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Religious Observances that Affect the Academic Calendar

Candles line the paths of the main quad as part of a Diwali celebration. The dome of Foellinger Auditorium is lit. Several people are in silhouette.

To help instructors and staff in course and event planning, some of the religious observances that may affect the academic calendar between August 2022 to July 2023 are listed below. This table attempts to include dates for religions that are most widely observed by students and employees at the University of Illinois and is intended as an aid only. Members of the University of Illinois community practice a range of faith traditions, and it is the expectation of the university that religious accommodations be honored regardless of whether the date is included in this table.

Special thanks to the following individuals for their assistance in reviewing the religious observances listed on this page and in the full Religious Observances calendar: Rabbi Alan Cook from Sinai Temple of Champaign-Urbana, Amy Felty from the Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Urbana, Father Robert Lampitt from St. John’s Catholic Newman Center, Dr. Adam Newman from the Department of Religion, and Imam Ousmane Sawadogo from the Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center.

Major Religious Observances
August 2022 – July 2023

Fall Semester 2022

ObservanceReligionDates
Lammas/LughnasadhWiccaAugust 1, 2022
Tisha B’AvJudaismBegins at sundown on August 6, 2022, and ends at sundown on August 7, 2022
10th of Muharram
(Ashura)
IslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on August 7, 2022 and end at sundown on August 8. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Krishna Janmashtami
HinduismBegins August 18, 2022, and ends August 19, 2022
ParyushanJainismAugust 24, 2022, to September 1, 2022
Arbaʽeen (Shia)IslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on September 17, 2022. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
MabonWiccaBegins September 21, 2022, and ends September 22, 2022
Rosh Hashanah
JudaismBegins at sundown on September 25 and ends at sundown on September 27, 2022
Navratri
Hinduism
Begins September 26 and ends October 4, 2022
Yom Kippur
JudaismBegins at sundown on October 4 and ends at sundown on October 5, 2022.
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Sunni)IslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on October 8, 2022. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah
JudaismBegins at sundown on October 16 and ends at sundown on October 18
Birth of the Prophet Muhammad (Shia)IslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on October 24, 2022. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Birth of Guru GranthSikhismThursday, October 20, 2022
Diwali HinduismMonday, October 24, 2022
Birth of the Báb
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on October 25 and ends at sunset on October 26, 2022
Birth of Baha’u’llahBaháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on October 26 and ends at sunset on October 27, 2022
SamhainWiccaBegins at sunset on October 31 and ends at sunset on November 1, 2022
Guru Nanak Birthday
SikhismTuesday, November 8, 2022
Loy Krathong
BuddhismWednesday, November 9, 2022
HanukkahJudaismBegins at sundown on December 18, 2022, and ends at sundown on December 26, 2022
Yule WiccaBegins December 21, 2022, and ends January 1, 2023
Christmas
ChristianitySunday, December 25, 2022
Kwanzaa Interfaith / African-AmericanDecember 26, 2022, to January 1, 2023
Guru Gobind Singh
Jayanti
SikhismDecember 29, 2022

Spring Semester 2023

ObservanceReligionDates
Feast of the Epiphany
ChristianityJanuary 6, 2023
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
Orthodox ChristianityJanuary 7, 2023
Lunar New Year
Interfaith / NationalJanuary 22, 2023
Imbolc/CandlemasWicca/CelticBegins the evening of February 1, 2023, and ends the evening of February 2, 2023
Ash Wednesday
ChristianityFebruary 22, 2023
Nineteen Day Fast
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on March 1, 2023, and ends at sunset on March 20, 2023
Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent
Orthodox ChristianityFebruary 23, 2023
Purim
JudaismBegins the evening of March 6, 2023, and ends the evening of March 7, 2023
Holi Hinduism, SikhismBegins the evening of March 7, 2023, and ends the evening of March 8, 2023

Naw‐Rúz
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on March 20, 2023, and ends at sunset on March 21, 2023
Eostara (Spring Equinox)
WiccaMarch 20, 2023
Ramadan

IslamBegins on the evening of March 22, 2023, and ends on the evening of April 21, 2023. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Good FridayChristianityApril 7, 2023
EasterChristianityApril 9, 2023
Vaisakhi SikhismApril 14, 2023
Passover (Pesach)
JudaismBegins at sundown on April 5, 2023 and ends at sundown on April 13, 2023
23rd Night of RamadanIslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on April 13, 2023. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Eastern Orthodox Holy Friday Orthodox Christianity
April 14, 2023
Eastern Orthodox Easter (Pascha)
Orthodox ChristianityApril 16, 2023
27th Night of RamadanIslamAnticipated to begin at sundown on April 17, 2023. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
First Day of RidvánBaháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on April 20, 2023, and ends at sunset on April 21, 2023
Eid al-FitrIslamBegins on the evening of April 21, and ends on the evening of April 22. This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Ninth Day of Ridván
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on April 28, 2023, and ends at sunset on April 29, 2023
Twelfth Day of RidvánBaháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on May 1, 2023, and ends at sunset on May 2, 2023
BeltaneWiccaMay 1, 2023
VesakBuddhismMay 5, 2023

Summer 2023

ObservanceReligionDates
Ascension DayChristianityMay 18, 2023
Declaration of the Báb
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on May 23, 2023, and ends at sunset on May 24, 2023
Eastern Orthodox Ascension Day OrthodoxChristianityMay 25, 2023
ShavuotJudaismBegins at sundown on May 25, 2023, and ends at sundown on May 27, 2023
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláhBaháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on May 28, 2023, and ends at sunset on May 29, 2023
Litha/Midsummer (Summer Solstice)
WiccaJune 21, 2023
Eid al-Adha
JudaismAnticipated to begin at sundown on June 28, 2023, and end at sundown on June 29, 2023. 
This observance is calculated on a lunar calendar and is approximate.
Martyrdom of the Báb
Baháʼí FaithBegins at sunset on July 9, 2023, and ends at sunset on July 10, 2023

A more complete calendar of religious observances is maintained by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as part of the university’s general calendar: Religious Observances. For questions, please contact diversity@illinois.edu.