Event Date
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 - May 2024
Beltane
Pagan, Wiccan, Druid
The fire festival that celebrates the coming of summer and the fertility of the coming year. One of the eight major annual sabbats or festivals.
Jumping the balefire, dancing the Maypole.
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 | Monday, May 1, 2023 | Thursday, May 1, 2025
Twelfth Day of Ridvan
Baháʼí
Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off.
Bahá'í commemoration of the twelve-day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was God's messenger for this age.
Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the festival.
May 1, 2024 - May 2, 2024 | Monday, May 1, 2023 | April 30, 2025 - May 1, 2025
National Day of Prayer
Christian, Protestant, Sikh, Islam, Hindu, Jewish
An annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation." Each year since its inception, the president has signed a proclamation, encouraging all Americans to pray on this day. This day is celebrated by Americans of many religions, reflecting the demographics of the United States.
On the National Day of Prayer, many Americans assemble in prayer in front of courthouses, as well as in houses of worship, such as churches, mosques, synagogues, and temples. Luncheons, picnics, and music performances revolving around praying for the nation are also popular observances.
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | Thursday, May 4, 2023 | Wednesday, May 1, 2024
National Day of Reason
Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist, Secularist
A secular celebration for humanists, atheists, and other secularists and freethinkers in response to the National Day of Prayer, a legal holiday in the United States that many atheist and secular groups view to be unconstitutional. The purpose of the National Day of Reason is to "celebrate reason‚ concept all Americans can support‚ nd to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship." The National Day of Reason is also meant to help build community among the non-religious in the United States.
Thursday, May 2, 2024 | Thursday, May 4, 2023 | Thursday, May 1, 2025
Saint Phillip and James
Roman Catholic
Catholic Christian remembrance of two disciples of Jesus.
Friday, May 3, 2024 | Wednesday, May 3, 2023 | Saturday, May 3, 2025
Pascha / Easter
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Annual commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Significant
Celebratory meals, family gatherings, distribution of colored eggs and baskets of breads, meats, eggs, cheeses and other foods. It is a celebration of renewal.
Easter Sunday is determined by the Julian calendar which regulates ceremonial cycle of the Eastern Orthodox Christian churches.
Sunday, May 5, 2024 | Sunday, April 16, 2023 | Sunday, April 20, 2025
Ascension of Jesus
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Recognition of the departure of Jesus from earth after the resurrection. It is perhaps the earliest observed celebration in Christianity.
It is observed with worship including prayers and music.
Thursday, May 9, 2024 | Thursday, May 18, 2023 | Thursday, May 29, 2025
Yom Hazikaron
Jewish
National remembrance day observed in Israel for those who fell since 1860, when Jews were first allowed to live in Palestine outside of Jerusalem's Old City walls. While traditionally dedicated to fallen soldiers, commemoration has also been extended to civilian victims of political violence and terrorism.
Sunday, May 12, 2024 – Mon, May 13, 2024 | Monday, Apr 24, 2023 – Tue, Apr 25, 2023 | Tuesday, Apr 29, 2025 – Wed, Apr 30, 2025
Yom Ha'atzmaut
Jewish
A national day of Israel commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.
Mon, May 13, 2024 – Tue, May 14, 2024 | Tue, Apr 25, 2023 – Wed, Apr 26, 2023 | Wed, Apr 30, 2025 – Thu, May 1, 2025
Pentecost
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Also called Trinity Day or Descent of the Holy Spirit, it is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church, celebrated 50 days after Pascha.
Sunday, May 19, 2024 | Sunday, May 28, 2023 | Sunday, June 8, 2025
Declaration of the Bab
Baháʼí
Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off.
Recognizes the declaration in 1844 by Ali Muhammed that he is the anticipated "Coming One" of all religions.
Work is suspended.
May 22, 2024 - May 23, 2024 | Tuesday, May 23, 2023 | May 22, 2025 - May 23, 2025
Visakha Puja / Vesak
Buddhist
Provide food accommodations and offer vegetarian options when planning menus for events on this date.
This holiday is traditionally known as Buddha birthday. It is the major Buddhist festival, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.
Buddhists often decorate their homes and visit their local temples. Observers are encouraged to refrain from slaughtering and to avoid eating meat on this date.
Thursday, May 23, 2024 | Friday, May 5, 2023 | Monday, May 12, 2025
Lag Ba'Omer
Jewish
Observation of the counting of the day‚ "the link‚" between Pesach and Shavout.
It is often celebrated by the lighting of bonfires.
May 25, 2024 - May 26, 2024 | Monday, May 8, 2023 | May 15, 2025 - May 16, 2025
Trinity Sunday
Christian
Christians honor the belief in one God with a threefold nature and celebrate the Christian doctrine of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Sunday, May 26, 2024 | Sunday, June 4, 2023 | Sunday, June 15, 2025
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
Baháʼí
Those celebrating will likely request the day off.
Recollection of the death of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. Observed by prayers and readings.
Work is suspended.
May 27, 2024 - May 28, 2024 | Sunday, May 28, 2023 | May 27, 2025 - May 28, 2025
Corpus Christi
Roman Catholic
This feast day is in recognition of the Eucharist, the Blessed Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ. The real presence of the body and blood of Jesus is honored. It emphasizes the joy of the institution of the Eucharist, which was observed on Holy Thursday in the somber atmosphere of the nearness of Good Friday.
A notable Eucharistic procession is that presided over by the Pope each year in Rome, where it begins at the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran and makes its way to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where it concludes with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Thursday, May 30, 2024 | Sunday, June 11, 2023 | Thursday, June 19, 2025