September Diversity Holidays

SEPTEMBER 1

• Cherokee National Holiday, commemorates the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution on September 6, 1839, marking an important milestone during the period of forced removal of Native American tribes by the United States government between 1830 and 1850.
• Labor Day, in the United States and Canada, honors the contribution that workers have made to the country and is observed on the first Monday of September.

SEPTEMBER 5

• International Day of Charity, celebrates the spirit of giving and empowers us to make a difference in the lives of those in need.
• Mawlid al-Nabi, also known as Prophet Muhammad's Birthday, is a significant event in the Islamic calendar honoring the birth and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

SEPTEMBER 6

• Anant Chaturdashi, a Hindu festival marking the 10-day long festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, which honors Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity.
• Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, is primarily celebrated by followers of Taoism and Buddhism. The festival honors and remembers deceased ancestors and wandering spirits.

SEPTEMBER 7

• National Grandparents Day, honors and appreciates grandparents and their role in the family.
• Pitru Paksha, also known as Shraaddha or Kanagat, is a 16-lundar day period of reverence and remembrance in Hinduism, dedicated to paying homage to the ancestors.

SEPTEMBER 8

• International Literacy Day, highlights the importance of literacy to individuals and society and promotes literacy as a fundamental human right.

SEPTEMBER 10

• World Suicide Prevention Day, raises awareness for the cause of suicide and prevent suicidal behaviors, and reduces the stigma surrounding suicide and raise awareness among organizations, governments, and global citizens.

SEPTEMBER 11

• Patriot Day, commemorates the lives of those who perished in the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Virginia and those who perished when the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in Pennsylvania. The holiday also recognizes those who perished attempting to rescue people trapped by the attacks.
• Nayrouz, also known as the Coptic New Year, is the celebration of the Coptic Orthodox New Year in Egypt and other Coptic communities.

SEPTEMBER 14

• Elevation of the Holy Cross, in some Christian denominations, a day that commemorates the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus.

SEPTEMBER 15

• World Afro Day, aims to end hair discrimination at work and celebrates the afro and all hairstyles worn by the Black community in hopes to educate the public about their hair texture and different hairstyles.
• International Day of Democracy, celebrates the democratic values of freedom, respect for human rights, and universal suffrage.

SEPTEMBER 16

• National Working Parents Day, recognizes and honors the dedication of parents who work to provide for their families while balancing their professional and familial responsibilities.

SEPTEMBER 17

• Constitution and Citizenship Day, commemorates the signing of the US Constitution on September 17, 1787, and serves as an opportunity to promote the importance of the Constitution, its principles, and the rights and freedoms it guarantees to all Americans.

SEPTEMBER 18

• International Equal Pay Day, celebrated for the first time in September 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.

SEPTEMBER 19

• POW/MIA Recognition Day, honors American prisoners of war and those missing in action.

SEPTEMBER 21

• International Day of Peace, a global call for ceasefire and non-violence highlighting the importance of peace between nations and emphasizing the role of individuals in cultivating inner peace and spreading it to their surroundings.
• The Nativity of the Theotokos, commemorates the birth of the Virgin Mary, who is considered to be the Mother of God (Theotokos).

SEPTEMBER 22

• Dashain, observed over two weeks, is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated in Nepal and Nepali-speaking communities worldwide honoring the victory of goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura.
• Autumn Equinox, also known as the Fall Equinox, marks the transition from summer to autumn and is one of the two days in the year when day and night are approximately equal in length.

SEPTEMBER  22 - SEPTEMBER 24 (sundown to sundown)

• Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year celebration, is one of Judaism’s holiest days. Meaning “head of the year” or “first of the year,” the festival begins on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar, which falls during September or October.

SEPTEMBER 22 - OCTOBER 1

• Navratri, the nine-day 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.

SEPTEMBER 23

• International Day of Sign Languages, supports and protects the linguistic identity and cultural diversity of the Deaf community as well as other sign language users.

SEPTEMBER 25

• National Daughters Day, celebrates the special bond between parents and their daughters.

SEPTEMBER 27

• Native American Day, a federal holiday observed annually on the fourth Friday in September in the state of California and Nevada and on the second Monday in October in South Dakota and Oklahoma, United States.
• 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.

SEPTEMBER 28

• National Sons Day, celebrates sons of all ages.

SEPTEMBER 28 - OCTOBER 2

• Durga Puja, an annual Hindu festival in the Indian subcontinent that reveres the goddess Durga.

SEPTEMBER 30

• International Translation Day,  honors the work of translators and language professionals who play a crucial role in bridging linguistic and cultural gaps worldwide.