Mabon
Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: September 21
Mabon is known as the Pagan Thanksgiving and marks the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are equal in length. In ancient time, it was a celebration of the second harvest (Lughnasadh being the first) when farmers gathered the fall crops.
Mabon celebrations are a time to give thanks for the abundance of Mother Earth. It’s a good time to recognize successes and let go of the things that did not go as planned.
Sources: Mabon, Mabon House
International Week of the Deaf
Culture/religion: International observance
Date: September 21-27
International Week of the Deaf was started by the World Federation of the Deaf in 1958 in Rome, Italy. It is celebrated each year by the global Deaf community on the last week of September, commemorating the same month the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf was held.
Sources: International Week of the Deaf, World Federation of the Deaf
Yom Kippur
Culture/religion: Judaism
Date: September 28
Yom Kippur is considered to be the holiest and most solemn day of the year for many Jews. Known as the “day of repentance” as it inspires introspection, prayer and petitions for forgiveness so that Jews can enter the New Year with a clean slate.
Yom Kippur is a fasting holiday, with the end of the fast being a time for family and friends to reconnect. Some Jews wear white on Yom Kippur to symbolize purity and attend synagogue on this day and the preceding evening.
Sources: Yom Kippur, Rosenfeld Community of Practice Jewish Learning Matters