This calendar is not exhaustive and we are happy to include others. If you wish for us to include other heritage/cultural observances, please email multicultural_affairs@uml.edu.
- January 1: New Year's Day First day of the year according to Gregorian calendar, this is celebrated in most Western countries.
- January 16: Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemorates the birth and life of Martin Luther King Jr., the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize and an activist for nonviolent social change until his assassination in 1968.
- January 27: Holocaust Remembrance Day A day to remember all of the victims who were persecuted during World War II. The International Day of Commemoration to remember the victims of the Holocaust. The anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp in 1945 and U.N. Holocaust Memorial Day.
- Black History Month February is Black History Month in the United States and Canada. Since 1976, the month has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora.
- Lunar New Year One of the most sacred of all traditional Chinese holidays, a time of family reunion and celebration. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated at this time in Japan, Korea, Vietnam and Mongolia. (The date changes slightly per year. Typically falls between January 21 - February 20)
- February 1: National Freedom Day Celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery in 1865.
- February 20:World Day of Social Justice A day meant to remind people of the importance of advocacy and activism and to uphold the principles of social justice.
- February 21: International Mother Language Day A worldwide observance of linguistic and cultural diversity as well as an observance to promote multilingualism. This day is about celebrating one's native tongue as well as other learned tongues.
- Women's History Month March is Women’s History Month. Starting in 1987, Women’s History Month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society.
- National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which was established to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month March is National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. It was established to raise public awareness of the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and assist those with multiple sclerosis in making informed decisions about their healthcare.
- Irish American Heritage Month March was declared "Irish American Heritage Month" in 1991 as a way to recognize the contributions that Irish immigrants and their descendants have made throughout United States history. This is also a time for Ireland and the United States to celebrate their longstanding friendship.
- March 1: Zero Discrimination Day First celebrated by the United Nations' HIV/AIDS Program in 2013, it is a day to promote everyone's right to live a full life with dignity.
- March 8: International Women's Day International Women’s Day. First observed in 1911 in Germany, it has become a major global celebration honoring women’s economic, political, and social achievements.
- March 25: Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is a United Nations international observation that offers the opportunity to honor and remember those who suffered and died at the hands of the brutal slavery system. First observed in 2008, the international day also aims to raise awareness about the dangers of racism and prejudice today.
- March 31: International Day of Trans Visibility International Transgender Day of Visibility is celebrated to bring awareness to transgender people and their identities as well as recognize those who helped fight for the rights of transgender people
- Autism Awareness Month: April is Autism Awareness Month, established to raise awareness about the developmental disorder that affects an individual's normal development of social and communication skills.
- Day Of Silence: Started by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLESN), Day of Silence is a day where students take a daylong vow of silence in protest of the actual silencing of LGBTQ+ students and allies due to bullying and harassment. (The date varies yearly)
- Celebrate Diversity Month: April is Celebrate Diversity Month, started in 2004, to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all. By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will get a deeper understanding of each other.
- April 2: World Autism Awareness Day World Autism Awareness Day was created to raise awareness of developmental disorder around the globe.
- April 7: Rwanda Genocide Commemoration The UN organizes events around the globe to honor the lives lost during the genocide in Rwanda, Africa. April 7, 1994, was the start of the horrific genocide, and this day has been designated as an "International Day of Reflection" in order to promote awareness of this atrocity.
- April 7: World Health Day A wide drive to support countries in moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as a part of the World Health Organization's mission to advocate for health for all.
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in the United States. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese immigrants.
- Jewish American History Month May is Jewish American Heritage Month, which recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American culture.
- Mental Health Awareness Month May is Mental Health Awareness Month (or Mental Health Month), which aims to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illnesses and reduce the stigma that surrounds mental illnesses.
- May 15: International Day of Families The United Nations recognizes the family as the basic unit of society. In many countries, this day is an opportunity to highlight the importance of families, their beliefs, and their culture, as well as promote awareness of issues relating to families and the processes affecting them.
- May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (IDAHOTB) International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, a global celebration of sexual orientation and gender diversities.
- May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, a day set aside by the United Nations as an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity and to learn to live together in harmony.
- May 29: Memorial Day Memorial Day in the United States a federal holiday established to honor military veterans who died in wars fought by American forces.
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month, established to recognize the impact that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world. LGBT groups celebrate this special time with pride parades, picnics, parties, memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS, and other group gatherings. The last Sunday in June is Gay Pride Day in New York City.
- June 5: World Environment Day A day to encourage awareness and action for protecting our environment.
- June 6: Russia Day A holiday to recognize the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) when the U>S>S>R was officially dissolved in 1990.
