Atrium Hospitality
2024 CALENDAR
DATE 2024 January HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30 1-30
Poverty in America Awareness Month
Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
1 3 4 5 6
New Year’s Day
Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Psalm Sunday
Roman Catholic
World Braille Day
Twelfth Night
Christian Christian
Epiphany, or Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day)
13 14 15 15 17 20 21 25 26 27
Lori-Maghi
Sikh
Orthodox New Year
Orthodox
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Makar Sankranti
India
The Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji
Sikh
Timkat
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians
World Religion Day Mahayana New Year Republic Day of India
Buddha
India
The International Day of Commemoration
Holocaust Memorial
JANUARY 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Poverty in America Awareness Month is spotlighting one of the most pervasive and persistent problems in society. This year’s observance is more vital given the devastation in families and communities throughout the country due to the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic upheaval. Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month to acknowledge those experiencing enslavement and those who have escaped. Although slavery is commonly thought to be a thing of the past, human traffickers generate hundreds of billions of dollars in profits by trapping millions of people in horrific situations around the world, including here in the U.S. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception, debt bondage, and other manipulative tactics to force people to engage in commercial sex or to provide labor or services against their will. New Year’s Day celebrated in most Western countries, is the first day of the year according to the modern Gregorian calendar. Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus is celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church and commemorates the naming of the child Jesus. World Braille Day is observed to raise awareness around the importance of Braille as a means of communication for blind and partially sighted people. It’s celebrated on the birthday of Louis Braille, the inventor of Braille. Twelfth Night is a festival celebrated by some branches of Christianity that marks the coming of the Epiphany. Epiphany, or Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day), is 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. Lori-Maghi is an annual festival celebrated by Sikhs commemorating the memory of 40 Sikh martyrs. Orthodox New Year recognize Christmas on this day, 13 days later than other Christian churches, because they follow the Julian calendar rather than the Gregorian version of the Western calendar.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the birth of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and an activist for nonviolent social change until his assassination in 1968. Makar Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India. The Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji celebrates the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs who initiated the Sikhs as the Khalsa (the pure ones) and who is known as the Father of the Khalsa. Timkat is a holiday observed by Ethiopian Orthodox Christians who celebrate the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River on Epiphany. World Religion Day is celebrated on the third Sunday in January every year, and is a reminder of the need for harmony and understanding between religions and faith systems. On this day, communities of different faiths have the opportunity to get together and listen to each other, as well as celebrate the differences and commonalities that the delicate intermingling of culture and religion brings. There are approximately 4,200 religions around the world. While many people live their lives without religion, faith in a higher being or power works for the majority of people. Whatever the reasons, we are all for the idea of people being unified despite differences, and celebrating them. Mahayana New Year is the day that Mahayana Buddhists celebrate the new year. Republic Day of India recognizes the date when the Constitution of India came into law in 1950, replacing the Government of India Act of 1935. This day also coincides with India’s 1930 declaration of independence. The International Day of Commemoration remembers the victims of the Holocaust. It’s the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945 and UN Holocaust Memorial Day.
