Lammas/Lughnasadh
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A celebration of the beginning of the harvest. One of the eight major annual sabbats or festivals.
Date Details: Celebrated every August 1st.
General Practices: Making and consuming dishes with the first fruits of the harvest.
Recommended Accommodations: None.
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Druid, Pagan, Wiccan |
August 01, 2020 |
August 01, 2021 |
August 01, 2022 |
Raksha Bandhan
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The Rakhi festivity falls in the holy month of Shravan; The origin and history of Rakhi can be dated back to the mythological Pouranik times.
Date Details: Raksha Bandhan is celebrated in Shravana month during full moon day or Purnima day.
General Practices: A day to acknowledge siblings and their relationships.
Recommended Accommodations: None.
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Hindu |
August 03, 2020 |
August 22, 2021 |
August 11, 2022 |
Krishna Janmashtami
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This two-day festival celebrates the birth of Krishna, a widely-worshiped Hindu god. Krishna is considered to be a warrior, hero, teacher, and philosopher.
Date Details: The first day is called Krishan Ashtami or Gokul Ashtami. The second day is known as Kaal Ashtami or more popularly Janam Ashtami.
General Practices: During this festival, Hindus are likely to forgo sleep in order to sing bhajans, traditional Hindu songs. Many Hindus also fast during the first day of the festival. Dances, songs, and plays depicting the life of Krishna are common.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines on this day, since it is likely that students will be operating on very little sleep.
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Hindu |
August 11, 2020 to August 12, 2020 |
August 30, 2021 |
August 08, 2022 |
Eid al-Adha
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Eid al-Adha is a major festival that celebrates the willingness to make sacrifices in the name of one’s faith. According to Islamic tradition, the prophet Ibrahim was ordered to sacrifice his son in God’s name. When Ibrahim was prepared to kill his son, God stepped in and gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead. This holiday celebrates Ibrahim’s total faith in God, and Muslims view this holiday as an important annual reminder.
Date Details: Lunar calendars can vary based on region and practice. Begins at sundown on the first day and ends in the evening of the second day.
General Practices: Prayers, gift giving, prayers, and sometimes killing of sheep, with a portion of the meat gifted to the poor.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on the first day. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations if requested (halal restrictions apply).
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Islamic |
July 31, 2020 to August 03, 2020 |
July 20, 2021 to July 23, 2021 |
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Mabon/Alban Elfed/Autumnal Equinox
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Also referred to as Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering, and Meán Fómhair. Mabon is the second celebration of the harvest, a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months. One of the eight major annual sabbats or festivals.
Date Details: Falls on the day of the Fall Equinox.
General Practices: At Mabon, day and night are in equal balance. It is a time to offer gratitude for the blessings of the harvest and also to begin to prepare for turning inward. Making dishes with apples, squash and pumpkins as part of ritual celebration is customary.
Recommended Accommodations: None.
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Druid, Pagan, Wiccan |
September 23, 2020 |
September 22, 2021 |
September 22, 2022 |
Navaratri/Durga Puja
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Navaratri is one of the greatest Hindu festivals, and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. During this nine day fast festival, Hindus worship the Goddess Durga.
Date Details: The beginning of spring and the beginning of autumn are taken as sacred opportunities for the worship of the Divine Mother Durga. The dates of the festival are determined according to the lunar calendar. Those listed are approximations.
General Practices: Durga is the mother goddess, and so Hindus try to visit their mothers and other relatives during this time. Some Hindus will pray and fast, and there are often feasts and dances.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. Note that members of the KU community may be hungry due to fasting.
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Hindu |
October 21, 2020 |
October 07, 2021 |
September 26, 2022 |
Rosh Hashanah
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Start of the Jewish New Year, day of judgment and remembrance; the Jewish calendar celebrates the New Year in the seventh month (Tishrei) as a day of rest and celebration ten days before Yom Kippur
Date Details: Begins at the evening of the first day, and ends the evening of the last day.
General Practices: Prayer in synagogue and festive meals.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).
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Jewish |
September 18, 2020 to September 20, 2020 |
September 06, 2021 to September 08, 2021 |
September 25, 2022 to September 27, 2022 |
Yom Kippur
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Yom Kippur is often considered the holiest day of the year for Jews, and the day is dedicated to atonement and abstinence.
Date Details: Begins at the evening of the first day, and ends the evening of the last day.
General Practices: Fasting from before sundown until after sunset, and lighting of the Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on the night of Yom Kippur.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date and after a day of fasting.
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Jewish |
September 27, 2020 to September 28, 2020 |
September 15, 2021 to September 16, 2021 |
October 04, 2022 to October 05, 2022 |
Sukkot
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A week-long celebration which begins with the building of Sukkah for sleep and meals; Sukkot is named for the huts Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert before reaching the promised land.
Date Details: Begins at the evening of the first day, and ends the evening of the last day. Work holidays vary by denomination.
General Practices: Families in the United States commonly decorate the sukkah with produce and artwork.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on the first two days. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).
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Jewish |
October 02, 2020 to October 09, 2020 |
September 20, 2021 to September 27, 2021 |
October 09, 2022 to October 16, 2022 |
Shemini Atzeret
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Also known as Atzereth, this is a fall festival, which includes a memorial service for the dead and features prayers for rain in Israel.
Date Details: Begins at the evening of the first day, and ends the evening of the last day.
General Practices: Jews light a Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on Shemini Atzereth (the 8th night of Sukkot). Simchat Torah marks the completion of the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah in the synagogue and the beginning of the new cycle.
Recommended Accommodations: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation as requested (kosher restrictions apply).
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Jewish |
October 09, 2020 to October 11, 2020 |
September 27, 2021 to September 29, 2021 |
October 16, 2022 to October 18, 2022 |
