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 - February 2026
Imbolc / Candlemas
Pagan, Wiccan, Druid
Also referred to as the Feast of Pan, Feast of Torches, Feast of Waxing Lights, and Oimele. Celebrates the coming of spring and recovery of the Earth Goddess after giving birth to the Sun God at Yule. For many traditions, a time for initiations, re-dedication and pledges for the coming year. One of the four "greater Sabbats."
General Practices: Activities might include making candles, reading poetry and telling stories.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Saint Brighid of Kildare
Celtic Christian
Christian recognition of Brighid who displayed unusual compassion. She was brought up as a Druid and became Christian.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Triodion
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Orthodox Christian period leading up to Lent. The liturgy involves hymns, odes and scriptures.
Sunday, February 1, 2026
Tu B'shvat
Jewish
This is a holiday known as the New Year for trees celebrating Judaism's roots in the natural world. While special meals are made that include eating the seven fruits of the land such as wheat, barley, figs, grapes, pomegranates, olives and dates, trees are planted too on this day.
Sunday, February 1 to Monday, February 2, 2026
Lailat al-Bara'ah
Islam
This holy day is known as Lailat al-Bara'ah ("Night of Forgiveness") in Arabic and Shab-Barat in Persian. It is celebrated on the night of the full moon. Historically this is the night when the Prophet entered Mecca triumphantly, but in Muslim folklore it is considered to be the night when the "writing conferring immunity is written in heaven" or, more generally, the night during which the fates for the coming year are fixed.
General Practices: Followers observe the date by holding a vigil throughout the night. They congregate at the local mosque to fast, pray, and read the Qur'an. Overall, however, and especially in Indo-Pakistan, the night is celebrated with illuminations and fireworks.
Date Details: Begins at sundown on the first day.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Presentation of Our Lord to the Temple
Eastern Orthodox Christian
Christian celebration of the presentation of young Jesus in the temple to the aged Simeon. New beginnings are recognized. Candles are lighted.
Monday, February 2, 2026
Saint Blaze Day
Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christian
Honors a 4th century saint by blessing the throats of believers.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Setsubum-sai
Shinto
Setsubum-sai marks the beginning of spring and is known as the "bean-throwing festival." The faithful scatter roasted beans to bring good luck to the new season.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Saint Valentine's Day
Christian
Christian celebration of the love of God presented in Jesus and in the lives of Christian believers. St Valentine was a 3rd century martyr. This day is widely observed in the USA as a secular celebration of love.
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Parinirvana / Nirvana Day
Buddhist, Jain
A regional observance of the death of the Buddha. It celebrates the day when the Buddha is said to have achieved Parinirvana, or complete Nirvana, upon the death of his physical body.
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year / Tet / Spring Festival
Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kongers, Macanese, Singaporeans, Thai, Cambodian, Indonesian, Malaysian, Mauritian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Confucian, Buddhist, Taoist
Recommended Accommodation: Significant. Avoid scheduling important academic deadlines, events, and activities on this date.
This is the most important of traditional holidays throughout Asia. Lunar New Year begins a fifteen-day festival and is celebrated as a national, cultural, and familial holiday, as well as a religious holiday for those practicing. Family reunions with thanksgiving and remembrance of departed relatives take place. Traditionally a religious ceremony honors Heaven and Earth.
General Practices: Regional customs and traditions concerning the celebration of the Lunar New Year vary widely. Often, the evening preceding Lunar New Year's Day is an occasion for families to gather for the annual reunion dinner. It is also traditional for every family to thoroughly cleanse the house, to sweep away any ill-fortune and to make way for good incoming luck. Windows and doors will be decorated with red color paper-cuts and couplets with popular themes of good fortune or happiness, wealth, and longevity. Other activities include lighting firecrackers and giving money in red paper envelopes.
Date Details: Corresponds to the New Moon in Aquarius, which can fall from late January to mid-February.
Tuesday, February 17, 2026
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, February 17, 2026
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).
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.
General Practices: 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.
Date Details: Dates are determined by the lunar calendar. The observed date marks the beginning of a thirty day observation.
Tuesday, February 17 to Wednesday, March 18, 2026
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, February 18, 2026
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, February 23, 2026
Intercalary Days / Ayyam-i-Ha
Baháʼí
The Ayyam-i-Ha (or Intercalary Days) are a period when Baháʼí's focus more than usually on hospitality, charity, giving gifts and preparing for the month of fasting. The Ayyam-i-Ha are of four or five days duration. They are the days that fall outside the nineteen months of nineteen days that make up the Baháʼí's calendar.
Tuesday, February 25 to Thursday February 28, 2025
Maha Shivaratri
Hindu
A Hindu festival in honor of Lord Shiva and his marriage to Goddess Parvati. Ceremonies involving prayers and hymns take place mostly at night. Special foods are not used.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025