August Diversity Holidays

AUGUST 2 - 3 (sundown to sundown)

• Tisha B’Av, a fast in commemoration of the destruction of two holy and sacred temples of Judaism destroyed by the Babylonians (in 586 BCE) and Romans (in 70 CE). At the Tisha B’Av, after select passages from the Torah are read and understood, netilat yadayim, or the washing of the hands, is performed.

AUGUST 6

• Transfiguration of Christ, also known as Feast of the Transfiguration, is celebrated by various Christian denominations where the feast day is dedicated to the transfiguration of Jesus.

AUGUST 7

• Purple Heart Day, honors those who have been wounded in battle, have done extraordinary military acts, or have given their lives for our freedoms. The Purple Heart was created by George Washington in 1782 as the Badge of Military Merit.

AUGUST 8

• International Allyship Day, celebrates and promotes the power of allyship - the act of listening to and learning from those facing systemic barriers, amplifying their voices, and taking actionable steps to create equitable opportunities.

AUGUST 9

• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, raises awareness about the rights, cultures, and unique contributions of Indigenous populations worldwide.
• Raksha Bandhan, an annual Hindu rite or ceremony connected to a festival of the same name in South Asia, celebrating the bond of love between a brother and a sister.

AUGUST 12

• International Youth Day, promotes awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995.

AUGUST 13 - 15 

• Obon, a Buddhist festival and Japanese custom that honors the spirits of ancestors.

AUGUST 15 

• Feast of the Assumption, according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, as well as parts of Anglicanism, the day commemorates the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into heaven at the end of her earthly life. 
• Dormition of the Mother of God, a Great Feast of the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and Eastern Catholic Churches that commemorates the “falling asleep,” or death, of Mary the Theotokos (“Mother of God”) and her bodily resurrection before ascending into heaven.
• Arbaeen, observed by Shia Muslims, marks the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the third Shia imam.

AUGUST 16 - 17

• Krishna Janmashtami, a Hindu celebration of Lord Vishnu’s most powerful human incarnations, Krishna, the god of love and compassion. Celebrations include praying and fasting.

AUGUST 19

• World Humanitarian Day, honors humanitarian efforts and recognize the work of those who dedicate themselves to helping others in crisis situations.

AUGUST 21

• National Senior Citizens Day, established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan, honors the contributions of older Americans.

AUGUST 26

• Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the August 26, 1920, certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the US 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 US president has published a proclamation recognizing August 26 as Women’s Equality Day.

AUGUST 27

• Ganesh Chaturthi, is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity of wisdom and prosperity.

AUGUST 31

• International Day of People of African Descent, established by the United Nations in 2020, this day is dedicated to celebrating the diverse heritage, culture, and contributions of people of African descent worldwide, while also recognizing their resilience in the face of historical and ongoing racism and discrimination.