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 - September 2025
Mawlid al-Nabi
Islam
"Birth of the Prophet," the observance of the birthday of Islamic prophet Muhammed. The day is commemorated with recollections of Muhammad's life and significance.
General Practices: Fasting, religious singing, family and other social gathering, decorations of streets and homes, public processions.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
September 4, 2025 - September 5, 2025
Nativity of Mary
Christian
Christian celebration of birth of the Virgin Mary.
Date Details: Tradition celebrates the event as a liturgical feast in the General Roman Calendar and in most Anglican liturgical calendars on September 8, nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception.
Monday, September 8, 2025
Paitishahem Gahanbar
Zoroastrian
Recommended Accommodation: Each Gahanbar is a period to focus on worship and those celebrating will perform only necessary work.
There are six Gahanbars (five-day festivals) spread throughout the year. This feast is the Zoroastrian's celebrate the creation of earth or the "feast of bringing in the harvest."
Friday, September 12, 2025
Mabon
Pagan
Also referred to as Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering. Mabon is the second celebration of the harvest, a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months. It is one of the eight major annual sabbats or festivals.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Alban Elfed / Autumnal Equinox
Wiccan, Druid
Also referred to as Harvest Home, the Feast of the Ingathering. Mabon is the second celebration of the harvest, a ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth, and a recognition of the need to share them to secure the blessings of the Goddess and the God during the coming winter months. It is one of the eight major annual sabbats or festivals.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Navaratri
Hindu
Durga is the mother goddess, and so Hindus try to visit their mothers and other relatives during this time. Some Hindus will pray and fast, and there are often feasts and dances.
September 22, 2025 - October 1, 2025
Navratri
Hindu
Navarati is one of the greatest Hindu festivals and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. During this time, Hindus worship Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
General Practices: Durga is the mother goddess, and so Hindus try to visit their mothers and other relatives during this time. Some Hindus will pray and fast, and there are often feasts and dances.
September 22, 2025 - October 1, 2025
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish
Recommended Accommodation: Significant. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, or activities on this date. If planning an event, provide food accommodation (kosher restrictions apply). Prayer in synagogue and festive meals.
Start of the Jewish New Year, day of judgment and remembrance. The Jewish calendar celebrates the New Year in the seventh month (Tishrei) as a day of rest and celebration ten days before Yom Kippur.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
September 23, 2025 - September 25, 2025
Fast of Gedaliah
Jewish
Fast day from dawn until dusk on the day after Rosh Hashanah to lament the assassination of the governor of Judah of that name, whose murder ended Jewish autonomy following the destruction of the First Temple.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross, Holy Cross Day
Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic liturgical observance, red vestments are worn at church services conducted on this day, and if the day falls on a Sunday, the holiday's Mass readings are used.
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Meskel
Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Meskel is the Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Christian commemoration of the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Eleni (St. Helena) in the 4th century.
Date Details: It is celebrated soon after the beginning of the Ethiopian calendar year (mid-September).
Saturday, September 27, 2025
International Blasphemy Rights Day
Atheist, Agnostic
A day celebrating blasphemy as defined in the various national, state or religious laws that encourages individuals and groups to openly express criticism of religion and blasphemy laws. Celebrations include educating about the importance of freedom of expression, even opinions contrary to religions or offensive to religious people.
Date Details: Blasphemy Day is celebrated on September 30 to coincide with the anniversary of the publication of satirical drawings of Muhammad in one of Denmark's newspapers, resulting in the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.
Tuesday, September 30, 2025