Martin Luther King Jr. Day Culture/religion: National observance Date: January 16 The third Monday of each January is dedicated to commemorating the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. King advocated the use of nonviolent means to end racial segregation, first coming to national prominence during the bus boycott of African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – January 16-22, 2023
Kwanzaa Culture/religion: African American/Pan-African heritage Date: December 26-January 1 Kwanzaa is an African American and pan-African holiday celebrating family, community and culture. Kwanzaa is an annual celebration beginning December 26 and ending January 1. It combines communitarian values and practices of Continental African and African American … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023
Chanukah Culture/religion: Judaism Date: December 18-26 Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day festival of lights, celebrated each night with menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods. Chanukah means “dedication” in Hebrew and is named as such because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple. In second century BCE, Judah the Maccabee drove the Greeks from … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – December 18-25, 2022
International Day of Disabled Persons Culture/religion: National observance Date: December 3 Recognized annually on December 3, the annual observance of International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by a United Nations General Assembly resolution. The goal is to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all areas of society and … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – Dec 3-11, 2022
Kristallnacht Culture/religion: Judaism Date: November 9-10 Kristallnacht (“Crystal Night” or “Night of Broken Glass”) commemorates the violent anti-Jewish demonstrations that broke out across Germany, Austria and the Sudentenland region of Czechoslovakia. For 48 hours, violent mobs destroyed hundreds of synagogues and burned or desecrated Jewish religious … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – November 7-13, 2022