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Holidays & Observances
Women's History Month had its origins as a national celebration in 1981 when Congress passed Pub. L. 97-28 which authorized and requested the President to proclaim the week beginning March 7, 1982 as “Women’s History Week.” Throughout the next five years, Congress continued to pass joint resolutions designating a week in March as “Women’s History Week.” In 1987 after being petitioned by the National Women’s History Project, Congress passed Pub. L. 100-9 which designated the month of March 1987 as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. Since 1995, presidents have issued a series of annual proclamations designating the month of March as “Women’s History Month.” These proclamations celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history in a variety of fields.
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The Nineteen-Day Fast is a nineteen-day period of the year during which members of the Baha’i Faith adhere to a sunrise-to-sunset fast. Along with obligatory prayer, it is one of the greatest obligations of a Baháʼí, and its chief purpose is spiritual: to reinvigorate the soul and bring the person closer to God.
Suggestions for Supporting those who Celebrate
Understand the importance of their fast and refrain from offering them food during the daylight hours or inviting them to eat with you or a group.
Consider joining in community prayer gatherings that bring friends, families and neighbors together in a spirit of worship — feeding the soul through prayer, song and contemplation.
Purim is a Jewish holiday commemorating the Jewish people's saving from annihilation at the hands of an official of the Achaemenid Empire named Haman, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther (usually dated to the 5th century BCE).
Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I). His plans were foiled by Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin, and Esther, Mordecai's cousin and adopted daughter who had become queen of Persia after her marriage to Ahasuerus. This day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing among Jews.
According to the Scroll of Esther,"they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor". Purim is celebrated among Jews by:
Exchanging gifts of food and drink, known as mishloach manot
Donating charity to the poor, known as mattanot la-evyonim
Eating a celebratory meal, known as se'udat Purim
Public recitation of the Scroll of Esther or "reading of the Megillah", usually in synagogue
Reciting additions to the daily prayers and the grace after meals, known as Al HaNissim
Other customs include wearing masks and costumes, public celebrations and parades (Adloyada), and eating hamantashen ("Haman's pockets"); men often drink wine or other alcoholic beverages.
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Holi is a festival celebrated annually around the end of February or early March in correspondence with the Hindu calendar's month of Phalguna marking the beginning of spring after a long winter and signifying the triumph of good over evil.
On the eve of the festival, large pyres are lit in many parts of India to signify the burning of evil spirits. People often throw wood, dried leaves and twigs into bonfires. On the day of Holi, entire streets and towns turn red, green and yellow as people throw colored powder into the air and splash them on others. Each color carries a meaning. Red, for example, symbolizes love and fertility while green stands for new beginnings. People also splash water on each other in celebration. Water guns are used to squirt water, while balloons filled with colored water are also flung from rooftops. Later in the day, families gather together for festive meals. It is also common to distribute sweets among neighbors and friends.
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International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on March 8 as a focal point in the women's rights movement, bringing attention to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Spurred on by the universal female suffrage movement, IWD originated from labor movements in North America and Europe during the early 20th century.
It is a day when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.
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Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
When it comes to inclusion, neurodiversity refers to a world where neurological differences are recognised and respected as all other human variations.
Depending on how our brains are wired we think, move, process information and communicate in different ways. Many people in our community use neurodiversity as an umbrella term used to describe alternative thinking styles such as Dyslexia, DCD (Dyspraxia), Dyscalculia, Autism and ADHD. But regardless of labels, neurodiversity is about recognising those who think differently. And no matter whether you are a school, university or organisation you can benefit from different thinkers!
Approximately 15-20% of population has a neurological difference.Instead of labelling people with deficits or disorders, when we use the term neurodiversity, we take a balanced view of an individual’s unique strengths and challenges. Many ‘challenges’ neurodivergent people face are more to do with the environment and systems they are placed in, often designed by a majority population.
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St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. St. Patrick’s Day 2024 will take place on Sunday, March 17.
Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint of Ireland and its national apostle. Born in Roman Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick’s death (believed to have been on March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most well-known legend of St. Patrick is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native Irish clover, the shamrock.
One of the earliest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America took place in Boston in 1737, when a group of Irish Protestants gathered to honor their homeland’s saint, a 5th century Christian missionary who died on March 17. Boston has officially held a St. Paddy’s Day parade since 1862.
Although blue was the colour traditionally associated with St. Patrick, green is now commonly connected with the day. The tradition is tied to folklore that says wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, which like to pinch anyone they can see. Some people also think sporting the color will bring good luck, and others wear it to honor their Irish ancestry. Irish and non-Irish alike commonly participate in the “wearing of the green”—sporting an item of green clothing or a shamrock, the Irish national plant, in the lapel. Corned beef and cabbage are associated with the holiday, and even beer is sometimes dyed green to celebrate the day.
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Vernal equinox, two moments in the year when the Sun is exactly above the Equator and day and night are of equal length; also, either of the two points in the sky where the ecliptic (the Sun’s annual pathway) and the celestial equator intersect. In the Northern Hemisphere the vernal equinox falls about March 20 or 21, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going north.
In the Southern Hemisphere the equinox occurs on September 22 or 23, when the Sun moves south across the celestial equator. According to the astronomical definition of the seasons, the vernal equinox also marks the beginning of spring, which lasts until the summer solstice(June 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, December 21 or 22 in the Southern Hemisphere).
