Click to open the May Calendar.
May 1 commemorates many cultural celebrations. International Worker’s Day, also known as May Day, it celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers worldwide. The day commemorates the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, in which police and protesters clashed following a workers’ strike for an eight-hour workday.
Asian Pacific-American: Heritage Month Commemorating the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marking the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese immigrants.
Jewish American: Heritage Month Recognizing the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture.
Mental Health Awareness: Month Aims to raise awareness educate the public about mental illnesses, and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses.
Older Americans Month: Established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
| May 1 INTERNATIONAL WORKER’S DAY: Also known as May Day, it celebrates the social and economic achievements of workers worldwide. The day commemorates the Haymarket Riot of 1886 in Chicago, in which police and protesters clashed following a workers’ strike for an eight-hour work day. |
| May 5 CINCO DE MAYO: A Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). |
| May 5 VESAK: Also known Buddha Day, it marks the birth, spiritual awakening and death (nirvana) of the historical Buddha. Buddhists celebrate Vesak by decorating their temples with flowers and other decorations. They gather at these temples before dawn for the raising of the Buddhist flag while singing hymns. Buddhists are also allowed to bring simple offerings to lay at the feet of their teacher. (This date may vary based on region or sect.) |
| May 7 DIA DE LA MADRES: Mothers’ Day, known as Día de la Madre or Día de las Madres in Spanish, honors mothers and mother figures in Spain on the first Sunday in May. It's also celebrated in other countries. |
| May 14 MOTHER’S DAY: Children of all ages show appreciation for their mothers and mother figures. |
| May 16 NATIONAL HONOR OUR LGBT ELDERS DAY: National Honor Our LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender) Elders Day, May 16, is an opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to earlier generations whose activism and bravery have created a path for younger community members to envision a future free from discrimination and stigmatization. |
| May 17 INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANSPHOBIA, AND BIPHOBIA: Aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. |
| May 19 MALCOLM X DAY: The commemoration of the civil rights leader is recognized on either the third Friday in May or May 19th, which is Malcolm X’s birthday. The state of Missouri made this day an official holiday in 2019. |
| May 21 WORLD DAY FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY: Recognizes cultural diversity as a source of innovation, exchange, and creativity, as well as the obligation to create a more peaceful and equitable society based on mutual respect. |
| May 25 AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY: African Liberation Day, aka Africa Day is an annual celebration of African sovereign rule, independence, and African identity. African states founded the Organization of African Unity and sought collaboration and co-existence with neighboring countries that had also recently driven away their colonizers. |
| May 29 MEMORIAL DAY: A federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. |
Celebrate Diversity Month A month to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all by celebrating differences and similarities
Autism Awareness Month Throughout the month, we focus on sharing stories and providing opportunities to increase understanding and acceptance of people with autism, fostering worldwide support. This year, we are committed to standing together to make a world of difference for people on the spectrum.
Arab-American Heritage Month Established to celebrate Arab-American heritage and culture and pay tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans.
Scottish-American Heritage Month Highlights Scottish heritage and remembers the Scottish-Americans who have had an impact on U.S. society.
National Minority Health Month a time to raise awareness about health disparities that continue to affect racial and ethnic minority populations and encourage action through health education, early detection, and control of disease complications.
