The Memorial Chapel is pleased to provide resources and programs that support religious and spiritual diversity, identity, and well-being among the campus community.
Cozy Conversations with the Chapel
This regular conversation series offers a chance to engage around interfaith and spiritual topics in a low-pressure environment. Join us for free lunch and good conversation!
Multifaith Religious Calendar 2026-2027
This calendar was a joint effort of Belonging & Community at UMD and the Memorial Chapel with help from the UMD chaplains. All are encouraged to refer to the calendar below when scheduling and planning events, assignments and other activities. While it may not be possible to avoid all holidays, our hope is that this outline may help you plan thoughtfully.
This is intended as a helpful resource, not an official list of dates. If the dates below (or any others not listed) present a conflict with academic work, students are responsible for communicating with faculty in advance of any needed extensions or absences to accommodate for religious or spiritual observances.
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list of all important dates for every faith tradition. Feel free to look beyond this resource (here's one more extensive external resource of dates) as needed. If any of the dates below are incorrect or you would like us to consider adding a significant date, please email us at belonging@umd.edu or chapel@umd.edu.
September 2026
Friday, Sept. 4 : Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
Friday, Sept. 11: Nayrouz (Coptic Orthodox Christian)
Friday, Sept. 11 - Sunday, Sept. 13: Rosh Hashanah* (Jewish)
Monday, Sept. 14: Ganesh Chaturthi (Hindu)
Sunday, Sept. 20 - Monday, Sept. 21: Yom Kippur* (Jewish)
Tuesday, Sept. 22 - Wednesday, Sept. 23: Autumn Equinox/Mabon (Pagan / Wiccan)
Friday, Sept. 25 - Friday, October 2: Sukkot* (Jewish)
* These holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
October 2026
Friday, Oct. 2 - Sunday, Oct. 4: Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah* (Jewish)
Sunday, Oct. 11 - Monday, Oct. 19: Navaratri (Hindu)
Monday, Oct. 12: Indigenous Peoples Day
Tuesday, Oct. 20: Dussehra (Hindu)
Monday, Oct. 26: Pavarana (Buddhist)
Saturday, Oct. 31 - Sunday, Nov. 1: Samhain (Pagan / Wiccan)
* These holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
November 2026
Sunday, Nov. 1: Kathina (Buddhist)
Sunday, Nov. 1: Lhabab Duchen (Buddhist)
Sunday, Nov. 1: All Saints' Day (Christian)
Monday, Nov. 2: All Souls Day (Christian)
Sunday, Nov. 8: Diwali (Hindu)
Tuesday, Nov. 10: Birth of the Báb (Bahá'í)
Wednesday, Nov. 11: Birth of the Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá'í)
Tuesday, Nov. 24: Guru Nanak Jayanti/ Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib (Sikh)
Thursday, Nov. 26: Thanksgiving
Friday, Nov. 27: Native American Heritage Day
December 2026
Friday, Dec. 4 - Saturday, Dec. 12: Hanukkah* (Jewish)
Tuesday, Dec. 8: Rohatsu/Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
Friday, Dec. 11 - Saturday, Dec. 12: Shabbat**** (Jewish)
Friday, Dec. 18 - Saturday, Dec. 19: Shabbat**** (Jewish)
Monday, Dec. 21: Winter Solstice/Yule (Pagan / Wiccan)
Friday, Dec. 25: Christmas (Christian)
Saturday, Dec. 26 - Friday, Jan. 1: Kwanzaa (Multifaith / African-American)
* These holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
**** Please note also the weekly Jewish Shabbat restrictions and when those restrictions fall during Final Exams. For observant members of the Jewish community, no work or travel should take place from Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown. During the 2026-2027 academic year, these dates are affected: Fri., Dec. 11 and Sat., Dec. 12; and Fri., May 14 and Sat. May, 15.