DATE February 2024 HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30
Black History Month
USA and Canada
1
National Freedom Day
USA
1
St. Brigid of Kildare
Christian
2
Candlemas
Christian
6-7
Lailat al Miraj
Muslim
10
Lunar New Year
Chinese
13
Mardi Gras
Christian
14
Vasant Panchami
Hindu
14
St. Valentine’s Day
Christian
14
Ash Wednesday
Christian
15
Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day
Buddha
18
Maha Shivaratri
Hindu
19
Presidents Day
USA
24
Maghi-Purnima
Hindu
26-29
Intercalary Days, or Ayyám-i-Há
Bahá’í
FEBRUARY 2024 MORE INFORMATION
February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada, Carter G. Woodson started the tradition with the creation of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, Negro History Week was established. Since 1976, the month has been federally designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora. National Freedom Day, honoring the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery. St. Brigid of Kildare, celebrated by some Christian denominations, is the feast day for St. Brigid. Candlemas is a Christian holiday that celebrates three occasions, including the presentation of the child Jesus, Jesus’ first entry into the temple, and the Virgin Mary’s purification. Lailat al Miraj, a Muslim holiday commemorating Muhammad's journey from Mecca to the Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem and beginning the night before at sundown. Lunar New Year, a week-long festival that begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar, celebrated in China as well as in Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and Mongolia. Mardi Gras, the last day for Catholics to indulge before Ash Wednesday, starts the sober weeks of fasting that accompany Lent. The term “Mardi Gras” is particularly associated with the carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana. Vasant Panchami is the Hindu festival that highlights the coming of spring. On this day, Hindus worship Saraswati Devi, the goddess of wisdom, knowledge, music, art, and culture. St. Valentine’s Day is a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus. This holiday is typically associated with romantic love and is celebrated by people expressing their love with gifts. Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent on the Christian calendar. Its name is derived from the symbolic use of ashes to signify penitence. It happens immediately after the excesses of the two days of Carnival that take place in Northern Europe and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
Parinirvana Day, or Nirvana Day, is the commemoration of Buddha’s death at the age of 80 when he reached the zenith of Nirvana; February 8th is an alternative date of observance . Maha Shivaratri, a Hindu festival celebrated to honor Lord Shiva and the arrival of spring. Presidents Day is a federally recognized celebration in the United States that honors the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as well as those of every US president. Maghi-Purnima, a Hindu festival celebrated on the last day of Magha, a month focused on charity work, when devotees often take holy baths and do charity. Intercalary Days, or Ayyám-i-Há, is celebrated by people of the Bahá’í faith. During this time, days are added to the Bahá’í calendar to maintain their solar calendar. Intercalary days are observed with gift-giving, special acts of charity, and preparation for the fasting that precedes the New Year.
2024 March
DATE
HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30 1-30 1-30
Women’s History Month
USA USA USA
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
Deaf History Month
1 8
St. David’s Day
International Women’s Day
9-17
Chaitra Navratri
Hindu
10-04/08
Ramadan
Muslim
10 17 17 18 19 19 19 21 21 23 24 24 24 24
Meatfare Sunday
Orthodox
St. Patrick’s Day
Christian
Ram Navami
Hindu
Clean Monday
Christian
Ostara
Pagan
St. Joseph’s Day
Christian
Nowruz/Norooz, or Persian New Year
Bahá’í
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
World Down Syndrome Day
Lazarus Saturday Magha Puja Day
Christian
Buddha
Holi
Hindu and Sikh
Psalm Sunday
Christian
Purim
Jewish Muslim
24-25
Lailat al Bara’a, also known as Lailat Al Baraah, Barat, Shab-e-Bara, or Night of Forgiveness International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
25 28 29 31 31
Holy Thursday
Christian Christian
Good Friday
International Transgender Day
Easter
Christian
MARCH 2024 MORE INFORMATION
March is Women’s History Month. Established in 1987, the month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society. National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month was established to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. National Deaf History Month celebrates the contributions and accomplishments of people who are deaf and those who are hard of hearing and raises awareness for the Deaf community. St. David’s Day is the feast day of St. David, the patron saint of Wales. International Women’s Day, first observed in 1911 in Germany, has now become a major global celebration honoring women’s economic, political, and social achievements. Chaitra Navratri is a nine-day festival that starts on the first day of the Hindu Luni-Solar calendar. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. Nineteen-Day Fast is a time in the Bahá’í faith to reinvigorate the soul and bring one closer to God. This fast takes place immediately before the beginning of the Bahá’í New Year. Meatfare Sunday,or The Sunday of the Last Judgment, is traditionally the last day of eating meat before Easter for Orthodox Christians. St. Patrick’s Day started in Ireland to recognize St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the country in the early days of the faith. Ram Navami is a Hindu day of worship and celebration of the seventh avatar of Vishnu (Lord Rama). Devotees typically wear red and place extravagant flowers on the shrine of the god. Clean Monday is the beginning of Great Lent in the Orthodox Christian faith. Ostara is a celebration of the spring equinox commemorated by Pagans and Wiccans. It is observed as a time to mark the coming of spring and the fertility of the land. St. Joseph’s Day in Western Christianity is the principal feast of St. Joseph, the husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Nowruz/Norooz, or Persian New Year, is a day of joy, celebration, and renewal. It is held annually on the spring equinox. International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed annually in the wake of the 1960 killing of 69 people at a demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in South Africa. The United Nations proclaimed the day in 1966 and called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. World Down Syndrome Day is marked each year on March 21, beginning in 2007. The 21st day of March was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.
