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). The below is not a conclusive list, and additional documentation may be requested from the student to demonstrate a religious commitment.
List of faiths included in the calendar
- Baha'i
- Buddhism
In the Western world, festivals are generally celebrated on the Sunday nearest the actual date.
- Christianity
The Gregorian calendar has been adopted by all Christian churches of the West. Most Eastern churches, however, continue to use the Julian calendar for religious purposes, though only a few use it exclusively. Nearly all Eastern churches still determine Easter according to the "Old Style" or Julian system, but most have adopted the "New Style" or Gregorian calendar for Christmas or Pentecost. At the present time, the Julian and Gregorian calendars are approximately 15 days out of phase.
- Hinduism
Specific dates may vary year to year based on the solar or lunar calendars. Dates can also vary depending on the time differential between Canada and India.
- Indigenous Spirituality
Each band may have unique spiritual observances which, while not listed here as a holy day, may require accommodation.
- Islam
Muslim holidays are based on a lunar calendar and observances may vary from the dates listed here, depending on the community. Congregation prayers are held every Friday 12:15 - 2:00 pm.
- Judaism
Sabbath starts Friday sundown. All holy days start sundown the night preceding the holiday.
- Paganism
Evening observances commence at sundown. Solstice observances commence at sunrise.
- Shinto
- Sikhism
- Zoroastrianism
Holy days for current & future academic years
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 2024–2025
| September 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| September 7, 2024 | Hinduism | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| September 16 *, 2024 | Islam | Mawlid al-Nabi * |
| September 17, 2024 - October 2, 2024 | Hinduism | Pitru Paksha |
| September 22 **, 2024 | Paganism | Mabon ** |
| October 2024 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| October 3 *, 2024 - October 4, 2024 | Judaism | Rosh Hashanah * |
| October 9, 2024 – October 12, 2024 | Hinduism | Durga Puja |
| October 12, 2024 | Judaism | Yom Kippur * |
| October 12, 2024 | Hinduism | Dussehra |
| October 16, 2024 | Hinduism | Sharad Purnima |
|
October 17 *, 2024 - October 23, 2024 October 17 and 18 are the religious days where students would not attend class, work etc. |
Judaism | Sukkot * |
| October 20, 2024 | Sikhism | Installation of the Guru Granth Sahib |
| October 24 *, 2024 | Judaism | Shemini Atzeret * |
| October 25 *, 2024 | Judaism | Simchat Torah * (Rejoicing of the Law) |
| November 2024 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| November 1 **, 2024 | Paganism | Samhain ** |
| November 1, 2024 | Hinduism/Sikhism | Diwali |
| November 1, 2024 | Christianity | All Saints' Day |
| November 2 *, 2024 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Báb * |
| November 3 *, 2024 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Bahá'ulláh * |
| November 15, 2024 | Sikhism | Birth date of Guru Nanak Jayanti |
| November 24, 2024 | Sikhism | Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji |
| November 25 *, 2024 | Baha'i | Day of the Covenant * |
| November 27, 2024 | Baha'i | Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá |
| December 2024 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| December 1, 2024 | Christianity | First Day of Advent |
| December 21 **, 2024 | Paganism | Yule ** |
| December 24 *, 2024 - January 2, 2025 | Judaism | Hanukkah * |
| December 25 *, 2024 | Christianity | Christmas * |
| January 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| January 1, 2025 | Shinto | Gantan-Sai |
| January 6, 2025 | Christianity | Epiphany |
| January 6, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox, New Calendar) | Theophany |
| January 7 **, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox, Old Calendar) | Feast of the Nativity ** |
| January 13, 2025 | Sikhism | Maghi |
| January 14, 2025 | Hinduism | Makar Sankranti |
| January 18, 2025 - January 25, 2025 | Christianity | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
| January 27, 2025 | Islam | Laylat al-Mi'rāj * |
| January 29 **, 2025 | Buddhism | Lunar New Year ** |
| February 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| February 2 *, 2025 | Paganism | Imbolc * |
| February 2, 2025 | Hinduism | Vasanta Panchami |
| February 12, 2025 | Buddhism | Magha Puja (Sangha) Day |
| February 13 *, 2025 | Judaism | Tu B'Shvat * |
| February 14 *, 2025 | Islam | Laylat al Baraat * |
| February 26, 2025 | Hinduism | Mahashivaratri |
| February 28, 2025 | Islam | First of Ramadan |
| February 28, 2025 – March 2, 2025 ** | Buddhism | Losar ** |
| March 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| March 3, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Great Fast Begins |
| March 5, 2025 | Christianity | Ash Wednesday |
| March 14, 2025 | Judaism | Purim * |
| March 14 **, 2025 | Hinduism/Sikhism | Holi ** |
| March 20 **, 2025 | Paganism | Ostara ** |
| March 20 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Naw-Rúz * |
| March 20, 2025 | Zoroastrianism | Nowruz |
| March 26, 2025 | Zoroastrianism | Birth Anniversary of Prophet Zarathustra |
| March 27 *, 2025 | Islam | Laylat al-Qadr * |
| March 30 *, 2025 | Islam | ʻĪd al-Fiṭr * |
| April 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| April 6 **, 2025 | Hinduism | Rama Navami ** |
| April 13, 2025 | Christianity | Palm Sunday |
| April 13, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Palm Sunday |
| April 13, 2025 - April 19, 2025 | Christianity | Holy Week |
|
April 13 *, 2025 - April 20, 2025 April 13-14 and April 19-20 are the religious days where students would not attend class, work, use electronics, etc. |
Judaism | Pesach (Passover) * |
| April 14 **, 2025 | Sikhism | Vaisakhi ** |
| April 18, 2025 | Christianity | Good Friday |
| April 18, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Good Friday |
| April 18, 2025 | Sikhism | Birthday of Guru Angad Dev |
| April 20 *, 2025 | Baha'i | First day of the Festival of Riḍván * |
| April 20, 2025 | Christianity | Easter |
| April 20, 2025 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Pascha (Easter) |
| April 24 *, 2025 | Judaism | Yom HaShoah * |
| April 29 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Ninth Day of Riḍván * |
| May 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| May 1 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Twelfth day of Riḍván * |
| May 1 *, 2025 | Paganism | Beltane * |
| May 23 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Declaration of the Báb * |
| May 28 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Ascension of the Bahá'u'lláh * |
| May 30, 2025 | Sikhism | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji |
| June 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| June 2-3 *, 2025 | Judaism | Shavuot * |
| June 5 *, 2025 | Islam | Day of Hajj (Day at ‘Arafāt) * |
| June 6 *, 2025 | Islam | Eid al-Aḍḥá * |
| June 8, 2025 | Christianity | Pentecost |
| June 20 **, 2025 | Paganism | Litha ** |
| June 21, 2025 | Indigenous Spirituality | National Indigenous People’s Day (Canada) |
| June 27 *, 2025 | Islam | First of Muharram * |
| July 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| July 6 *, 2025 | Islam | ʻĀshūrā’ * |
| July 9 *, 2025 | Baha'i | Martyrdom of the Báb * |
| August 2025 | ||
| Date | Faith | Festival |
| August 1 **, 2025 | Paganism | Lammas ** |
| August 3 *, 2025 | Judaism | Tish'a B'Av * |
| August 6, 2025 | Christianity | Feast of the Transfiguration Celebration |
| August 9 **, 2025 | Hinduism | Raksha Bandhan ** |
| August 16 **, 2025 | Hinduism | Sri Krishna Jayanti ** |