RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS:
Policy and Calendar
Below find a memo sent from the University Provost and the University
Chaplain to all entering students explaining Lehigh University's "Accommodation
Policy" regarding religious holidays. A calendar of religious holidays
follows the policy statement.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS
Lehigh University seeks to extend hospitality to all persons regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, economic or social background. Diversity is valued at Lehigh, and the University is committed to assuring that all persons who enter this community are welcomed and respected.
People from a wide variety of religious traditions live and work at Lehigh, and over the years the University has developed policies that respect this diversity. Because Lehigh is non-sectarian and is not affiliated with any particular religious tradition, respect for religious life means that the University does not privilege one religious tradition over another. The University acknowledges that religious practices differ from tradition to tradition and that the demands of religious observance in some traditions may cause conflicts with student and work schedules. Like many other colleges and universities, Lehigh has adopted a policy to accommodate those who encounter conflicts between the demands of religious observance and the demands of work or study. This "accommodation policy" acknowledges the right of those who live and work and study at Lehigh to engage in religious observances, and the University is pledged to honor the exercise of that right.
This accommodation policy is particularly important with respect to religious holidays. The University publishes major religious holidays in its official calendar to alert faculty so that as they prepare their syllabi, they will not plan exams or other major course events on these dates. But not all holidays are published, and occasionally students who inform a faculty member that they will be absent from class due to religious observances will encounter a difficulty, perhaps with a new faculty member or a graduate teaching assistant who has not been fully informed about the religious accommodation policy. These problems are all resolvable. The university policy is to support the student who requests an absence due to the demands of religious observance. Of course, nothing in this policy exempts a student from meeting course requirements or completing assignments, so the student will have to negotiate with the instructor any make-up work.
If you encounter a schedule conflict with your course work due to the demands of religious observance, here is what you should do:
1. Talk with your instructor and indicate that you will be absent from class due to observance of religious holidays.
2. Arrange with the instructor to complete assignments.
3. If you run into difficulties, including a refusal to grant you an excused absence, please call the University Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd Steffen, at x83877 or e-mail him at lhs1. The Chaplain will speak with the faculty person, explain the accommodation policy adopted by the University and enforced by the Provost, and work to resolve any difficulties.
Religious holidays are posted on the Chaplain's web page at http://www.lehigh.edu/~incha/holidays.html
__________________________________
__________________________________
Patrick V. Farrell
Lloyd Steffen
Provost
University Chaplain
The University Chaplain's Office is responsible for all issues regarding Religious Life at Lehigh. This designation of responsibility has been made by Lehigh University, a private institution of higher learning with no sectarian bias. The University Chaplain, the Rev. Dr. Lloyd Steffen, reports to the Provost of the University in his role as University Chaplain. Questions about religious group activities, aid with programs, and other information or assistance should be directed to the University Chaplain's Office at x83877. To assist students and visitors to campus, the following policy guidelines are observed:
1. Questions regarding Religious Life, including those arising from religious groups, should be directed to the Chaplain's Office.
2. Groups that invite visiting clergy to campus should inform the University Chaplain's Office so that these visitors may receive a formal invitation from the University and thus be present on campus in conjunction with a religious activity. As a private institution, Lehigh University could request that individuals not officially invited to campus be asked to leave.
3. Religious materials may be distributed on campus, but the mode of distribution must be worked out in consultation with the Chaplain's Office. The University observes a non-intrusion policy with respect to living quarters. Religious group advisers must meet with students elsewhere than in residence halls, fraternities and sororities; and student residences on campus are not to be entered for purposes of distributing religious materials by any advisor or off-campus person. The Chaplain's Office can assist in the effort to distribute materials in a non-intrusive way and arrange for alternative spaces for meetings, including the Dialogue Center.
The Dialogue Center at 661 Taylor Street is available to religious life advisers for meetings with students, and the Dialogue Center may be scheduled for religious group meetings by contacting Sally Schray at x83877 or sas2.