Lazarus Saturday in Eastern Christianity refers to the moveable feast before Palm Sunday to which it is liturgically linked. It celebrates the raising of Lazarus of Bethany. Magha Puja Day, or Maka Bucha, is a Buddhist holiday that marks an event early in the Buddha’s teaching life when a group of 1,250 enlightened saints ordained by the Buddha gathered to pay their respect to him. It is celebrated on various dates in different countries. Holi is the annual Hindu and Sikh spring religious festival observed in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, along with other countries with large Hindu and Sikh populations. People celebrate Holi by throwing colored powder and water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before in memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlada accomplished when demoness Holika carried him into the fire. It is often celebrated on the full moon (the Phalguna Purnima) before the beginning of the vernal equinox as based on the Hindu calendar. Palm Sunday is the Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. Its name originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered the city. Purim, A celebratory holiday commemorating the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation in Persia in the 5 th Century BCE. Lailat al Bara’a, also known as Lailat Al Baraah, Barat, Shab-e-Bara, or Night of Forgiveness, is an Islamic holiday during which practitioners of the faith seek forgiveness for sins. Muslims spend the night in special prayers. It is regarded as one of the most sacred nights on the Islamic calendar. International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a United Nations international observation that offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. First observed in 2008, the international celebration also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice. Maundy Thursday or Holy Thursday is the day during Holy Week that commemorates the Washing of the Feet and Last Supper of Jesus Christ with the Apostles, as described in the canonical gospels. It is the fifth day of Holy Week, preceded by Holy Wednesday and followed by Good Friday. Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday, and Black Friday. International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated to bring awareness to transgender people and their identities as well as recognize those who helped fight for the rights of transgender people. Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.
DATE 2024 April HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30
Celebrate Diversity Month
1-30
Autism Acceptance Month
1-30
National Arab American Heritage Month
1-30
National Volunteer Month
2
World Autism Awareness Day
5
Qingming Festival
Chinese
10
Eid al-Fitr
Muslim
12
Day of Silence
LGBTQ
13
Vaisakhi
Sikh/Hindu
21
Mahavir Jayanti
Jains
21 - May 2
Festival of Ridvan
Bahá’í
22
Earth Day
22-30
Passover
Jewish
23
St. George’s Day
Christian
28-29
The Ninth Day of Ridvan
Bahá’í
APRIL 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Celebrate Diversity Month April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other. Autism Acceptance Month was established to raise awareness about and acceptance of the developmental disability that impacts an individual’s experience of the world around them. National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) takes place in April. It celebrates the Arab American heritage and culture and pays tribute to the contributions of Arab Americans. National Volunteer Month in the United States takes place in the month of April. This month is dedicated to honoring all of the volunteers in our communities as well as encouraging volunteerism throughout the month. World Autism Awareness Day is honored to raise awareness for Autism around the globe. The Qingming or Ching Ming Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the first day of the fifth solar month. The Qingming Festival started over 2,500 years ago during the Zhou Dynasty. Emperors would offer sacrifices in honor of their ancestors in exchange for wealth, peace and good harvests for the country. Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. Passover is an eight-day Jewish holiday in commemoration of the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Day of Silence is GLSEN's annual day of action to spread awareness about the effects of the bullying and harassment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning students. In the United States, students take a day-long vow of silence to symbolically represent the silencing of LGBTQ students. Vaisakhi, or Baisakhi, is the celebration of the founding of the Sikh community as the Khalsa (community of the initiated) and the birth of the Khalsa.
Mahavir Jayanti is a holiday celebrated by the Jains commemorating the birth of Lord Mahavira. It is one of the most important religious festivals for Jains. The Festival of Ridvan is a holiday celebrated by those of the Bahá’í faith to commemorate the 12 days when Bahá’u’lláh, the prophet-founder, resided in a garden called Ridvan (paradise) and publicly proclaimed his mission as God’s messenger for this age. Earth Day promotes world peace and sustainability of the planet. Events are held globally in support of the environmental protection of the Earth. Passover, also called Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt. Pesach starts on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan which is considered the first month of the Hebrew year. St. George’s Day is the feast day of St. George celebrated by various Christian churches. Holy Thursday, or Maundy Thursday, is 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. Ninth Day of Ridvan is a festival of joy and unity in the Bahá’í faith to commemorate the reunification of Bahá’u’lláh’s family and by extension the unity of the entire human family the Bahá’í faith calls for. It permeates the symbolic meaning of the Ninth Day of Ridvan.
