Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
DEI Cultural & Events Calendar
February 2023
- 01National Freedom DayHonoring the signing by Abraham Lincoln of a resolution that later became the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that abolished slavery.
- 01Black History MonthCelebrating the history and achievements of Black Americans.
- 02CandlemasChristian holy day that commemorates when Jesus was presented to the temple for the first time.
- 05Tu B’shevatThe Jewish New Year for Trees, known as the Jewish Arbor Day, which marks the start of spring in Israel.
- 05Maghi-PurnimaHindu festival celebrated on the last day of Magha, a month focused on charity work, when devotees often take holy baths and do charity.
- 14Valentine’s DayCelebrated by western Christians as a saint’s day and as a secular holiday highlighting love.
- 15Nirvana DayBuddhist commemoration of Buddha’s death.
- 17Lailat al MirajMuslim holiday commemorating Muhammad’s journey from Mecca to the Farthest Mosque in Jerusalem and beginning the night before at sundown.
- 18Maha ShivaratiHindu festival celebrated to honor Lord Shiva and the arrival of spring.
- 20Presidents’ DayU.S. holiday celebrating President George Washington’s birthday and all the presidents after him.\
- 21Mardi GrasAlso known as Fat Tuesday and the end of the Carnival season, celebrated by Christians as the last day before Lent and often full of feasting and celebration.
- 22Ash WednesdayThe first day of Lent in the Christian calendar.
- 22Asian-American Women’s Equal Pay DayMarking the fact that Asian-American women earn 90 cents for every dollar earned by white men.
- 22Asian American and Pacific Islander Women’s Equal Pay
March 2023
- 01Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
- 01National Women’s History Month
- 01Irish-American Heritage Month
- 01Greek-American Heritage Month
- 06Mukha Bucha DayAlso known as Māgha Pūjā, a Buddhist holiday celebrating the Buddhist community spent giving alms, visiting the temple, and meditating.
- 06PurimJewish holiday marking when the Jewish community in Persia was saved from genocide, ceelbrated by giving charity and feasting.
- 07HoliHindu and sikh spring festival celebrating spring and new beginnings with bonfires, bright colors, and feasting.
- 08International Women’s DayCelebrating women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements and highlighting women’s rights.
- 15All Women’s Equal Pay Day
- 17St. Patrick’s Dayholiday celebrating the patron saint of Ireland.
- 20OstaraHoliday celebrating the spring equinox observed by Pagans and Wiccans.
- 20Naw-RuzBaha’I New Year.
- 21International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discriminationdeclared by the United Nations in 1966 to honor the killing of 69 people at a demonstration against South African apartheid.
- 21NoroozPersian New Year.
- 25International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave TradeDeclared by the United Nation in 2008 to honor and remember slaves who died.
- 31International Transgender Day of Visibility
April 2023
- 02Palm SundayChristian holiday marking Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and the start of the Holy Week.
- 04Lord’s Evening MealCelebrated by Jehovah’s Witnesses in memory the Last Supper celebrated on the first night of Passover in 33 CE.
- 05Passover or PesachEight-day Jewish festival celebrating when Israelites were freed from slavery in ancient Egypt.
- 18Mahavir JayantiMahavir Jayanti, an important holiday celebrated by Jains commemorating the birth of Lord Mahavira.
- 21National Day of SilenceNational Day of Silence, a protest against bullying and harassment of LGBTQIA+ individuals by students who take a vow of silence.
- 24Armenian Martyrs’ DayArmenian Martyrs’ Day, honoring the 1.5 million Armenians killed by genocide in Turkey.
- 26Mother’s Equal Pay DayMother’s Equal Pay Day
May 2023
- 01BeltaneBeltane, a Celtic festival celebrating the beginning of summer, also known as May Day.
- 05Cinco de MayoCinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday commemorating Mexico’s 1862 victory over France in the Battle of Puebla, celebrated in the Mexican state of Puebla and by Mexican-Americans.
- 07PaschaPascha, Orthodox Easter.
- 14Mother’s DayMother’s Day.
- 17International Day Against Homophobia Transphobia and BiphobiaInternational Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
- 21World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and DevelopmentWorld Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day set by the United Nations to celebrate harmony.
- 23Declaration of the BabDeclaration of the Bab, a Baha’i holiday.
- 25The Feast of the AscensionThe Feast of the Ascension, a Christian holiday celebrating Jesus’s ascension into heaven.
- 25Africa DayAfrica Day, commemorating the foundation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963.
- 26Laylat al-QadrLaylat al-Qadr, the holiest night of the year for Muslims, celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan and commemorating the night that the Quran was revealed to Mohammad.
