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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 – September 26-October 2, 2022

September 23, 2022 by Diversity and Inclusion

Rosh Hashanah

Blowing of Shofar during Rosh Hashanah
Blowing of Shofar during Rosh Hashanah. Photo credit: MinoZig, Wikimedia Commons.

Culture/religion: Judaism
Date: September 26-27

Rosh Hashanah (“Head of the Year”) is the birthday of the universe and the Jewish New Year. It is both a day of prayer and a day of joy when God is proclaimed King of the Universe.

The central observance of Rosh Hashanah is the sounding of the shofar (the ram’s horn) on both days of the holiday and takes place in the synagogue. The blowing of the shofar represents the trumpet at a king’s coronation.

Much of the day is spent in synagogue praying for God to grant all of His creations a sweet new year. Women and girls light candles on each evening of Rosh Hashanah and recite blessings, and festive meals are prepared and eat each night and day.

Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown September 25. No work permitted.

Pronunciation: ROHSH hah SHAH-nuh / RUSH-uh SHAH-nuh

Greetings: 

  • Before Rosh Hashanah
  • For males: Leshanah tovah tikatev vetichatem; (May you be written and sealed for a good year)
  • For females: Leshanah tovah tikatevee vetichatemee (May you be written and sealed for a good year)
  • At noon on Rosh Hashanah until Yom Kippur
  • Gemar chatimah tovah (A good final sealing)

Sources:

What is Rosh Hashanah?, Chabad.org

Glossary of Jewish Terminology, Judaism 101, jewfaq.org


International Deaf Awareness Week

Mural at Washington School for the Deaf showing sign language
Mural at Washington School for the Deaf. Photo credit: Daveynin, Wikimedia.com

Culture/religion: International observance
Date: September 26-30

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


Navaratri

Durga Puja celebration in the sea at cox's bazar, Bangladesh
Photo credit: Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Hindu
Date: September 26-October 4

Navaratri (“nine nights”) is a Hindu festival in honor of the divine feminine goddess, Durga. The festival is celebrated in autumn for nine nights and ten days. The legend of Navaratri tells of the victory of Durga over the demon king Mahishasura. Each day of the festival is dedicated to each of the nine forms of the goddess.

Navaratri is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of India. During the festival, some devotees of Durga fast and pray for the protection of their health and property and wear different colors of clothing each day.

Sources:

Navaratri – All You Need to Know, Asia Highlights


Italian American Heritage Month

Flag of American and flag of Italy combined into one image
Photo credit: Wikimedia (Public Domain)

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: October

Italian American Heritage Month is celebrated to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States.

First celebrated in 1989, events are usually held to celebrate and educate the public about Italian American history.

Sources:

Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, Wikipedia


LGBT History Month

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: October

LGBTQ solidarity demonstration with people holding pride flags
LGBTQ+ solidarity demonstration. Photo credit: Jakub Halun, Wikimedia

LGBT History Month is a month-long annual observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements. It is observed during October in the United States, to include National Coming Out Day on October 11. LGBT History Month originated in the United States and was first celebrated in 1994. It was founded by Missouri high-school history teacher Rodney Wilson.

Sources:

LGBT History Month


Disability Employment Awareness Month

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

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: October

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, recognized annually in October, is a national campaign through the Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy. It began as an effort to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrates the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities.

Sources:

National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Department Of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy

Filed Under: Cultural and Religious Observances Tagged With: Disability Employment Awareness Month, Hindu, Italian American Heritage Month, Judaism, LGBT History Month, national observance, Navaratri, Rosh Hashanah

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