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Nowruz is a celebration that marks the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox, which usually takes place on March 21. The festival is rooted in Zoroastrianism, a religion practised in ancient Persia that predates Christianity and Islam.
The celebrations vary from country to country, but some common traditions are shared. Before the start of Nowruz, a traditional spring cleaning takes place in the houses, while, during the celebration, people reunite with family and friends. Right before the arrival of the new year, families gather and exchange wishes, with the eldest distributing sweets and young children receiving coins and presents. But one of the most important traditions lies in preparing the Haft-Seen table. The Haft-Seen table, or the table of seven things that start with the letter S, is a family activity.
It usually starts by spreading a special family cloth on the table, and then it is followed by placing the seven S items. These can include:
Sirkeh (vinegar): Represents age and patience that often comes with ageing.
Sikkeh (coin): For wealth and prosperity
Seer (garlic): For good health
Seeb (apples): For health and natural beauty
Sabzeh (wheat): For rebirth, renewal and good fortune
Samanu (wheat pudding): A sweet dessert for wealth, fertility and the sweetness of life
Sumac (berries): For the sunrise and the celebration of a new day
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Khordad Sal is the birth anniversary of Zarathushtra (Zoroaster). He is regarded as the spiritual founder of Zoroastrians and is said to have been an Iranian prophet who founded a religious movement that challenged the existing traditions of ancient Iranian religion, and inaugurated a movement that eventually became a staple religion in ancient Iran. Zoroastrians all over the world, especially the Parsis of India celebrate this day with great festivities. Special prayers, hang fresh flowers in their home, make vibrant drawings (rangoli) on the floor and jashan (parties) are held throughout the day with a grand feast prepared to mark the occasion. This is also an opportunity for the community to come together, review their lives and actions, and make resolutions for the future.
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Eid al-Fitr (or Eid ul-Fitr) marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. For more information on Ramadan, please see this.
Eid al-Fitr Information
Eid al-Fitr Information
Eid al-Fitr is the earlier of the two official holidays celebrated in Islam. It marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramdan. Many Muslims will come together on this date for an Eid prayer in the morning in the mosques. (Source)
Eid is an Arabic word which means feast, festival or holiday. In Southeast Asia where many Muslims live, it is called Hari Raya in Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei & in Indonesia it is called Lebaran (Source). It is also referred to as Ramzan Bairami in Azerbaijan, & Korite in Senegal.
This is a time for forgiveness within the Muslim community and a time for strengthening bonds among relatives and friends.
Celebrations of Eid differ from one region to another depending on the differnt cultures of those practicing Islam. For example, in Southeast Asia and some Arab countries, families will gather, similar to how Americans observe Thanksgiving, and have a special meal on the first day of Eid.
In Singapore and Malaysia, school children will gather together and visit each other’s houses at a later date, usually on a weekend. In some communities, students even visit teachers at their homes.
Some common practices in the US is to give children gifts, including new clothes or cash, on Eid.
For most Muslims, Ramadan ends and Eid begins when the new moon is sighted, which means Muslims might not know the day of Eid until the night before.
Additional Resources
Additional Resources
Eid al-Fitr Date Confused By New Moon Sightings around the World
The following are a few children's books about Eid and Ramadan:
Ram Navami (Raa-um na-va-mee) is the celebration of the birth of Rama, an incarnation of Vishnu who is depicted in the Indian Epic, Ramayana. It is celebrated during the month of March or April. Rama is considered the embodiment of dharma (righteousness). Some Hindus choose to fast for nine days leading up to this day, and celebrate by depicting the Ramayana through song, dance, and dramas. People also sing songs dedicated to Rama and read his stories from the Ramayana during this time.
Information
Ram Navami or Rama Navami celebrates the birth of Rama who is the seventh avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu.
The festival is celebrated in the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) of Chaitra which is the first month in the Hindu calendar. This typically occurs in March or April of the Gregorian calendar. This festival is part of the Chaitra Navaratri which is one of the 4 Navaratris (9-night) celebrations. Ram Navami is celebrated on the last day of Chaitra Navaratri. Navami means the ninth day.
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Ram Navami by Himalayan Academy
Mahavir Jayanti (Maha-veer Ja-yan-ti) or Mahavir Janma Kalyanak is one of the most important festivals of Jainism. On this day the birth of Mahavira, the 24th and final spiritual teacher is celebrated. It is celebrated in the month of March or April. Born as Vardhamana into a royal Jain family, he became known as Mahavira as he attained spiritual awakening and became an ascetic. He preached the observance of ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), aparigraha (non-attachment) and brahmacharya (chastity) as the requirements for spiritual liberation. During Mahavir Jayanti, the five auspicious events of Mahavira's life are re-enacted. Jains visit his temples and pray for blessings.
If you wish you may wish Jain community members “Happy Mahavir Jayanti“ (Maha-veer Ja-yan-ti) or “Mahavir Janma Kalyanak” (Maha-veer Jan-ma Kal-yanuck).
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International Day of Visibility (often referred to as TDOV or Trans Day of Visibility) is an annual event occurring on March 31 dedicated to celebrating transgender people and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide, as well as a celebration of their contributions to society. In contrast to the Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, this day acknowledges and celebrates living members of the transgender community.
The transgender flag is used by people, organizations and communities to represent pride, diversity, rights and/or remembrance of the transgender community. The light blue stripes represent the traditional masculine color, the pink stripes represent the traditional feminine color, the white stripe represents those who are transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender.
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