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.
2020 Spring Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| New Year's Day |
|
Jan. 1, 2020 |
No classes |
| Orthodox Christmas |
Christian Orthodox |
Jan. 7, 2020 |
|
| Martin Luther King Day |
|
Jan. 20, 2020 |
No classes |
| Lunar New Year |
|
Jan. 25, 2020 |
|
| Maha Shivaratri |
Hindu |
Feb. 21, 2020 |
|
| Ash Wednesday |
Christian |
Feb. 26, 2020 |
|
| Beginning of Lent |
Christian |
Feb. 26, 2020 |
|
| Holi |
Hindu |
March 9-10, 2020 |
|
| Purim |
Jewish |
March 9, 2020 |
|
| Ramanavami |
Hindu |
April 2, 2020 |
|
| Passover (Pesach) |
Jewish |
April 8-16, 2020 |
|
| Good Friday |
Christian |
April 10, 2020 |
|
| Easter |
Christian |
April 12, 2020 |
|
| Orthodox Good Friday |
Christian Orthodox |
April 17, 2020 |
|
| Orthodox Easter |
Christian Orthodox |
April 19, 2020 |
|
| Beginning of Ramadan |
Islamic |
April 23, 2020 |
Ramadan: April 23-May 23, 2020 |
2020 Summer Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| Lailat Ul Qadr |
Islamic |
May 19, 2020 |
|
| Memorial Day |
|
May 25, 2020 |
No classes |
| Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) |
Islamic |
May 23, 2020 |
Ramadan: April 23-May 23, 2020
|
| Shavuot |
Jewish |
May 28-30, 2020 |
|
| Independence Day |
|
July 4, 2020 |
No classes |
| Eid al-Adha |
Islamic |
July 30, 2020 |
|
| Janmashtami |
Hindu |
Aug. 11, 2020 |
|
2020 Fall Semester
| Holiday or Observance |
Religious Group |
Dates |
Notes |
| Muharram (Al Hijrah New Year) |
Islamic |
Aug. 23, 2020 |
|
| Labor Day |
|
Sept. 7, 2020 |
No classes |
| Navaratri/Dassehra |
Hindu |
Oct. 17-26, 2020 |
|
| Rosh Hashanah (New Year) |
Jewish |
Sept. 18-20, 2020 |
|
| Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) |
Jewish |
Sept. 27-28, 2020 |
|
| Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) |
Jewish |
Oct. 2-9, 2020 |
|
| Shmini Atzeret |
Jewish |
Oct. 9-11, 2020 |
|
| Simchat Torah |
Jewish |
Oct. 10-11, 2020 |
|
| Mawlid-al-Nabi (birthday of Mohammad) |
Islamic |
Oct. 29, 2020 |
|
| Diwali |
Hindu |
Nov. 14, 2020 |
|
| Thanksgiving Day |
|
Nov. 26, 2020 |
|
| Hanukkah (Chanukah) |
Jewish |
Dec. 10-18, 2020 |
|
| Christmas Day |
Christian |
Dec. 25, 2020 |
No classes |