2024-2025 List of Religious Holidays

Rider University fully supports the right of students and faculty to observe religious holidays. Below is information on important religious holidays and on Rider University policies regarding class attendance and students’ responsibilities to make up missed work.

Per university policy, the University Academic Policy Committee encourages all faculty to honor the desire of students to observe major religious holidays by permitting students to make up work missed on the day or days in question, including any tests or examinations. This position is endorsed with the understanding that students are responsible for all class work missed.

Faculty observing these holidays are encouraged to communicate with students via Canvas and/or email if they plan on cancelling the class meeting to observe the holiday. Students who are missing class to observe the holiday need to email the professor prior to missing class and request the opportunity to make arrangements to complete any missed work.

Please note these holidays occurring during the 2024-25 academic year:

  • Rosh Hashanah will be observed from sundown Wednesday, October 2, 2024 through sundown on Friday, October 4, 2024.
  • Navaratri will begin on Thursday, October 3, 2024 and ends on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
  • Yom Kippur will be observed from sundown Friday, October 11, 2024 through sundown on Saturday, October 12, 2024.
  • Sukkot will be observed from sundown Wednesday, October 16, 2024 through Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
  • Diwali will be observed on Thursday, October 31, 2024 through Friday, November 1, 2024.
  • Guru Nanak Jayanti will be observed on Friday, November 15, 2024.
  • Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur will be observed on Sunday, November 24, 2024.
  • Hanukkah will be observed from sundown on Wednesday, December 25, 2024 through sundown on Thursday, January 2, 2025.
  • Christmas Eve will be observed Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
  • Christmas will be observed Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
  • Kwanzaa will be observed Thursday, December 26, 2024 through Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
  • New Year will be observed Wednesday, January 1, 2025.
  • Lunar New Year will be observed Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
  • Hola Mohalla will be observed beginning Friday, March 14, 2025 and ends on Sunday, March 16, 2025.
  • Ramadan will be observed beginning the evening of Friday, February 28, 2025 and ends in the evening of Sunday, March 30, 2025.
  • Passover will be observed beginning at sundown on Saturday, April 12, 2025 and ends on the evening of Sunday, April 20, 2025.
  • Good Friday will be observed on Friday, April 18, 2025.
  • Easter will be observed on Sunday, April 20, 2025.
  • Hajj Days will begin in the evening of Wednesday, June 4, 2025 and ends in the evening of Monday, June 9, 2025.
  • Day of Arafah will begin in the evening of Thursday, June 5, 2025 and ends in the evening of Friday, June 6, 2025.
  • Eid al-Adha will begin in the evening of Friday, June 6, 2025 and ends in the evening of Saturday, June 7, 2025.
  • Islamic New Year will begin in the evening of Thursday, June 26, 2025 and ends in the evening of Friday, June 27, 2025.

Please note the exact dates of Islamic holidays cannot always be determined in advance, due to the nature of the Islamic Lunar Calendar.

Your sensitivity is greatly appreciated. If there are other important religious holidays which may affect class attendance or offerings, please contact the Provost's office, or send an email to vpaa@rider.edu.