Diversity Blog

Cultural & religious observances header image. A photo in the upper left hand corner is a stained glass image of Mary holding Jesus. The photo in the upper right hand corner is a woman wearing a burqua standing near a fence. The image on the bottom left corner is a monk, and the image on the bottom right corner is a mandala sand painting.

Cultural and religious observances – March 28-April 3, 2022

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Cesar Chavez Day

Cesar Chavez
Cesar Chavez. Photo credit: Library of Congress

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: March 31

In 2014, President Obama signed a proclamation recognizing March 31 as Cesar Chavez Day. It was encouraged that this day be used as a day of service to honor Cesar Chavez’s legacy.

Cesar was raised as a migrant farm worker, working beside many others for very little money and horrible conditions. He made it his life’s work to improve the working conditions for these laborers – including minimum wages, health care and safe drinking water. Cesar co-founded United Farm Workers to fight for those working in American agricultural fields.

Sources:

The White House-President Barak Obama

Ramadan

Large group of people gathered for food after fasting for Ramadan
Serving food to fasting people in the holy shrine of Imam Reza. Photo credit: Tasnim News Agency; Wikimedia.org.

Culture/religion: Islamic
Date: April 3-May 2

Ramadan occurs in the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and is one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims.

During Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of learning self-control, gratitude and compassion for those less fortunate. Ramadan is a month of intense spiritual rejuvenation with a heightened focus on devotion.

Many mosques host daily community dinners where Muslims can break their fast together. Other traditions include reciting special prayers, food drives or fundraisers for charity and open houses for friends and neighbors of other faiths to join them for their fast-breaking dinner (iftar) at the end of the fasting day.

Sources:

Ramadan Information Sheet, ing.org