Religious Holidays 2025-2026
| Date | Holiday | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|
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September 11, 2025
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Enkutatash (Ethiopian and Eritrean) |
Enkutatash (እንቁጣጣሽ), also known as the Ethiopian New Year, is celebrated on Meskerem 1, which falls on September 11th or 12th in the Gregorian calendar. This holiday marks the end of the rainy season and the beginning of spring in Ethiopia, symbolizing renewal and hope. |
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September 22-25, 2025 Begins sunset of Monday, September 22, 2025 Ends nightfall of Wednesday, September 24, 2025 No work is permitted. |
Rosh Hashanah (Judaism) | Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: השנה ראש), (literally "head of the year"), is the Jewish New Year. It is the first of the High Holidays or Yamim Noraim ("Days of Awe") celebrated ten days before Yom Kippur. Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first two days of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is described in the Torah as יום תרועה (Yom Teru'ah, a day of sounding [the Shofar]). Work is not permitted for observant Jews on these two days. |
| September 22, 2025 - October 1, 2025 | Dashain (Hinduism) |
Dashain is the biggest and most important Hindu festival in Nepal before Tihar or Diwali, celebrated by Nepali people around the world. Lasting for fifteen days, it typically takes place in September or October, depending on the lunar calendar. Dashain commemorates the victory of good over evil, symbolized by the goddess Durga's triumph over evil. |
| September 27, 2025 | Meskel (Christianity) | Meskel (Finding of the True Cross) is an Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Saint Helena of Constantinople in the fourth century. |
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October 1-2, 2025 Begins sunset of Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Ends nightfall of Thursday, October 2, 2025 No work is permitted; fasting occurs. |
Yom Kippur (Judaism) | Yom Kippur (Hebrew: רוּפּכִּ םוֹי or הכיפורים יום), also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. Yom Kippur completes the annual period known in Judaism as the High Holy Days (or sometimes "the Days of Awe"). For many Jews, work is not permitted on this day. |
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October 6-13, 2025 Begins sunset of Monday, October 6, 2025 Ends nightfall of Monday, October 13, 2025 Some Jews will not work on Oct. 7-8 and again Oct. 12-13 |
Sukkot (Judaism) | Sukkot (Hebrew: סוכות or תוֹכֻּס, sukkōt, or sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles) is a biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei (late September to late October). For some Jews, work is restricted on the first two days and last two days of this holiday. |
| October 20, 2025 | Diwali (Hinduism) |
Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is one of the most widely celebrated and significant festivals in India. Known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. |
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December 14-22, 2025 Begins sunset of December 14, 2025 Ends nightfall of December 22, 2025 |
Hanukkah/Chanukah (Judaism) |
Hanukkah (Hebrew: חנוכה,) also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem during the second century BCE. This celebration marks the victory of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which sought to impose Hellenistic culture and suppress Jewish practices. |
| December 25, 2025 | Christmas (Christianity) |
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity. This festive season is characterized by joyous gatherings, the exchange of gifts, and various cultural traditions that bring families and communities together. |
| January 7, 2026 | Genna (Christianity) | Genna (Christmas), also known as Lidet, celebrates birth of Jesus Christ, observed on January 7th, which aligns with the Julian calendar used by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. |
| January 19, 2026 | Timkat (Christianity) |
Timkat (Epiphany) is the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian celebration of Epiphany, commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan |
| February 17, 2026 | Lunar New Year (Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism, Taoism) |
Lunar New Year, also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, is the most significant traditional festival in many East and Southeast Asian countries. Celebrated on the first day of the lunar calendar, it marks the beginning of a new year and is associated with various customs and traditions. Families gather to enjoy reunion dinners, exchange gifts, and partake in activities such as dragon dances, fireworks, and the giving of red envelopes. The festival symbolizes renewal, prosperity, and the hope for good fortune in the coming year. |
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February 17, 2026 - March 19, 2026 Begins at sundown on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Ends at sundown on Wednesday, March 19, 2026 |
Ramadan (Islam) | Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered one of the holiest months for Muslims. It is a time for spiritual reflection, self-discipline, and heightened devotion through fasting, prayer, and community. During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn (fajr) until sunset (maghrib), abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs. The fast is intended to draw worshippers closer to Allah and cultivate empathy for the less fortunate. |
| February 18, 2026 | Ash Wednesday (Christianity) |
Ash Wednesday is observed by some Christians as a day of repentance and marks the beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the practice of placing ashes on the forehead as a sign |
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March 19-20, 2026 Begins at sundown on Saturday, March 29th Ends at sundown on Sunday, March 30th, 2025 |
Eid al-Fitr (Islam) |
Eid al-Fitr, also known as the “Feast of the Breaking of the Fast,” is a joyous celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. It is a time for communal prayers, feasting, and the exchange of gifts. Muslims come together to perform special prayers at mosques, expressing gratitude to Allah for the strength and patience demonstrated during Ramadan. The holiday is also characterized by acts of charity, as Muslims give zakat, or alms, to support those in need. Families and friends gather to share festive meals, often starting with the traditional breaking of the fast. New clothes are worn, and homes are decorated to honor the significance of the occasion. Eid al-Fitr embodies the values of community, compassion, and spiritual renewal, holding profound meaning for Muslims around the world. |
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April 1-9, 2026 Begins sunset of Wednesday, April 1, 2026 Ends nightfall of Thursday, April 9, 2026 Some Jews will not work on April 2-3 and April 8-9 |
Passover (Judaism) | Passover, known as Pesach in Hebrew, is one of the most significant holidays in Judaism. It commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their liberation from slavery, as recounted in the Book of Exodus in the Torah. The festival is celebrated over eight days. For some Jews, no work is permitted the first two and last two days of this holiday. |
| April 3, 2026 | Good Friday (Christianity) |
Good Friday, observed by Christians worldwide, commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It falls on the Friday before Easter Sunday during Holy Week and is a day marked by mourning, penance, and reflection on the profound sacrifice of Jesus. |
| April 5, 2026 | Easter (Christianity) |
Easter is one of the most important and widely celebrated events in the Christian calendar, commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ three days after his crucifixion. This celebration marks the culmination of the Passion of Jesus, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. Easter typically falls on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25, determined by the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. |
| April 12, 2026 | Fasika (Christianity) |
Fasika (Easter) is the Ethiopian Orthodox name for Easter, a celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's a time of both spiritual reflection and joyful feasting, marking the end of the 55-day Lenten fast. |
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May 26-27, 2026 Dates may vary depending on the sighting of the moon. |
Eid al Adha (Islam) |
Eid al Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) One of the two main Islamic festivals (the other is Eid al-Fitr), this festival falls on the 10th day of the lunar month of Zul-Hijja and is the concluding act of pilgrimage to Mecca. In commemoration of Abraham’s faith, sheep, goats and camels are offered to God, and the meat is distributed to the poor and needy. Eid al-Adha is observed whether or not one is on pilgrimage. |