Religious & Cultural Observances

SIU’s Community of Care emphasizes the safety, confidentiality, and holistic well-being of our diverse student body, including our international community. To foster mutual understanding and respect on campus, we have compiled a guide to some of the most significant holy days across various faiths.

Disclaimer: Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all religious observances. It is also important to acknowledge that massive umbrella categories—such as Chinese Traditional/Folk Religions and African Traditional Religions—account for hundreds of millions of adherents and hold immense global and cultural importance. However, to provide a brief, accessible educational overview for our campus, this guide highlights exactly two major observances for each of the top ten major structured world religions.

2 Major Observances in the Top World Religions by Adherents (Alphabetically Sorted)

Bahá'í Faith

• The Festival of Ridván (April 20 – May 2, 2026): A 12-day festival commemorating the founder, Bahá'u'lláh, declaring his mission. Adherents suspend work on the 1st, 9th, and 12th days to gather for communal prayers. It concludes on the 12th day with joyous community feasts.
• Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (November 11, 2026): Celebrates the birth of the faith's founder. Work is suspended, and adherents gather for prayers, music, and community meals to honor his life and teachings.

Buddhism

(approx. 500 million adherents worldwide)

• Vesak / Buddha Day (May 31, 2026): Vesak honors the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Gautama Buddha. Practitioners visit local temples, meditate, and observe vegetarian diets. The observance frequently concludes with "Bathing the Buddha" ceremonies and beautiful evening lantern processions.
• Bodhi Day (December 8, 2026): Commemorates when Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment. Adherents observe this quietly through intense meditation, chanting of sutras, and traditional meals of rice and milk, concluding with renewed vows to the Buddhist path.

Christianity

(approx. 2.4 billion adherents worldwide)

• Holy Week and Easter (March 29 – April 5, 2026): Following the 40-day fasting period of Lent, Holy Week remembers the Last Supper and the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday. The period concludes on Easter Sunday, celebrating his resurrection with joyous worship services and festive family meals.
• Christmas (December 25, 2026): Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The season includes advent preparations, attending church services, and concludes with gift-giving, singing carols, and large feasts with family and friends.

Hinduism

(approx. 1.2 billion adherents worldwide)

• Holi (March 3 – 4, 2026): Known as the Festival of Colors, Holi celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. The observance begins with lighting bonfires on the eve of the festival and concludes the next day with a vibrant community gathering where people throw colored powders and share sweets.
• Diwali / Deepavali (November 8, 2026): The Festival of Lights is a five-day observance celebrating the spiritual victory of light over darkness. Adherents decorate with clay lamps (diyas) and participate in pujas honoring deities. It concludes with grand family feasts and fireworks.

Islam

(approx. 1.9 billion adherents worldwide)

• Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr (Ramadan: Feb 18 – March 19, 2026; Eid al-Fitr: March 20, 2026): Ramadan requires strict fasting from dawn to sunset and charitable giving. The month ends with the sighting of the new moon, ushering in Eid al-Fitr, celebrated with a special morning communal prayer, large feasts, and community gatherings.
• Eid al-Adha (May 26 – 27, 2026): The "Festival of Sacrifice" coincides with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. It involves special prayers, the ethical sacrifice of a livestock animal, and concludes by dividing the meat equally among family, friends, and those in need.

Jainism

(approx. 6 million adherents worldwide)

• Mahavir Janma Kalyanak (March 31, 2026): Celebrates the birth of Lord Mahavira. Adherents visit temples to listen to spiritual teachings, engage in charitable acts, and participate in grand chariot processions carrying the idol of Mahavira.
• Paryushana (September 6 – 13, 2026): The most important annual holy event for Jains, focusing on intense spiritual purification and fasting. The observance concludes with Samvatsari, the Day of Forgiveness, where adherents actively seek and grant forgiveness to all living beings.

Judaism

(approx. 15 million adherents worldwide)

• Passover / Pesach (April 1 – 9, 2026): Commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. For eight days, adherents avoid leavened bread. It begins with a ritual Seder meal and concludes with specific synagogue services and the breaking of dietary restrictions.
• Hanukkah (December 4 – 11, 2026): An eight-day observance commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Adherents light the menorah each night, play traditional games, and eat oil-based foods, concluding on the eighth night with the fully lit menorah.

Shinto

(approx. 104 million adherents worldwide)

• Shogatsu / Japanese New Year (January 1 – 3, 2026): Families clean their homes to welcome the Toshigami (New Year deities) and participate in Hatsumode—the first shrine visit of the year. It concludes with the burning of the previous year's ornaments in purification fires.
• Setsubun (February 3, 2026): Held the day before the beginning of spring, focusing on cleansing away evil of the former year. Practices include throwing roasted soybeans to drive away spirits, concluding with eating special sushi rolls in silence for good luck.

Sikhism

(approx. 30 million adherents worldwide)

• Vaisakhi (April 14, 2026): Marks the spring harvest and the creation of the Khalsa in 1699. Adherents participate in continuous readings of the Guru Granth Sahib and join in street processions. The observance culminates in the Langar, a free communal meal served to all attendees.
• Bandi Chhor Divas (November 8, 2026): Coinciding with Diwali, this day commemorates the release of the sixth Guru from prison. Adherents celebrate by illuminating Gurdwaras (temples) with lights, singing joyous hymns, and concluding with a grand community Langar.

Taoism

(approx. 12 million adherents worldwide)

• Lantern Festival (March 3, 2026): Marking the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, this festival honors deceased ancestors and promotes reconciliation. It features lighting decorative lanterns and concludes with eating tangyuan (sweet rice balls).
• Qingming Festival / Tomb-Sweeping Day (April 5, 2026): Dedicated to honoring ancestors, families visit gravesites to clean the tombs, offer food, and burn spirit money. The observance wraps up with families flying kites and sharing the offered food.