- 29Ascension of Baha’u’llahAscension of Baha’u’llah, a Baha’i holy day.
- 29Memorial DayMemorial Day, a U.S. holiday honoring military veterans who died in war.
- 29Vesak Day or Visakha PujaVesak Day or Visakha Puja, a Buddhist festival marking Gautama Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death.
June 2023
- 02Native American Citizenship DayNative American Citizenship Day, which commemorates when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans in 1924.
- 03ShavuotShavuot, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the spring harvest and the giving of the Torah.
- 04Eid al-FitrEid al-Fitr, the celebration of the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the Islamic month of Shawwal.
- 04All Saints’ DayAll Saints’ Day, an Orthodox celebration of all known and unknown Christian saints.
- 04PentecostPentecost, a Christian holiday commemorating when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.
- 12Republic DayRepublic Day, also known as Filipino-American Friendship Day, marking the Philippines’ independence from the United States.
- 12Anne Frank DayAnne Frank Day, celebrating the birthday of the young Jewish hero.
- 12Loving DayLoving Day, celebrating the anniversary of the 1967 Supreme Court decision Loving v. Virginia that made interracial marriage legal.
- 18Father’s DayFather’s Day.
- 19JuneteenthJuneteenth, a holiday that originally commemorated when the abolition of slavery was announced in Texas in 1865 and is now a broader celebration of Black freedom and achievement.
- 20World Refugee DayWorld Refugee Day, marked by the UN to encourage public awareness and refugee support.
- 21LithaLitha, the summer solstice celebrated by Pagans.
- 26Anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S.Anniversary of the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S., which happened via the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015.
- 26Race Unity DayRace Unity Day, a Baha’i holiday founded in 1957.
July 2023
- 04Independence DayIndependence Day
- 09Martyrdom of the BabMartyrdom of the Bab, a Baha’i holiday observing the anniversary of the death of the Bab, the prophet of the Baha’i faith.
- 14Bastille DayBastille Day, also known as French National Day, celebrating the storming of the Bastille in 1789, a turning point in the French Revolution.
- 18International Nelson Mandela DayInternational Nelson Mandela Day, marked on Mendela’s birthday to honor his legacy.
- 18Dharma DayDharma Day, also known as Asalha Puja, a Buddhist holiday commemorating the Buddha’s first discourse after his spiritual awakening.
- 24Pioneer DayPioneer Day, a Mormon holiday recognizing the arrival of Brigham Young and the first group of Morman pioneers in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.
- 26ADA DayADA Day, celebrating when the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law in 1990.
- 30International Day of FriendshipInternational Day of Friendship, a day designated by the UN to promote relationships and friendship across cultures.
August 2023
- 09International Day of the World’s Indigenous PeopleInternational Day of the World’s Indigenous People, celebrating the rich heritage of indigenous cultures and recognizing the challenges they face.
- 13Al-HijraAl-Hijra, the first day of the month of Muharram, which marks the beginning of the Islamic year.
- 14Tisha B’AvTisha B’Av, a Jewish date of observance mourning the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem.
- 19Krishna JanmashtamiKrishna Janmashtami, also known as Jayanti, a Hindu holiday celebrating Krishna’s birthday.
- 19World Humanitarian DayWorld Humanitarian Day, marked by the UN to commemorate humanitarian workers killed or injured through their work.
- 20Eid al-AdhaEid al-Adha, a Muslim holiday commemorating the prophet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son, Ismail.
- 22AshuraAshura, a day of fasting observed by Muslims to mark Moses’ exodus from Egypt.
- 26Raksha BandhanRaksha Bandhan, also known as Rakhi, an Indian festival celebrating the relationship between brothers and sisters.
- 26Women’s Equality DayWomen’s Equality Day, which celebrates the passing of the 19th Amendment that granted women the right to vote.
- 31Black Women’s Equal Pay DayBlack Women’s Equal Pay Day
September 2023
- 04Labor DayLabor Day, celebrating workers and the labor union movement.
- 13Rosh HashanahRosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and the beginning of a ten-day period of spiritual renewal.
- 15Ganesh ChaturthiGanesh Chaturthi, a Hindu holiday celebrating the birthday of Ganesha.
- 16Mexican Independence DayMexican Independence Day
- 17SukkotSukkot, a Jewish weeklong commemoration of the 40-year wanderings of the Israelites.
- 20NavratriNavratri, a nine-day festival celebrating good triumphing over evil and ends in Dussehra on the 15th.
- 21International Day of PeaceInternational Day of Peace, a day of nonviolence started by the United Nations.
- 22Yom KippurYom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement that ends the ten days of penance that began with Rosh Hashanah.
