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October Diversity Holidays

October is ADHD Awareness Month, (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) aiming to debunk misconceptions and stereotypes about the ADHD community while promoting necessary understanding and support. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children and adults, which leads to challenges with impulsive behavior, hyperactivity, self-control, and focus.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Betty Ford helped kick off the week-long event, as she was herself a survivor of breast cancer. She was diagnosed when her husband, Gerald Ford, was president of the United States and brought even more attention to breast cancer.

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, raising awareness about Down syndrome, a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21.

October is Filipino American History Month. This month honors the history, culture, and accomplishments of Filipino Americans, highlighting their significant contributions to American society and recognizing their unique heritage and identity.

October is Global Diversity Awareness Month, a month to celebrate and increase awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicities and the positive impact diversity can have on society.

October is Hindu Heritage Month, celebrated in the United States to honor the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of Hinduism.

October is Italian-American Heritage Month, recognizing the contributions and achievements of Italian-Americans. Over 26 million Americans of Italian descent currently reside in the U.S. — making up America’s seventh largest ethnic group.

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, a US observance started in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer history and the history of the gay rights movement.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a campaign in the United States founded in 2006 by PACERs National Bullying Prevention Center. The campaign unites communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This observance was launched in 1945 when Congress declared the first week in October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1998, the week was extended to a month and renamed. The annual event draws attention to employment barriers that still need to be addressed. 

October is Polish American Heritage Month, celebrated to commemorate the first Polish settlers, and celebrate the history and culture of the Polish community in America.

OCTOBER 1

  • International Day for Older Persons, established by the UN in 1990, acknowledges the valuable experiences and wisdom that come with age while addressing issues such as ageism, healthcare, and social inclusion.
  • Ayudha Puja, a traditional Hindu festival celebrated primarily in the southern states of India. It falls on the ninth day of the Navratri festival.

OCTOBER 1 - 2 (sundown to sundown)

  • Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, a day of atonement marked by fasting and ceremonial repentance.

OCTOBER 2

  • International Day of Non-Violence, observed on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, is an occasion to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness and to reaffirm the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence.
  • 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.

OCTOBER 4

  • The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, honors the life and legacy of St. Francis, the patron saint of animals, ecology, and the environment, and is celebrated by many Catholic denominations.

OCTOBER 5

  • American Veterans Disabled for Life Awareness Day, honors the immense sacrifices made by veterans with disabilities in the United States. It recognizes the physical, mental, and emotional challenges faced by those who sustained injuries or disabilities while serving their country.

OCTOBER 6

  • German-American Heritage Day, celebrates the contributions of German Americans to the nation's culture, history, and society.

OCTOBER 6 - 13

  • Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish festival giving thanks for the fall harvest.

OCTOBER 8

  • World Dyslexia Day, highlights the challenges faced by people with dyslexia.

OCTOBER 9

  • Leif Erikson Day, honors Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer who is believed to have been one of the first Europeans to set foot in North America, specifically in what is now Newfoundland, Canada. The day recognizes the contributions of Nordic immigrants to American society and culture.
  • Karva Chauth, a traditional Hindu festival observed on the fourth day after the full moon in the Hindu month of Kartik. On this day, married women observe a day-long fast from sunrise to moonrise, praying for the well-being, longevity, and prosperity of their husbands.

OCTOBER 10

  • World Inclusion Day, honors the differences between us and the sense of belonging that makes all people feel appreciated and valued.
  • World Mental Health Day. 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.

OCTOBER 11 

  • National Coming Out Day, established to encourage individuals to openly express their sexual orientation and gender identity. This day marks the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights that took place on October 11, 1987, a significant moment in LGBTQ+ history.

OCTOBER 12 - 13 (sundown to sundown)

  • Hoshana Rabbah,  a Jewish holiday that falls on the seventh day of the festival of Sukkot. Meaning Great Salvation, highlighting the significance of this day as the final opportunity for repentance and seeking divine forgiveness before the closing of the High Holy Days.

OCTOBER 13

  • Columbus Day, commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492.
  • Canadian Thanksgiving, a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.

OCTOBER 13 - 15 (sundown to sundown)

  • Shemini Atzeret, 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.

OCTOBER 14 - 15 (sundown to sundown)

  • Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday, celebrated at the end of the Sukkot festival, usually in late September or early October. It marks the completion of the annual cycle of reading the Torah, the sacred scriptures of Judaism.

OCTOBER 15

  • Unity Day, a day when schools, communities, and individuals come together to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion while taking a stand against bullying.
  • Blind Americans Equality Day, honors the ongoing efforts to promote equal opportunities, accessibility, and inclusion for people who are blind or have a visual impairment.
  • International Pronouns Day, seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.

OCTOBER 16

  • World Food Day, raises awareness about hunger, food security, and nutrition, established by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1979.

OCTOBER 20

  • Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a significant Hindu festival celebrated by millions of people around the world, and symbolizes the victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

OCTOBER 21

  • Bandi Chhor Divas, an important Sikh festival commemorating the release from prison of the Sixth Guru, Guru Hargobind Ji, along with 52 other princes, in October 1619.

OCTOBER 22

  • International Stuttering Awareness Day, raises awareness and understanding about stuttering, a speech disorder affecting millions of people worldwide.
  • Birth of Báb, a Bahá’í holiday celebrating the birth of the prophet Báb.

OCTOBER 23

  • The birth of Bahá’u’lláh, marks the birthday of the founder of the Bahá’í religion.

OCTOBER 24

  • United Nations Day, commemorates the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter. This founding document officially founded the United Nations in 1945.

OCTOBER 26

  • National Day of the Deployed, honors all service members who are currently deployed, recognizing their bravery, dedication, and sacrifices.

OCTOBER 31

  • Halloween, also known as All Hallows’ Eve, a celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. Today, Halloween is known for dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, and attending themed parties.
  • Reformation Day, commemorates the Protestant Reformation, the movement that led to the establishment of the Protestant denominations of Christianity.

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