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Days of Strict Religious Observance for 2009 - Equity & Diversity Centre
The following dates have been provided as a resource for staff indicating days of strict religious observance for a number of religions that may preclude a practicing student from attending classes or undertaking specified assessment tasks.
| Month |
Day and Date |
Festival |
Religion |
|
January
|
Monday 26
|
Chinese New Year
|
Confucian/Daoist/Buddhist
|
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March
|
Saturday 21
|
Naw Ruz (New Year) *
|
Baha’i
|
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April
|
Thursday 9
|
Pesach* (Passover) (1st day)
|
Jewish
|
|
|
Friday 10
|
Good Friday
Pesach (Passover) (2nd Day)
|
Christian
Jewish
|
|
|
Tuesday 21
|
First Day of Ridvan *
|
Baha’i
|
|
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Wednesday 29
|
Ninth Day of Ridvan *
|
Baha’i
|
|
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Sunday 12
|
Easter
|
Christian
|
|
|
Wednesday 15
|
Pesach* (Passover) (2nd last day)
|
Jewish
|
|
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Thursday 16
|
Pesach (Passover) (last day)
|
Jewish
|
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May
|
Saturday 2
|
Twelfth Day of Ridvan *
|
Baha’i
|
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Saturday 23
|
Declaration of the Bab *
|
Baha’i
|
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Friday 29
|
Ascension of Baha'u'llah* Shavuot*
|
Baha’i
Jewish
|
|
|
Satuday 30
|
Shavuot
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Jewish
|
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July
|
Thursday 9
|
The Martyrdom of the Bab *
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Baha’i
|
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August
|
Saturday 22
|
Ramadan *, **, *** Begins (30 days)
|
Islam
|
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September
|
Saturday 19
|
Rosh Hashana*
|
Jewish
|
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Sunday 20
|
Rosh Hashana
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Jewish
|
|
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Monday 21
|
Eid Al Fitr *, ** (end of Ramadan)
|
Islam
|
|
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Monday 28
|
Yom Kippur *
|
Jewish
|
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October
|
Saturday 3
|
Sukkot *
|
Jewish
|
|
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Sunday 4
|
Sukkot
|
Jewish
|
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Saturday 10
|
Shemini Atzeret *
|
Jewish
|
|
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Sunday 11
|
Simchat Torah
|
Jewish
|
|
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Tuesday 20
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Anniversary of the Birth of Bab*
|
Baha’i
|
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November
|
Thursday 12
|
Birth of Baha'u'llah *
|
Baha’i
|
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Saturday 28
|
Id al Adha**
|
Islam
|
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December
|
Friday 25
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Christmas
|
Christian
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Legend
| * |
Jewish, Baha'i and Islamic Days begin at sunset of the evening prior to the day listed. |
| ** |
Certain Hindu and Islamic Holy Days cannot be definitely determined in advance as they begin when the new moon is sighted. |
| *** |
Ramadan involves a month of fasting during daylight hours. Sensitivity to the impact that fasting may have on students especially during hot weather may need to be exercised. |
Major Source: Interfaith calendar
In addition to these days from sunset Friday until sunset Saturday is the Holy Day of Sabbath. For some Jewish students this means that work (including field trips, exams or assessments) is not permitted. For Muslim students sensitivity to their need for regular prayer times especially on Fridays may need to be exercised.
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