University of Missouri to recognize Wiccan, pagan holidays

The University of Missouri is making it easy for students to celebrate Wiccan or pagan holidays, as they’ve been included in the university’s Guide to Religions.

There are 42 holidays listed in the university’s calendar, with Jewish holidays counting for eleven, Wiccan and pagan holidays for eight and Christian holidays for seven. The other holidays include Hindu, Muslim, Baha’i, Shinto, Buddhist and Sikh holidays.

“The holidays and accommodations section of this guide is provided to faculty, staff and student leaders as an educational resource for the myriad of religious holy days celebrated at Mizzou,” the guide reads. “Not only does this section offer crucial information about dates and practices, we also hope that the information about recommended academic and food accommodations will be valuable to those planning classroom activities and other academic and co-curricular events.”

Among the holidays listed for Wiccan followers is Beltane, an event in May to celebrate the arrival of summer and wishing for fertility in the coming year, The Daily Mail reports.

Another summer festival, Litha, is marked by lighting bonfires and staying up all night to watch the sun rise.

© Copyright 2013 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission.