Interfaith Calendar

Monterey Peninsula College is actively committed to student access and success and to fostering an equitable, inclusive, respectful, and supportive community by providing excellent academic programs and student services that respond to the needs of our richly diverse region. Rooted in shared values of inclusivity, diversity, equity, antiracism, and accessibility, we remain committed to creating a campus culture that honors and uplifts every member of our community.

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Understanding Religious & Cultural Observances

The following information is provided to raise awareness and understanding of the religious and cultural observances of students and their families that may affect their engagement and attendance during the year. The calendar provides dates and descriptions of major observances, along with general practices. It is not exhaustive, and we welcome input if any important dates are missing.

January 2026
January 3 – Mahayana New Year \| Buddhist January 6 – Epiphany \| Christian January 7 – Christmas \| Orthodox Christian January 13-14 – Lohri / Makar Sankranti \| Hindu, Sikh

February 2026
February 2 – Candlemas \| Christian February 18 – Lent \| Christian, Roman Catholic and Protestant Season of fasting, prayer, and reflection leading up to Easter; begins Ash Wednesday, ends on April 5. February 17 – Lunar New Year; Year of the Horse \| Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian February 17-18 – Ramadan Begins \| Islam. Sundown Feb 17 to Sundown Feb 18 The fasting month continues through approx. March 19; plan for the full month, not a single day February 18 – Ash Wednesday \| Christian - Roman Catholic & Protestant

March 2026
March 2-3 – Purim \| Jewish. Begins at sundown March 3-4 – Holi \| Hindu March 19-20 – Eid al-Fitr \| Islam. Begins at sundown; marks the end of Ramadan March 29 – Palm Sunday \| Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox

April 2026
April 1-9 – Passover / Pesach \| Jewish April 2 – Maundy Thursday \| Christian/Roman Catholic and Protestant April 3 – Good Friday \| Christian/Roman Catholic and Protestant April 5 – Easter \| Christian/Roman Catholic and Protestant April 13-14 – Yom HaSho’ah \| Jewish. Begins at Sundown April 14 – Vaisakhi \| Sikh, Hindu

May 2026
May 1 – Lag BaOmer \| Jewish May 21-23 – Shavuot \| Jewish May 27-30 – Eid al-Adha \| Islam. Begins at sundown; coincides with the culmination of Hajj May 29 – Ascension of Baha'u'llah \| Baha'i

June 2026
June 4 – Feast of Corpus Christi \| Christian - Roman Catholic Celebrates the Eucharist, the body and blood of Jesus Christ June 17 – Islamic New Year (1 Muharram, 1448 AH) \| Islamic Marks the start of the new Hijri lunar year

July 2026
July 22–23 – Tisha B'Av \| Jewish. Fast day begins at sundown

August 2026
August 15 – Assumption of Mary \| Christian/Roman Catholic

September 2026
September 11-13 – Rosh Hashanah \| Jewish. Begins at sundown; work-restricted September 14 – Ganesh Chaturthi \| Hindu September 20-21 – Yom Kippur \| Jewish. Begins at sundown; work-restricted, fasting September 25-October 2 – Sukkot \| Jewish. Begins at sundown

October 2026
October 2-3 – Shemini Atzeret \| Jewish October 3-4 – Simchat Torah \| Jewish October 11 – Navratri Begins \| Hindu October 1-21 – Durga Puja \| Hindu October 31 – Samhain \| Pagan

November 2026
November 1 – All Saints' Day \| Christian November 1-2 – Día de los Muertos \| Mexican / Cultural November 2 – All Souls' Day \| Christian November 8 – Diwali \| Hindu. Festival of Lights November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance \| Cultural / Awareness

December 2026
December 4-12 – Hanukkah \| Jewish. Begins at sundown December 8 – Bodhi Day \| Buddhist

This list draws on the Interfaith Calendar 2026 and includes information about a diverse range of religious and cultural observances. Thank you for supporting the needs of all of our students.