Holidays and Religious Observances
This calendar lists University of South Carolina holidays, traditional observances
and major days of religious significance. Consider the dates when developing class
syllabi, and planning meetings and examinations.
Faculty and staff are asked to use this information and their discretion when considering
student requests for time off for religious purposes. Please note holidays that are
designated non-work days by the religions that celebrate them.
Notes:
- Classes are not in session for holidays indicated in bold and italic.
- All Jewish and Islamic holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date
shown.
- Any observance designated non-work days by the religions that celebrate them are indicated
in the Notes column.
- Dates marked with an asterisk (*) are not fixed to a calendar but based on the actual
sighting of the moon. There may be some variance by a day.
2021 Spring Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| New Year's Day |
|
January 1 |
No classes |
| Orthodox Christmas |
Christian Orthodox |
January 7 |
|
| Martin Luther King Day |
|
January 15 |
No classes |
| Lunar New Year |
|
February 12 |
|
| Ash Wednesday |
Christian |
February 17 |
|
| Beginning of Lent |
Christian |
February 17 |
|
| Purim |
Jewish |
February 26 |
|
| Maha Shivaratri |
Hindu |
March 11 |
|
| Holi |
Hindu |
March 28-29 |
|
| Passover (Pesach) |
Jewish |
March 28-April 4 |
|
| Good Friday |
Christian |
April 2 |
|
| Easter |
Christian |
April 4 |
|
| Beginning of Ramadan* |
Islamic |
April 13 |
Ramadan: April 13-May 11 |
| Ramanavami |
Hindu |
April 21 |
|
| Orthodox Good Friday |
Christian Orthodox |
April 30 |
|
| Orthodox Easter |
Christian Orthodox |
May 2 |
|
2021 Summer Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| Lailat Ul Qadr* |
Islamic |
May 8 |
|
| Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)* |
Islamic |
May 11 |
|
| Shavuot |
Jewish |
May 17-18 |
|
| Memorial Day |
|
May 31 |
No classes |
| Juneteenth |
|
June 19 |
|
| Independence Day |
|
July 4 |
No classes |
| Eid al-Adha* |
Islamic |
July 20 |
|
| Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year) |
Islamic |
Aug. 10 |
|
2021 Fall Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| Janmashtami |
Hindu |
August 29 |
|
| Labor Day |
|
September 6 |
No classes |
| Rosh Hashanah (New Year) |
Jewish |
September 7-8 |
|
| Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) |
Jewish |
September 16 |
|
| Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) |
Jewish |
September 21-27 |
|
| Shmini Atzeret |
Jewish |
September 28 |
|
| Simchat Torah |
Jewish |
September 29 |
|
| Navaratri/Dassehra |
Hindu |
October 14-16 |
|
| Mawlid-al-Nabi (birthday of Mohammad)* |
Islamic |
October 19 |
|
| Diwali |
Hindu |
November 4-8 |
|
| Thanksgiving Day |
|
November 25 |
No classes |
| Hanukkah (Chanukah) |
Jewish |
November 29-December 6 |
|
| Christmas Day |
Christian |
December 25 |
No classes |