2024 May DATE 1-31 1-31 1-31 1-31 1-31 1 2
HOLIDAY
GROUP
Mental Health Awareness Month
Older Americans Month
Jewish American Heritage Month
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month National Military Appreciation Month
Beltrane
Celtic
National Day of Prayer
3 3 5 5
Feasts of Saints Philip and James is a Roman rite feast day
Christian
Asian-American Women's Equal Pay Day
Cinco de Mayo
Mexican
International Family Equality Day
LGBTQ+
5-6
Yom HaShoah
Jewish
7 9
National Teachers Day
Ascension of Jesus or Ascension Day
Christian
10
Military Spouse Appreciation Day
13-14
Yom Ha’Atzmaut
Israel
17 17 19 20 21 23
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
LGBTQ
Malcolm X Day
Pentecost
Western Christianity
Armed Forces day
World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
Visaka Puji, Vesak, or Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Day
Buddha
22-23
Declaration of the Báb
Bahá’í
25
African Day Lag BaOmer Trinity Sunday Memorial Day
25-26
Jewish
26 27
Christian
27-28
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh
Bahá’í
MAY 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Mental Health Awareness Month, also known as Mental Health Month, is aimed is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses. Older Americans Month was established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older Americans and support them as they enter their next stage of life. Jewish American Heritage Month recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture. Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7th, 1843 and marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10th, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese immigrants. Nationally Military Appreciate Month is meant to raise awareness and encourage celebration and appreciation of those who serve – are who have served – in the armed forces for their country. Beltane is an ancient Celtic, Pagan, and Wiccan holiday celebrated about halfway between the spring equinox and summer solstice. The day is often used to celebrate love and romance. National Day of Prayer is a day of observance in the United States when people are asked to “turn to God in prayer and meditation”. Feasts of Saints Philip and James is a Roman Rite Feast Day held on the anniversary of the dedication of the Church to Saints Phillip and James in Rome. Asian-American Women's Equal Pay Day, marking the fact that Asian-American women earn 90 cents for every dollar earned by white men. Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican Army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861 - 1867). This day celebrates Mexican culture and heritage with a variety of festivities, including parades and mariachi music performances. International Family Equality Day celebrates the diversity and equality of LGBTQ+ families. Yom HaShoah is Israel’s day of remembrance for the approximately six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Lag BaOmer is a Jewish holiday marking the day of hillula of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. National Teacher’s Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, and may include celebrations to honor them for their special contributions in a particular field area, or the community tone in education. Ascension of Jesus or Ascension Day celebrates the ascension of Christ from Earth in the presence of God within most of the Christian faith.
Military Spouse Appreciation Day takes place the Friday preceding Mother’s Day. Shows appreciation for the commitment and sacrifice that the spouses of service members make, together with the rest of the family. Recognizes the importance of empowering military spouses and ensuring that they have what they need to thrive. International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia is a global celebration of sexual orientation and gender diversities. Malcolm X Day is a holiday celebrated either on May 19th, Malcolm X’s birthday, or the third Friday in May, to commemorate the Civil Rights leader. Pentecost (Western Christianity) - The Holy Spirit was felt amongst the 12 apostles after Jesus’ death. New members of the church are often baptized on this day, which is sometimes called White Sunday because white clothes are worn for baptism. Armed Forces Day, Through the efforts of President Harry S. Truman, Armed Forces Day was established on August 31, 1949, as a single holiday for U.S. citizens to come together and thank all military members for their service in support of the country. World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is a day set aside by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony. Vesak, or Buddha Jayanti, Buddha Purnima, and Buddha Day is a holiday traditionally observed by Buddhists in South Asia and Southeast Asia as well as Tibet and Mongolia. Commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Gautama Buddha in Theravada, Tibetan Buddhism, and Navayana. Declaration of the Báb celebrates the day of declaration of the Báb, the forerunner of Bahá’u’lláh and founder of the Bahá’í faith. African Day is a celebration of the many achievements and victories of African people worldwide and a rededication to their current struggle for freedom, justice and unity. It is marked by parades and rallies in Africa and the U.S. Lag BaOmer, also Lag B'Omer or Lag LaOmer, is a Jewish religious holiday celebrated on the 33rd day of the Counting of the Omer, which occurs on the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar. Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost in the Western Christian liturgical calendar, and the Sunday of Pentecost in Eastern Christianity. Trinity Sunday celebrates the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, the three Persons of God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Memorial Day in the United States is a federal holiday established to honor military veterans who died in wars fought by US forces.
