Easter, which celebrates Christ's resurrection from the grave is always on a Sunday, and fluctuates from year to year in the months of March and April. In 2008 Easter Sunday is March 23. Many Christians also consider Good Friday (the Friday before Easter) to be a holy day; this day marks Christ's crucifixion and death. In 2008, it is March 21. It is appropriate that students be excused from school and civic responsibilities on Good Friday.

Less significant holy days are Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the 40-day season of Lent leading up to Easter, and Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday, the day before Good Friday, commemorating the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. Neither of these days requires students to be excused from school or civic responsibilities.

Orthodox Churches celebrate holy days based on the Julian calendar. Christmas is celebrated on January 7 and Pascha (Easter) in 2008 is on April 27. Good Friday is April 25


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Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year. It begins a ten-day period of repentance. During this time each person must judge his/her daily actions over the past year and take steps to eradicate personal sins as well as injuries inflicted to one's fellow man. On Rosh Hashanah the Shofar (rams horn and one of the oldest of wind instruments) is sounded to awaken all worshipers to the need for prayer and repentance. This is a holy day when students must be excused from all school and civic responsibilities. Rosh Hashana begins at sunset on September 12 and continues through sunset on September 14.

Yom Kippur is the holiest of religious days and climaxes the ten days of penitence. It is observed by fasting and prayer for over twenty-four hours. No food or drink is permitted through the entire period. The worshiper learns that will power can overcome temptation, and this lesson is applied to daily conduct. It is the day when all Jews are judged by G-d and are placed in the book of life or death for the coming year. This too is a holy day when students must be excused from all school and civic responsibilities. Yom Kippur begins at sunset on September 21 and concludes at sunset on September 22.

Hanukkah is a holiday commemorating the defeat of the Syrians by the Jews. The Syrians had restricted the religious worship of the Jews and destroyed the holy Temple. It is related that there was only enough oil to light the sacred eternal alter candle for one day. Wondrously it burnt for eight full days. The Feast of Lights is celebrated for eight days and each day an additional candle is lit on the Hanukkah lamp or menorah This is not a religious holy day but rather a joyful celebration. All school and civic responsibilities can continue as normal. Hanukkah begins at sunset on December 4 and continues through sunset on December 12.

Eid-Al-Fitr takes place at the conclusion of the month of Ramadhan. The significance of Eid is that it is the day of thanksgiving to Allah that He gave the opportunity to Muslims to benefit from and enjoy the blessing of the month of Ramadhan. This is on the eve of October 11, 2007.

Eid-Al Adha- This is a time of sacrifice. Muslims commemorate Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for Allah including his beloved son, Ishmael. Since

Allah gave Prophet Abraham a lamb to sacrifice instead of sacrificing his son; Muslims also offer the sacrifice of animals. The meat of the animals is given to needy people and friends and a portion is also kept for one's own consumption. This begins on the eve of December 19.

The Islamic New Year day reminds Muslims of the Hijrah (migration) of the Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Madinah in the year 622C.E. It begins on the eve of January 8, 2007.

Ashoora is a holy day associated with the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad's grandson, Husain ibn Ali. He was killed in the battle of Karbalaf. It is a day of sadness for all Muslims. Ashoora begins at sunset on January 17, 2007.

Miladun Nabi is remembered as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. It begins on the eve of March 19.