| April 2 World Autism Awareness Day A day of celebration of people with autism and those who love and support them around the globe. |
| April 2 Palm Sunday a Christian holiday commemorating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It is the last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of the Holy Week. |
| April 4 Mahavir Jayanti is celebrated 13 days after the waxing (rising) half of the Hindu month of Caitra, which normally occurs in late March or early April in the Gregorian calendar, and it is the most important religious holiday in Jainism. This year, it falls on April 4. |
| April 5 - April 13 Passover (Pesach) an eight-day Jewish holiday and festival in commemoration of the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. |
| April 6 Maundy Thursday The Christian holiday commemorating the Last Supper, at which Jesus and the Apostles were together for the last time before the Crucifixion. It is celebrated on the Thursday before Easter. |
| April 7 World Health Day is celebrated annually and each year draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people all over the world. The theme for 2022 is "Health Promotion for Well-being, Equity, and Sustainable Development." |
| April 7 Good Friday A day celebrated by Christians to commemorate the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. It is recognized on the Friday before Easter. |
| April 9 Easter A holiday celebrated by Christians to recognize Jesus’ return from death after the Crucifixion. |
| April 11-17 Black Maternal Health Week |
| April 14 Day of Silence Students take a day-long vow of silence to protest the actual silencing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning students and their allies through bias and harassment. |
| April 14 The Birth of Dr. Baba SahebBhimrao Ramji Ambedkar an Indian jurist, economist, politician and social reformer. He inspired the Dalit Buddhist Movement and campaigned against social discrimination against Untouchables (Dalits), and also supported the rights of women and labor. |
| April 14 Orthodox Good Friday Orthodox Good Friday is celebrated Friday before Easter according to the Julian calendar and falls on April 14 this year. While many Western churches follow the Gregorian calendar while celebrating events, Orthodox Churches retained the Julian calendar. Thus, they observe Good Friday and celebrate Easter at a much later date than the Western churches. This day is also known as Great Friday, Holy Friday, and Holy and Great Friday. |
| April 15 Jackie Robinson Day a traditional event which occurs annually on April 15 in Major League Baseball, commemorating and honoring the day Jackie Robinson made his major league debut. Celebrated at MLB ballparks, on that one day, all players, coaches, and managers on both teams, and the umpires, wear Robinson's uniform number, 42. April 15 was Opening Day in 1947, Robinson's first season in the major leagues. |
| April 16 Orthodox Easter (Pascha) a later Easter date observed by many Western churches who use the Julian Calendar |
| April 16 Emancipation Day marks the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia. Over 3,000 enslaved persons were freed eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation liberated slaves in the South. |
| April 17 Laylat al-Qadr the holiest night of the year for Muslims, is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is known as the Night of Power and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad. |
| April 17 Yom Hashoah Israel’s day of remembrance for the approximately 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. |
| April 20 Chinese Language Day More than one billion people speak Chinese as their first language — that’s more than any other population in the world! UNESCO (part of the United Nations) first created Chinese Language Day in 2010 to celebrate Chinese as one of the six official languages of the United Nations. |
| April 21 Ramadan Ends Observed by the Muslim community worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad. |
| April 22 Earth Day A day to promote world peace, sustainability, and responsibility of the planet. Events are held globally to show support of the environmental protection of the Earth. |
| April 24 Armenian Martyrs' Day Recognizes the genocide of approximately 1.5 million Armenians between 1915 and 1923 in Turkey. |
| April 27-29 Gathering of Nations More than 500 Native American tribes meet to celebrate their traditions and cultures |
| April 30 El Dia de los Ninos Children’s Day has been celebrated annually in Mexico since 1925. Children are recognized as an important part of society so the day focuses on the importance of loving, accepting and appreciating children. |
Women’s History Month
In 1987, the United States Congress declared March to be National Women’s History Month to commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American History.
Irish-American History Month
A month for honoring the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
A time to raise awareness about the inclusion of people who live with developmental disabilities as well as awareness to the barriers that this population still experience.
| March 5 CRISPUS ATTUCKS DAY: Crispus Attucks, a sailor of mixed African and Indigenous ancestry, died in Boston on March 5, 1770, after British soldiers fired two musket balls into his chest.1 His death and that of four other men at the hands of the 29th Regiment became known as the Boston Massacre. Death instantly transformed Attucks from an anonymous sailor into a martyr for a burgeoning revolutionary cause. |
| March 7-8 LAYLAT AL-BARA’AH: This day commemorates for Muslims when God descends from heaven and forgives the people of their sins. |
| March 8 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: Celebration of the economic, political, and social achievements of women worldwide. |
| March 10 HARRIET TUBMAN DAY: An American holiday in honor of the abolitionist, humanitarian, and women’s suffragist, Harriet Tubman. |
| March 17 ST PATRICK’S DAY: Although the holiday originally started as a Christian feast day celebrating the life of St. Patrick and the spreading of Christianity to Ireland, today, it is a day of revelry and a celebration of all things Irish. |
| March 20 VERNAL EQUINOX: Marks the first day of the season of spring. The sun shines nearly equally on both hemispheres when it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere and simultaneously falls in the Southern Hemisphere. |
| March 20 NOWRÚZ: A traditional ancient Iranian festival celebrating the first day of Spring and the Iranian New Year. Also celebrated as New Year’s Day in Baha’i tradition (Naw-Ruz). (This date may vary based on region or sect.) |
| March 21 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: Call to action to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination worldwide. |
| March 25 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE OF THE VICTIMS OF SLAVERY AND THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE: A day established by the United Nations in 2007 to honor an international commitment to confront the “causes, consequences and lessons of the transatlantic slave trade, and to communicate the dangers of racism and prejudice." |
| March 29 VIETNAM VETERANS DAY: The day commemorates the sacrifices of Vietnam veterans and their families and is part of a national effort to recognize the men and women who were denied a proper welcome upon returning home more than 50 years ago. The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act, signed into law in 2017, designates March 29 of each year as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. |
| March 31 CESAR CHAVEZ DAY: Honors Mexican American farm worker, labor leader, and activist Cesar Chavez (1927–1993) who was a nationally respected voice for social justice. |
| March 31 INTERNATIONAL TRANSGENDER DAY OF VISIBILITY: An annual event to celebrate transgender and non-binary people and raise awareness of the discrimination and violence experienced by individuals within these respective communities. |
Black History Month
A time of highlighting and celebrating the accomplishments of Black Americans and recognizing the central role of Black Americans to United States history.