Yom Ha’Atzmaut is the national Independence Day in Israel.
Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh commemorates the ascension of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Bahá’í faith.
DATE 2024 June
HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30 1-30 1-30
Pride Month
LGBTQ+
Immigrant Heritage Month
Caribbean American Heritage Month Native American Citizenship Day Feast of the Most Sacred Heart
2 7
Native American Roman Catholic
10
Dragon Boat festival
Chinese
11-13
Shavuot
Jewish
12 14
Loving Day
Flag Day
15-16
Waqf al Arafa
Islam
16 16
The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
Sikh
Father’s Day
16-17
Eid al-Adhahonors
Islam
19 20 21 29 30
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day
World Refugee Day
National Indigenous Peoples Day Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul
Christian
The last Sunday
LGBTQ
JUNE 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Pride Month Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month was established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. LGBTQ+ groups note this time with Pride parades, picnics, parties, memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings. The last Sunday in June is LGBTQ+ Pride Day. Immigrant Heritage Month was established in June 2014 and gives people across the United States an opportunity to explore their heritages and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of the United States. The month celebrates immigrants across the United States and their contributions to their local communities and economy. National Caribbean American Month is celebrated every June to honor and celebrate America’s rich and diverse culture, which also includes the Caribbean-American population. People from this community have not only evolved the American culture but have also contributed greatly to the development of the nation in areas of science and medicine. Native American Citizenship Day commemorates the day in 1924 when the US Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans. Feast of the Most Sacred Heart is a solemnity in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. The Dragon Boat Festival – known as “Duanwu” in Chinese – is an annual celebration throughout China where traditional wooden boats carved like dragons are raced in the rivers by locals. It is a national holiday in China and celebrated by all its citizens from kids to adults. Shavuot is a Jewish holiday with double significance. It marks the wheat harvest in Israel and commemorates the anniversary of the day when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Loving Day is a celebration marking the day the Supreme Court struck down state bans against interracial marriage.
Flag Day in the United States is observed to celebrate the history and symbolism of the US flag. Waqf al Arafa is the second day of pilgrimage within the Islamic faith. The martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev is observed by members of the Sikh faith. Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh guru and the first Sikh martyr. Father's Day is a holiday honoring one's father, or relevant father figure, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society. Trinity Sunday is observed in the Western Christian faith as a feast in honor of the Holy Trinity. Eid al-Adhahonors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to Allah. As with Eid al-Fitr, it is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer (or ṣ al ā t) at daybreak on its first day. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, was established as a federal holiday in 2022. This celebration honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War. World Refugee Day is an international day organized every year on 20 June by the United Nations. It is designed to celebrate and honor refugees from around the world. The day was first established on 20 June 2001, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. National Indigenous Peoples Day, or First Nations Day, gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization in Canada. Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome for the apostles St. Peter and St. Paul in Eastern Orthodox Christianity. The last Sunday in June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Day in the United States. It commemorates the Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28th, 1969.
