Because no Williams student should ever have to choose between important religious observances and academic or athletic commitments, college policy provides for students who wish to participate in religious observances that conflict with other obligations to make arrangements with their instructors and coaches to do so.
The policy, approved in 1984 by the faculty and trustees in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, states that “Any student who is unable, because of his or her religious beliefs, to attend classes or to participate in any examination, study, or work requirement on a particular day shall be excused from any such requirement, and shall be provided an opportunity to make up such requirement which s/he may have missed because of such absence now provided, however, that such makeup examination or work shall not create an unreasonable burden upon the College. No adverse or prejudicial effects shall result to any student” who makes use of this provision of college policy. Faculty (including coaches) receive annual reminders of this policy and are encouraged to work carefully with students in anticipating and resolving conflicts to their mutual satisfaction.
The list that follows is not exhaustive. It includes notable festivals and holy days that may require appropriate accommodations for students and employees; although by no means are all religious traditions represented in the Williams community. (If this calendar does not include a significant date of your religious tradition, please let us know.) Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate. Note that some holidays in some traditions (indicated with *) are tied to the lunar calendar or to particular cultural patterns that vary by region or by which make their location in the calendar somewhat more fluid. For more information, refer to the Multifaith Calendar Glossary
| Observance | Date | Tradition |
| Mawlid an-Nabi * | Fri, Sep. 4, 2025 | Islam |
| Pitr Paksha (Fortnight of Remembrance) | Sun, Sep. 7 – Sun, Sep. 21, 2025 | Hinduism |
| Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos | Monday, September 8, 2025 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Ghambar Paitishem | Fri, Sep. 12 – Tue, Sep. 16, 2025 | Zoroastrianism |
| Das Laxana Festival | Mon, Sep. 15, 2025 (Starts) | Jainism |
| Mabon | Monday, September 22, 2025 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Navaratri | Mon, Sep. 22 – Thu, Oct. 2, 2025 | Hinduism |
| Rosh HaShanah * | Mon, Sep. 22 – Wed, Sep 24, 2025 | Judaism |
| Yom Kippur * | Wed, Oct. 1 – Thu, Oct. 2, 2025 | Judaism |
| Dussehra (or Vijaya Dashami) | Thursday, October 2, 2025 | Hinduism |
| Sukkot * | Mon, Oct. 6 – Mon, Oct. 13, 2025 | Judaism |
| Ghambar Ayathrem | Sun, Oct. 12 – Thu, Oct. 16, 2025 | Zoroastrianism |
| Shemini Atzeret * | Mon, Oct. 13 – Tue, Oct 14, 2025 | Judaism |
| Simchat Torah * | Tue, Oct. 14 – Wed, Oct .15, 2025 | Judaism |
| Diwali (Deepavali) | Monday, October 20, 2025 | Jainism, Sikhism, Hinduism |
| Bandi Chor Divas | Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | Sikhism |
| Cherokee Great New Moon Festival | Tuesday, October 21, 2025 | Indigenous American |
| Birth of the Báb | Wednesday, October 22, 2025 | Baha’i |
| Birth of the Bahá’u’lláh | Thursday, October 23, 2025 | Baha’i |
| Samhain | Fri, Oct 31 – Sat, Nov. 1, 2025 | Wicca/Paganism |
| All Saints’ Day | Saturday, November 1, 2025 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| All Souls’ Day | Sunday, November 2, 2025 | Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Guru Nanak’s Birthday | Wednesday, November 5, 2025 | Sikhism |
| Day of the Covenant | Mon, Nov. 24, – Tue, Nov. 25, 2025 | Baha’i |
| Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji | Monday, November 24, 2025 | Sikhism |
| Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Baha | Wed, Nov. 26 – Thu, Nov. 27, 2025 | Baha’i |
| First Sunday of Advent | Sunday, November 30, 2025 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) | Monday, December 8, 2025 | Buddhism |
| Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary | Monday, December 8, 2025 | Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Friday, December 12, 2025 | Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Hanukkah * | Sun, Dec. 14 – Mon, Dec. 22, 2025 | Judaism |
| Yule | Sunday, December 21, 2025 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Christmas | Thursday, December 25, 2025 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ | Thursday, December 25, 2025 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Ghambar Maidyarem | Wed, Dec. 31, 2025 – Sun, Jan. 4, 2026 | Zoroastrianism |
| Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Gantan-sai | Thursday, January 1, 2026 | Shintoism |
| Epiphany | Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Theophany | Tuesday, January 6, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Christmas (Feast of the Nativity) | Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Laylat al-Isra’wa al-Mi’raj * | Friday, January 16, 2026 | Islam |
| Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji | Tuesday, January 20, 2026 | Sikhism |
| Vasant Panchami | Friday, January 23, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Iroquois Midwinter Ceremony | Friday, January 23, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Imbolc | Sunday, February 1, 2026 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Tu B’Shevat * | Sun, Feb. 1 – Mon, Feb. 2, 2026 | Judaism |
| Laylat al-Bara’a * | Mon, Feb. 2 – Tue, Feb. 3, 2026 | Islam |
| Maha Shivaratri | Sun, Feb. 15 – Mon., Feb. 26, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Nirvana Day | Sunday, February 15, 2026 | Buddhism |
| Mahāśivarātrī (Shiv Ratri)) | Sun, Feb. 15 – Mon, Feb. 16, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse) | Tuesday, February 17, 2026 | Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism |
| Ramadan Begins (sundown) * | Tue, Feb. 17, 2026 | Islam |
| Ash Wednesday | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Great Lent | Mon, Feb. 23 – Sat, Apr. 11, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Eagle Dances | Sun, Mar. 1 – Wed, Apr. 30, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Nineteen Day Fast | Mon, Mar. 2 – Fri, Mar. 20, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Purim * | Mon, Mar. 2 – Tue, Mar. 3, 2026 | Judaism |
| Holi | Tuesday, March 3, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Hola Moholla | Wed, Mar. 4 – Fri, Mar. 6, 2026 | Sikhism |
| Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem | Mon, Mar. 16 – Fri, Mar. 20, 2026 | Zoroastrianism |
| Spring Navarātrī | Thursday, March 19, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Ramadan Ends (sundown) * | Thu, March 19, 2026 | Islam |
| Eid al-Fitr * | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Islam |
| Ostara | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Naw Ruz (Noruz) | Friday, March 20, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Laylat al-Qadr * | Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Islam |
| Birthday of the Prophet Zarathustra (Khordad Sal) | Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Zoroastrianism |
| Ramanavami | Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Ramanavami | Thursday, March 26, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Palm Sunday | Sunday, March 29, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Mahavir Jayanti | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Jainism |
| Hydesville Day | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Spiritualism |
| Mahavira-Jayanti | Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | Jainism |
| Passover (Pesach) * | Wed, Apr. 1 – Thu, Apr. 9, 2026 | Judaism |
| Good Friday | Friday, April 3, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Easter | Sunday, April 5, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Anniversary of the Founding of the Church | Monday, April 6, 2026 | Latter Day Saints |
| Holy Friday | Friday, April 10, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Easter/Pascha | Sunday, April 12, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Yom HaSho’ah * | Mon, Apr. 13 – Tue, Apr. 14, 2026 | Judaism |
| Vaisakhi | Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | Sikhism |
| Ridvan | Mon, Apr. 20 – Sat, May 2, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Ghambar Maidyozarem | Wed, Apr. 30 – Sun, May 4, 2026 | Zoroastrianism |
| Beltane | Friday, May 1, 2026 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Wesak (Buddha Day) | Friday, May 1, 2026 | Buddhism |
| Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord | Thursday, May 14, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Dhul-Hijjah Begins * | Mon, May 18, 2026 | Islam |
| Declaration of the Bab | Sat, May 23 – Sun, May 24, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Shavuot * | Thu, May 21 – Sat, May 23, 2026 | Judaism |
| Pentecost | Sunday, May 24, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox, Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Day of Arafah * | Tuesday, May 26, 2026 | Islam |
| Eid al-Adha (‘Id Al Adha) * | Wed, May 27, – Fri, May 29, 2026 | Islam |
| Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Thu, May 28 – Fri, May 29, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Hopi Kachina Dances | Sun, June 1 – Mon, June 30, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Eid al-Ghadir (Shia) * | Thu, Jun 4, 2026 | Islam |
| Beginning of Muharram/Islamic New Year * | Wednesday, June 17, 2026 | Islam |
| Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji | Thursday, June 18, 2026 | Sikhism |
| Litha | Sunday, June 21, 2026 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Ghambar Maidyoshem | Mon, June 29 – July 3, 2026 | Zoroastrianism |
| Green Corn Ceremony (or Stomp Dance) | Wed, July 1 – Aug 31, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Mescalero Apache Mountain Spirit Dances | Wed, Jul 1 – Fri, July 31, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Martyrdom of the Bab | Friday, July 10, 2026 | Baha’i |
| Tisha B’Av * | Wed, Jul 22 – Thu, Jul 23, 2026 | Judaism |
| Pioneer Day | Friday, July 24, 2026 | Latter Day Saints |
| Day of Ashurah (‘Ashurah) * | Thu, June 25, 2026 | Islam |
| Dharma Day (Asalha Puja) | Wednesday, July 29, 2026 | Buddhism |
| Lammas/Lughnasa | Saturday, August 1, 2026 | Wicca/Paganism |
| Iroquois Green Corn Ceremony | Aug 1 – Aug 30, 2026 | Indigenous American |
| Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Christianity-Protestant, Christianity-Roman Catholic |
| Dormition of the Theotokos | Saturday, August 15, 2026 | Christianity-Orthodox |
| Sri Krishna Jayanti | Sunday, August 16, 2026 | Hinduism |
| Raksha Bandhan | Friday, August 28, 2026 | Hinduism |
Harvard Divinity School graciously gave us permission to use information published on their website as part of our content. We appreciate their support and include their acknowledgements as well: Many thanks to the editors of the Bahá’ís of the United States Bahá’í Calendar; the Hebcal Jewish Holidays Calendar; the drikPanchang Hindu, Jain, and Sikh Calendars; the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America; the Revised Common Lectionary of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library; the ING Calendar of Important Islamic Dates; The National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chronology of Church History; Wicca Living’s Wheel of the Year; the Avesta Zoroastrian Religious Calendar; and several scholars of religion, who provided information and advice.
Traditions Represented:
Baha’i
Buddhism
Christianity-Orthodox
Christianity-Protestant
Christianity-Roman Catholic
Confucianism
Daoism
Hinduism
Indigenous American
Islam
Jainism
Judaism
Latter Day Saints
Shintoism
Sikhism
Spiritualism
Wicca/Paganism
Zoroastrianism