Upcoming Holidays
International Equal Pay Day, celebrated for the first time in 2020, represents the long-standing efforts toward the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and its efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls.
Mabon, the second harvest ritual celebrated in Gaelic, Pagan, and Wiccan traditions. Mabon is the first day of fall and celebration of the vernal equinox. The holiday is about gathering wisdom and honoring elders.
Rosh Hashanah, September 22–24 (sundown to sundown), the Jewish New Year celebration, marking the creation of the world.
Sharad Navratri, September 22 - October 1st, the nineday Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Festival participants worship God in the form of the universal mother, commonly referred to as Durga, Devi, or Shakti, and the event marks the start of fall.
International Day of Sign Languages, a day proclaimed by the United Nations to raise awareness about the importance of sign languages in the full realization of the human rights of people who are deaf.
Native American Day, a federal holiday observed annually on the fourth Friday in September in select US states to honor Native American cultures and the history of violence against them in the US.
Meskel, a religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena in the fourth century.
Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and All Angels, is a minor Christian festival dedicated to Archangel Michael observed in some Western liturgical calendars.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a Canadian federal holiday that honors the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities.
Yom Kippur, October 11-12 (sundown to sundown), the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, a day of atonement marked by fasting and ceremonial repentance.
Dasara, Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, in the eastern and northeastern states of India, marks the end of Durga Puja, remembering goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to help restore dharma.
St. Francis Day, feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, celebrated by many Catholic denominations.
Blessing of the Animals, in congruence with St. Francis Day. Many Unitarian Universalists have picked up on the Catholic tradition of blessing animals, particularly pets, as St. Francis was known for his special connection to animals.
Latina Women’s Equal Pay Day, it marks the day that Latine women need to work until they made what Non-Hispanic white men made in the previous year. The point of this day is to acknowledge the pay disparity between men and women as well as how disproportionately Latine women are impacted, making, on average, 52 cents on the dollar as compared to non-Hispanic, white men.
Sukkot, October 6-13, a seven-day Jewish festival giving thanks for the fall harvest.
World Mental Health Day, it was first celebrated in 1993, this day is meant to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide.
National Coming Out Day (United States), it is for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, this day celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality.
Canadian Thanksgiving, a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.
Shemini Atzeret, October 13–15 (sundown to sundown), a Jewish holiday also known as The Eighth (Day) of Assembly, takes place the day after the Sukkot festival, where gratitude for the fall harvest is deeply internalized.
National Indigenous Peoples Day, an alternative celebration to Columbus Day, gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization.
Simchat Torah, October 14–15 (sundown to sundown), a Jewish holiday, marks the end of the weekly readings of the Torah. The Torah is read from chapter one of Genesis to Deuteronomy 34 and then back to chapter one again, in acknowledgement of the words of the Torah being a never-ending cycle.
International Pronouns Day, it seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. Each year it is held on the third Wednesday of October.
Birth of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh Holy Day, the day Sikhs celebrate Sri Guru Granth Sahib, their spiritual guide.
Diwali, also known as Divali or Deepavali, is a five-day festival of lights among Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists that celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness.
Birth of Báb, (sundown to sundown), a Bahá’í holiday celebrating the birth of the prophet Báb.
Birth of Baha'u'llah, is the Bahá’í celebration of the birth of their founder and teacher.
All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), a celebration observed in several countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.
Reformation Day, a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated alongside All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween) during the triduum of Allhallowtide in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.
Samhain, October 31 — November 1 (sundown to sundown), a Gaelic, Pagan, and Wiccan festival marking the end of the harvest season and a celebration of the dead and ancestors.
All Saints’ Day, a Christian holiday commemorating all known and unknown Christian saints. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity, the day is observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
All Souls’ Day, a Christian holiday commemorating all faithful Christians who are now dead. In the Mexican tradition, the holiday is celebrated as Dia de los Muertos (October 31–November 2), which is a time of remembrance for dead ancestors and a celebration of the continuity of life.
Veterans Day, a US federal holiday honoring military veterans. The date is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world and commemorates the ending of World War I in 1918.
Transgender Awareness Week, November 13–19, the week before Transgender Day of Remembrance on November 20, in which people and organizations participate to help raise the visibility of transgender people and address issues members of the community face.
Nativity Fast, November 15—December 24, a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches in preparation for the Nativity of Jesus.
International Men’s Day, emphasizes the important issues affecting males, including male health issues, improving the relations between genders, highlighting the importance of male role models, and promoting gender equality. This holiday is celebrated in more than seventy countries.
Transgender Day of Remembrance, established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia and raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community.
Feast of Christ the King, a Catholic holiday established to thank God for the gift of time and a rededication to the Christian faith.
Thanksgiving Day, a day in the United States that began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year.
The Ascension of ‘Abdu’lBaha, is a holy day in the Bahá’í Faith, commemorating the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Baha.
Native American Heritage Day, held annually on the Friday after Thanksgiving, encourages Americans of all backgrounds to observe and honor Native Americans through appropriate ceremonies and activities. The law establishing the day was signed by President George W. Bush in 2008.
St. Andrew’s Day, the feast day for St. Andrew within various Christian denominations.
Native American Women’s Equal Pay Day, it marks the day that Native women need to work until they made what Non-Hispanic white men made in the previous year. The point of this day is to acknowledge the pay disparity between men and women as well as how disproportionately Native women are impacted, making, on average, 59 cents on the dollar as compared to non-Hispanic, white men.
Advent, November 30 - December 24th, a Christian season of celebration leading up to the birth of Christ.
World AIDS Day, commemorates those who have died of AIDS and acknowledges the need for continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities, designed to raise awareness regarding persons with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.
Bodhi Day, a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment; also known as Bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali.
Immaculate Conception of Mary, celebrates the solemn celebration by various Christian denominations of belief in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
International Human Rights Day, established by the United Nations in 1948 to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a religious holiday in Mexico commemorating the appearance of the Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531.
St. Lucia’s Day, a religious festival of light in Scandinavia and Italy commemorating the martyrdom of St. Lucia, a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 CE.
Hanukkah, December 14 - 22nd, a Jewish holiday that is celebrated for eight days and nights. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabeans, leaders of the Jewish people, over the GreekSyrian ruler, Antiochus, approximately 2,200 years ago.
Las Posadas, December 16-24, a nineday celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.
Yule Winter Solstice, celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans. The first day of winter and shortest day of the year represents a celebration focusing on rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings as the sun begins to move farther away from Earth.
Christmas Day, the day that many Christians associate with Jesus’ birth.
Boxing Day, a secular holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and South Africa.
St. Stephen’s Day, a day to commemorate St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, or protomartyr.
Zartosht No-Diso (Death of Prophet Zarathushtra), a day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It commemorates the anniversary of the death of the prophet Zoroaster, or Zarathushtra.
Kwanzaa, December 26 — January 1, an African-American holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate universal AfricanAmerican heritage.
St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Day, feast day for St. John, celebrated by Christian denominations.
Feast of the Holy Innocents, a Christian feast in remembrance of the massacre of young children in Bethlehem by King Herod the Great in his attempt to kill the infant Jesus.
Feast of the Holy Family, a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of Jesus, his mother, and his foster father, St. Joseph, as a family. The primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families.
Watch Night, a day for Christians to review the year that has passed, make confessions, and then prepare for the year ahead by praying and resolving.