| February 1, 2023 National Girls and Women in Sports Day - February 1, 2023, marks the 37th annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD). This celebration inspires girls and women to play and be active, to realize their full power. The confidence, strength, and character gained through sports participation are the very tools girls and women need to become strong leaders in sports and life. |
| February 3, 2023 National Women’s Physicians Day - This day marks the birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States in 1849. Dr. Blackwell initiated the movement that helped women gain entry and equality in the field of medicine. |
| February 3, 2023 Four Chaplains Day - Four Chaplains Day is celebrated on February 3 every year in recognition of four Army chaplains who acted in the spirit of heroic sacrifice and humanitarianism onboard a sinking ship. |
| February 4, 2023 Rosa Parks Day - By refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a Montgomery, Alabama, city bus in 1955, black seamstress Rosa Parks helped initiate the civil rights movement in the United States. The leaders of the local black community organized a bus boycott that began the day Parks was convicted of violating segregation laws. Led by a young Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the boycott lasted more than a year—during which Parks not coincidentally lost her job—and ended only when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that bus segregation was unconstitutional. Over the next half-century, Parks became a nationally recognized symbol of dignity and strength in the struggle to end entrenched racial segregation. |
| February 7, 2023 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day - National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) was first observed in 1999. NBHAAD is planned by the Strategic Leadership Council each year. This observance is a day to acknowledge how HIV disproportionately affects Black people. |
| February 12, 2023 National Freedom to Marry Day - National Freedom to Marry Day is a non-official United States holiday held annually on February 12 to promote same-sex marriage. The holiday was founded in 1998 by Lambda Legal, a gay rights advocacy law firm based out of Washington, DC |
| February 14, 2023 Valentine's Day - St. Valentine’s Day, a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus. Typically associated with romantic love and celebrated by people expressing their love via gifts. |
| February 14, 2023 Frederick Douglass Day - Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York, becoming famous for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. |
| February 15, 2023 Nirvana - Parinirvana Day (or Nirvana Day) commemorated Buddha’s death at the age of 80, when he reached the zenith of Nirvana. |
| February 15, 2023 Susan B. Anthony Day - Susan B. Anthony is one of the most famous women involved in the suffrage movement. She was also an advocate for temperance, labor rights, equal pay for equal work, and abolition. Continue Anthony’s work by volunteering with a local women’s rights organization. |
| February 20, 2023 World Day of Social Justice - World Day of Social Justice is an international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. |
| February 21, 2023 - Losar - Losar is Tibetan New Year and marks the start of the Tibetan year which is based on a 12-month lunar calendar. The day it falls on is very close to the date of the Chinese New Year. The date each year is determined by astrologers based in Dharmsala, India. |
| February 22, 2023- Ash Wednesday - Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and prayer that kicks off the season of Lent in Christianity. Catholics celebrate Ash Wednesday by heading to mass and having ashes drawn in the shape of a cross upon their forehead. However, not all denominations practice this day the same way. Others may just have a day of reflection or fasting. |
| January 1 New Year's Day New Year’s Day, the first day of the year according to the modern Gregorian calendar, celebrated within most Western countries. |
| January 2 Saint Basil's Day A holiday observed by the Eastern Orthodox Church, commemorating the death of Saint Basil the Great. |
| January 3 Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church, commemorates the naming of the child Jesus. |
| January 4 World Braille Day Observed in order to raise awareness of the importance of braille as a means of communication in the full realization of the human rights for blind and partially sighted people. Celebrated on Louis Braille’s birthday, the inventor of braille. |
| January 5 George Washington Carver Day A day to honor George Washington Carver, a Black American agricultural scientist and inventor who was integral to the development of alternative crops and methods to prevent soil depletion. |
| January 5 Twelfth Night A festival celebrated by some branches of Christianity that marks the coming of the Epiphany. |
| January 6 Epiphany Or Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), a holiday observed by Eastern and Western Christians that recognizes the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus 12 days after his birth. |
| January 6 Christmas (Armenian Orthodox) Christmas, recognized on this day by Armenian Orthodox Christians, who celebrate the birth of Jesus on Epiphany. |
| January 7 - January 9 Christmas (Eastern Orthodox) Christmas, recognized on this day by Eastern Orthodox Christians, who celebrate Christmas 13 days later than other Christian churches because they follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar. |
| January 7: Mahayana New Year A holiday celebrated by the Mahayana Buddhist branch, on the first full-moon day in January. |
