Religious and Ethnic Observances
At Medgar Evers College, we value and celebrate the rich cultural and spiritual diversity of our community. We understand that some students, faculty, and staff may observe religious or spiritual days that include fasting, prayer, or refraining from work and class. When these moments arise, we encourage everyone to be understanding and supportive of one another.
2025 Religious and Ethnic Observances Calendar
Below is a calendar highlighting a range of religious and spiritual observances recognized around the world. Please keep in mind that some holidays—like those in the Jewish and Islamic traditions—begin at sundown the evening before the listed date. Also, because certain observances follow a lunar calendar (such as Islamic and Hindu holy days), some dates may vary slightly year to year.
| Dates | Holiday | Religion/Group | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 1 – June 3 | Shavout | Jewish | Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) to Moses on Mount Sinai. It’s also known as the “Feast of Weeks” because it occurs exactly seven weeks after Passover. |
| June 6 – June 10 | Eid al-Adha | Muslim | Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son, Ismail, in obedience to God’s command. While God ultimately provided a ram to be sacrificed instead, the story highlights the importance of submission to God’s will and divine mercy |
| June 8 | Race Unity Day | Bahai | Race Unity Day was started by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly in the United States in 1957, its goal is “to promote racial harmony and understanding.” |
| June 8 | Pentecost | Christian | The Christian festival celebrating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus after his Ascension, held on the seventh Sunday after Easter |
| June 19 | Feast of Corpus Christi | Roman Catholic | The Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as, The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ is a celebration of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. |
| June 19 | Juneteenth | American | A United States federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. |
| June 26 | Muharram | Muslim | Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar and one of the four sacred months in Islam. It is also the month that marks the beginning of the Islamic New Year. |
| June 29 | St. Peter and St. Paul Day |
Christian | The feast day of St. Peter & St. Paul is a solemnity, highranking liturgical feast, honoring the martyrdom of these two apostles in Rome. |