Illinois Wesleyan University
Religious Observances and Holidays for 2008-2009 Academic Year
First Semester
Dates marked with an * indicate that observances begin at sundown of the preceding day
August 2008
| Sunday 24 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hinduism | Special Worship |
| Sunday 31 | Lailat al Miraj | Islam | Special Worship |
September 2008
| Tuesday 2 | Ramadan, 1st Day | Islam | Food Restriction |
| Monday 22 | Mabon | Pagan | Special Worship |
| Sunday 28 | Laylat al-Qadr | Islam | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 30* | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | Work Restriction |
October 2008
| Wednesday 1 | Rosh Hashanah | Judaism | Work Restriction |
| Thursday 2 | Eid-ul-Fitr (Ramadan ends) | Islam | Food Restriction Ends |
| Thursday 9* | Yom Kippur | Judaism | Work, Food Restriction |
| Thursday 9 | Dessehra | Hinduism | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 14* - 20 | Sukkot (primary observance days) | Judaism | Work Restriction |
| Monday 20 | Birth of B'ab | Baha'i | Work Restriction |
| Tuesday 21 | Semini Atzeret | Judaism | Work Restriction |
| Wednesday 22 | Simhat Torah | Judaism | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 28 | Diwali | Jain/Sikh/Hinduism | Special Worship |
| Friday 31 | Samhain | Pagan | Special Worship |
November 2008
| Saturday 1 | All Saints Day | Christian | Special Worship |
| Wednesday 12 | Birth of Baha'u'llah | Baha'i | Work Restriction |
December 2008
| Monday 8 | Bodhi Day | Buddhism | Special Worship |
| Monday 8 | Immaculate Conception | Catholic Christian | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 9* | Eid ul Adha | Islam | Special Worship |
| Friday 12 | Our Lady of Guadalupe | Catholic Christian | Special Worship |
| Sunday 21 | Yule | Pagan | Special Worship |
| Monday 22*-29 | Hanukah | Judaism | Special Worship |
| Thursday 25 | Christmas | Christian | Work Restriction |
| Friday 26 | Kwanzaa (7 days) | African Heritage | Special Worship |
Second Semester
January 2009
| Thursday 1 | Kwanzaa Concludes | African Heritage | Special Worship |
| Thursday 1 | Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God | Catholic Christian | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 6 | Epiphany | Christian | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 6 | Feast of the Theophany | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Wednesday 7 | Celebration of the Nativity of Jesus | Orthodox Christian | Work Restriction |
February 2009
| Monday 2 | Imbolc | Pagan | Special Worship |
| Monday 23 | Shivaratri | Hinduism | Special Worship |
| Wednesday 25 | Ash Wednesday (Lent Begins) | Christian | Food Restriction |
March 2009
| Monday 2 | Lent Begins | Orthodox Christian | Food Restriction |
| Tuesday 10* | Purim | Judaism | Special Worship |
| Wednesday 11 | Holi | Hinduism | Special Worship |
| Saturday 21 | Ostara | Pagan | Special Worship |
| Saturday 21 | Naw Ruz (New Year's Day) | Baha'i / Zoroastrian | Work Restriction |
| Wednesday 25 | Annunciation | Catholic Christian | Special Worship |
April 2009
| Sunday 5 | Palm Sunday | Christian | Special Worship |
| Thursday 9*-16 ***Work Restriction for first two days and last two days of Passover*** | Passover | Judaism | Food, Work Restriction |
| Thursday 9 | Maundy Thursday | Christian | Special Worship |
| Friday 10 | Good Friday | Christian | Food Restriction, Special Worship |
| Saturday 11 | Holy Saturday | Christian | Food Restriction, Special Worship |
| Sunday 12 | Easter | Christian | Special Worship |
| Sunday 12 | Palm Sunday | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Thursday 16 | Passover (last day) | Judaism | Food, Work Restriction |
| Friday 17 | Holy Friday | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Saturday 18 | Lazarus Saturday | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Sunday 19 | Easter | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 21 | Ridvan | Baha'i | Special Worship |
| Tuesday 21 | Yom Hashoah | Judaism | Special Worship |
May 2009
| Friday 1 | Beltane | Pagan | Special Worship |
| Saturday 2 | Twelfth Day or Ridvan | Baha'i | Work, Food Restriction |
| Saturday 9 | Visakha Puja | Buddhist | Special Worship |
| Thursday 21 | Ascension of the Lord | Catholic Christian | Special Worship |
| Saturday 23* | Declaration of the Bab | Baha'i | Work Restriction |
| Thursday 28 | Ascension of Jesus | Orthodox Christian | Special Worship |
| Friday 29*-30 | Shavout | Judaism | Special Worship |
| Friday 29* | Ascension of the Baha'u'llah | Baha'i | Work Restriction |
| Sunday 31 | Pentecost | Christian | Special Worship |