| January 9 National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day A day to show appreciation and support for law enforcement professionals. |
| January 15 Makar Sankranti A major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. |
| January 16 National Religious Freedom Day Commemorates the day the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom was signed, guaranteeing the fundamental freedom to openly practice one's faith without fear of being harassed, jailed, or killed. |
| January 16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorates the birth of Martin Luther King Jr., the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and an activist for nonviolent social change until his assassination in 1968. |
| January 18 World Religion Day Observed by those of the Bahá’í faith to promote interfaith harmony and understanding. |
| January 20 Guru Gobind Singh Ji's Birthday The Tenth Guru of the Sikhs who initiated the Sikhs as the Khalsa (the pure ones) and is known as the Father of the Khalsa. |
| January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day This day remembers the victims of the Holocaust and is set on the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945 as well as the UN's Holocaust Memorial Day. |
| December 1: World AIDS Day, commemorating those who have died of AIDS, and to acknowledge the need for a continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. |
| December 1: Rosa Parks Day Celebrated to honor Rosa Parks, the brave civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat to a white commuter on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This act of bravery was pivotal to the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. |
| December 2: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery This date marks the adoption of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others by the General Assembly. This day focuses on eradicating contemporary forms of slavery such as trafficking persons, sexual exploitation, the worst forms of child labor, forced marriage, and the forced recruitment of children for use in armed conflict. |
| December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, designed to raise awareness in regards to persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity. |
| December 8: Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception celebrates the solemn celebration, by various Christian denominations, of belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. |
| December 8: Bodhi Day, the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. |
| December 10: International Human Rights Day, established by the United Nations in 1948 to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. |
| December 12: Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a religious holiday in Mexico commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531. |
| December 13: St. Lucia’s Day, a religious festival of light in Scandinavia and Italy commemorating the martyrdom of St. Lucia, a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 C.E. She secretly brought food to persecuted Christians in Rome while wearing a wreath of candles on her head so both her hands would be free. |
| December 16-24: Las Posadas, a nine-day celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem. |
| December 18- 26: Hanukkah celebrates the Jews triumphing over the Syrian Greeks for their independence a Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century. |
| December 21: Yule Winter Solstice, celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans. The shortest day of the year represents a celebration focusing on rebirth, renewal and new beginnings as the sun makes its way back to the Earth. A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky. |
| December 25: Christmas Day, the day that many Christians associate with Jesus’ birth. |
| December 26: Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in the U.K., Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and South Africa. The name comes from a time when the rich used to box up gifts to give to the poor. Boxing Day was traditionally a day off for servants, and the day when they received a special Christmas box from their masters. The servants would also go home on Boxing Day to give Christmas boxes to their families. |
| December 26-January 1: Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate universal African-American heritage. Kwanzaa—which is derived from the word “first” in Swahili—takes inspiration from the start of the harvest season in Africa, when the first crops are gathered. It’s a time that’s been celebrated throughout the continent for generations. During the week, families gather to give gifts, share feasts, and light candles in honor of their ancestors and their hopes for the future. |
| December 28: Dia de los Santos Inocentes, celebrated in Mexico and Central America, it is an observance festivity to celebrate and honor one’s ancestors, specifically children and infants. It’s based on the belief that there is an interaction between the living world and the world of spirits. |
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National American Indian Heritage Month Celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans |
| November 1-2: Dia De Los Muertos A two-day holiday that reunites the living and the dead. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family members that have passed. These altars are decorated with marigold flowers, photos of the family’s departed, and the favorite foods and drinks of the those being honored. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the land of the dead. |
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November 8: Guru Nanak Jayanti A famous festival in India, celebrated to honor the birth of Guru Nanak, who was the first Sikh Guru. It is a special festival for the Sikh community residing in the state of Punjab. Guru Nanak’s birthday usually falls on Kartik Puranmashi, according to the Indian calendar. |
