2023 – 2024 Holiday & Observance Calendar

Washington’s public four-year college and universities support and recognize the holidays, traditional observances and major days of religious significance of the diverse students we serve.

We are supportive and engaged in the continual education of our faculty/staff/students around the traditions of the communities we serve and work to be inclusive of all students. The intent of this calendar is to assist faculty/staff in planning and developing their curriculum, class syllabus and examinations during the term.

2023 – 2024 Academic Year Calendar

Holiday or ObservanceReligious GroupDatesAdditional Notes
Labor DaySeptember 4Class not in session
JanmashtamiHinduSeptember 6
*Rosh Hashanah (New Year)JewishSeptember 15-17Designated non-work day for observers
*Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement)JewishSeptember 24-25Designated non-work day for observers
# Mawlid al-Nabi (birthday of Mohammad)IslamicSeptember 27Date not fixed. See note below.
*Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles)JewishSeptember 30-October 6*Sept. 30 & Oct 1 primary observation days. Designated non-work days for observers
*Shemini AtzeretJewishOctober 7Designated non-work day for observers
*Simchat TorahJewishOctober 8Designated non-work day for observers
Indigenous Peoples DayOctober 9
Navratri/DussehraHinduOctober 16-24
Veterans DayNovember 11Class not in session
DiwaliHinduNovember 12
Thanksgiving DayNovember 23Class not in session
Native American Heritage DayNovember 24Class not in session
Hanukkah (Chanukah)JewishDecember 8-15
Christmas DayChristianDecember 25Class not in session
New Years DayJanuary 1Class not in session
Orthodox ChristmasChristian OrthodoxJanuary 8
Martin Luther King DayJanuary 15Class not in session
Lunar New YearFebruary 10
Beginning of LentChristian OrthodoxFebruary 14
Ash WednesdayChristianFebruary 14
Presidents DayFebruary 19Class not in session
Maha ShivaratriHinduMarch 8
# Beginning of RamadanIslamicMarch 11Date not fixed. See note below.
PurimJewishMarch 24
HoliHinduMarch 25
Good FridayChristianMarch 29
EasterChristianMarch 31
# Lailat al-QadrIslamicApril 6 -13
Date not fixed. See note below.
# Eid al-Fitr IslamicApril 10Date not fixed. See note below.
RamanavamiHinduApril 17
*Passover (Pesach)JewishApril 23-30*Apr. 23-24 & 29-30 primary obligation days
Orthodox Good FridayChristian OrthodoxMay 3
Orthodox EasterChristian OrthodoxMay 5
Memorial DayMay 27Class not in session
*ShavuotJewishJune 12-13Designated non-work day for observers
# Eid al-AdhaIslamicJune 17Date not fixed. See note below.
JuneteenthJune 19
Independence DayJuly 4
Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year)IslamicJuly 6 - August 5
JanmashtamiHinduAugust 26

* These holidays (or dates within holidays) are designated non-work (observance) days.
# Some of these dates are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual sighting of the moon and therefore there may be some variance by day.
All Jewish, Islamic, and Bahá’í holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.

Future Religious and U.S. Public Holiday Calendars