McGill University recognizes and respects the diversity of its community, including diversity of religious faiths and observances. The University is committed to providing an environment in which its students can fulfill both their university and their religious commitments.
Faiths
The multifaith calendar is published as a service to the University community, according to Senate policy (see Chapter Seven in the Handbook of Student Rights and Responsibilities). This is not a conclusive list, and additional documentation may be requested from the student to demonstrate a religious commitment.
Holy days for the current academic year
This information was compiled with the assistance of the McGill Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (MORSL). Questions about any date provided in this multifaith calendar should be sent to degeval.es [at] mcgill.ca (Enrolment Services).
* festival begins at sundown the day before this date
** date of celebration may vary based on local customs or according to moon sightings
Holy Days 2023
September | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Faith | Festival |
September 16 *, 2023 - September 17, 2023 | Judaism | Rosh Hashanah * |
September 19, 2023 | Hinduism | Ganesh Chaturthi |
September 23 **, 2023 | Paganism | Mabon ** |
September 25 *, 2023 | Judaism | Yom Kippur * |
September 27 *, 2023 | Islam | Mawlid al-Nabi * |
September 29, 2023 - October 14, 2023 | Hinduism | Pitru Paksha |
September 30 *, 2023 - October 6, 2023 September 30 and October 1 are the religious days where students would not attend class, work etc. |
Judaism | Sukkot * |
October | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
October 7 *, 2023 | Judaism | Shemini Atzeret * |
October 8 *, 2023 | Judaism | Simchat Torah * (Rejoicing of the Law) |
October 16 *, 2023 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Báb * |
October 17 *, 2023 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Bahá'ulláh * |
October 20, 2023 | Sikhism | Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib |
October 20, 2023– October 24, 2023 | Hinduism | Durga Puja |
October 24, 2023 | Hinduism | Dassehra |
October 28, 2023 | Hinduism | Sharad Purnima |
November | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
November 1, 2023 | Christianity | All Saints' Day |
November 1 **, 2023 | Paganism | Samhain ** |
November 12, 2023 | Hinduism/Sikhism | Diwali |
November 24, 2023 | Sikhism | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji |
November 26 *, 2023 | Baha'i | Day of the Covenant * |
November 27, 2023 | Sikhism | Birth date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji |
November 28, 2023 | Baha'i | Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
December | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
December 3, 2023 | Christianity | First Day of Advent |
December 8 *, 2023 - December 15, 2023 | Judaism | Hanukkah * |
December 22 **, 2023 | Paganism | Yule ** |
December 25 *, 2023 | Christianity | Christmas * |
Holy Days 2024
January | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Faith | Festival |
January 1, 2024 | Shinto | Gantan-Sai |
January 6, 2024 | Christianity | Epiphany |
January 6, 2024 | Christianity (Orthodox, New Calendar) | Theophany |
January 7 **, 2024 | Christianity (Orthodox, Old Calendar) | Feast of the Nativity ** |
January 13, 2024 | Sikhism | Maghi |
January 14, 2024 | Hinduism | Makar Sankranti |
January 18, 2024 - January 25, 2024 | Christianity | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
January 25 *, 2024 | Judaism | Tu B'Shvat * |
February | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
February 2 *, 2024 | Paganism | Imbolc * |
February 8 *, 2024 | Islam | Laylat al-Mi'rāj * |
February 10 **, 2024 | Buddhism | Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean New Year ** |
February 14, 2024 | Christianity | Ash Wednesday |
February 14, 2024 | Hinduism | Vasanta Panchami |
February 25 *, 2024 | Islam | Laylat al Baraat * |
March | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
March 12, 2024 | Islam | First of Ramadan |
March 18, 2024 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Great Fast Begins |
March 20 **, 2024 | Paganism | Ostara ** |
March 20 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Naw-Rúz * |
March 21, 2024 | Zoroastrianism | Nowruz |
March 24, 2024 - March 30, 2024 | Christianity | Holy Week |
March 24, 2024 | Christianity | Palm Sunday |
March 24, 2024 | Judaism | Purim * |
March 25 **, 2024 | Hinduism/Sikhism | Holi ** |
March 26, 2024 | Zoroastrianism | Birth Anniversary of Prophet Zarathustra |
March 29, 2024 | Christianity | Good Friday |
March 31, 2024 | Christianity | Easter |
April | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
April 6 *, 2024 | Islam | Laylat al-Qadr * |
April 10 *, 2024 | Islam | ʻĪd al-Fiṭr * |
April 13 **, 2024 | Sikhism | Vaisakhi ** |
April 17 **, 2024 | Hinduism | Rama Navami ** |
April 18, 2024 | Sikhism | Birthday of Guru Angad Dev |
April 20*, 2024 | Baha'i | First day of the Festival of Riḍván * |
April 23 *, 2024 - April 30, 2024 April 23-24 and April 29-30 are the religious days where students would not attend class, work, use electronics, etc. |
Judaism | Pesach (Passover) * |
April 28 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Ninth Day of Riḍván * |
April 28, 2024 | Christianity (Eastern Orthodox) | Palm Sunday |
May | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
May 1 **, 2024 | Baha'i | Twelfth day of Riḍván * |
May 1 **, 2024 | Paganism | Beltane * |
May 3, 2024 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Good Friday |
May 5, 2024 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Pascha (Easter) |
May 6 *, 2024 | Judaism | Yom HaShoah * |
May 19, 2024 | Christianity | Pentecost |
May 23 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Declaration of the Báb * |
May 28 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Ascension of the Bahá'u'lláh * |
June | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
June 10, 2024 | Sikhism | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji |
June 12 *, 2024 - June 13, 2024 | Judaism | Shavuot * |
June 16 *, 2024 | Islam | Day of Hajj (Day at ‘Arafāt) * |
June 17 *, 2024 - June 20, 2024 | Islam | ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá * |
June 20 **, 2024 | Paganism | Litha ** |
June 21, 2024 | Indigenous Spirituality | National Indigenous People’s Day (Canada) |
July | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
July 7 *, 2024 | Islam | First of Muharram * |
July 9 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Martyrdom of the Báb * |
July 16 *, 2024 | Islam | ʻĀshūrā’ * |
August | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
August 1 **, 2024 | Paganism | Lammas ** |
August 6, 2024 | Christianity | Feast of the Transfiguration Celebration |
August 13 *, 2024 | Judaism | Tish'a B'Av * |
August 19 **, 2024 | Hinduism | Raksha Bandhan ** |
August 26 **, 2024 | Hinduism | Sri Krishna Jayanti ** |