Religious Observances at Trinity

Trinity is a vibrant community made up of people of many faiths. We encourage students, faculty, and staff to be aware and respectful of the diverse religious observances of the University community’s members.

 

Religious Observance Excused Absence Policy for Students

Students who are absent from class in order to observe a religious holiday will be excused from classes under the following circumstances:

 

Religious Accommodations Policy

Trinity University is strengthened by its global and multicultural character and is committed to equity in education. This commitment includes embracing religious diversity and cultivating a community of inclusion and respect. To this end Trinity recognizes the importance of students having the opportunity to fulfill their religious obligations and practices and seeks to provide reasonable accommodation for an individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs and practices. Every effort will be made to meet an accommodation request unless doing so would result in undue hardship or would fundamentally alter the University’s work, program, or mission.

To learn more visit the Trinity Policy Portal.
To submit a request, complete the Trinity University Student Religious Accommodation Request Form.

 

Religious Observance Google Calendar

If you would like to subscribe to a Google Calendar that allows you to see when major religious holidays are coming up, follow these instructions:

  • Open the Google Calendar website
  • On the left side, find “Other Calendars” and click on the down arrow 
  • Select “Subscribe to Calendar”
  • In the field provided, enter h1fkc78ne7p70f5dmt8mac79ems@group.calendar.google.com
  • Select “Add Calendar”
  • The calendar will appear on the left side, under Other Calendars

 

Religious Observance Calendar

Major Holy Days 2023-2024

The days listed in this calendar are the most likely to affect the academic calendar. (Thank you to our friends at the Yale University Chaplain’s Office for developing this calendar.)

The calendar below is not a comprehensive list of holy days, but it includes dates of particular significance to traditions represented on campus that occur during the months that the academic year is in session. Suggestions for additions to this list may be directed to Chaplain Alex Serna-Wallender.

NOTE: * Begins at sundown the day before this date and ends at sundown on this date.

June 29*
Eid Al-Adha | Muslim- The Festival of Sacrifice remembers Abraham’s devotion in offering his son as a sacrifice. Work is generally prohibited. 

July 28*
Ashura | Muslim - For Shias, a commemoration of the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at Karbala.

September 6-7
Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu - The birthday of Sri Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who helped restore the balance of good over evil.

September 11-19
Paryushana Parva | Jain - Eight-day Festival of Forgiveness and Self-Discipline.

September 16-17*
Rosh Hashanah | Jewish - Beginning of the Jewish Year and High Holy Days. Work is generally prohibited.

September 19
Ganesh Chaturti | Hindu - Birthday of Sri Ganesha, revered as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune and the remover of obstacles.

September 25*
Yom Kippur | Jewish - The Day of Atonement. Most solemn Jewish holy day. Adults fast from food and drink. Work is generally prohibited.

September 30-October 6*
Sukkot | Jewish -The Feast of the Tabernacles, where meals are consumed in a temporary outdoor structure. Harvest Festival. Work is generally prohibited on the first two days.

 

October 7*
Shemini Atzeret | Jewish - Marks the end of Sukkot. Work is generally prohibited.

October 8*
Simchat Torah | Jewish - Celebrates and marks both the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. Work is generally prohibited.  

October 15-24
Navratri; October 24 -- Vijayadashimi/Dusshera | Hindu - Festival of 9 nights celebrating the Goddess in her various forms, most typically as Durga: The 10th day is a festival celebrating the Goddess’ triumph over evil.

October 16-17
Birth of the Bab and Birth of Baha'u'llah| Bahá’í Faith - Days honoring the birth of two of the founders of the Bahá’í Faith.  

November 1*
Samhain | Wiccan/Pagan - Festival of Darkness honoring the dead.

November 1
All Saint’s Day | Christian - Honors all the saints known and unknown.

November 12
Diwali | Hindu, Jain, Sikh - Festival of Lights. Light symbolizes a force against darkness, ignorance, evil. Diwali is celebrated over a period of 5 days.

December 8
Bodhi Day | Buddhist - Celebration of Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment.

December 8-15*
Hanukkah | Jewish - Festival of Lights. Marks the victory of the Maccabees and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.

December 22
Srimad Bhagavad Gita Jayanti | Hindu - Gita Jayanti is the date that Lord Krishna revealed the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu sacred text, to Prince Arjuna.

December 25
Christmas | Christian - Celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ.

January 7
Christmas | Orthodox Christian - Celebration Of The Birth Of Jesus Christ. 

January 15
Makara Sankranti | Hindu - A celebration marking the advent of the Sun’s northerly migration and forthcoming Spring.

February 7*
Lailat al Miraj | Muslim - Commemoration of Prophet Muhammad’s ascension to Heaven.

February 10
Lunar New Year - | - An East Asian celebration of the arrival of Spring and the beginning of a New Year on the Lunisolar Calendar.

February 14
Ash Wednesday | Christian -;The beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and reflection preceding Easter.

March 1-19*
Nineteen Day Fast | Bahá’í Faith - Bahái’s between the ages of 15 and 70 fast without food or drink from sunrise to sunset.

March 8
Maha Shivaratri | Hindu - An evening celebration of the wedding of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati.

March 11-April 8*
Ramadan | Muslim - Holy month of fasting.

March 19
Nowruz (New Year) | Zoroastrian and Bahá’í Faith.

March 24*
Purim | Jewish - Celebration of the story of Esther. 

March 24
Palm/Passion Sunday | Christian - Celebration of joyful entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. Beginning of Holy Week, preceding Easter.

March 25
Holi | Hindu - Festival of colors. A two-day festival, Holi celebrates the advent of spring and the enduring message that good will always be victorious over evil.

March 28
Holy Thursday | Christian - Commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus with the Disciples.

March 29
Good/Holy Friday |Christian - Commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus.

March 31
Easter | Christian - Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.

April 6
Laylat Al Qadr | Islamic - Celebrates the night when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad

April 10
Eid Al-Fitr* | Islamic - Marks the end of Ramadan, Holy Month of fasting 

April 13
Vaisakhi | Sikh - Marks the formation of the Khalsa (religious community of Sikhs) by Guru Gobind Singh.

April 17
Rama Navami | Hindu - Celebration of the birth of Sri Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who helped restore the balance of good over evil.

April 21 - May 2*
Ridvan | Bahá’í Faith - Commemoration of the 12 days when its Founder, Baha’u’llah, declared his mission. 

April 23-30*
Pesach (Passover) | Jewish - Festival of liberation of Israelites from Slavery in Egypt. Work is prohibited on the first and last two days.

May 1*
Beltane | Wiccan/Pagan - Festival of Light honoring Life and Fertility.

May 5
Pascha | Orthodox Christian - Celebration of Resurrection of Jesus.