Religious and Spiritual Holidays and Observances 2028-2029
| Date | Holiday/Observance | Tradition | Description | Campus-Wide Events Permitted?* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2, 2028 | Day of Ashura | Islam | June 2 (sunset) to June 3 (sunset). For Sunni Muslims, Ashura commemorates the parting of the Red Sea and God’s salvation of Moses and the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. For Shia Muslims, it is also a time to mourn the killing of Hussein, grandson to the Prophet Muhammed, at the battle of Karbala in 680 CE. | Yes |
| June 20, 2028 | Litha | Paganism | Summer solstice; longest day of the year; celebrates the height of the sun's power. | Yes |
| June 24, 2028 | Rath Yatra | Hinduism | Major Hindu festival representing the annual chariot procession of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra from Puri's Jagannath Temple to Gundicha Temple. | Yes |
| June 27, 2028 | Martyrdom of Joseph Smith | LDS / Mormon | Commemorates the assassination of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum in 1844. | Yes |
| June 29, 2028 | Gahambar Maidysoshem | Zoroastrianism | June 29 to July 3. Celebrates creation of water and the sowing of the summer crop; 5-day feast. | Yes |
| July 1, 2028 | Sun Dances | Indigenous | 3–4 day ceremony of penitence and sacrifice by Arapaho, Cheyenne, Sioux and other Plains nations. | Yes |
| July 7, 2028 | Dharma Day (Asalha Puja) | Buddhism | Commemorates the Buddha's first sermon to his five disciples at Deer Park. | Yes |
| July 9, 2028 | Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha'i | Anniversary of the Bab's execution in Tabriz, Iran, in 1850. | Yes |
| July 24, 2028 | Pioneer Day | Latter Day Saints | Observance of Brigham Young's arrival at Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1847. | Yes |
| July 31, 2028 | Tisha B'Av | Judaism | July 31 (sunset) to August 1 (sunset). Day of mourning the destruction of the First and Second Temples and other tragedies. | Yes |
| August 1, 2028 | Lammas/Lughnasa | Paganism | First harvest festival; gratitude for the Earth's bounty; beginning of harvest season. | Yes |
| August 1, 2028 | Green Corn Ceremonies (Stomp Dances) | Indigenous | Renewal and purification ceremony involving fasting and dances; sweat lodge rituals. primarily observed by Southeastern Woodland nations. | Yes |
| August 1, 2026 | Fast of the Dormition | Orthodox Christianity | August 1 to August 14. This is a two week period of fasting for Orthodox Christians as they prepare for the Dormition which is the day when they honor the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. | Yes |
| August 2, 2028 | Mawlid al-Nabi | Islam | August 2 (sunset) to August 3 (sunset). Celebration of the birth of the Prophet Muhammad (approx). | Yes |
| August 13, 2028 | Janmashtami | Hinduism | Celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna. | Yes |
| August 13, 2028 | Obon/Ullambana | Buddhism | August 13 to August 16. Festival honoring the spirits of ancestors. | Yes |
| August 17, 2028 | Paryushana Parva | Jainism | August 17 to August 24. Most important Jain festival; 8–10 days of fasting, prayer, scripture-reading and seeking forgiveness. | Yes |
| September 11, 2028 | Nayrouz | Coptic Christianity, Orthodox Christianity | First day of the Coptic Orthodox year; commemorates martyrs; also called Feast of the Martyrs. | Yes |
| September 19, 2028 | Shardiya Navratri | Hinduism | September 19 to September 27. Nine nights of worship of Goddess Durga in her nine forms; major autumn festival. | Yes |
| September 20, 2028 | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | September 20 (sunset) to September 22 (sunset). Jewish New Year; beginning of High Holy Days. | No |
| September 21, 2028 | Mabon | Paganism | Autumn equinox; second harvest. | Yes |
| September 23, 2028 | Durga Puja | Hinduism | September 23 to September 28. 5-day celebration of Goddess Durga; major Bengali festival. | Yes |
