti/Gurpurab: Sikh, dates may vary
• November 15 - December 24 Nativity Fast: Eastern Orthodox Christian
• 25 Day of the Covenant: µþ²¹³óá’í
• 27 Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá: µþ²¹³óá’í
• November  30 - December 24 Nativity Fast/Advent: Christian, dates and observance varies by community. 

December 2024 

• November 15 or 30 - December 24 Nativity Fast/Advent: Christian, observance varies by community 
• 1-7 Chalica: Unitarian Universalist, observance varies 
• 6 or 19: St. Nicholas Day, observance and date vary by community 
• 21 Winter Solstice: Northern hemisphere, multiple traditions, including Wiccan and Neo-Pagan observance of Yule (December 21- January 1, dates and duration vary). 
• 14-22 Hanukkah: Jewish, evening of Sunday December 14 through evening of Monday December 22
• 24-25 Christmas Eve and Christmas: Christian, primarily "Western" denominations and churches using a Gregorian calendar 
• December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa, African-American and African diaspora cultural observances including religious and spiritual traditions, observance varies 

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