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
Memorial Day Culture/religion: National observance Date: May 30 Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – May 30-June 5, 2022
Qingming Festival Culture/religion: Chinese heritage Date: April 5 With a history of over 2,500 years, Qingming, also known as Tomb Sweeping Day is an important day of sacrifice for most people in honoring their ancestors. One of the most popular activities on this day is to show respect to one’s ancestors by visiting their graves, offering food, burning incense … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – April 4-10, 2022
Lantern Festival Culture/religion: Chinese heritage Date: February 15 Lantern Festival is celebrated in China annually and marks the end of the Chinese New Year. It dates back about 2,000 years and is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The Lantern Festival is on the first full moon night of the Chinese calendar, marking the return of spring and … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – February 14-20, 2022
African American Heritage Month Culture/religion: National observance Date: February 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 … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – January 31-February 6, 2022