DATE 2024 July
HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-31
Social Wellness Month
1
Canada Day
4
Independence Day
9
The Martyrdom of the Bab
Baha’i
11
St. Benedict Day
Christian
14
International Nonbinary People’s Day
15
St. Vladimir Day
Roman Catholic
16-17
Ashura
Islam
17
Muharram
Islam
18
Nelson Mandela International Day
21
Asalha Puja, or Dharma Day
Buddha
23
The birthday of Haile Selassie
Rastafari
24
Pioneer Day
25
St. James the Greater Day
Christian
26
Disability Independence Day
30
The International Day of Friendship
JULY 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Social Wellness Month, mental health professionals urge folks to celebrate the concept of self-love and tending to relationships. Social wellness can look like joining a book club or reconnecting with an old friend. Canada Day, or Fête du Canada, is a Canadian federal holiday that celebrates the 1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, establishing the three former British colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick as a united nation called Canada. Independence Day, or the Fourth of July, is a US federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. The original thirteen American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America. The Martyrdom of the Bab is a day when Bahá’ís observe the anniversary of the Báb’s execution in Tabriz, Iran, in 1850. St. Benedict Day is the feast day of St. Benedict celebrated by some Christian denominations. International Nonbinary People’s Day is aimed at raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by nonbinary people around the world while celebrating their contributions. St. Vladimir Day is a Roman Catholic feast celebrating St. Vladimir. Ashura is an Islamic Holiday marked by Muslims with a voluntary day of fasting. The holiday commemorates the day Noah left the Ark and Moses was saved from the Egyptians by God. For Shia Muslims specifically, this day honors the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, who was the beloved grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Muharram refers to the Islamic New Year celebration or the first 10 days of the first month in the Muslim calendar. Nelson Mandela International Day was established on July 18th, 2009 in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday via a unanimous decision of the UN General Assembly. It was inspired by a call Mandela made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices. He stated, “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. Asalha Puja, or Dharma Day, celebrates Buddha’s first teachings. The birthday of Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia whom the Rastafarians consider to be their savior, is celebrated on this day. Pioneer Day is observed by Mormons to commemorate the arrival of the first Latter-day Saints pioneer in Salt Lake Valley in 1847. St. James the Greater Day is a feast day for St. James the Greater celebrated by some Christian denominations. Disability Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The International Day of Friendship was proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly with the idea that friendship between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals can inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
DATE 2024 August
HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30
National Civility Month
1 6 7 7
Lammas
Transfiguration of the Lord
Christian
Purple Heart Day Thiru Aadi Pooram
Tamil
12-13 13-15
The Fast of Tisha B’av Obon, or Ullambana
Jewish
Buddha Catholic
15 15 17 19 21
Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary
Dormition of the Theotokos
Christian Orthodox
Marcus Garvey Day
World Humanitarian Day
Senior Citizens Day
Both International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition and the anniversary of the uprising in Santo Domingo
23
26 26 29 30
Women’s Equality Day Krishna Janmashtami
Hindu
The beheading of St. John the Baptist
Christian
Raksha Bandhan
Hindu
AUGUST 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Marcus Garvey Day 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. World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel and those who have died working for humanitarian causes. The World Senior Citizen's Day is celebrated on 21 August each year. The celebration took place for the first time in 1991. The day is intended to increase awareness of the factors and issues that affect older adults, such as health deterioration and elder abuse. Both International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition and the anniversary of the uprising in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) that initiated the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean are recognized on this day. Women’s Equality Day commemorates the August 26th, 1920 certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the US 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 US president has published a proclamation recognizing the 26th as Women’s Equality Day. Krishna Janmashtami, also known simply as Krishnashtami, Janmashtami, or Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of Krishna, the eighth avatar of Vishnu. In certain Hindu texts, such as the Gita Govinda, Krishna has been identified as supreme God and the source of all avatars. The beheading of John the Baptist, also known as the decollation of Saint John the Baptist or the beheading of the Forerunner, is a biblical event commemorated as a holy day by various Christian churches. Raksha Bandhan is 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.