| November 11: Veterans Day, a U.S. federal holiday honoring military veterans. The date is also celebrated as Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, in other parts of the world and commemorates the ending of World War I in 1918. |
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November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance, Established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia and to raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community. |
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November 24: Thanksgiving An annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. |
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November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women Designated in 1999 by the UN General Assembly. At least 1 out of every 3 women around the world has been beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime — with the abuser usually someone known to her. |
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November 27-December 24: Advent A Christian season of celebration leading up to the birth of Christ. |
| November 30: Native Women's Equal Pay Day A day to acknowledge the pay gap that Native American women face. Native women earn 60 cents for every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man. |
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This observance was launched in 1945 when Congress declared the first week in October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1998, the week was extended to a month and renamed. The annual event draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed. |
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LGBT History Month, a U.S. observance started in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of the gay-rights movement. |
| Global Diversity Awareness Month, a month to celebrate and increase awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicities and the positive impact diversity can have on society. |
| Filipino-American History Month commemorates the first recorded presence of members of the Filipino community in the United States and brings awareness of the significant achievements of the Filipino community. |
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October 4 - October 5: Yom Kippur The holiest day on the Jewish calendar, a day of atonement marked by fasting and ceremonial repentance. |
| October 9 - October 16: Sukkot A seven-day Jewish festival giving thanks for the fall harvest. |
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October 11: National Coming Out Day (U.S.) For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, this day celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality. |
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October 11: National Indigenous Peoples Day, an alternative celebration to Columbus Day, gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization. |
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October 15: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Established to help stop HIV stigma and address the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latino communities |
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October 15: National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day A day of remembrance to parents, family, and friends for pregnancy loss and infant death. |
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October 16 - October 18: Shemini Atzeret A Jewish holiday also known as The Eighth (Day) of Assembly, takes place the day after the Sukkot festival, where gratitude for the fall harvest is deeply internalized. |
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October 17 - October 18: Simchat Torah A Jewish holiday, marks the end of the weekly readings of the Torah. The holy book is read from chapter one of Genesis to Deuteronomy 34 and then back to chapter one again, in acknowledgment of the words of the Torah being a circle, a never-ending cycle. |
| October 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty Established by the UN, the day presents an opportunity to acknowledge the effort and struggle of people living in poverty, a chance for them to make their concerns heard, and a moment to recognize that poor people are the first ones to fight against poverty. |
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October 19: International Pronouns Day A day that seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace |
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October 24: Diwali The Hindu, Jain and Sikh five-day festival of lights celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness |
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October 28: National Immigrants Day The United States of America is known as the world’s melting pot, and every year on October 28 National Immigrants Day gives us a reason to reflect on just how unique that distinction is among the world’s 195 sovereign nations. As Americans, we are proud of our long history of welcoming immigrants from all parts of the world and value their contributions that add zest to our nation’s blend of cultures, customs, and traditions. |
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October 31: All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), a celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows' Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs and all the faithful departed. |
| National Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. |
| Sept. 5 Labor Day: The day celebrates the American labor movement and the contributions and achievements of the American worker. |
