Event Date
⭐️ Presented by Inclusive Excellence
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 2026
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.
General Practices: Jumping the balefire, dancing the Maypole.
Friday, May 1, 2026
Visakha Puja / Vesak
Buddhist
Recommended Accommodation: 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.
General Practices: 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.
Friday, May 1, 2026
Twelfth Day of Ridvan
Baháʼí
Recommended Accommodation: Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off. Work is to be suspended on days 1, 9, and 12 of the festival.
Bahá'í commemoration of the twelve-day period in 1863 when Baha'u'llah declared that he was God's messenger for this age.
Friday, May 1 to Saturday, May 2, 2026
Saint Phillip and James
Roman Catholic
Catholic Christian remembrance of two disciples of Jesus.
Sunday, May 3, 2026
Lag Ba'Omer
Jewish
Observation of the counting of the day‚ "the link‚" between Pesach and Shavout.
General Practices: It is often celebrated by the lighting of bonfires.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
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.
General Practices: 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 7, 2026
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 7, 2026
Shavuot
Jewish
Recommended Accommodation: Significant. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events and activities. Provide food accommodations (kosher restrictions apply‚ although, it is customary to eat dairy).
Commemorates receipt of the Torah on Mount Sinai and is two of three pilgrimage festivals.
General Practices: Evening of devotional programs and studying the Torah, lighting of Yahrzeit memorial candle at sundown on the second night of Shavuot.
Thursday, May 21 to Friday, May 23, 2026
Declaration of the Bab
Baháʼí
Recommended Accommodation: Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off. Work is suspended.
Recognizes the declaration in 1844 by Ali Muhammed that he is the anticipated "Coming One" of all religions.
Saturday, May 23 to Sunday, May 24, 2026
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 24, 2026
Day of Arafat in Hajj
Islam
Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage, Hajj, to Mecca. The pilgrimage is one of the five Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are expected to perform the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. The Day of Arafat is the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja of the Islamic lunar calendar and falls on the second day of pilgrimage rituals.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Tuesday, May 26, 2026
Eid al-Adha
Islam
Recommended Accommodation: Significant. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities. If planning an evening event, provide food accommodations (halal dietary restrictions apply).
Eid al-Adha is a major festival that celebrates the willingness to make sacrifices in the name of one’s faith. According to legend, the prophet Ibrahim was ordered to sacrifice his son in God’s name. When Ibrahim was prepared to kill his son, God stepped in and gave him a sheep to sacrifice instead. This holiday celebrates Ibrahim’s total faith in God, and Muslims view this holiday as an important annual reminder.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Tuesday, May 26 to Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Ascension of Baha'u'llah
Baháʼí
Recommended Accommodation: Those celebrating will likely ask for the day off. Work is suspended.
Recollection of the death of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. Observed by prayers and readings.
Thursday, May 28 to Friday, May 29, 2026
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 31, 2026