People being civil to other people is what makes the world a better place and is the key focus of National Civility Month, which is held in August each year. National Civility Month was founded to help the world remember to treat others the way we wish to be treated ourselves — with kindness, empathy, and respect. Lammas is a festival to mark the annual wheat harvest within some English-speaking countries in the Northern Hemisphere. Transfiguration of the Lord, or Feast of the Transfiguration is celebrated by various Christian denominations. The feast day is dedicated to the transfiguration of Jesus. Purple Heart Day. Each year on August 7, our nation recognizes the men and women who are known as our Purple Heart recipients. The Purple Heart, one of the oldest military decorations, is presented to service members who were injured or killed in service to our country. Aadi Pooram is one of the most important festivals of the Tamilians. It is celebrated in the Tamil month Aadi. This is the birthday of Andal who is believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Laxmi and one of the biggest devotees of the Lord. The Fast of Ninth of Av ('Tisha B'Av') is a yearly observance that remembers the five major calamities and tragedies that befell the nation of Israel around that particular day throughout history. Obon, or Ullambana, is a Buddhist festival and Japanese custom that honors the spirits of ancestors. Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern, and Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as parts of Anglicanism. The Dormition of the Theotokos is a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches which commemorates the "falling asleep" or death of the Theotokos (Mary, the mother of Jesus), and her bodily resurrection before being taken up into heaven.
DATE 2024 September HOLIDAY
GROUP
1-30
National Recovery Month
1-30
Suicide Prevention Month
4
Labor Day
6
Ganesh Chaturthi
Hindu
15
Patriot Day
11
Ethiopian New Year
15-10/15
Hispanic Heritage Month
15-16
Mawlid Al-Nabi
Muslim
16
Mexican Independence Day
17
Mid-Autumn Festival
Chinese
18
International Equal Pay Day
21-29
Mabon
27
Native American Day
Native American
27
Elevation of the Life Giving Cross (Holy Cross)
Christian
29
Michaelmas
Christian
SEPTEMBER 2024 MORE INFORMATION
National Recovery Month is observed every year in September to promote and find new evidence-based treatments for patients battling addiction. National Suicide Prevention Month: We can all help prevent suicide. Every year, the Lifeline and other mental health organizations and individuals across the U.S. and around the world raise awareness of suicide prevention during September. Labor Day in the United States honors the contribution that workers have made to the country and is observed on the first Monday of September. Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu holiday lasting approximately 10 days in which the elephant- headed Hindu god is praised and given offerings. Patriot Day honors those who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the U.S. on September 11, 2001. Among other commemorative events, a moment of silence is observed. Rastafarians celebrate the Ethiopian New Year on this date and believe that Ethiopia is their spiritual home. Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th to October 15th. This month corresponds with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th and recognizes the revolution in 1810 that ended the Spanish dictatorship. Mawlid, Mawlid an-Nabi ash-Sharif, or Eid Milad un Nabi, is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Mexican Independence Day is a day commemorating the moment when Father Hidalgo, a priest and leader, called for Mexico's liberation from Spain in September of 1810. Mid-Autumn Festival is a celebration of the rice harvest and many fruits. Ceremonies are held both to give thanks for the harvest and to encourage the harvest-giving light to return again in the coming year. It is also a reunion time for families, a little like Thanksgiving.
International Equal Pay Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020. It represents the long- standing efforts toward the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and its efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls. Mabon, the second harvest ritual celebrated in Gaelic, Pagan, and Wiccan traditions, is the first day of fall and the celebration of the vernal equinox. The holiday is about gathering wisdom and honoring elders. Native American Day is a federal holiday observed annually on the fourth Friday in September in the states of California and Nevada and on the second Monday in October in South Dakota and Oklahoma. The Elevation of the Holy Cross is one of the Great Feasts of the Orthodox Church. Michaelmas is a Christian festival observed in many Western Christian liturgical calendars on 29 September, and on 8 November in the Eastern Christian traditions. Michaelmas has been one of the four quarter days of the English and Irish financial, judicial, and academic year.
DATE 2024 October HOLIDAY
GROUP
1 – 31 1 - 31 1 – 31
Global Diversity Awareness Month
LGBTQ+ History Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
1-31 1-15
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Hispanic Heritage Month
2-4
Rosh Hashanah
Jewish Hindu
3-11
Navratri
4
St. Francis Day
Catholic
10 11 11
World Mental Health Day National Coming Out Day
LGBTQ+ Chinese
Double Ninth Festival
11-12
Yom Kippur
Jewish Hindu
12 14
Vijayadashami/Dussehra Canadian Thanksgiving
16-23
Sukkot
Jewish
19
International Pronouns Day Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween
24-25
Jewish
31
31-11/1
Samhain
Gaelic
OCTOBER 2024 MORE INFORMATION
October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, a month to celebrate and increase awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicities as well as the positive impact diversity can have on society. LGBTQ+ History Month is a US observance that started in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history and the history of the gay rights movement. National Disability Employment Awareness Month 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. Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also referred to in the United States as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th to October 15th. This month corresponds with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th and recognizes the revolution in 1810 that ended the Spanish dictatorship. Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year celebration marking the creation of the world. Navratri is the nine-day festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Festival participants worship God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as Durga, Devi, or Shakti, and the event marks the start of fall. St. Francis Day is a feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment. It’s celebrated by many Catholic denominations. World Mental Health Day was first celebrated in 1993 to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide. National Coming Out Day is recognized in the United States to celebrate those who come out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer as well as the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality.