January 2027
Wednesday, Jan. 6: Feast of the Epiphany (Christian)
Wednesday, Jan. 6: Isra' & Miraj (Muslim)
Thursday, Jan. 7: Eastern Orthodox Christmas (Christian Orthodox)
Thursday, Jan. 14: Sankranti (Hindu)
Friday, Jan. 15: Birth of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikh)
Saturday, Jan. 23 - Sunday, January 24: Birthday of Ali ibn Abi Talib (Muslim)
Sunday, Jan. 24: Laylat al-Bara'ah (Muslim)
February 2027
Monday, Feb. 1 - Tuesday, Feb. 2: Imbolc (Pagan / Wiccan)
Saturday, Feb. 6: Lunar New Year / Tet Nguyen Dan (Buddhist)
Sunday, Feb. 7- Monday, Mar. 8: Ramadan ** (Muslim)
Sunday, Feb. 7: Losar/ Chotrul Duchen (Buddhist)
Wednesday, Feb. 10: Ash Wednesday (Christian)
Monday, Feb. 15: Parinirvana Day (Buddhist)
Sunday, Feb. 21: Magha Puja (Buddhist)
** These holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate. Muslim holidays begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
March 2027
Friday, March 5 - Saturday, March 6: Laylat al-Qadr** (Muslim)
Saturday, March 6: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu)
Sunday, Feb. 7- Monday, Mar. 8: Ramadan ** (Muslim)
Tuesday, March 9- Wednesday, March 10: Eid al-Fitr** (Muslim)
Monday, March 15: Eastern Orthodox Beginning of Lent (Christian Orthodox)
Saturday, March 20: Spring Equinox/Ostara (Pagan / Wiccan)
Sunday, March 21: NowRuz*** (Multifaith / Bahá'í / Zoroastrianism)
Monday, March 22 - Tuesday, March 23: Purim* (Jewish)
Monday, March 22: Holi (Hindu)
Thursday, March 25: Holy Thursday (Christian)
Friday, March 26: Good Friday (Christian)
Sunday, March 28: Easter (Christian)
* These holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
** These holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate. Muslim holidays begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
*** The Baha'i day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a Holy Day is observed begins at sunset of the day before the Gregorian calendar dates given above.
April 2027
Thursday, Apr. 8: Hanamatsuri (Buddhist)
Wednesday, April 14: Rama Navami (Hindu)
Wednesday, Apr. 14: Vaisakhi (Sikh)
Wednesday, Apr. 21 - Thursday, April 29: Passover (Pesach)* (Jewish)
Wednesday, April 21: First Day of Ridvan*** (Bahá'í)
Thursday, April 29: Ninth Day of Ridvan*** (Bahá'í)
Friday, Apr. 30: Eastern Orthodox Good Friday (Christian)
* These holy days begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
*** The Baha'i day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a Holy Day is observed begins at sunset of the day before the Gregorian calendar dates given above.
May 2027
Saturday, May 1: Beltane/May Day (Pagan / Wiccan)
Sunday, May 2: Eastern Orthodox Easter (Christian)
Sunday, May 2: Twelfth Day of Ridván*** (Bahá'í)
Thursday, May 6: Ascension Day (Christian)
Thursday, May 13: Buddha's Birthday (Buddhist)
Friday, May 14 - Saturday, May 15: Shabbat**** (Jewish)
Sunday, May 16 - Monday, May 17: Eid-al-Adha** (Muslim)
Thursday, May 20: Vesak/Visakha (Buddhist)
Saturday, May 22 - Sunday, May 23: Declaration of the Bab*** (Bahá'í)
** These holidays are calculated on a lunar calendar and are approximate. Muslim holidays begin and end at sundown on the first and last days listed.
*** The Baha'i day ends and a new one begins at sunset; consequently, the day on which a Holy Day is observed begins at sunset of the day before the Gregorian calendar dates given above.
**** Please note also the weekly Jewish Shabbat restrictions and when those restrictions fall during Final Exams. For observant members of the Jewish community, no work or travel should take place from Friday at sundown through Saturday at sundown. During the 2026-2027 academic year, these dates are affected: Fri., Dec. 11 and Sat., Dec. 12; and Fri., May 14 and Sat. May, 15.
