Event Date
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The Multicultural Calendar serves as a resource for students, staff, and faculty to plan events, activities, meetings, retreats, and courses throughout the year. It is a resource for understanding religious and cultural observances.
Multicultural Calendar - March 2025
Nineteen Day Fast
Baháʼí
Baháʼís Fast to be observed by adult Baháʼí's in good health, with no food or drink taken from sunrise to sundown.
February 28, 2025 - March 19, 2025
Ramadan
Islam
Recommended Accommodation: Significant. If possible, avoid scheduling major academic deadlines during this time. Be sensitive to the fact that students and employees celebrating Ramadan will be fasting during the day (continuously for 30 days) and will likely have less stamina as a result. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations (halal dietary restrictions apply). Fasting is required during the entire month of Ramadan. Muslims refrain from food and beverages during the daylight hours, and smoking and sexual relations are forbidden. Worshipers break the fasting each night with prayer, reading of the Qu’ran, and a meal called the iftar. In addition, many Muslims also attend night prayers at Mosques. Muslims also believe that their good actions bring a greater reward during this month than any other time of the year, so almost all Muslims try to give up bad habits during Ramadan.
Ramadan is an occasion to focus on faith through fasting and prayer and is one of the most important Muslim holidays. Ramadan is notable because the Qur'an was first revealed during this month, and Muslims see the Qur'an as the ultimate form of guidance for mankind. The night that the Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad is called Lailat ul Oadr, and standing in prayer this one night is thought to eclipse months of worship.
Date Details: Dates are determined by the lunar calendar. The observed date marks the beginning of a thirty day observation.
March 1, 2025 - March 30, 2025
Clean Monday
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Orthodox Christian first day of Lent† Liturgically, Clean Monday‚ and thus Lent itself begins on the preceding Sunday night at a special service called Forgiveness Vespers, which culminates with the Ceremony of Mutual Forgiveness, at which all present will bow down before one another and ask forgiveness. In this way, the faithful begin Lent with a clean conscience, with forgiveness, and with renewed Christian love.
General Practices: The entire first week of Great Lent is often referred to as "Clean Week," and it is customary to go to Confession during this week, and to clean the house thoroughly.
Monday, March 3, 2025
Shrove Tuesday / Fat Tuesday
Christian
Christian carnival day on the eve of Ash Wednesday which begins Lent, a time of fasting and devotions. Pancakes are often served. It is also known as Fat Tuesday in some places.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Ash Wednesday
Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant
Recommended Accommodation: Provide food accommodations (prohibitions include animal products).
This is the first day of Lent, the period of forty days before Easter in which many Christians sacrifice ordinary pleasures to reflect on Christ's sacrifice.
General Practices: On this day, there are special church services, and the faithful wear a cross of ashes marked on foreheads. Most Christians abstain from meat on this day.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Orthodox Sunday
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Orthodox Christian first Sunday of Lent. Restoration of icons to the church is celebrated.
Sunday, March 9, 2025
L. Ron Hubbard's Birthday
Scientology
After establishing a career as a writer, becoming best known for his science fiction and fantasy stories, L. Ron Hubbard developed a system called Dianetics which was first expounded in book form in May 1950. He subsequently developed his ideas into a wide-ranging set of doctrines and practices as part of a new religious movement that he called Scientology.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Fast of Esther
Jewish
A fast from dawn until dusk on Purim eve.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Purim
Jewish
Recommended Accommodation: Purim is not subject to the restrictions on work that affect some other holidays. However, some sources indicate that Jews should not go about their ordinary business on Purim out of respect for the festival. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations (kosher restrictions apply)
Purim commemorates the time when the Jews were living in Persia and were saved by the courage of a young Jewish woman called Esther.
General Practices: Many Jews hold carnival-like celebrations on Purim, dressing in costumes, and read the Book of Esther. Triangular, fruit-filled pastries are eaten in opposition to the villain Haman, who wore a three-cornered hat. Begins at sundown on the first day.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Holi
Hindu
Also known as the "festival of colors," this holiday can be traced to Hindu scriptures commemorating good over evil. This date is also a celebration of the colorful spring and a farewell to the dull winter.
General Practices: Hindus often sprinkle colored water and powder on others and celebrate with bonfires and lights, signifying victory of good over evil.
Date Details: Celebrated at the end of the winter season on the last full moon day of the lunar moon in late February or early March.
Thursday, March 13, 2025
Hola Mohalla
Sikh
A Sikh day when mock battles are fought and martial arts are displayed. It follows the Hindu festival of Holi by one day.
March 14, 2025 - March 16, 2025
Hamaspathmaidyem Gahambar
Zoroastrian
There are six Gahanbars (five-day festivals) spread throughout the year. This gagambar is not a seasonal festival in the technical sense, but rather celebrates mankind and commemorates the souls of the dead at the end of the religious year. It is better known as frawardigan.
General Practices: Each Gahanbar is a period to focus on worship and those celebrating will perform only necessary work.
March 16, 2025 - March 20, 2025
Saint Patrick's Day
Christian
Christian celebration of Patrick who brought Christianity to Ireland in early days of the faith.
Monday, March 17, 2025
Saint Benedict Day
Roman Catholic
Recognition of the father of the The Benedictine Order. It was the first Order of the Western Church Monastic tradition and lived by the Benedictine Rule.
Friday, March 21, 2025
Khordad Sal
Zoroastrian
Birth of Prophet Zarathustra.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Pioneer Day
Mormon
Mormon observation of arrival of the first settlers at Great Salt Lake, USA, and commemoration of the Mormon exodus from Illinois and crossing of the American continent.
General Practices: Each year celebrations are held in Utah’s cities (in addition to smaller observances held worldwide in Latter-day Saint congregations) to commemorate, with parades and reenactments, the entry of the first pioneers into Salt Lake.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Laylat al-Qadr
Islamic
Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power, commemorates one of the most significant events in the history of Islam. It is the night when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) received the first revelation from Allah.
Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Lailat as-Qadr / Nuzulul Qur'an
Islam
Lailat as-Qadr, which translated to "Night of Power," is celebrated during final days of Ramadan. It begins at sundown on the previous day and commemorates the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad in 610 CE†
General Practices: The night spent in worship to mark the first revelation of the Qur'an. Many assemble at mosques during the Isha prayer, with many prayers being made until midnight.
Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Eid al-Fitr
Islam
Recommended Accommodation: Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. Employees will likely ask to take a vacation day on this day, and that request should be granted if at all possible. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations (halal dietary restrictions apply).
Eid al-Fitr means, break the fast, and is the last day of Ramadan, marking the end of a month of fasting.
General Practices: Muslims often pray, exchange gifts, give money to children, feast, and celebrate with friends and family.
Date Details: Dates are determined by the lunar calendar. Eid al-Fitr is a three-day celebration and begins at sundown on the first day.
Monday, March 31, 2025