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 - August 2024

Lammas 

Christian festival of the wheat harvest observed by placing bread baked from first harvest on the altar. From the Celtic Christian tradition.  

August 1 annually in northern hemisphere; February 1 annually in southern hemisphere.

Thursday, August 1, 2024 | Tuesday, August 1, 2023 | Friday, August 1, 2025 

Lughnasadh / Imbolc 

This day celebrates the ancient festival of the first harvesting of grain in August. It is one of the eight yearly sabbats of their Wheel of the Year, following Midsummer and preceding Mabon. It is seen as one of the two most auspicious times for handfasting, the other being at Beltane.

Some Wiccans mark the holiday by baking a figure of the "corn god" in bread, and then symbolically sacrificing and eating it.

Thursday, August 1, 2024 | Tuesday, August 1, 2023 | Friday, August 1, 2025 

Transfiguration of the Lord 

In the Orthodox view the Transfiguration is not only a feast in honor of Jesus, but a feast of the Holy Trinity.

Transfiguration falls during the Dormition Fast, but in recognition of the feast the fast is relaxed somewhat and the consumption of fish, wine, and oil is allowed on this day. Grapes are traditionally brought to church to be blessed after the Divine Liturgy on the day of the Transfiguration.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | Saturday, August 19, 2023 | Wednesday, August 6, 2025 

Transfiguration Sunday 

Christian commemoration of the experience on Mt. Tabor when Jesus' physical appearance became brilliant as his connection with traditional Jewish holy figures became evident to the disciples.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 | Sunday, February 19, 2023 | Wednesday, August 6, 2025 

Tisha Ba'Av 

On the ninth day of the Jewish month of Av, it is a solemn occasion because it commemorates a series of tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people over the years, such as the destruction of the first temple in Jerusalem in 586 CE and the destruction of the second temple by the Romans in 70 CE. World War I and the beginning of the Holocaust are also associated with this day.

Tisha B'av is observed with prayers and fasting. Shaving and the wearing of cosmetics and leather are banned, and people are also expected to refrain from smiles, laughter, and idle conversation. All ornaments are removed from synagogues and lights are dimmed. The ark (where the Torah is kept) is draped in black.

August 12, 2024 - August 13, 2024 | Wednesday, July 26, 2023 | August 2, 2025 - August 3, 2025 

Obon 

Japanese Buddhist festival to honor the spirits of deceased ancestors. This Buddhist-Confucian custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. Involves lighting of bonfires, traditional meals, paper lanterns, and folk dances. 

August 13, 2024 - August 15, 2024 | Sunday, August 13, 2023 | August 13, 2025 - August 15, 2025 

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

A Catholic feast day commemorating the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven at the end of her earthly life.

In some churches, Assumption is celebrated by decorating streets with different colors of light and firework displays.

Thursday, August 15, 2024 | Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | Friday, August 15, 2025 

Dormition of the Theotokis

Orthodox Christian commemoration commemorates the death, resurrection, and glorification of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ.

The Feast of the Dormition is celebrated with the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom which is conducted on the morning of the Feast and preceded by a Matins (Orthros) service.

Thursday, August 15, 2024 | Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | Friday, August 15, 2025 

Fast in Honor of the Holy Mother of Lord Jesus / Dormition Fast

If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations as stipulated.

Fourteen-day fasting period in preparation for the celebration of the Great Feast of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary. 
Orthodox and Eastern Catholics fast from red meat, poultry, meat products, dairy products (eggs and milk products), fish, oil, and wine. 

Thursday, August 15, 2024 | Tuesday, August 15, 2023 | Friday, August 15, 2025 

The Ghost Festival / Ullambrana 

In Chinese culture, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month, in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm. During Ghost Month, the gate of hell will open to allow the ghosts and spirits go back to the living world.

Elaborate meals (often vegetarian) are served with empty seats for each of the deceased in the family treating the deceased as if they are still living. Other festivities include buying and releasing miniature paper boats and lanterns on water, which signifies giving directions to the lost ghosts and spirits of the ancestors and other deities.

Sunday, August 18, 2024 | Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | Saturday, August 23, 2025 

Raksha Bandhan 

Hindu

A festival that celebrates the love and duty between brothers and sisters. The festival is also popularly used to celebrate any brother-sister relationship between men and women who are relatives or not related. It is celebrated on the full moon in the month of Sravana in the lunar calendar. The word raksha means protection, whilst bandhan is the verb to tie.

Traditionally, during the festival sisters tie a rakhi, a bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads, around their brothers' wrists to celebrate their relationship. Rakhis are often shared between close friends, as well.

Monday, August 19, 2024 | Wednesday, August 30, 2023 | Saturday, August 9, 2025 

Krishna Janmashtami 

Avoid scheduling major academic deadlines on this day, since it is likely that students will be operating on very little sleep.

This two-day festival celebrates the birth of Krishna, a widely worshiped Hindu god. Krishna is considered to be a warrior, hero, teacher, and philosopher.

During this festival, Hindus are likely to forgo sleep to sing bhajans, traditional Hindu songs. Many Hindus also fast during the first day of the festival.

Monday, August 26, 2024 | Wednesday, September 6, 2023 | Saturday, August 16, 2025 

Beheading of John the Baptist 

Christian remembrance of the death of John who is known for preparing the people so they would recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 

Thursday, August 29, 2024 | Tuesday, August 29, 2023 | Friday, August 29, 2025 

Paryushana Parva 

Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events or activities during the eight days of fasting.

Jain festival signifying human emergence into a new world of spiritual and moral refinement. This festival consists of eight days of intensive fasting, repentance and pujas. Celebration of the natural qualities of the soul. The eighth day (Samvatsari) is most important and is focused on forgiveness. 

Friday, August 30, 2024 | Monday, September 11, 2023 |Thursday, August 21, 2025