Diversity Blog

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 – July 26-August 1, 2021

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Jesse Jackson shaking hands with disability advocate Justin Dart Jr., who is in a wheelchair, during a hearing of the House Committee on Education and Labor on a bill which became the Americans with Disabilities Act
Jesse Jackson shaking hands with disability advocate Justin Dart Jr., during a hearing of the House Committee on Education and Labor on a bill which became the Americans with Disabilities Act. Photo credit: Library of Congress

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Day

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: July 26

The Americans with Disabilities Act Day is celebrated annually on July 26, commemorating the day the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was signed into law.

The ADA was enacted to ensure people with disabilities have the same rights and access to opportunities such as employment, education, health care, housing, transportation and recreation as those without disabilities.

Sources:

United States Department of Justice-Civil Rights Division

The 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lughnasadh

Close up photo of a wheat fieldCulture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: August 1

Lughnasadh is a harvest festival that derives from Old Gaelic and falls about halfway through summer solstice and autumn equinox.

Pagans celebrate at a time when traditionally the first crops were ready to harvest. The celebration includes the ritual cutting and offering of the first grain, making the first meal and the ritual eating of the meal.

It is also known as Lammas (“loaf mass”) from early English celebrations around harvest time.

Pronunciation: loo’nass’ah

Sources:

Lughnasadh, Druidry.org

8 Facts to Know about Lughnasadh, Pagan Harvest Festival, HuffPost