Dear Campus Community,

The Chaplain’s Office seeks to share important information each year about upcoming religious and spiritual holidays, celebrations, observances, and rituals, including where they fall in the different blocks. This is part of our commitment to helping the campus create an environment that is open to and supportive of a wide range of diverse religious and spiritual traditions and practices. It is also an active way we seek to embody our commitment to religious diversity, inclusion, and antiracism through intentional mindfulness. Access to important dates enables our campus to work towards greater inclusion and understanding, not only within the classroom, but also when planning events, meetings, and other gatherings.

As in previous academic years, the Chaplain's Office will continue to provide information about religious holidays on the Block Plan:

• Sending updates twice a year to remind the campus of dates for annual observances: in late spring/early summer for those of you who like to plan ahead, and at the beginning of Block 1.
• Providing information about religious holidays on the Chaplain's Office website.
• Offering the opportunity to opt into the religious holiday calendar on your outlook calendar.

If you have additional ideas about how we can be helpful and supportive, please let the Chaplain's Office know at kholbrook@coloradocollege.edu or at (719) 389-7986.

Religious Diversity and Inclusion at CC

CC strives to be a diverse community of discovery and learning. As such, we seek to create an environment that is open to and supportive of the wide range of religious traditions and spiritual practices on our campus.

Observance of religious holidays and sacred days can pose significant challenges to our community due to our academic schedule. In the past, students have spoken of CC faculty who were either unaware of the holidays or hesitant to let students make alternative arrangements to complete class assignments. The distinctive pressures of the Block Plan make some students hesitant to celebrate holidays important to them. It can be especially difficult for first-year students away from their family and home communities for the first time. Likewise, faculty report students who fail to communicate their needs in a clear and timely manner and experiences of having to choose between their own conflicting roles as responsible teachers and people of faith. Campus-wide meetings and events unintentionally scheduled on major religious holidays lead to feelings of exclusion, lack of understanding, and frustration. The intensity of the Block Plan amplifies these problems experienced by most other campuses. 

Our community continues to move toward overcoming these challenges by working together. Freedom of religious expression and celebration is an important value at CC, and the Chaplain's Office staff is happy to partner with you to ensure our commitment to respect the observance of religious holidays.

As faculty, you can help by asking if students are affected by religious holidays and by providing reasonable alternatives for completing tests, papers, or projects on these days. You may also consider offering flexible deadlines for required class sessions near the time of breaking fasts for specific holidays that require fasting, so there is no undue burden to students.

As students, you should talk to your professors well ahead of time to communicate any accommodation needs and arrange for completing all work.

Staff, faculty, and student leaders can pay attention to the religious holiday calendar when planning and scheduling meetings and campus events. All of us can be supportive of an inclusive, welcoming approach to religious and spiritual life at CC. 

Specific Traditions and Sacred Days
In this letter we try to group sacred days within the same tradition together and organize the paragraphs related to where each tradition’s first holiday falls within the academic calendar. Some paragraphs have multiple traditions – thus the dates might not be chronological.

Please note that this memo includes the most common requests for accommodation – it does not include all holidays, celebrations, rituals, festivals, and days of observation. Students from the traditions below may also ask for additional consideration for days not mentioned. Students from other religious and spiritual traditions may ask for similar consideration.

If we have not included a religious tradition or major religious holiday of significance to you on the Chaplain’s Office Religious Holiday Calendar please contact Chaplain Kate Holbrook so we may be mindful of including it in the future.

During the 2025-26 academic year, within the Jain tradition, Paryushana Parva, focused on fasting, studying sacred texts, and renewal of faith, starts at sundown on Thursday, Aug. 21 and lasts for 8-10 days during NSO and Block 1, Week 1. Vaisakhi/Baisakhi, celebrated by Sikh, Hindu and Buddhist communities, takes place on Tuesday, Apr. 14 during Block 7, Week 4. Earth-based practices such as Wiccan and Pagan honor Samhain on Friday, Oct. 31, Imbolc on Sunday, Feb. 1, Beltane on Friday, May 1, as well as the solstices and equinoxes. The spiritual holiday Día de Los Muertos, connected to Meso-American/Indigenous/Christian/Catholic traditions, takes place between November 1-2, the weekend before Block 3, Week 3.

Also during this year, Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year and the Day of Judgment) begins at sundown on Monday, Sept. 22, and ends at sundown on Wednesday, Sept. 24, during Block 2, Week 1. Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement and Reconciliation), which is a day of fasting from sundown to sundown, begins the evening of Wednesday, Oct. 1 and ends at sundown on Thursday, Oct.2, at the end of Block 2, Week 2. Depending on personal practice and family traditions, students may celebrate High Holidays and use one, two, or all three days to attend synagogue and spend time in personal reflection, with their families, or with the Jewish community. Passover begins at sundown on Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026, during Block 7, Week 2 and ends at sundown on Thursday, Apr. 9 during Block 7, Week 3. The Passover Seder will be on Wednesday, Apr. 1. Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, is sundown on Monday, Apr. 13 through sundown on Tuesday, Apr. 14. Students can learn about these and additional Jewish services and observances by contacting jewishlife@coloradocollege.edu.