The Double Ninth Festival is a day for families to visit the graves of their ancestors to pay their respects, as well as a time for people to climb mountains, eat Chongyang cake, and drink chrysanthemum wine or tea. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year and marks a time for atonement through fasting and prayer. In this image, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men pray at the Western Wall during Yom Kippur in the Old City of Jerusalem. Vijayadashami is an important Hindu festival celebrated in Telangana. Vijayadashami, a festival that symbolizes the victory of good over evil, is celebrated with traditional fervor, devotion and gaiety across Telangana. Canadian Thanksgiving is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year. Sukkot is a major Jewish festival held in the autumn (beginning on the 15th day of Tishri) to commemorate the sheltering of the Israelites in the wilderness. International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Each year it is held on the third Wednesday of October. Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday also known as The Eighth (Day) of Assembly. It takes place the day after the Sukkot festival, where gratitude for the fall harvest is deeply internalized. All Hallows’ Eve, or Halloween is 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. Samhain is a Gaelic festival on 1 November marking the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter or "darker half" of the year.
DATE 2024 November HOLIDAY National Native American Heritage Month
GROUP
1 – 30 1 – 30
Native American
National Family Caregivers Month
1-30
Movember/Men’s Health Awareness Month
1
All Saints’ Day
Christian
31
Diwali
Hindu
1-2
Dias De Los Muertos
Mexican
2
Birth of Báb Veterans Day
Bahá’í
11
13-19
Transgender Awareness Week
15-12/24
Nativity Feast
Catholic
16 19 20 24
International Day of Tolerance
International Men’s Day
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Feast of Christ
Catholic
26-27
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
Baha’i
28 29
Thanksgiving Day
Native American Heritage Day
Native American
NOVEMBER 2024 MORE INFORMATION
Nativity Fast is a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus. The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance day declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance. It is observed on 16 November. International Men’s Day emphasizes the important issues affecting males, including health issues that affect males, improving the relations between genders, highlighting the importance of male role models, and promoting gender equality. This holiday is celebrated in more than 70 countries. Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia and raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community. Feast of Christ the King is a Catholic holiday established to thank God for the gift of time and a rededication to the Christian faith. Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá is a day that commemorates the death of 'Abdu'l-Bahá, the eldest son and successor of Baha'u'llah, founder of the Baha'i faith. Thanksgiving Day in the United States began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and the preceding year. Native American Heritage Day is held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The day encourages Americans of all backgrounds to observe and honor Native Americans through appropriate ceremonies and activities. The day was signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2008.
National Native American Heritage Month celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans. National Family Caregivers Month was proclaimed in 2012 by former President Barack Obama. It honors the more than forty million caregivers across the country who support aging parents, ill spouses, or other loved ones with disabilities who remain at home. Movember, also known as Men’s Health Awareness Month, is an annual global campaign that encourages men to grow mustaches and participate in various activities to raise awareness about men’s health issues. All Saints’ Day is a Christian holiday commemorating all known and unknown Christian saints. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights with its variations also celebrated in other Indian religions. It symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". Dias De Los Muertos is one of Mexico's most important religious holidays is celebrated on All Saint's Day (November 1) and All Soul's Day (November 2): Dia de los Muertos (sometimes called Dia de los Fieles Difuntos) – Day of the Dead. Traditionally, November 1st honors deceased children and November 2nd honors deceased adults. Birth of Báb is a Bahá’í holiday celebrating the birth of the prophet Báb. Veterans Day is a US 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. Transgender Awareness Week is the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20th. People and organizations participate to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.
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