- 23Bi Visibility DayBi Visibility Day, marking the bi+ community.
- 26European Day of LanguagesEuropean Day of Languages, created by the Council of Europe and organized by the CoE and the European Union, which commemorates the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe.
- 30Shemini AtzeretShemini Atzeret, a Jewish holiday known as the Eighth Day of Assembly and marked by joy and prayers.
- 30Native American Women’s Equal Pay DayNative American Women’s Equal Pay Day
October 2023
- 01Simchat TorahSimchat Torah, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the Torah and marks a new cycle of reading it.
- 02International Day of NonviolenceInternational Day of Nonviolence, marked on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday to work towards a culture of peace, tolerance, and understanding.
- 09Indigenous Peoples’ DayIndigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrating and honoring Native American history and culture, previously celebrated as Columbus Day and changed by many states and cities to decenter genocide.
- 10World Mental Health DayWorld Mental Health Day
- 11National Coming Out DayNational Coming Out Day, which is celebrated on the anniversary of a 500,000-person march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality.
- 15White Cane Safety DayWhite Cane Safety Day, a day for awareness of the blind community.
- 15Sikh Holy DaySikh Holy Day, celebrating the birth of Guru Granth.
- 18Eid Milad ul-NabiEid Milad ul-Nabi, a Muslim holiday marking the birthday of the prophet Mohammed, celebrated by Sunni Muslims on the 18th and Shi’a Muslims on the 23rd.
- 20Birth of the BabBirth of the Bab, a Baha’i holiday marking the birth of the faith’s prophet-herald.
- 21Latina’s Equal Pay DayLatina’s Equal Pay Day
- 22International Stuttering Awareness DayInternational Stuttering Awareness Day, which works to raise public awareness of stuttering.
- 31HalloweenHalloween
November 2023
- 01All Saints’ DayAll Saints’ Day, a western Christian holiday commemorating known and unknown Christian saints.
- 02Día de los MuertosDía de los Muertos, the Mexican celebration marking the Day of the Dead and celebrating those who have passed.
- 02All Souls’ DayAll Souls’ Day, a Christian holiday to commemorate the dead (marked as Día de los Muertos in Mexico).
- 04Guru Nanek Dev Ji’s birthdayGuru Nanek Dev Ji’s birthday, an important Sikh holiday celebrating the founder of Sikhism.
- 04DiwaliDiwali, the Hindu festival of lights.
- 11Veterans DayVeterans Day, honoring military veterans.
- 12Birth of Baha’u’llahBirth of Baha’u’llah, a Baha’i observance of another prophet-herald.
- 20Transgender Day of RemembranceTransgender Day of Remembrance, memorializing those killed due to anti-transgender prejudice.
- 23ThanksgivingThanksgiving, commemorating the Pilgrims’ harvest feast, and sometimes marked as a day of mourning to recognize the decimation of the Native Americans by the colonists.
- 24Native American Heritage DayNative American Heritage Day, observed on the day after Thanksgiving to honor Native American culture and history.
- 26Day of the CovenantDay of the Covenant, a Baha’i holiday celebrating the appointment of Abdúl-Baha as the faith’s successor.
- 28Ascension of Abdu’l-BahaAscension of Abdu’l-Baha, a Baha’i holiday.
December 2023
- 01World AIDS DayWorld AIDS Day, encouraging activism and education on HIV and AIDS.
- 03International Day for People with DisabilitiesInternational Day for People with Disabilities, planned to raise awareness of the issues people with disabilities face.
- 06St. Nicholas’ DaySt. Nicholas’ Day, the saint’s day for the inspiration for modern-day Santa Claus celebrated in western Christian countries.
- 08Bodhi DayThe Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Siddhartha Gautama experienced enlightenment.
- 10International Human Rights DayInternational Human Rights Day, started by the UN in 1948 upon the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- 12HanukkahHanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights that celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over King Antiochus.
- 16Las PosadasLas Posadas, a religious festival celebrated in Mexico and other parts of Latin America that commemorates the journey Mary and Joseph made to Bethlehem before Jesus’s birth.
- 22Yule Winter SolsticeYule Winter Solstice, a pagan celebration of the first day of winter.
- 24Christmas EveChristmas Eve, celebrating Mary and Joseph’s arrival in Bethlehem for Jesus’s birth.
- 25ChristmasChristmas, a western Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus.
- 26KwanzaaKwanzaa, a seven-day celebration of African-American culture and life originally founded in 1966.
- 31New Year’s EveNew Year’s Eve, the last day of the year in the Gregorian calendar and celebrated as the passing of one year and the beginning of another.