Cultural Highlights is an annual campus-wide initiative that honors the diversity and richness of human experiences by spotlighting significant cultural observances, traditions, rituals, values, and historic commemorations that reflect the intersecting identities shaping our Pratt community. This includes heritage celebrations, religious and spiritual holy days, awareness and visibility dates, and other meaningful cultural festivities. Cultural Highlights aims to deepen cross-cultural understanding, promote cultural humility and connection, encourage intentional learning, and provide opportunities for meaningful community engagement.
Pratt’s Attendance Policy respects and acknowledges students’ need to observe days of cultural significance, including religious and spiritual holy days. If you anticipate missing class for an observance, students are encouraged to connect with their faculty early or contact the Student Support and Advocacy Office for assistance navigating accommodations.
Spring Semester 2026
Cultural Highlights is curated by the Office of Student Involvement and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. If you want to contribute to these or other cultural and community events, please contact involvement@pratt.edu or diversity@pratt.edu. Find more events and resources at Critical Conversations and Engage for the latest campus events.
Religious and Spiritual Observance Calendar
Note: Some observances, particularly in the Jewish, Islamic, and Bahá’í traditions, follow lunar calendars or are determined by local moon sightings. As a result, dates may vary slightly by region. These holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date listed.
| Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Orthodox Christian | January 7, 2026 |
| Sankranti (Makar Sankranti) | Hindu | January 14, 2026 |
| Isra & Mi’raj | Islam | January 16, 2026 |
| Laylat al Bara’ah (Nisf Sha’ban) | Islam | February 3, 2026 |
| Ash Wednesday | Christian | February 18, 2026 |
| Lent Begins | Christian | February 18, 2026 |
| Ramadan | Islam | February 17 – March 18, 2026 |
| Purim | Jewish | March 2–3, 2026 |
| Holi | Hindu | March 4, 2026 |
| Lailat al-Qadr | Islam | March 16, 2026 |
| Eid al-Fitr | Islam | March 21, 2026 |
| Passover (Pesach) | Jewish | April 1–9, 2026 |
| Good Friday | Christian | April 3, 2026 |
| Easter | Christian | April 5, 2026 |
| Eastern Orthodox Good Friday | Orthodox Christian | April 10, 2026 |
| Eastern Orthodox Easter | Orthodox Christian | April 12, 2026 |
| Vaisakhi | Sikh | April 14, 2026 |
| Vesak (Theravada) | Buddhism | May 1, 2026 |
| Shavuot | Jewish | May 21–23, 2026 |
| Eid al-Adha | Islam | May 27, 2026 |
| Days of Tashreeq | Islam | May 28–30, 2026 |
| Vesak (Mahayana) | Buddhism | May 31, 2026 |
| Eid al-Ghadeer | Islam | June 3–4, 2026 |
| Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year) | Islam | June 17, 2026 |
| Juneteenth | Interfaith/African American | June 19, 2026 |
| 10th of Muharram (Ashura) | Islam | June 25–26, 2026 |
| Tisha B’Av | Jewish | July 22–23, 2026 |
| Arbaʽeen | Islam | August 4–5, 2026 |
| Paryushan | Jain | September 8–14, 2026 |
| Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | September 11–13, 2026 |
| Yom Kippur | Jewish | September 20–21, 2026 |
| Sukkot | Jewish | September 25 – October 2, 2026 |
| Shemini Atzeret | Jewish | October 2–4, 2026 |
| Simchat Torah | Jewish | October 3–4, 2026 |
| Navratri | Hindu | October 11–19, 2026 |
| Holy Day of Obligation (All Saints’ Day) | Catholic | November 1, 2026 |
| Diwali | Hindu | November 8, 2026 |
| Hanukkah | Jewish | December 4–12, 2026 |
Note: Some of these dates are not fixed to the calendar, but rather are based on the local sighting of the prescribed phase of the moon, and therefore, there may be some variance.
**All Jewish, Islamic, and Bahá’í holidays begin at sundown on the evening before the first date shown.