Religious Holidays & Holy Days

The Office of Religious & Spiritual Life (ORSL) strives to support our students, staff and faculty practice their faith and participate in their religious holiday/holy days.

The list below is not exhaustive;* it includes major holidays of most religions practiced at Babson but by no means are all religions represented. Please let our office know immediately if your religion is not represented or if we have any incorrect dates.

Accommodations

These calendars were created for the Babson community to be more aware of religious holidays and to make accommodations as they see fit for holidays that require food and work restrictions.

Students, please inform your professor at the beginning of the semester if you would need to be accommodated for any religious holiday.

Calendar Key

Celebration: Special Occasion/Festival-like holiday that could focus on a deity, guru/prophet/saint/idol/spiritual teacher, community, cultural, special prayers and rituals. A special celebration for a new year, the meaning of the holiday and/or historical/spiritual context.

Food Restrictions: Fasting, certain foods prohibited/forbidden to consume, or special food preparation.

Observances: An essential holiday to those who observe and participate.

Work Restrictions: Attendance and presence is required during this holiday, those who observe may have to travel, be with family or religious community. Some holidays participants are required to cease from working.

* Please Note:

• The Islamic Calendar is lunar—dates are flexible and change depending on the location of the moon.
• Baháʼí, Jewish and Muslim holidays begin at the sunset on the evening before the date listed.
• ORSL notices that two significant groups aren’t represented. African Cosmology & Spirituality and Indigenous (Native American) Spirituality & Sacred days. As we continue to gather information their observances, rites and rituals, we do acknowledge that many if not all of their holy days should be taken into consideration for accommodation.