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), based on the interfaith calendar. 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 2020
September | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Faith | Festival |
September 19 *, 2020 - September 20, 2020 | Judaism | Rosh Hashanah* |
September 23, 2020 | Wicca | Mabon * |
September 28 *, 2020 | Judaism | Yom Kippur * |
October | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
October 3 *, 2020 - October 9, 2020 | Judaism | Sukkot * |
October 10 * , 2020 | Judaism | Shemini Atzeret * |
October 11 *, 2020 | Judaism | Simhat Torah * (Rejoicing of the Law) |
October 20, 2020 |
Sikhism |
Installation of Scriptures as Guru Granth |
October 20, 2020 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Báb * |
October 25, 2020 | Hinduism | Dussehra (Dasara) ** |
November | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
November 1, 2020 |
Wicca |
Samhain * |
November 1, 2020 | Christianity | All Saints' Day |
November 12, 2020 | Baha'i | The Birth of the Bahá'ulláh |
November 14, 2020 | Hinduism/Sikhism | Diwali |
November 15, 2020 | Hinduism | Vikram New Year ** |
November 24, 2020 | Sikhism | Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom |
November 26, 2020 | Baha'i | Day of Covenant * |
November 30, 2020 | Sikhism | Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev Sahib |
December | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
December 1, 2020 | Christianity | First Day of Advent |
December 11*, 2020 - December 18, 2020 | Judaism | Hanukkah * |
December 21, 2020 | Wicca | Yule * |
December 25, 2020 |
Christianity |
Christmas * |
Holy Days 2021
January | ||
---|---|---|
Date | Faith | Festival |
January 1, 2021 |
Shinto | Gantan-Sai (New Year's Day) |
January 5, 2021 | Sikhism | Birthday Guru Gobind Singh Ji |
January 6, 2021 | Christianity | Epiphany |
January 6, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Feast of the Theophany (modified Julian Calendar) |
January 7, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Feast of the Nativity ** |
January 13, 2021 | Sikhism | Maghi |
January 14, 2021 | Hinduism | Makar Sankranti |
January 18, 2021 - January 25, 2021 | Christianity | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity |
January 28, 2021 |
Judaism |
Tu B'Shvat * |
February | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
February 2, 2021 | Wicca | Imbolc * (The Feast of Waxing Light) |
February 12, 2021 | Buddhism | Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean/New Year ** |
February 16, 2021 | Hinduism | Vasant Pachami ** |
February 17, 2021 | Christianity | Lent begins |
February 21, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Great Lent Begins |
February 26, 2021 | Judaism | Purim * |
February 17, 2021 |
Christianity |
Ash Wednesday |
March | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
March 10, 2021 | Islam | Israa & Miraj (Laylat al Miraj) * |
March 21, 2021 | Wicca |
Ostara * |
March 21, 2021 |
Baha'i |
Naw Ruz (New Year's Day) * |
March 21, 2021 |
Zoroastrianism |
Norouz (New Year's Day) |
March 26, 2021 | Zoroastrianism | Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zarathustra) ** |
March 28 , 2021 - April 8, 2021 March 28-29; April 3-4 are the ‘religious days’ where students would not attend class, work, use electronics etc. |
Judaism | Pesach (Passover) * |
March 28, 2021 | Islam | Mid-Sha'ban (Nisf Sha'ban) * |
March 29, 2021 | Hinduism | Holi ** |
April | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
April 2, 2021 | Christianity | Good Friday |
April 4, 2021 | Christianity | Easter |
April 8, 2021 | Judaism | Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day * |
April 13, 2021 | Hinduism | Bikarami Samvat (Hindu New Year) ** |
April 13, 2021 | Islam | Ramadan Begins * |
April 14, 2021 | Sikhism | Baisakhi ** |
April 16, 2021 | Baha'i | The Feast of Ridvan * |
April 21, 2021 | Hinduism | Rama navami ** |
April 25, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Palm Sunday |
April 25, 2021 - May 2, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Holy Week |
April 30, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Good Friday |
May | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
May 1, 2021 | Wicca | Beltane * |
May 2, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Easter |
May 2, 2021 | Baha'i | Last day of Ridvan * |
May 8, 2021 | Islam | Laylat ul-Qadr (Laylat ul Kadar) * |
May 14, 2021 - May 16, 2021 | Islam | Eid ul-Fitr - Ramadan End |
May 16 *, 2021 - May 18, 2021 | Judaism | Shavuot * |
May 23, 2021 | Baha'i | The Declaration of the Báb * |
May 23, 2021 | Christianity | Pentecost |
May 29, 2021 | Baha'i | The Ascension of the Bahá'u'lláh |
June | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
June 16, 2021 | Sikhism | Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Ji |
June 22, 2021 | Aboriginal Spirituality | Aboriginal Day (Canada) |
June 22, 2021 | Wicca | Litha * |
July | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
July 9, 2021 | Baha'i | The Martyrdom of the Báb * |
July 17, 2021 | Islam | Day of Hajj ** |
July 17, 2021 - July 18, 2021 | Judaism | Tish'a B'Av * |
July 20, 2021 | Islam | Eid al-Adha * (The Festival of Sacrifice) |
August | ||
Date | Faith | Festival |
August 1, 2021 | Wicca | Lammas (English/Scottish custom) |
August 3, 2021 | Hinduism | Sri Krishna Jayanti (Krishna Janmashtami) ** |
August 6, 2021 | Christianity (Orthodox) | Transfiguration Day (modified Julian Calendar) |
August 10, 2021 | Islam | Al-Hijra Muharram * (Islamic New Year's Day) |
August 18, 2021 | Islam | Ashura * |
August 22, 2021 |
Hinduism |
Raksha Bandhan ** |