Chanukah Culture/religion: Judaism Date: November 29-December 6 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 … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – November 29-December 5, 2021
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 8-14, 2021
Shemini Atzeret Culture/religion: Judaism Date: September 28 Shemini Atzeret means “eighth day of assembly” and is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. Shemini Atzeret falls directly after the seven-day celebration of Sukkot, making it literally the eighth day, but is considered its own celebration along with Simchat … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – September 27-October 3, 2021
National Deaf Awareness Week Culture/religion: National observance Date: September 20-24 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 … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – September 20-26, 2021
Hispanic Heritage Month Culture/religion: National observance Date: September 15-October 15 Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. The observation … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – September 13-19, 2021