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Cultural and Religious Observances title with an image of a man smiling, a religious stained glass window, a woman wearing a hijab and colorful Indian art made with sand and flower petals

Cultural and religious observances – February 1-7, 2021

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African American History Month

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: February

Photo of male and female African American and Indian students in a classroom in Hampton, VA in 1899.
Photo credit: Library of Congress

African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, evolved out of “Negro History Week,” which was first celebrated in 1926, sponsored by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History* (ASNLH). The ASHLH chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

For decades after the first celebration, mayors around the nation began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. In the late 1960s, many college campuses began recognizing Black History Month, in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month. Every president since has done the same.

*Now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Sources:

History.com

AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth.gov

African American History Month, Library of Congress

Imbolc

Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: February 2

People holding lit torches standing in a circle around a figure made of straw at an Imbolc festival
Imbolc festival. Photo credit: Steven Earnshaw, Wikimedia.org

Imbolc is a Gaelic traditional festival, about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, signifying the beginning of spring. Imbolc is typically celebrated around February 1.

Imbolc was a festival of hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening of the days and the early signs of spring. The lighting of candles and fires represent the return of warmth and the increasing power of the sun.

Imbolc is one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals during the year: Samhain, Beltane and Lughnasadh.

Sources:

Imbolc, Wikipedia