- June 12: Pulse Night of Remembrance The US day of remembrance for the loss of those in the Pulse Nightclub shoot in Orlando, Florida, most of whom identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
- June 15: Native American Citizenship Day Native American Citizenship Day commemorates the day in 1924 when the U.S. Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans.
- June 19: Juneteenth Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It is observed as a public holiday in 14 U.S. states. This celebration honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War. June 19, therefore, became the day of emancipation for thousands of African-Americans.
- June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day / First Nations Day National Indigenous Peoples Day, or First Nations Day, is a day that gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization in Canada.
- June 21:Summer Solstice The summer solstice is celebrated by the Wiccans and Pagans. It is the longest day of the year, representing the sun’s “annual retreat.”
- June 28: Stonewall Riots Anniversary Last Sunday in June: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Day in the United States. It celebrates the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969.
- July 4: Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July) A United States federal holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. The original 13 American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America
- July 14: International Non-Binary Day An annual day of celebration for the contributions of non-binary people and raising awareness on what it means to be non-binary by focusing on the issues affecting non-binary individuals.
- July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day First celebrated on July 18, 2009, in recognition of Nelson Mandela’s birthday via a unanimous decision of the U.N. General Assembly. It was inspired by a call Nelson Mandela made a year earlier for the next generation to take on the burden of leadership in addressing the world’s social injustices: “It is in your hands now.” It is more than a celebration of Mandela’s life and legacy; it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and to change the world for the better.
- July 26: Disability Independence Day: Celebrating the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples A day to recognize the achievements and contributions of the world's indigenous population as well as promote the protection of the rights of these people.
- August 19: World Humanitarian Day A day dedicated to recognizing humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes.
- August 23: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade The anniversary of the uprising in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) that initiated the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean.
- August 26: Women’s Equality Day Commemorates Augustust 26, 1920, certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote. Congresswoman Bella Abzug first introduced a proclamation for Women’s Equality Day in 1971. Since that time, every president has published a proclamation recognizing Augustust 26 as Women’s Equality Day.
- September 2: Hungry Ghost Festival A Chinese holiday where street, market, and temple ceremonies take place to honor dead ancestors and appease other spirits.
- September 5: Labor Day Labor Day honors the contribution that laborers have made to the country and is observed on the first Monday of September.
- International Week of the Deaf Founded by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), the last full week of September marks International Week of the Deaf (IWD), which commemorates the first World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in 1951. This day is to celebrate the achievements of deaf people and bring awareness to the need for a better understanding of deaf culture.
- September 15 - October 15: Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a/e/x Month This month corresponds with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16 and recognizes the revolution in 1810 that ended Spanish dictatorship.
- September 15 - October 15: Hispanic, Afro-Latino/a/e/x Month - This month corresponds with Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16 and recognizes the revolution in 1810 that ended Spanish dictatorship.
- LGBTQ+ History Month - The U.S. observance began in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of the gay rights movement.
- October 10: National Indigenous People's Day - Promotes recognition of the indigenous populations affected by colonization.
- October 10:World Mental Health Day - Creates awareness of mental health support and resources around the world.
- October 11: National Coming Out Day - This day celebrates coming out for those in the LGBTQ+ community and recognizes the march on Washing in 1987 for gay and lesbian equality.
- October 19: International Pronouns Day - Highlighting the importance of asking, sharing, and respecting personal pronouns commonplace. Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity.
- October 26: Intersex Awareness Day - To bring to light the challenges that intersex individuals face, as well as the concept of visibility and representation. It also leads into the culmination of the Intersex Day of Remembrance on the birthday of Herculine Barbin, also sometimes known as Intersex Solidarity Day on November 8.
- November: National Native American Heritage Month - This month celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.
- November: Trans Awareness Week - Observed the second week of November, is a one-week celebration leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), which memorializes victims of transphobic violence. TDoR occurs annually on November 20, when transgender advocates raise awareness of the transgender community through education and advocacy activities.
- November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance - This day was established in 1998 to memorialize those who have been killed as a result of transphobia. It is a day to raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community.
- November 24: The National Day of Mourning - This day is an annual protest organized since 1970 by Native Americans of New England on the fourth Thursday of November, the same day as Thanksgiving in the United States. It coincides with an unrelated similar protest, Unthanksgiving Day, held on the West Coast.
- December 1: World Aids Day - This day commemorates those who have died of AIDS and acknowledges the need for a continued commitment to all of those affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
- December 3: International Day of People with Disabilities - This day is designed to raise awareness in regard to persons with disabilities in order to improve their daily lives and provide them with equal opportunity.
- December 10: International Human Rights Day - This day was established in 1948 by the United Nations to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
- December 26 - January 1: Kwanzaa - This day was established in 1948 by the United Nations to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.