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.

Official Academic Calendar

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.

[Download holidays list]

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
Sankranti 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