Labor Day Culture/religion: National observance Date: September 6 Recognized annually on the first Monday in September, Labor Day was created by the labor movement to honor the social and economic achievements of American workers. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed in 1885 and 1886, followed by a movement to secure state … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – September 6-12, 2021
Tisha B'Av Culture/religion: Judaism Date: July 18 Tisha B’Av, the ninth day of the month of Av, is the major day of communal mourning in the Jewish calendar. This day commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E., respectively, and is observed by fasting. A three-week period of low-level mourning leads up to the … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – July 12-18, 2021
Shavuot Culture/religion: Judaism Date: May 17-18 Shavuot is a two-day holiday celebrating the completion of the seven-week Omer counting period between Passover and Shavuot. The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Shavuot, and every year on the holiday the acceptance of God’s gift is renewed. In observance of Shavuot, candles are lit on the first and … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – May 17-23, 2021
Hanuman Jayanti Culture/religion: Hindu Date: April 26 Hanuman Jayanti is a very special festival in India celebrating the birth of Lord Hanuman. Hanuman is widely known and worshiped for his unflinching devotion to Lord Rama. Devotees visit Hanuman temples to worship Hanuman and get his blessings. People also celebrate by chanting various devotional hymns and … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – April 26-May 2, 2021
National Tartan Day Culture/religion: National observance Date: April 6 National Tartan Day was first recognized in the United States in 1997, but it was only a single-year U.S. Senate Resolution. In 1998, the day was given permanent recognition when the U.S. Senate passed a resolution marking April 6 as National Tartan Day. In 2005, the House of Representatives passed … [Read more...] about Cultural and religious observances – April 5-11, 2021