During the academic year, there are many ceremonial and ritual observances within Indigenous/Native American tribes and communities. Depending on personal, family, and communal practices, students may choose to go home during these ceremonies and/or find ways, when possible, to observe them on campus. Indigenous/Native American students, staff, faculty, and guests who wish to engage in smudging and/or pipe ceremonies throughout the year while on campus are welcome to participate in these spiritual practices at CC. The College asks that those who wish to do so please submit a Ceremonial Notification form. You can learn more about the College’s smudging policy on our website. In addition, Debbie Howell, campus Elder-in-Residence, is available for community support.

Among the most prominent Hindu holidays during the academic year are Navaratri, Diwali, and Holi. Navaratri, nine nights venerating the Goddess Durga, takes place from Monday, Sept. 22 through the night of Thursday, Oct. 2, which is during Block 2, Weeks 1 and 2. Diwali, a Festival of Lights celebrating Goodness, takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 21, during Block 3, Week 1. Holi, a spring festival of colors signifying the victory of good over evil, takes place on Wednesday, Mar. 4 during Block 6, Week 3.

Within the Bahá'í tradition, the Birth of Bab takes place during Block 3, Week 1, starting at sundown on Wednesday, Oct. 22, followed a day later with the Birth of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Bahá'í faith, on October 23. 'Alá' (month of fasting) occurs Monday, Mar. 2 through Friday, Mar. 20 during Block 6 and Spring Break. Ridván will begin Monday, Apr. 20 through Saturday, May 2 during Block 8, Weeks 1 and 2. The Sikh festival of Vaisakhi, also observed by some Buddhists and Hindus, takes place on Tuesday, Apr. 14, during Block 7, Week 4. The African-American and pan-African holiday of Kwanzaa takes place Friday, Dec. 26 through Thursday, Jan. 1 during Winter Break. The Shinto observance of Gantan-Sai is also on Thursday, Jan. 1.

Buddhists celebrate the Buddha's enlightenment (Bodhi Day) on Monday, Dec. 8, in Block 4 and remember the Buddha's passing (Nirvana Day) on Sunday, Feb. 15, before Block 6, Week 1. The Lunar New Year, which can be important to Confucians, Taoists, and Buddhists alike, begins on the evening of Tuesday, Feb. 17, in Block 6, Week 1. Visakha Puja, Buddha Day which celebrates Buddha's birthday, is on Friday, May 1 in many countries, though some dates may vary depending on country and region.

The celebration of Christmas in the Christian Protestant and Catholic traditions will occur on Dec. 25 during Winter Break. During Half Block, the Christian Orthodox Feast of the Nativity will happen on Wednesday, Jan. 7. The Christian Catholic and Protestant observance of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent will fall on Wednesday, Feb. 18, , in Block 6, Week 1. Maundy/Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter, which remember the death and resurrection of Jesus, will occur on Thursday, Apr. 2, Friday, Apr. 3, and Sunday, Apr. 5, respectively, during Block 7, Week 2. The Christian Orthodox Clean Monday (Great Lent) begins on Monday, Feb. 23, during Block 6, Week 2. The Christian Orthodox Holy Friday and Easter fall on Friday, Apr. 10 and Sunday, Apr. 12 at the end of Block 7, Week 3. Throughout the year there are various feast days and Holy Days of Obligation for which Christian students from the Catholic and Orthodox traditions may seek accommodation.

Ramadan is one of many important religious holidays in Islam. During the 2025-26 academic year, Eid al Adha, which celebrates the Feast of the Sacrifice, will occur close to Wednesday, May 27.  Muslims observe the lunar month of Ramadan by daily fasting, communal fast-breaking, Qur'an recitation, and personal reflection. In 2026, Ramadan is anticipated to begin at sundown on Tuesday, Feb. 17, during Block 6, Week 1, and end around Wednesday, Mar. 18, during Spring Break, in North America. When Ramadan falls within the academic calendar, the Chaplain's Office works with identified students, the Muslim Student Association, and Bon Appetit to arrange and coordinate food to be consumed prior to sunup and after sundown, as well as community-wide gatherings for support and celebration. During Ramadan, it is important to be aware that some students, staff, and faculty will be fasting from sunrise to sundown. Eid al Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, is anticipated to occur in 2026 at sunset around Wednesday, Mar. 18 during Spring Break. Contact Chaplain Kate Holbrook with specific questions regarding dietary needs.

Please see the following calendars which may be additional helpful resources.

*Chaplain's Office Religious Holiday Calendar

Interfaith/Multi-year Calendar

Harvard Divinity School Multifaith Calendar

*To download the Religious Holidays Calendar for your Outlook calendar on Mac or PC, please visit Chaplain's Office Religious Holiday Calendar. We strongly encourage everyone to download the calendar. Once you have downloaded it, it will automatically upload new dates for the 2025-26 academic year.

If your office plans to acknowledge religious and spiritual holidays, observances, celebrations, and rituals on social media, please be mindful of being inclusive of the holidays you post. Ensuring posts represent the religious and spiritual diversity of our campus community, rather than selective posting for specific holidays, helps us to make sure we build and maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and inviting community. If you have questions or wish to seek guidance, please contact the Chaplain’s Office.

For more information regarding specific religious holidays and communities, dietary accommodations, and any other questions or concerns related to spiritual and religious expression on campus, please contact Chaplain Kate Holbrook via email or calling (719) 389-7986.

 

With gratitude,

The Chaplain's Office