| Sept. 11 Ethiopian New Year: Rastafarians celebrate the New Year on this date and believe that Ethiopia is their spiritual home. |
| Sept. 11 Patriot Day: Patriot Day is a United States national observance that honors the memory of those who were killed in the September 11 attacks. |
| Sept. 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: Commemorates the signing of the US Constitution. For over 200 years, the Constitution has served as the supreme law of the land. The Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights and other amendments, defines our government and guarantees our rights. |
| Sept. 18 International Equal Pay Day: Celebrated for the first time in September 2020, represents the longstanding efforts towards the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and against all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls. |
| Sept. 21 – Sept. 24 Ostara Mabon: A celebration of the vernal equinox commemorated by Pagans and Wiccans. |
| Sept. 23 Bisexual Visibility Day: Bisexual Visibility Day celebrates the bisexual community and brings awareness to their struggles |
| Sept. 25 – Sept. 27 Rosh Hashanah: The Jewish New Year celebration, marks the creation of the world. |
| Sept. 27 Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross: A day that commemorates the cross used in the Crucifixion of Jesus in some Christian denominations. |
| Sept. 27 Meskel: Religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox churches that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress, Helena, in the fourth century. |
| Sept. 29 Michaelmas: Also known as the Feast of Michael and All Angels, Michaelmas is a Christian festival dedicated to Archangel Michael that is observed in some Western liturgical calendars. |
| August 3: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. The aim is to raise awareness about the wider-than-average pay gap between Black women and White men. Black women are paid 62 cents for every dollar paid to white men. |
| August 6: Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast of the Transfiguration), celebrated by various Christian denominations, the feast day is dedicated to the transfiguration of Jesus. |
| August 7, 2022 - August 8, 2022 Ashura, An Islamic holiday commemorating the day Noah left the ark and the day Allah saved Moses from the Egyptians. |
| August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, Celebrates the richness of indigenous cultures and recognizes the challenges indigenous peoples face today, ranging from poverty and disease to dispossession, discrimination, and denial of basic human rights. |
| August 11, 2022 Raksha Bandhan, A Hindu holiday commemorating the loving kinship between a brother and sister. “Raksha” means “protection” in Hindi and symbolizes the longing a sister has to be protected by her brother. During the celebration, a sister ties a string around her brother’s (or brother-figure’s) wrist and asks him to protect her. The brother usually gives the sister a gift and agrees to protect her for life. |
| August 12, 2022 Ullambana, A Buddhist festival and Japanese custom for honoring the spirits of ancestors. |
| August 15: Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary, according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as parts of Anglicanism, the day commemorates the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life. |
| August 15: Dormition of the Theotokos, A Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches that commemorates the "falling asleep," or death, of Mary the Theotokos ("Mother of God") and her bodily resurrection before ascending into heaven. |
| August 17: Marcus Garvey Day, which celebrates the birthday of the Jamaican politician and activist who is revered by Rastafarians. Garvey is credited with starting the Back to Africa movement, which encouraged those of African descent to return to the land of their ancestors during and after slavery in North America. |
| August 21: Senior Citizen Day, recognizes the many contributions older adults make in communities across the United States. |
| August 23, 2022 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition, Observed to recognize the tragedy of the transatlantic slave trade and its consequences. |
| August 24, 2022 - September 1, 2022 Paryushan Mahaparva, A Jain festival lasting about eight to ten days that is observed through meditation and fasting. Its main focus is spiritual upliftment, pursuit of salvation and a deeper understanding of the religion. |
| August 26: Women’s Equality Day, Commemorates the August 26, 1920, certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote. Congresswoman Bella Abzug first introduced a proclamation for Women’s Equality Day in 1971. Since that time, every president has published a proclamation recognizing August 26 as Women’s Equality Day. |
| August 30, 2022 Al-Hijri, Al-Hijri marks the start of the New Year in the Muslim faith. It begins on the evening of August 29 and ends on the evening of August 30. |
| August 31, 2022 Ganesh Chaturthi, A 10-day Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha, the God of new beginnings. |
| July 1: Canada Day, or Fête du Canada, is a Canadian federal holiday that celebrates the 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, which established the three former British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as a united nation called Canada. |
| July 2: Thurgood Marshall’s Birthday: Thurgood Marshall was the nation’s first Black Supreme Court Justice. This year, we’ll celebrate his birthday with the first Black woman, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, on the court. These individuals are vital reminders of just how much representation matters. In addition to being a justice, Marshall was also a well-known civil rights activist. |
