Religion and Spirituality
This is an educational resource about the many religious holy days celebrated at Clarkson. Not only does this section offer information about dates and practices, we also hope the recommended academic and food accommodations will be valuable to those planning classroom activities and other academic and co-curricular events. Contact us at diversity@clarkson.edu with questions about reasonable accommodations for religious holy days.
Dates, Practices and Accommodations: Points to remember
- Dates are assembled from several calendars and begin with the academic year (August through July). Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice.
- “Kosher restrictions apply” refers to the dietary guidelines of Jewish law which apply daily throughout the year. Restrictions include pork, shellfish (fish is allowed) and mixing meat with dairy.
- Many religious spiritualities around the world practice limited dietary restrictions (ie: avoiding certain foods, fasting at certain times during the day or throughout the year. Certain religions will prohibit the consumption of certain foods and drink. Religions can include, but are not limited to: Christian, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim.
- “Halal dietary restrictions apply” refers to the foods prohibited according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
- The Chief Inclusion Office in consultation with the Council of Student Diveristy and Inclusion suggests trying to serve food in Kosher-style. This covers a wide variety of dietary needs. However, it is always important to think of vegetarian, vegan, and allergen-restricted participants. Again, we are here to help. Please contact diversity@clarkson.edu.
Campus Resources
Those wishing to pursue their spiritual or religious practices at Clarkson will find a wide array of on and off-campus options.
Meditation Room
This room is in the heart of the Potsdam Hill Campus. Located in the student center it is open to all for use. There are ritual baths, lockers to hold belonging, and furniture and rugs that may be moved around for use by groups or individuals to meet the needs of different practices. In addition, there are many student groups affiliated with Clarkson and off-campus groups as well.
Student Groups Affiliated with the Council of Student Diversity and Inclusion
Hillel
MSO
Muslim Student Association
Newman Club
Each club supports spiritual and religious activities and co-sponsors events with the Chief Inclusion Office.
Community Resources
Potsdam Masjid
The Potsdam Masjid was built 25 years ago by Muslim students from Clarkson University and Tarik Ait Maathallah serves as the imam. For more information, please reach out to the Muslim Student Association or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
Beth-El Congregation Temple
Congregation Beth El has been a central part of Jewish life in the North Country for over 50 years. In the words of the synagogue, “We are a vibrant egalitarian congregation welcoming people of all backgrounds and approaches to Judaism. We serve the religious, educational, cultural and social needs of the Potsdam-Canton community. Congregation Beth El emphasizes understanding and celebration of Jewish liturgy and song while striving to help congregants explore contemporary understanding of such Jewish values as tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedek (justice), g’milut hasadim (performing deeds of loving kindness), and shalom (peace or wholeness)”. For more information, please reach out directly to the Congregation Beth El synagogue, Hillel (Clarkson student organization, or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church of Potsdam has been a worshipping community in the village of Potsdam since 1811 and Rev. Katrina Hebb serves as the pastor. For more information, please reach out directly to the First Presbyterian Church or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church
This masjid was built 25 years ago by Muslim students from Clarkson University and Father Joseph Giroux serves as the pastor. There are also sister parishes in Canton, NY, Colton, NY, and Ogdensburg, NY. In the words of the church, “The mission of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Mary in Potsdam, a community including the campuses of Clarkson University and SUNY Potsdam, is to foster the salvation of souls in Christ Jesus through evangelization by means of the sacraments, worship, service, education and fellowship”. For more information, please reach out directly to the St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton
This church congregation was formed in 1825 and has occupied the plot of ground where the church now stands since 1827. Rev. James Galasinski serves as the minister. For more information, please reach out directly to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Canton or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
The Potsdam United Methodist Church
The Potsdam United Methodist Church has been on the same block in the center of Potsdam since 1820 and Pastor Heidi R. Chamberlain serves as the pastor. For more information, please reach out directly to the Potsdam United Methodist Church or the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Office.
Canton Seventh-Day Adventist Church
Canton Seventh-Day Adventist Church is a Christian community where students can join for Bible study, worship and prayer.
Holidays and Dates Celebrated
Select a dropdown menu below for more information on the holidays and dates celebrated:
- Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023
- Thursday, Aug. 1, 2024
- Friday, Aug. 1, 2025
- Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026
- Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023
- Monday, Aug. 19, 2024
- Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025
- Friday, Aug. 28, 2026
- Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023 - Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023
- Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 - Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024
- Friday, Aug. 15, 2025 - Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025
- Thursday, Sept. 3, 2026 - Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
- Friday, Sept. 15, 2023 - Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023
- Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024 - Friday, Oct. 4, 2024
- Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025 - Thursday, Sept. 24, 2025
- Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026 - Monday, Sept. 14, 2026
- Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 - Friday, Sept. 29, 2023
- Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 - Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024
- Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025 - Monday, Sept. 29, 2025
- Monday, Sept. 21, 2026 - Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026
- Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023 - Monday, Sept. 25, 2023
- Friday, Oct. 11, 2024 - Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024
- Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025 - Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025
- Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026 - Monday, Sept. 21, 2026
- Tuesday, Jun. 27, 2023 - Wednesday, Jun. 28, 2023
- Sunday, Jun. 16, 2024 - Monday, Jun. 17, 2024
- Friday, Jun 6, 2025 – Saturday, Jun 7, 2025
- Tuesday, May 26, 2026 – Wednesday, May 27, 2026
- Friday, Sept. 29, 2023 - Friday, Oct. 6, 2023
- Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024 - Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024
- Monday, Oct. 6, 2025 - Monday, Oct. 13, 2025
- Friday, Sept. 25, 2026 - Friday, Oct. 2, 2026
- Friday, Oct 6, 2023 – Sunday, Oct 8, 2023
- Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024 – Friday, Oct 25, 2024
- Monday, Oct 13, 2025 – Wednesday, Oct 15, 2025
- Friday, Oct 2, 2026 – Sunday, Oct 4, 2026
Saturday, Oct 7, 2023 – Sunday, Oct 8, 2023
Thursday, Oct 24, 2024 – Friday, Oct 25, 2024
Tuesday, Oct 14, 2025 – Wednesday, Oct 15, 2025
Saturday, Oct 3, 2026 – Sunday, Oct 4, 2026
- Sunday, Oct 15, 2023 – Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023
- Thursday, Oct 3, 2024 – Saturday, Oct 12, 2024
- Monday, Sep 22, 2025 – Thursday, Oct 2, 2025
- Sunday, Oct 11, 2026 – Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026
- Monday, Oct 16, 2023 – Tuesday, Oct 17, 2023
- Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 - Monday, Oct. 28th, 2024
- Thursday, Oct. 23, 2025 - Friday, Oct. 24, 2025
- Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 - Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026
- Tuesday, Oct 31, 2023 – Wednesday, Nov 1, 2023
- Thursday, Oct 31, 2024 – Friday, Nov 1, 2024
- Friday, Oct 31, 2025 – Saturday, Nov 1, 2025
- Saturday, Oct 31, 2026 – Sunday, Nov 1, 2026
- Sunday, Nov 12, 2023
- Friday, Nov 1, 2024
- Monday, Oct 20, 2025
- Sunday, Nov 8, 2026
- Thursday, Dec 7, 2023 – Friday, Dec 15, 2023
- Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024 – Thursday, Jan 2, 2025
- Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024 – Thursday, Jan 2, 2025
- Friday, Dec 4, 2026 – Saturday, Dec 12, 2026
- Thursday, Dec 21, 2023 – Monday, Jan 1, 2024
- Saturday, Dec 21, 2024 – Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025
- Sunday, Dec 21, 2025 – Thursday, Jan 1, 2026
- Monday, Dec 21, 2026 – Friday, Jan 1, 2026
- Monday, Dec 25, 2023
- Wednesday, Dec 25, 2024
- Thursday, Dec 25, 2025
- Friday, Dec 25, 2026
- Monday, Jan. 1, 2023
- Monday, Jan. 1, 2024
- Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025
- Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026
- Friday, Jan 6, 2023
- Saturday, Jan 6, 2024
- Monday, Jan 6, 2025
- Tuesday, Jan 6, 2026
- Saturday, Jan 7, 2023
- Sunday, Jan 7, 2024
- Tuesday, Jan 7, 2025
- Wednesday, Jan 7, 2026
- Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023 – Thursday, Feb 2, 2023
- Thursday, Feb 1, 2024 - Friday, Feb. 2, 2024
- Saturday, Feb 1, 2025 - Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025
- Sunday, Feb 1, 2026 - Monday, Feb. 2, 2026
- Friday, Feb. 3, 2023
- Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024
- Monday, Feb.0, 2025
- Monday, Feb. 3, 2026
- Sunday, Jan 22, 2023
- Saturday, Feb 10, 2024
- Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025
- Tuesday, Feb 17, 2026
- Wednesday, Feb 22, 2023
- Wednesday, Feb 14, 2024
- Wednesday, Mar 5, 2025
- Wednesday, Feb 18, 2026
- Monday, Mar 6, 2023
- Saturday, Feb 24, 2024
- Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025
- Tuesday, Mar 3, 2026
- Monday, Mar 6, 2023 – Tuesday, Mar 7, 2023
- Saturday, Mar 23, 2024 – Sunday, Mar 24, 2024
- Thursday, Mar 13, 2025 – Friday, Mar 14, 2025
- Monday, Mar 2, 2026 – Tuesday, Mar 3, 2026
- Sunday, Apr 2, 2023
- Sunday, Mar 24, 2024
- Sunday, Apr 13, 2025
- Sunday, Mar 29, 2026
- Monday, Mar 20, 2023
- Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024
- Thursday, Mar 20, 2025
- Friday, Mar 20, 2026
- Monday, Mar 20, 2023 – Tuesday, Mar 21, 2023
- Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024 – Wednesday, Mar 20, 2024
- Wednesday, Mar 19, 2025 – Thursday, Mar 20, 2025
- Saturday, Mar 21, 2026 – Sunday, Mar 22, 2026
- Wednesday, Mar 8, 2026
- Monday, Mar 25, 2024
- Friday, Mar 14, 2025
- Wednesday, Mar 4, 2026
- Thursday, Apr 6, 2023
- Thursday, Mar 28, 2024
- Thursday, Apr 17, 2025
- Thursday, Apr 2, 2026
- Friday, Apr 7, 2023
- Friday, Mar 29, 2024
- Friday, Apr 18, 2025
- Friday, Apr 3, 2026
- Friday, Apr. 14, 2023
- Friday, May 3, 2024
- Friday, Apr. 18, 2025
- Friday, Apr. 10, 2026
- Sunday, Apr. 9, 2023
- Sunday, Mar. 31, 2024
- Sunday, Apr. 20, 2025
- Sunday, Apr. 5, 2026
- Wednesday, Apr. 5, 2023 – Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023
- Monday, Apr. 22, 2024 – Tuesday, Apr. 30, 2024
- Saturday, Apr. 12, 2025 – Sunday, Apr. 20, 2025
- Wednesday, Apr. 1, 2026 – Thursday, Apr. 9, 2026
- Friday, May 26, 2023, and Friday, May 5, 2023, respectively
- Thursday, May 23, 2024
- Monday, May 5, 2025, and Monday, May 12, 2025, respectively
- Sunday, May 24, 2026, and Friday, May 1, 2026, respectively
- Friday, Apr. 14, 2023
- Saturday, Apr. 13, 2024
- Monday, Apr. 14, 2025
- Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026
- Sunday, Apr. 16, 2023
- Sunday, May 5, 2024
- Sunday, Apr. 20, 2025
- Sunday, Apr. 12, 2026
- Monday, Apr 17, 2023 – Tuesday, Apr 18, 2023
- Sunday, May 5, 2024 – Monday, May 6, 2024
- Wednesday, Apr 23, 2025 – Thursday, Apr. 24, 2025
- Monday, Apr. 13, 2026 – Tuesday, Apr. 14, 2026
- Mon, May 1, 2023
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024
- Thursday, May 1, 2025
- Friday, May 1, 2026
- Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2023 – Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023
- Sunday, Mar. 10, 2024 – Tuesday, Apr. 9, 2024
- Friday, Feb. 28, 2025 – Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025
- Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 – Wednesday, Mar. 18, 2026
- Thursday, May 25, 2023 – Saturday, May 27, 2023
- Tuesday, Jun 11, 2024 – Thursday, Jun 13, 2024
- Sunday, Jun 1, 2025 – Tuesday, Jun 3, 2025
- Thursday, May 21, 2026 – Saturday, May 23, 2026
- Sunday, May 28, 2023 – Monday, May 29, 2023
- Monday, May 27, 2024 – Tuesday, May 28, 2024
- Tuesday, May 27, 2025 – Wednesday, May 28, 2025
- Thursday, May 28, 2026 – Friday, May 29, 2026
- Thursday, Apr. 20, 2023 – Friday, Apr. 21, 2023
- Tuesday, Apr. 9, 2024 – Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024
- Saturday, Mar. 29, 2025 – Sunday, Mar. 30, 2025
- Thursday, Mar. 19, 2026 – Friday, Mar. 20, 2026
Wednesday, Jun. 21, 2023 - Saturday, Jun. 24, 2023
Thursday, Jun. 20, 2024 - Monday, Jun. 24, 2024
Friday, Jun. 20, 2025 - Tuesday, Jun. 24, 2025
Sun, Jun 21, 2026 - Wednesday, Jun. 24, 2026
Wednesday, Jul. 26, 2023 – Thursday, Jul. 27, 2023
Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 – Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024
Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025 – Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025
Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2026 – Thursday, Jul. 23, 2026
Beginning of the Haudenosaunee spiritual year with several days of rituals, dances, and feasts. With the beginning of the year, friends and family gather in the Longhouse sitting with clan affiliation to welcome the new year and give thanks for all the bounty of Nature.
All dates are set by the traditional Faithkeepers in keeping with natural signs and time of year. It is understood Midwinter Ceremonies are conducted from the end of January to the beginning of February.
When the winter season begins to warm and the Maple sap begins to run, Haudenosaunee people will meet at the Longhouse and give thanks for the renewal of spring and the change of the seasons. Maple sap collecting and boiling begins after this ceremony is conducted.
All dates are set by the traditional Faithkeepers in keeping with natural signs and time of year. It is understood Maple Ceremony is usually conducted between February and March.
As the season changes the Thunderstorms are thanked for bringing the Spring rains and for clearing the air for the Fall. Haudenosaunee people go to the Longhouse to give thanks and honor the larger forces of nature that bring the rain and refresh the air.
All dates are set by the traditional Faithkeepers in keeping with natural signs and time of year. It is understood Maple Ceremony is usually conducted in early Spring and late Fall.
Agriculture is an important aspect of Haundeoausnee life and when the spring weather warms and the frost season ends, people will come together in the Longhouse to exchange seeds and give thanks to be able to plant for that season. There are words said, dances, and songs to honor the plant life and their bounty of food.
All dates are set by the traditional Faithkeepers in keeping with natural signs and time of year. It is understood Seed Ceremony is usually conducted in early Spring.
As the growing season comes to an end and all the crops have been harvested the Haudenosaunee will gather in the Longhouse to thank the food plants for their bounty. Over a few days of singing, dancing, and speech making the people give thanks and prepare for the upcoming winter season.
All dates are set by the traditional Faithkeepers in keeping with natural signs and time of year. It is understood Harvest Ceremonies are usually conducted in October.