| September 27, 2028 | Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | Hinduism | Victory of Ram over Ravana; good over evil. | Yes |
| September 29, 2028 | Yom Kippur | Judaism | September 29 (sunset) to September 30 (sunset). Day of Atonement; holiest day of the Jewish year. | No |
| October 4, 2028 | Sukkot | Judaism | October 4 (sunset) to October 11 (sunset). Festival of Tabernacles; harvest festival in booths. | Yes |
| October 11, 2028 | Shemini Atzeret | Judaism | October 11 (sunset) to October 12 (sunset). Solemn assembly on the day after Sukkot. | Yes |
| October 12, 2028 | Simchat Torah | Judaism | October 12 (sunset) to October 13 (sunset). Joyful celebratiton of completing and restarting the annual Torah reading cycle. | Yes |
| October 17, 2028 | Diwali | Hinduism | Festival of Lights; celebrates victory of light over darkness. | No |
| October 17, 2028 | Bandi Chhor Divas | Sikhism | Release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment. | Yes |
| October 18, 2028 | Birth of the Bab | Baha'i | October 18 (sunset) to October 19 (sunset). Celebrates the birth of Siyyid Ali Muhammad (the Bab), forerunner of Baha'u'llah. | Yes |
| October 20, 2028 | Birth of Baha'u'llah | Baha'i | October 20 (sunset) to October 21 (sunset). Celebrates the birth of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i Faith. | Yes |
| October 31, 2028 | Samhain | Paganism | October 31 (sunset) to November 1 (sunset). End of harvest season; Celtic new year's eve; honors the dead. | Yes |
| November 1, 2028 | All Saints' Day | Christianity | Honors all of the saints of the church, whether they are known or unknown. | Yes |
| November 2, 2028 | All Souls' Day | Christianity | Day of prayer for departed souls. | Yes |
| November 25, 2028 | Day of the Covenant | Baha'i | Celebrates Baha'u'llah's appointment of his son 'Abdu'l-Baha as center of the Covenant. | Yes |
| November 27, 2028 | Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Baha | Baha'i | Commemorates the passing of 'Abdu'l-Baha, son of Baha'u'llah and interpreter of the Faith. | Yes |
| December 12, 2028 | Hanukkah | Judaism | December 12 (sunset) to December 20 (sunset). Festival of Lights; 8-night celebration of rededication of the Temple. | No |
| December 21, 2028 | Yule | Paganism | Celebrates of the winter solstice. | Yes |
| December 25, 2028 | Christmas Day | Christianity | Celebrates of the birth of Jesus Christ. | No |
| January 6, 2029 | Epiphany | Christianity | Visit of the Magi; 12th day of Christmas. | Yes |
| January 7, 2029 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Christianity | Christmas for Eastern Orthodox Christians | No |
| January 13, 2029 | Lohri | Sikhism | Punjabi harvest festival; bonfire celebrations. | Yes |
| January 14, 2029 | Makar Sankranti / Pongal | Hinduism | Harvest festival; sun's transition. | Yes |
| January 14, 2029 | Maghi | Sikhism | Sikh solar observance; marks the Battle of Muktsar. | Yes |
| January 19, 2029 | Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony | Indigenous | Six-day curative rite; renewal of fire (approx). | Yes |
| January 30, 2029 | Tu B'Shevat | Judaism | January 30 (sunset) to January 31 (sunset). New Year of the Trees. | Yes |
| February 1, 2029 | Imbolc | Paganism | February 1 (sunset) to February 2. First fertility festival; approaching spring. | Yes |
| February 11, 2029 | Maha Shivaratri | Hinduism | Great night of Lord Shiva; fasting and all-night vigil. | Yes |
| February 13, 2029 | Lunar New Year (Year of the Rooster) | Buddhism | Lunar New Year; celebrated by Buddhist communities | Yes |
| February 14, 2029 | Eid al-Fitr | Islam | February 14 (sunset) to February 15 (sunset). Festival of Breaking the Fast; end of Ramadan (approx). | No |
| February 14, 2029 | Ash Wednesday | Christianity | Beginning of Lent; 40 days of fasting and penance. | Yes |
