Carleton University accommodates students and employees who, by reason of religious/spiritual obligation or observances, must miss a compulsory academic event such as an examination, test, assignment deadline, laboratory session or work-related commitment. To assist members of the University community to meet our obligation to provide reasonable accommodation, Equity and Inclusive Communities has prepared a list of religious/spiritual observance days and obligations most commonly cited as conflicting with academic obligations and so require religious accommodation.
The list below is not intended to be exhaustive and statutory holidays are not included. Dates may change.
If you have questions about the religious accommodation policies, feedback on this page such as an incorrect date, seeking support, or wish to confirm the eligibility of a religious event or practice for purposes of an accommodation, please contact Equity and Inclusive Communities at (613) 520-5622 or equity@carleton.ca.
Dates of Religious/Spiritual Observances and Obligations
The dates listed below are the most commonly cited dates of religious/spiritual observances and obligations. Dependent on the nature of the observance, a person may not be able to participate in classes, exams, or other initiatives.
The following chart is meant to act as a general guide and dates may vary depending on the type of calendar a community follows. Additionally, it is important to note that there is diversity of practices that exist within communities and thus people of the same spiritual practice may observe differently.
Religious/Spiritual Observance | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji (Sikhism) | Jan. 5 | Jan. 17 | Jan. 6 |
Epiphany (Christianity: Orthodox) | Jan. 6 | Jan. 6 | Jan. 6 |
Christmas (Christianity: Orthodox) | Jan. 6/7 | Jan. 6/7 | Jan. 6/7 |
Mahayana New Year (Buddhism) | Jan. 7 | Jan. 25 | Jan. 14 |
Maghi (Sikhism) | Jan. 13 | Jan. 14 | Jan. 13 |
Makar Sankranti (Sikhism) | Jan.15 | Jan. 15 | Jan. 14 |
Epiphany (Christianity: Orthodox) | Jan. 19 | Jan. 20 | Jan. 19 |
Lunar New Year/Chinese New Year | Jan. 22 | Feb. 10 | Jan. 29 |
Vasanta Panchami (Hinduism) | Jan. 25 | Feb. 14 | Feb. 2 |
Laylat al Miraj (Islam) | Feb. 18 | Feb. 7 | Jan. 27 |
Magha Puja Day (Buddhism) | Mar. 6 | Feb. 24 | Feb. 12 |
Purim (Judaism) | Mar. 6 at Sundown to Mar. 7 at Sundown | Mar. 23 at Sundown to Mar. 24 at Sundown | Mar. 13 at Sundown to Mar. 14 at Sundown |
Holi (Hinduism/Sikhism) | Mar. 7 | Mar. 25 | Mar. 14 |
Laylat al Baraat (Islam) | Mar. 7 at Sundown to Mar. 8 at Sundown | Feb. 24 at Sundown to Feb. 25 at Sundown | Feb. 13 at Sundown to Feb. 14 at Sundown |
Naw-Ruz (Bahá’í) | Mar. 20 at Sundown to Mar. 21 at Sundown | Mar. 19 at Sundown to Mar. 20 at Sundown | Mar. 19 at Sundown to Mar. 20 at Sundown |
Ramadan (Islam) | Mar. 22 at Sundown to Apr. 20 at Sundown | Mar. 10 at Sundown to Apr. 8 at Sundown | Feb. 28 at Sundown to Mar. 29 at Sundown |
Pesach/Passover (Judaism) | Apr. 5 at Sundown to Apr. 13 at Sundown | Apr. 22 at Sundown to Apr. 30 at Sundown | Apr. 12 at Sundown to Apr. 20 at Sundown |
Good Friday (Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic) | Apr. 7 | Mar. 29 | Apr. 18 |
Easter (Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic) | Apr. 9 | Mar. 31 | Apr. 20 |
Vaisakhi (Hinduism) | Apr. 14 | Apr. 13 | Apr. 14 |
Good Friday (Christianity: Orthodox) | Apr. 14 | Apr. 5 | Apr. 25 |
Easter (Christianity: Orthodox) | Apr. 16 | Apr. 7 | Apr. 27 |
Laylat al-Qadr (Islam) | Apr. 17 | Apr. 6 | Mar. 27 |
Yom HaShoah (Judaism) | Apr. 17 at Sundown to Apr. 18 at Sundown | May 5 at Sundown to May 6 at Sundown | Apr. 23 at Sundown to Apr. 24 at Sundown |
