The Office of the Provost maintains a calendar of religious holidays along with guidance to students regarding conflicts between the University academic calendar and religious observances.
The University’s academic calendar as approved by the Board of Regents is posted on the Office of the Registrar website. The Final Exams schedule is also available from the Registrar’s website.
Religious Holidays
[Add religious holiday calendar to your personal Google calendar]
University statement on conflicts between the academic and religious calendars
Although the University of Michigan, as an institution, does not observe religious holidays, it has long been the University’s policy that every reasonable effort should be made to help students avoid negative academic consequences when their religious obligations conflict with academic requirements. Absence from classes or examinations for religious reasons does not relieve students from responsibility for any part of the course work required during the period of absence. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent. Such notice must be given by the drop/add deadline of the given term. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments shall be offered an opportunity to make up the work, without penalty, unless it can be demonstrated that a make-up opportunity would interfere unreasonably with the delivery of the course. Should disagreement arise over any aspect of this policy, the parties involved should contact the Department Chair, the Dean of the School, or the Ombudsperson. Final appeals will be resolved by the Provost.
Religious Holidays during the 2022-2023 Academic Year
Many of the holidays listed below are linked to Fact Sheets prepared by a U-M School of Information Project Team with input and review from religious leaders and community organizations. The UMSI team members are Jacques Chestnut, Rebecca Epstein, Claudia Leo, James Reitz, Colum Slevin, Barbara Smith (project lead), and Todd Stuart.
Most religions contain multiple sects, and even within a single sect – multiple practices around a holiday can be found. Authors of these Fact Sheets have attempted to generally describe an event that is likely celebrated in many different ways. If someone feels the authors have misrepresented any information or would like information added, they are open to feedback. Please email them to DEIHolidayFacts@umich.edu.
HOLIDAY
|
FAITH
|
DATE(S)
|
Eid al-Ghadeer ** | Islam | July 18 |
1st of Muharram (Islamic New Year) ** | Islam | July 30 |
10th of Muharram (Ashura) ** | Islam | August 8 |
Paryushan ** | Jain | August 23 – 31 |
Arba’ein ** | Islam | September 17 |
Rosh Hashanah * | Jewish | September 25 – 27 |
Yom Kippur * | Jewish | October 4 – 5 |
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunni) ** | Islam | October 8 |
Sukkot * | Jewish | October 9 – 16 |
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah * | Jewish | October 16 – 18 |
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Shia) ** | Islam | October 24 |
Diwali ** | Hindu | October 24 |
Birth of the Báb *** | Baha’i | October 26 |
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh *** | Baha’i | October 27 |
Hanukkah * | Jewish | December 18 – 26 |
Christmas | Christian | December 25 |
Kwanzaa | Interfaith / African-American | December 26 – January 1 |
Feast of Epiphany | Christian | January 6 |
Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Christian | January 7 |
Makar Sankranti / Pongal | Hindu | January 14 |
Lunar New Year | Interfaith / National | January 22 |
Birthday of ʽAlī ibn Abī Tālib ** | Islam | February 4 |
Ash Wednesday | Christian | February 22 |
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent | Orthodox Christian | February 28 |
Purim * | Jewish | March 6 -7 |
NowRuz *** | Interfaith/National/Bahai/Zoroastrianism | March 20-21 |
Ramadan ** | Islam | March 22 – April 21 |
Good Friday | Christian | April 7 |
Easter | Christian | April 9 |
Passover (Pesach) * | Jewish | April 5 – 13 |
Vaisakhi | Sikh | April 14 |
Eastern Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox Christian | April 14 |
23rd Night of Ramadan ** | Islam | April 14 |
Eastern Orthodox Easter (Pascha) | Orthodox Christian | April 16 |
27th Night of Ramadan ** | Islam | April 18 |
First Day of Ridván *** | Baha’i | April 21 |
Eid al-Fitr ** | Islam | April 21 |
Ninth Day of Ridván *** | Baha’i | April 29 |
Twelfth Day of Ridván *** | Baha’i | May 2 |
Ascension Day | Christian | May 18 |
Vesak (Theravada) | Buddhism | May 5 |
Declaration of the Báb *** | Baha’i | May 24 |
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day | Orthodox Christian | May 25 |
Shavuot * | Jewish | May 25 – 27 |
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh *** | Baha’i | May 29 |
Vesak (Mahayana) | Buddhism | June 4 |
Juneteenth | Interfaith / African-American | June 19 |
Holy Day of Arafah ** | Islam | June 28 |
Eid al-Adha ** | Islam | June 29 |
Eid al-Ghadeer ** | Islam | July 7 |
Martyrdom of the Báb *** | Baha’i | July 10 |
Shabbat * | Jewish | Weekly-Friday sunset to Saturday sunset |
Jumu’ah | Islam | Weekly-Thursday sunset to Friday sunset |
* 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. Muslim holidays begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
*** The Bahá’í day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a Holy Day is observed begins at sunset of the day before the Gregorian calendar dates given above.
Additional Resources
- Dashain (Hindu/Nepal)
- Ganesh Chaturthi / Vinayaka Chavithi (Hindu)
- Guru Purnima Hindu/Buddhist/Jainsim
- Holi (Hindu)
- Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
- Karva Chauth (Hindu)
- Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
- Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
- Rama Navami (Hindu)
- Vijaya Dashami / Dussehra (Hindu)
- Ugadi / Gudi Padwa / Teugu New Year (Hindu)
American actor and “Captain America” star Chris Evans joked about his “Avengers” colleague Jeremy Renner, who was involved in a snowplow accident in early January. Evans commented on Renner’s post on his Twitter. The “Avengers” star wrote a thank-you post in which he reached out to everyone who supported him after his snowplow accident. Evans responded to the post by saying Renner was cool and teasing him: “Has anyone even checked the condition of the snowmobile (snowmobile tractor – Lenta.ru comment)? Sending a lot of love.” Renner appreciated the joke. “Love you, brother… I checked the rattrap, it needs fuel,” he replied. Earlier, the “Avengers” star talked about breaking more than 30 bones. The incident became known on January 2. The actor was reportedly clearing snow from the driveway in front of his home so family members could leave the Nevada residence after celebrating New Year’s Eve together. As he was saying goodbye to his family, he noticed that the snowplow began to roll backwards. Renner tried to jump into it as he went, but was hit by the car’s track.