Event Date
The Multicultural Calendar serves as a resource for students, staff, and faculty to plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year. It is a resource for understanding religious and cultural observances.
Multicultural Calendar - April 2024
Laylat al-Qadr
Islamic
Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, commemorates one of the most significant events in the history of Islam. It is the night when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) received the first revelation from Allah.
Saturday, Apr 6, 2024 | Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023 | Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Lailat as-Qadr / Nuzulul Qur'an
Islam
Lailat as-Qadr, which translated to "Night of Power," is celebrated during final days of Ramadan. It begins at sundown on the previous day and commemorates the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE†
The night spent in worship to mark the first revelation of the Qur'an. Many assemble at mosques during the Isha prayer, with many prayers being made until midnight.
Saturday, April 6, 2024 | Monday, April 17, 2023 | Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Eid al-Fitr
Islam
Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Employees will likely ask to take a vacation day on this day, and that request should be granted if at all possible. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations (halal dietary restrictions apply).
Eid al-Fitr means, break the fast, and is the last day of Ramadan, marking the end of a month of fasting.
Significant
General Practices: Muslims often pray, exchange gifts, give money to children, feast, and celebrate with friends and family.
Dates are determined by the lunar calendar. Eid al-Fitr is a three-day celebration and begins at sundown on the first day.
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 | Thursday, April 20, 2023 | Monday, March 31, 2025
Baisakhi / Vaisakhi
Sikh
Vaisakhi is the Sikh new year festival and commemorates 1699, the year Sikhism was born. Vaisakhi is also a long-established harvest festival.
There are often parades, dancing, and singing throughout the day. These celebrations involve music, singing, and chanting of scriptures and hymns.
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Friday, April 14, 2023 | Monday, April 14, 2025
First Day of Ridvan
Baháʼí
Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off.
Bahá'í commemoration of the twelve-day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was God's messenger for this age.
Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the festival.
April 20, 2024 - May 1, 2024 | Friday, April 21, 2023 | April 20, 2025 - May 1, 2025
Mahavir Jayanti
Jain
Jain festival honoring Lord Mahavira on the founder's birthday. Shrines are visited. Teachings are reviewed and reflected upon.
Sunday, April 21, 2024 | Tuesday, April 4, 2023 | Thursday, April 10, 2025
Pesach / Passover
Jewish
Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities after sundown on the first days, on the following two full days, and on last two days of the holiday. Provide food accommodation (kosher restrictions apply; the use of leavening is prohibited so, for example, matzah is eaten in place of bread.)
Pesach is a week-long observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II. It is one of three pilgrimage festivals.
Significant
Family gatherings, ritualized meals called Seders, reading of the Haggadah, lighting of Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on the last night of Passover.
Begins at sundown on first day.
April 22, 2024 - April 30, 2024 | Wednesday, April 5, 2023 | April 12, 2025 - April 20, 2025
Hanuman Jayanti
Hindu
Hindu celebration of Hanuman who was an embodiment of Lord Rama. Devotion and selfless work are encouraged.
Devotees visit Hanuman temples and apply sindhur to their foreheads from Hanuman's body.
Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | Thursday, April 6, 2023 | Monday, May 12, 2025
Saint George's Day
Christian
Christian remembrance of a person who, in the 4th century, was a martyr and became an ideal of martial valor and selflessness. Legend of killing a dragon relates to this patron saint of England.
Tuesday, Apr 23, 2024 | Sunday, Apr 23, 2023 | Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025
Theravadin New Year
Buddhist
In Theravadin countries (Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos) the new year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In Mahayana countries the new year starts on the first full moon day in January.
Devotees usually spend the New Year festival days in concentrated thought about the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.
April 24, 2024 - April 26, 2024 | Thursday, April 6, 2023 | April 13, 2025 - April 15, 2025
Ninth Day of Ridvan
Baháʼí
Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off.
Bahá'í commemoration of the twelve-day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was God's messenger for this age.
Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the festival.
April 28, 2024 - April 29, 2024 | Saturday, April 29, 2023 | April 28, 2025 - April 29, 2025
Maidyozarem Gahanbar
Zoroastrian
There are six Gahanbars (five-day festivals) spread throughout the year. Maidyozarem literally means "midgreening," and is celebrated as a mid-spring festival.
Each Gahanbar is a period to focus on worship and those celebrating will perform only necessary work.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024 | Sunday, April 30, 2023 | Wednesday, April 30, 2025