Ramadan Resources!
The multifaith Memorial Chapel consolidates and connects students to resources regarding religious observations as part of our commitment to supporting spiritual life for all students on campus. Ramadan is the holy month where observing Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset for the lunar month (usually 29 or 30 days).
Dining Hall Resources
Check back in Spring 2027!
Free Iftars at Stamp
Check back in Spring 2027!
Muslim Chaplaincy and Prayer Resources
- Tarif Shraim serves as the Muslim chaplain at UMD. Imam Tarif provides mentorship, care, and coaching to Muslim college students, all are welcome to reach out to him.
Office: 2118 Memorial Chapel | Email: tshraim@gmail.com - Prayer Spaces at UMD
- The Musallah is located in the Cole Field House: Room 0204. It is directly across the southwest entrance of Stamp Student Union, next to the Union Lane Garage.
- The Stamp Student Union ablution room is located on the Ground floor across from the Hoff Theater. This space is available for use anytime the Stamp is open to the public.
- The 3214 alcove serves as McKeldin Library’s designated reflection space.
- The Memorial Chapel is an interfaith space and offers a serene space for all students for reflection, prayer, and meditation during the day.
- The Muslim Student Association hosts iftars, taraweeh and jummah regularly - see their social media for details @umdmsa
- Other Muslim and interfaith student organizations can be found on Terplink.
- MSA Iftar Calendar
- The University of Maryland Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) will be hosting community iftars throughout Ramadan. See the full calendar of dates, locations, and updates.
- They encourage students, faculty, staff, and community members to check the calendar regularly for the most up to date information.
- Musallah and Taraweeh Information
The UMD MSA Musallah is located in the Cole Student Activities Building, 2126 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742. During Ramadan, Taraweeh prayers will be held there nightly. Taraweeh is a special nightly prayer performed by Muslims during the month of Ramadan. All are welcome to respectfully observe or learn more about this tradition. - How to Support or Sponsor Iftars
- Community members who are interested in supporting or sponsoring an iftar are warmly invited to do so. Contributions help provide meals for students breaking their fast on campus.
- Make a donation
- For questions, please contact the MSA at umcpmsa@gmail.com.
Classroom Religious Accommodations
According to University of Maryland Policy, "Students shall be given reasonable accommodation, including excused absences, to observe faith-based or religious holidays or participate in organized religious activities. If a student’s request for a specific accommodation is denied, the institution should consider alternate accommodations that the student may request consistent with institutional policy and procedures” (full policy).
Belonging & Community at UMD provides expertise and support for anyone who needs help establishing a sense of belonging and finding a nurturing community.
See the Office of Civil Rights and Misconduct for further details and support. If you need help requesting an accommodation for class or work, please reach out to them for help navigating the process.
What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is a sacred month in the Islamic faith tradition, which follows the lunar calendar. This year, it is anticipated to fall between February 17 and March 19, 2026. During this time observing Muslims abide by a number of practices for the purpose of deepening faith and connecting with community.
During Ramadan many Muslims are expected to fast - abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset. A combination of prayer, fasting, and other deeds undertaken in observation of this sacred month serves to instill values such as generosity, sacrifice, forgiveness, and self-reflection.
How to Support our Community During Ramadan
- Be mindful of the physical impact of fasting. This might mean that people are less energized or focused while participating in meetings and classes.
- Acknowledge conflicts. People may need to step away from or miss parts of meetings or classes due to prayer time, or breaking fast. Communicate what expectations are in as far advance as possible.
- Understand the law and UMD policy. Students and staff with sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs have the right to request accommodations, when reasonable. See OCRSM for more details.
- Be proactive! Make space for observers of Ramadan whether or not people have self-identified themselves as Muslim. Relying on clothing or looks to tell you who is celebrating is a quick way to miss the full breadth and diversity of our campus muslim community.