RAMADAN IS known as the most Holy Month for people of the Islam religion. This year, Ramadan began on April 11 and runs through May 11. The last day of Ramadan is called Eid Al-Fitr. Ramadan is a time for self-improvement, reflection and growing one's connection with Allah (Arabic for God). The most well-known tradition of Ramadan is the fasting, in which Muslims (unless you have a reason to be exempt) do not consume anything from sunrise to sunset for all 30 days. You do eat, however, just before sunrise and after dark. These meals are called Sahur and Iftar. Ramadan is celebrated because it is the month in which the prophet Muhammed was given the first revelations of the Quran. Ramadan is a special time for Muslims to find peace, as well as have family reunions and the spirit of community. Ramadan Mubarak!

PRIDE MONTH IS a month long celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and the hardships the members have faced while fighting for their rights. Pride month is in June, and a common tradition throughout pride month is to go to pride parades! But how did Pride Month become a thing? Much of the story starts with the stonewall riots of 1969. The riots because when New York City police stormed a gay club called Stonewall Inn located in Greenwich Village, sparking an uproar. LGBTQ+ people were not commonly accepted in the 60s, same-sex relationships being illegal in New York. Because of protestors, many of the rules were removed, but still not yet all. This seemingly useless protest was the spark of pride protests and gay & transgender rights organizations all around the world, also symbolizing the ongoing fight for equality. Happy Pride!

MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IS yet another idea to be aware of in May to get people to understand trauma and how it can damage mental and physical health, as well as to celebrate mental illness recovery. This month is also a great time to understand that mental health has just as many needs as the rest of your body, and that treatment for different mental diseases work, so to find help if you need it. The idea of mental health awareness month comes from 1949 to spread simple messages like the ones told in this very paragraph. The outcome of Mental Health Awareness month is larger than you might think. In the past 20 years, different services like the Mental Health service and the Substance Abuse Administration have worked with government organizations to increase understanding of treatment, which has positively affected people of all ages that carry mental illness. Happy Mental Health Awareness Month!