IMPORTANT DATES

1/1 – Haitian Independence Day

1/1 – Emancipation Proclamation (Black American): on this day in 1863, President Lincoln declared all persons held as slaves would be free

1/17 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Black American): MLK Jr. was an American Baptist minister and activist,  revered as one of the great leaders of the American civil rights movement

Women’s History Month: honors the vital role of women in American history

3/2 – Ash Wednesday (Christian): a day of prayer and fasting, Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent

3/8 – International Women’s Day: celebrates the various (social, economic, cultural, political) achievements of women

Mental Health Awareness Month: recognizes the impact of mental illness on families and communities, and raises awareness for those living with mental and behavioral issues

Haitian Heritage Month: honors the history of  Haitian American  and their accomplishments

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: pays tribute to these people and their contributions to society

5/5 – Cinco de Mayo (Mexican American): commemorates Mexico’s defeat of the French army. While it’s primarily observed by Mexican Americans, others often join the celebration as well

5/8 – Birthday of the Buddha (Buddhist): celebrates the spiritual leader who launched one of the world’s most popular religions

5/18 – Haitian Flag Day to celebrate the Haitian culture as it marks the day the woman who first sewed the first Haitian Flag

7/7 – The Hajj (Islamic): annual pilgrimage to Mecca, that all Muslims must take at least once in their lives

7/18 – Birthday of Nelson Mandela (South African): civil rights leader for South Africa, and the country’s first black president

9/15-10/15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month: This month honors the culture and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans

National Recovery Month: This month helps to educate all Americans on treatment and mental health services for those with substance use disorder

9/20 – HeForShe (Women): initiated by the UN to promote gender equality

9/25 – 9/27 – Rosh Hashanah (Jewish): the Jewish New Year, a time for reflection in the faith

Native American Heritage Month: celebrates the culture and heritage of individuals who deeply enrich the United States

November-  month-long fundraiser for men’s issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide

10/31-11/2 – All Saints Day/All Souls Day/Día de Los Muertos: commemorates those who have passed away in the Christian faith and Mexican and Aztec communities

Black History Month celebrates African American History. February was chosen because Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, two men prominent in eliminating slavery, were both born in February

2/1 – Chinese New Year: a festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year in the traditional lunisolar Chinese calendar

2/14 – Valentine’s Day to celebrate romance and love in many regions of the world

Celebrate Diversity Month:

4/2 – Ramadan (Islamic): The first day of Islam’s sacred month in which Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dusk until dawn

4/15 – Passover (Jewish): start of Jewish holiday honoring the freeing of Israeli slaves

4/17 – Easter (Christian): most important holy day in the Christian faith, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus following his death

4/22 – Earth Day (International): celebrates the planet we live on, observed internationally in more than 192 countrie\

LGBT Pride Month: commemorates the Stonewall Riots and seeks to recognize the impact LGBT people have had around the world

Caribbean American Heritage Month: recognizes the significance of Caribbean culture and history in the U.S.

6/2 – Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 (Native Americans): granted the right of citizenship to all Native Americans born in the U.S. However, the right to vote was not granted until 1957

6/19 – Juneteenth (Black American): marks the anniversary of when African Americans first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was more than two years after it was initially issued

6/27 – Birthday of Helen Keller (People with Disabilities): while known as being both blind and deaf, Keller was one of the 20^th century’s leading humanitarians and co-founder of the ACLU

8/4 – Birthday of Barack Obama (Black American): Happy Birthday to the United States’ first Black president!

8/6 – Jamaicans Independence Day

8/9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People (United Nations): created by the UN, celebrates the cultures of indigenous peoples around the world

8/26 – Women’s Equality Day: commemorates the American women gaining the right to vote in 1920

Hispanic Heritage Month: Aims to celebrate the rich culture of those of Hispanic descent and their contributions 

Global Diversity Awareness Month: aims to promote knowledge and respect for various cultures

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: aims to increase awareness of the disease, one of the leading causes of death in women

10/10 – World Mental Health Day (People with Disabilities): promotes mental health awareness and education, and advocates against social stigma relating to mental health

10/24 – Diwali (Hindu): a significant celebration in the Hindu faith in which they praise diverse deities

12/1 – World AIDS Day: helps raise awareness of HIV/AIDs and money to cure it

12/18-12/26 – Hanukkah (Jewish): celebrates the Jews triumphing over the Syrian Greeks for their independence

12/25 – Christmas (Christian): holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

12/26 – Kwanzaa (Black): 8-day holiday inspired by African harvest celebrations