Ridvan (1st Day) (Bahá’í) | Apr. 20 | Apr. 20 | Apr. 20 |
Eid Al Fitr (Islam) final determination for local dates is usually made at the last minute depending on the time and visibility of the new moon. | Apr. 21 – Apr. 22 | Apr. 9 – Apr. 10 | Mar. 30 – Mar. 31 |
Ridvan (9th Day) (Bahá’í) | Apr. 29 | Apr. 21 | Apr. 29 |
Ridvan (12th Day) (Bahá’í) | May 2 | Apr. 29 | May 2 |
Wesak/Vesak (Buddhism) | June 3 | May 23 | May 12 |
Declaration of the Bab (Bahá’í) | May 24 | May 23 | May 24 |
Shavuot (Judaism) | May 25 at Sundown to May 27 at Sundown | Jun. 11 at Sundown to Jun. 13 at Sundown | Jun. 6 at Sundown to Jun. 10 at Sundown |
Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Bahá’í) | May 29 | May 29 | May 29 |
Pentecost (Christianity: Orthodox) | Jun. 4 | Jun. 23 | Jun. 8 |
Eid Al Adah (Islam) final determination for local dates is usually made at the last minute depending on the time and visibility of the moon. | Jun. 28 at Sundown to Jul. 2 at Sundown | Jun. 16 at Sundown to Jun. 20 at Sundown | Jun. 6 at Sundown to Jun. 7 at Sundown |
Asalha Puja Day (Buddhism) | Aug. 1 | Jul. 21 | Jul. 10 |
Martyrdom of the Bab (Bahá’í) | Jul. 10 | Jul. 9 | Jul. 9 |
Islamic New Year (Islam) | Jul. 18 – Jul. 19 | Jul. 6 – Jul. 7 | Jun. 25 – Jun. 26 |
Tish’a B’Av (Judaism) | Jul. 26 at Sundown to Jul. 27 at Sundown | Aug. 12 at Sundown to Aug. 13 at Sundown | Aug. 2 at Sundown to Aug. 3 at Sundown |
Ashura (Islam) | Jul. 27 – Jul. 28 | Jul. 16 – Jul. 17 | Jul. 5 – Jul. 6 |
Sri Krishna Jayanti/Janmashtami (Hinduism) | Sept. 6 | Aug. 26 | Aug. 15 |
Rosh Hashana (Judaism) | Sept. 15 at Sundown to Sept. 17 at Sundown | Oct. 2 at Sundown to Oct. 4 at Sundown | Sept. 22 at Sundown to Sept. 24 at Sundown |
Yom Kippur (Judaism) | Sept. 24 at Sundown to Sept. 25 at Sundown | Oct. 11 at Sundown to Oct. 12 at Sundown | Oct. 1 at Sundown to Oct. 2 at Sundown |
Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam) | Sept. 26 at Sundown to Sept. 27 at Sundown | Sept. 15 at Sundown to Sept. 16 at Sundown | Sept. 4 at Sundown to Sept. 5 at Sundown |
Sukkot (Judaism) | Sept. 29 at Sundown to Oct. 6 at Sundown | Oct. 16 at Sundown to Oct. 23 at Sundown | Oct. 6 at Sundown to Oct. 13 at Sundown |
Truth and Reconciliation Day | Sept 30 | Sept 30 | Sept 30 |
Shemini Atzeret (Judaism) | Oct. 6 at Sundown to Oct. 8 at Sundown | Oct. 23 at Sundown to Oct. 25 at Sundown | Oct. 13 at Sundown to Oct. 15 at Sundown |
Navaratri (Hinduism) | Oct. 15 – Oct. 23 | Oct. 3 – Oct. 11 | Sept. 22 – Oct. 2 |
Simchat Torah (Judaism) | Oct. 7 at Sundown to Oct. 8 at Sundown | Oct. 24 at Sundown to Oct. 25 at Sundown | Oct. 14 at Sundown to Oct. 15 at Sundown |
Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í) | Oct. 16 | Nov. 2 | Oct. 22 |
The Birth of the Bahá’ulláh (Bahá’í) | Oct. 17 | Nov. 3 | Oct. 23 |
Dussehra (Hinduism) | Oct. 24 | Oct. 12 | Oct. 2 |
All Saints Day (Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic) | Nov. 1 | Nov. 1 | Nov. 1 |
All Souls Day (Christianity: Roman Catholic) | Nov. 2 | Nov. 2 | Nov. 2 |
Diwali (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism) | Nov. 12 | Oct. 31 | Oct. 20 |
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikhism) | Nov. 24 | Nov. 24 | Nov. 24 |
Birthdate of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikhism) | Nov. 27 | Nov. 15 | Nov. 5 |
Hanukkah (Judaism) | Dec. 7 at Sundown to Dec. 15 at Sundown | Dec. 25 at Sundown to Jan. 2 at Sundown | Dec. 14 at Sundown to Dec. 22 at Sundown |
Christmas (Christianity: Protestant, Roman Catholic) | Dec. 25 | Dec. 25 | Dec. 25 |