| February 15, 2029 | Nirvana Day | Buddhism | Death of the Buddha and entry into final Nirvana. | Yes |
| February 28, 2029 | Purim | Judaism | February 28 (sunset) to March 1 (sunset). Salvation of Jewish people in ancient Persia. | Yes |
| February 28, 2029 | Baha'i Nineteen-Day Fast Begins | Baha'i | February 28 (sunset) to March 19 (sunset). 19-day fast before Naw Ruz; spiritual renewal. | Yes |
| March 1, 2029 | Holi | Hinduism | Festival of Colors; arrival of spring | Yes |
| March 19, 2029 | Naw Ruz | Baha'i | March 19 (sunset) to March 20 (sunset). Baha'i New Year; spring equinox. | Yes |
| March 20, 2029 | Ostara | Paganism | Spring equinox. | Yes |
| March 25, 2029 | Palm Sunday | Christianity | Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem. | Yes |
| March 29, 2029 | Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) | Christianity | Commemorates the Last Supper. | Yes |
| March 30, 2029 | Good Friday | Christianity | Commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. | Yes |
| March 30, 2029 | Passover | Judaism | March 30 (sunset) to April 7 (sunset). Celebrates the liberation from Egyptian slavery. | Yes |
| April 1, 2029 | Easter Sunday | Christianity | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. | No |
| April 8, 2029 | Orthodox Easter (Pascha) | Christianity | Easter for Eastern Orthodox churches. | No |
| April 11, 2029 | Yom HaShoah | Judaism | April 11 (sunset) to April 12 (sunset). Holocaust Remembrance Day. | Yes |
| April 14, 2029 | Vaisakhi | Sikhism | Founding of the Khalsa; Sikh New Year. | Yes |
| April 20, 2029 | Ridvan | Baha'i | April 20 (sunset) to May 1 (sunset). Most holy Baha'i festival; celebrates Baha'u'llah's declaration. | Yes |
| April 22, 2029 | Day of Arafah | Islam | April 22 (sunset) to April 23 (sunset). Most sacred day of Hajj; pilgrims gather on Mount Arafah (approx). | Yes |
| April 23, 2029 | Eid al-Adha | Islam | April 23 (sunset) to April 24 (sunset). Festival of Sacrifice (approx). | Yes |
| April 26, 2029 | Mahavir Jayanti | Jainism | Most important and sacred holiday in Jainism; birthday of Lord Mahavira. | Yes |
| April 30, 2029 | Beltane | Paganism | April 30 (sunset) to May 1. Peak of spring; fertility festival. | Yes |
| May 14, 2029 | Muharram | Islam | First day of the Islamic Lunar New Year. | Yes |
| May 19, 2029 | Shavuot | Judaism | May 19 (sunset) to May 21 (sunset). Receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. | No |
| May 22, 2029 | Day of Ashura | Islam | May 22 (sunset) to May 23 (sunset). For Sunni Muslims, Ashura commemorates the parting of the Red Sea and God’s salvation of Moses and the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. For Shia Muslims, it is also a time to mourn the killing of Hussein, grandson to the Prophet Muhammed, at the battle of Karbala in 680 CE. | Yes |
| May 22, 2029 | Declaration of the Bab | Baha'i | May 22 (sunset) to May 23. The Bab's 1844 declaration as herald of a new age. | Yes |
| May 27, 2029 | Vesak (Buddha Day) | Buddhism | Commemorates and celebrates the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha. | Yes |
| May 28, 2029 | Ascension of Baha'u'llah | Baha'i | May 28 (sunset) to May 29. Death of Baha'u'llah. | Yes |
We strive to honor the broad range of religious and spiritual traditions represented at Dickinson College; however, we recognize that this calendar is not exhaustive. While we have sought to include holidays that have a significant impact on our community, we acknowledge that some traditions and observances may not be represented. If you would like to recommend the addition of a holiday, please contact the Center for Spirituality and Social Justice at cssj@dickinson.edu.
*Campus-wide events may not be scheduled during certain holidays as doing so could prevent students, faculty, and staff who observe those holidays from attending or fully participating. For more information, please refer to the Religious Accommodations Policy.