| July 4: Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July), a United States federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The original 13 American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America. |
| July 6: Dalai Lama’s Birthday: Happy birthday to the 14th Dalai Lama, the most famous Buddhist teacher in the world. The Dalai Lama is widely respected for his commitment to both nonviolence and Tibetan freedom. He was awarded the 1989 peace prize for advocating for solutions based on tolerance and mutual respect. Despite being exiled from Tibet, he has continually sought to preserve the historical and cultural heritage of his people. |
| July 7-12: The Hajj: An annual pilgrimage and one of the pillars of Islam. All able-bodied Muslims are required to undertake the journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj is the fifth of the fundamental Muslim practices and institutions known as the Five Pillars of Islam. Once in Mecca, all Muslims perform a series of rituals. |
| July 8-9 (sundown to sundown): Waqf al Arafa, the second day of pilgrimage within the Islamic faith. |
| July 8-9 (sundown to sundown): The Martyrdom of the Bab, a day when Bahá’ís observe the anniversary of the Báb’s execution in Tabriz, Iran, in 1850. July 11: St. Benedict Day, the feast day of St. Benedict celebrated by some Christian denominations. |
| July 9-10 (sundown to sundown): Eid al-Adha, an Islamic festival to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim (also known as Abraham) to follow Allah's (God's) command to sacrifice his son, Ishmael. Muslims around the world observe this event. |
| July 11: World Population Day, an observance established in 1989 by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program. The annual event is designed to raise awareness of global population issues. |
| July 13: Asalha Puja, or Dharma Day, is a celebration of Buddha’s first teachings. |
| July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day, aimed at raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world while celebrating their contributions. |
| July 14: Bastille Day, a French federal holiday that commemorates the Storming of the Bastille, a fortress-prison in Paris that held political prisoners who had displeased the French nobility. The Storming of the Bastille, which took place on July 14, 1789, was regarded as a turning point of the French Revolution. Celebrations are held throughout France. |
| July 15: St. Vladimir of the Great Day, feast day for St. Vladimir celebrated by the Eastern Orthodox and Roman Catholic churches. |
| July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day, launched on July 18, 2009, in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday via unanimous decision of the U.N. General Assembly. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices: “It is in your hands now.” It is more than a celebration of Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and to change the world for the better. |
| July 23: The birthday of Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia whom the Rastafarians consider to be their savior. |
| July 24: Pioneer Day, observed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to commemorate the arrival in 1847 of the first Latter-day Saint pioneers in Salt Lake Valley. |
| July 25: St. James the Greater Day, feast day for St. James the Greater celebrated by some Christian denominations. |
| July 26: Disability Independence Day, celebrating the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| July 30: International Day of Friendship, proclaimed in 2011 by the U.N. General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities. |
LGBTQ+ Pride Month: A month to promote and celebrate the dignity, equality, visibility, and empowerment of the LGBTQIA+ community. June 28th is the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Riots in which police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, which sparked protests around the country for equal treatment of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Black Music Month: A month of celebrating Black artists’ contributions to music and honoring the stories within Black music.
Immigrant Heritage Month: Established in 2014 to give people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America. It celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local communities and economy.
| June 4-6 SHAVUOT: A holiday in the Jewish community that commemorates the spring harvest and the giving of the Torah. |
| June 5 PENTECOST: A Christian holiday commemorating when the Holy Sprit descended upon the Apostles. |
| June 8 RACE UNITY DAY: Started by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly in the United States to raise awareness to the importance of racial harmony and understanding. |
| June 12 LOVING DAY: An observation of the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia which ended bans on interracial marriage. |
| June 14 FLAG DAY: The anniversary of the adoption of the United States flag by Congress in 1777. |
| June 19 JUNETEENTH: Commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865. It is widely celebrated throughout the United States to honor African-American freedom and achievement. |
| June 19 FATHER”S DAY: A celebration honoring people's fathers and celebrating the fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in their society. |
| June 20 WORLD REFUGEE DAY: An international observance dedicated to raising awareness of the situations of refugees throughout the world. |
| June 26 ANNIVERSARY OF LEGALIZATION OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IN THE UNITED STATES: On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that the fundamental right to marry is guaranteed to same-sex couples. |