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Interfaith

The Interfaith Council provides a forum for dialogue, partnership, and mutual learning that affirms the university’s secular liberal arts mission while honoring the diverse spiritual identities, practices, and needs of its community. It promotes interfaith understanding and ensures that students of all traditions – or none – have access to resources and opportunities for belonging and growth.

The Council advises on student needs, programs, and policies that affect religiously affiliated student organizations and individual students. This includes providing guidance on creating inclusive spaces, developing interfaith programs, and ensuring that campus policies respect and accommodate diverse religious and spiritual practices. The Council guides in accommodating religious observances and practices. This involves working with students, faculty, and staff to ensure that religious holidays and practices are respected and that students have the resources they need to observe their faith while on campus.

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Interfaith news

students of different faith

Understanding Ramadan: A Global Celebration of Faith, Unity, and Reflection.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from food, drink, and other physical needs.
panel discussing holocaust

‘It’s a hunger that’s never filled’

The disturbing history of antisemitism, its troubling contemporary manifestations, and how lessons of the past can inform strategies for the future were all brought into focus at a March 25 panel.
students with professor discussing faith

Having faith to level the playing field

Sociologist’s book on ‘Making Moral Citizens’ studies role of faith-based community organizations in political change.
Jewish synagogue
program highlight

Jewish Studies Concentration

As a student in the Jewish studies concentration, you’ll explore the major historical and religious trends in Jewish civilization since its inception in antiquity.

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Interfaith calendar

Holiday / ObservationDate (2026)Religious GroupDescription
New Year’s Day01/01/2026Christian / CivicFirst day of the Gregorian calendar year
Epiphany01/06/2026Christian (Catholic/Protestant)Celebrates the visit of the Magi to Jesus
Orthodox Christmas01/07/2026Orthodox ChristianCelebration of the birth of Jesus Christ
Pongal01/14/2026HinduA Hindu harvest festival thanking the Sun God and celebrating agricultural abundance.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day01/15/2026Interfaith / CivicHonors civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Lailat al Miraj01/19/2026MuslimCommemorates Prophet Muhammad’s night journey
Tu Bishvat02/02/2026JewishJewish New Year for Trees
Imbolc02/02/2026Wiccan / PaganFestival celebrating the beginning of spring
 Candlemas02/02/2026ChristianCommemorates the presentation of Jesus at the temple.
St Valentine’s Day02/14/2026Roman CatholicA feast day honoring Saint Valentine, now widely celebrated as a day of love and affection.
Parinirvana02/15/2026BuddhistMarks the death of Buddha and his attainment of final Nirvana.
Maha Shivaratri02/15/2026HinduA major Hindu festival celebrating Lord Shiva.
Chinese New Year02/17/2026Buddhist / CulturalLunar New Year celebration
Ash Wednesday02/18/2026ChristianStart of the Lent season
Ramadan Begins02/19/2026MuslimBeginning of Islamic month of fasting
Holi03/04/2026HinduFestival of colors celebrating spring
Naw-Rúz03/21/2026Bahá’íBahá’í New Year
Eid al-Fitr03/21/2026MuslimCelebrates the end of Ramadan
Palm Sunday03/29/2026ChristianBeginning of Holy Week
Mahavir Jayanti03/31/2026JainCelebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira, the founder of Jainism.
PassoverApr 2 – 9JewishCommemorates the Exodus from Egypt
The Memorial of Jesus’ Death04/02/2026Jehovah’s WitnessesCommemorates the death of Jesus Christ.
Good Friday04/03/2026ChristianCommemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus
Easter04/05/2026ChristianCelebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Vaisakhi04/14/2026Sikh, HinduMarks the Sikh New Year and celebrates the spring harvest.
Yom Hashoah04/14/2026JewishA day of remembrance for the six million victims of the Holocaust.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut*04/22/2026JewishIsrael’s Independence Day commemorating the founding of the State of Israel in 1948.
Beltane05/01/2026Pagan and WiccanCelebrates the peak of spring and the coming of summer.
Buddha Day (Vesak)05/01/2026BuddhistCelebrates the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha
 Lag BaOmer05/05/2026JewishCelebrates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.
ShavuotMay 22 – 23JewishCommemorates the giving of the Torah
Buddha’s Birthday05/24/2026BuddhistA Buddhist festival marking the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha.
Eid al-Adha05/27/2026MuslimCommemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son.
Ascension of Baha’u’llah05/29/2026Bahá’íCommemorates the passing of Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith.
Feast of Corpus Christi06/04/2026 Roman CatholicCelebrates the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Al Hijra/ Muharram06/16/2026MuslimA festive day marking the end of a plague during Rabbi Akiva’s lifetime.
Juneteenth06/19/2026Interfaith / CivicCelebrates the end of slavery in the U.S.
 Litha06/21/2026Pagan and WiccanMarks the longest day and shortest night of the year.
Lughnasadh08/01/2026Pagan and WiccanCelebrates the beginning of the harvest season.
Feast of the Assumption08/14/2026 Roman CatholicCelebrates the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven.
Rosh HashanahSept 12 – 13JewishJewish New Year, a time of reflection and renewal.
Nayrouz09/11/2026Coptic Orthodox ChristianMarks the start of the Coptic New Year.
Ganesh Chaturthi09/14/2026HinduCelebrates the birth of Lord Ganesh.
Yom Kippur09/21/2026JewishDay of Atonement
Mabon09/23/2026Pagan and WiccanCelebrates the autumn equinox and the second harvest.
SukkotSept 25 – 27JewishA Jewish festival celebrating the harvest and commemorating the Israelites’ journey through the desert.
Durga PujaOct 17 – 29HinduCelebrates the goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasur
Samhain10/31/2026Pagan and WiccanCelebrates the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter.
All Saints’ Day11/01/2026ChristianHonors all saints, known and unknown.
All Souls’ Day11/02/2026ChristianCommemorates all the faithful departed.
Diwali11/08/2026Hindu / SikhThe festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness.
 Birthday of the Bab11/10/2026Bahá’íCelebrates the birth of the Baha’i co-founder.
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib11/24/2026 SikhHonors the martyrdom of the ninth Sikh Guru.
Advent11/29/2026ChristianMarks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year leading up to Christmas.
 The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple12/04/2026Eastern Orthodox ChristianCelebrates the presentation of Mary in the temple.
 Saint Nicholas Day12/06/2026ChristianCelebrates Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of children.
Bodhi Day12/08/2026BuddhistCommemorates the enlightenment of Buddha.
HanukkahDec 5 – 12JewishFestival of lights commemorating the Temple rededication
Yule12/21/2026Pagan and WiccanCelebrates the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun.
Christmas12/25/2026ChristianCelebrates the birth of Jesus Christ
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