Religious Holidays
FALL 2011
| AUGUST 2011 | ||
| 1 | Lammas | Christian |
| Fast in honor of Holy Mother of Lord Jesus | Orthodox Christian | |
| RAMADAN begins * ** | Islam | |
| 2 | Lughnassad - Imbolic * | Wicca/Pagan |
| 6 | Transfiguration of the Lord | Orthodox Christian |
| 7 | Laylat al Kadr * | Islam |
| 9 | Tisha B' Av | Jewish |
| 13 | Taksha Bandhan ** | Hindu |
| 13-15** | Obon | Shinto |
| 15 | Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary | Catholic Christian |
| Dormition of the Theotokos | Orthodox Christian | |
| 22 | Krisha Janmashtami ** | Hindu |
| 26 | Kailat al Kadr * ** | Hindu |
| 29 | Beheading of John the Baptist | Christian |
| 31 | EID AL FITR * ** | Islam |
| SEPTEMBER 2011 | ||
| 1 | Ganesha Chaturthi ** | Hindu |
| Ecclesiastical New Year | Orthodox Christian | |
| 2-10 | Paryushana Parva | Jain |
| 8 | Nativity of Mary | Christian |
| 14 | Elevation of the Life Giving Cross - Holy Cross Day | Christian |
| 23 | Equinox | Wicca/Pagan |
| Mabon * Northern Hemisphere | Wicca | |
| Ostara * Southern Hemisphere | Wicca | |
| 27 | Meskel | Ethiopian Orthodox Christian |
| 28- Oct. 5 | Navaratri ** | Hindu |
| 29-30 | Rosh Hashanah * | Jewish |
| 29 | Michael and All Angels | Christian |
| OCTOBER 2011 | ||
| 4 | St. Francis Day | Catholic Christian |
| 5 | Waqf al Arafa - Hajj Day * ** | Islam |
| 6 | Dussehra | Hindu |
| 8 | YOM KIPPUR * | Jewish |
| 10 | Thanksgiving - Interfaith | Canada |
| 13-19 | Sukkot * (13-14 Primary Obligation Days) | Jewish |
| 20 | Birth of the Bab * | Baha'i |
| Shemini Atzeret * | Jewish | |
| Installation of scriptures as Guru Granth | Sikh | |
| 21 | Simchat Torah * | Jewish |
| 22 | New Year | Jain |
| 25-28 | Deepavali ** | Hindu |
| 26 | Diwali ** | Jain - Hindu - Sikh |
| 28 | Milvian Bridge Day | Christian |
| 30 | Reformation Day ** | Protestant Christian |
| 31 | All Hallows Eve | Christian |
| NOVEMBER 2011 | ||
| 1 | All Saint's Day | Christian |
| Samhain - Beltrane * northern & southern hemisphere | Wicca | |
| 2 | All Soul's Day | Catholic Christian |
| 4-7 | Hajj * | Islam |
| 6 | Eid al Adha * ** | Islam |
| 10 | Guru Nanak Dev Sahib birthday | Sikh |
| 12 | Birth of Baha'u'llah * | Baha'i |
| 15 | Nativity Fast begins through Dec. 24th | Orthodox Christian |
| 20 | Christ the King | Christian |
| 24 | Thanksgiving | Interfaith - USA |
| Gkuru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom | Sikh | |
| 26 | Day of Covenant | Baha'i |
| Hijra - New Year * ** | Islam | |
| 27 | First Sunday of Advent | Christian |
| 30 | St. Andrew's Day | Christian |
| DECEMBER 2011 | ||
| 5 | Ashura * ** | Islam |
| 6 | St. Nicholas Day | Christian |
| 8 | Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) ** | Buddhism |
| Immaculate Conception of Mary | Catholic Christian | |
| 12 | Feast Day - Our Lady of Guadalupe | Catholic Christian |
| 16 | Posadas Navidenas through Dec. 25th | Christian |
| 21-28 | Hanukkah * | Jewish |
| 22 | Soltice | |
| Yule * Northern Hemisphere | Wicca | |
| Litha * Southern Hemisphere | Wicca | |
| Yule | Christian | |
| 24 | Christmas Eve | Christian |
| 25 | Christmas * | Christian |
| Feast of the Nativity | Orthodox Christian | |
| 26 | Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr | Christian |
| Death of Prophet Zarathushtra ** | Zoroastrain | |
| 28 | Holy Innocents | Christian |
| 30 | Feast of the Holy Family | Catholic Christian |
| 31 | Watch Night | Christian |
SPRING 2012
| JANUARY 2012 | ||
| 1 | Mary, Mother of God | Catholic Christian |
| Feast of St. Basil | Orthodox Christian |
|
| Gantan-sai (New Years) | Shinto | |
| Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus | Orthodox Christian | |
| 5 | Twelfth Night | Christian |
| Guru Gobindh Singh birthday | Sikh | |
| 6 | Epiphany | Christian |
| Feast of the Theophany | Orthodox Christian | |
| Dia de los Reyes | Hispanic Christians | |
| Nativity of Christ | Armenian Orthodox | |
| 7 | Feast of the Nativity ** | Orthodox Christian |
| 8 | Baptism of Jesus | Christian |
| 9-12 | Mahayana New Year ** | Buddhist |
| 13 | Maghi | Sikh |
| 15 | World Religion Day * | Baha'i |
| 17 | Blessing of the Animals | Hispanic Catholic Christian |
| 18-25 | Week of Prayer for Christian Unity | Christian |
| 20 | Timkat | Ethiopian Orthodox Christian |
| 23 | Chinese New Year | Confucian, Daoist, Buddhist |
| 25 | Conversion of St. Paul | Christian |
| 28 | Vasant Panchami ** | Hindu |
| FEBRUARY 2012 | ||
| 2 | Candlemas | Christian |
| Presentation of Christ in the Temple | Anglican Christian | |
| Triodion | Orthodox Christian | |
| Imbolc - Lughnassad * Northern & Southern hemispheres | Wicca/Pagan | |
| 3 | Maha Shavartri ** | Hindu |
| Setsubum-sal | Shinto | |
| 4 | Mawlid an Nabi * | Islam |
| 5 | Four Chaplains Sunday | Interfaith |
| 8 | Tu BiShvat * | Judaism |
| 14 | Saint Valentines Day | Christian |
| 15 | Nirvana Day ** | Buddhist - Jain |
| 19 | Meatfare Sunday | Orthodox Christian |
| Transfiguration | Christian | |
| 21 | Shrove Tuesday | Christian |
| 22 | Ash Wednesday - Lent Begins | Christian |
| 26 - March 1 | Intercalary Days * | Baha'i |
| Cheesefare Sunday | Orthodox Christian | |
| 27 | Clean Monday - Great Lent Begins | Orthodox Christian |
| MARCH 2012 | ||
| 1 | Saint David of Wales | Christian |
| 2-20 | Nineteen Day Fast * | Baha'i |
| 4 | Orthodox Sunday | Orthodox Christian |
| 8 | Purim * | Judaism |
| Magha Puja Day ** | Buddhist | |
| Holi ** | Hindu | |
| 9 | Hola Mohalla | Sikh |
| 13 | L Ron Hubbard birthday | Scientology |
| 17 | St. Patrick's Day | Christian |
| 19 | Saint Joseph's Day | Christian |
| 20 | Equinox | |
| Ostara* northern hemisphere | Wicca/Pagan | |
| Mabon * southern hemisphere | Wicca/Pagan | |
| 21 | Naw Ruz (New Year) | Baha'i |
| Norouz (New Year) | Persian/Zoroastrian | |
| 23 | New Year ** | Hindu |
| Prophet Zarathustra birth | Zoroastrian | |
| 23-April 1 | Ramayana ** | Hindu |
| 25 | Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary | Christian |
| 28 | Khordad Sal (Birth of Prophet Zaranhushtra ** | Zoroastrian |
| APRIL 2012 | ||
| 1 | Palm Sunday | Christian |
| Ramanavami | Hindu | |
| 5 | Maundy Thursday | Christian |
| 6 | Good Friday | Christian |
| Lord's evening Meal | Jehovah's Witness Christian | |
| Hunuman Jayanti | Hindu | |
| Mahavir Jayanti ** | Jain | |
| 6-9 | Theravadin New Year ** | Buddhist |
| 7-14 | Pesach (Passover) * | Judaism |
| 7 | Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox Christian |
| 8 | Easter | Christian |
| Palm Sunday | Orthodox Christian | |
| 13 | Holy Friday | Orthodox Christian |
| 14 | Baisakhi New Year | Sikh |
| 15 | Easter/Pascha | Orthodox Christian |
| 19 | Yom HaShoah * | Judaism |
| 21 | First Day of Ridvan * | Baha'i |
| 23 | St. George Day | Christian |
| 27 | Yom Ha'Atzmaut * | Jewish |
| 29 | Ninth day of Ridvan* | Baha'i |
| 30 | Saint James the Great Day | Orthodox Christian |
| Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox Christian |
| MAY 2012 | ||
| 1 | Palm Sunday | Orthodox Christian |
| Beltane - Samhain northern & southern hemispheres | Wicca/Pagan | |
| 2 | Twelfth Day of Ridvan * | Baha'i |
| 3 | National Day of Prayer | Interfaith USA |
| 6 | Visakha Puja - Buddha Day ** | Buddhist |
| 10 | Lag B'Omer * | Jewish |
| 17 | Ascension Day | Christian |
| 23 | Declaration of the Bab * | Baha'i |
| 24 | All Ascension of Jesus | Orthodox Christian |
| 27 | Pentecost | Christian |
| 27-28 | Shavuot * | Jewish |
| 29 | Ascension of Baha'u'llah * | Baha'i |
| JUNE 2012 | ||
| 3 | Trinity Sunday | Christian |
| 7 | Corpus Christi | Catholic Christian |
| 3 | Pentecost | Orthodoc Christian |
| 9 | Saint Columba of Iona | Christian |
| 10 | All Saints | Orthodox Christian |
| 16 | Lailat al Miraj * ** | Islam |
| Guru Arjan Dev martyrdom | Sikh | |
| 15 | Sacred Heart of Jesus | Catholic Christian |
| 19 | New Church Day | Swedenborgian Christian |
| 20 | Solstice | |
| Litha * northern hemisphere | Wicca/Pagan | |
| Yule * southern hemisphere | Wicca/Pagan | |
| 29 | Saints Peter and Paul | Christian |
* = High Holy Day
* All Jewish and Bah'a'i holidays begin at sunset the previous
day. ** Hindu, Sikh, and Jain holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar
and are observed at different times in different regions.
Islamic Calendar: The Islamic Calendar
The Hindu Calendar: The Hindu Calendar
Roman Catholic Holy Days of Obligation:
January 1: Mary Mother of God
May 25: Ascension Thursday
August 15: Assumption
November 1: All Saints
December 8: Immaculate Conception
December 25: Christmas