Holidays & Observances
October
Hispanic Heritage Month is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities. Hispanic Heritage Month 2023 will last from Friday, September 15, 2023 through Sunday, October 15, 2023. The event commemorates how those communities have influenced and contributed to American society at large.
The reasoning behind choosing these specific 31 days is that it coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American countries. September 15th marks the Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, which all declared independence from Spain on that day in 1821. Mexico declared independence from Spain on September 16th, 1810, while Chile declared independence from Spain on September 18th, 1810 and Belize declared independence from Great Britain on September 21st, 1981.
The term Hispanic or Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refers to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”
Hispanic Heritage Month actually began as a commemorative week when it was first introduced in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown. President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first Hispanic Heritage Week presidential proclamation the same day.
Hispanic Heritage Month provides an additional opportunity to explore the incredible impact Latinas and Latinos have had on the United States for generations. The Latino presence in America spans centuries, predating Spain’s colonization of what is now part of the United States, and they have been an integral part of shaping our nation since the Revolutionary War. Through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Treaty of Paris that followed the Mexican-American and Spanish-American wars, the United States gained territories in the Southwest and Puerto Rico. This incorporated the people of this area into the United States and further expanded the presence of Hispanic Americans.
Today, the Latino population in the United States today is over 60 million, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This makes up 18.9% of the total population and is the largest racial or ethnic group. Latinos continue to help fuel our economy and enrich our nation as entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, entertainers, scientists, public servants, and much more.
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In October, Americans observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) by paying tribute to the accomplishments of the men and women with disabilities whose work helps keep the nation’s economy strong and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for all citizens. NDEAM celebrates the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities past and present and showcases supportive, inclusive employment policies and practices that benefit employers and employees.
This effort to educate the public about the issues related to disability and employment began in 1945, when Congress enacted Public Law 176, declaring the first week of October each year as National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week. In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. Some 25 years later, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
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Rosh Hashanah (literally meaning "head [of] the year") is the Jewish new year that takes place at the beginning of the month of Tishrei , which is actually the seventh month of the Jewish year (counting from Nisan in the spring). The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah, literally "day of shouting or shouting/blasting." It is both a time of rejoicing and of serious introspection, a time to celebrate the completion of another year while also taking stock of one’s life.
It is one of the most holy days in the entire year for Jews, typically spent in congregation for much of the day. It begins at sundown the prior day. This is a happy holiday that brings family together to celebrate the new year., and there are songs and festive meals. Many attend synagogue and do not work or attend school.
Facts about Rosh Hashanah:
-Rosh Hashanah is a time for reflection and repentance.
-It is referred to as the “day of judgment.”
-According to the Talmud, the world was created on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Jewish calendar.
-The holiday is celebrated on the first and second days of Tishrei, which generally corresponds to September or October on the Gregorian calendar.
-Rosh Hashanah begins the High Holy Days or Ten Days of Penitence, which end with Yom Kippur.
-One of the most significant rituals during Rosh Hashanah is the blowing of the Shofar, or ram’s horn. It is used as a call to repentance during the High Holy Days.
-During this time, Jewish people attend synagogue services and refrain from working.
-A popular practice is to eat apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the hope for a sweet year to come. Also, challah bread is baked in round loaves instead of braided loaves. The bread is dipped in honey instead of salt.
-Pomegranates are also eaten because the seeds are symbolic of the many commandments in the Torah that Jews must fulfill.
-Another popular ritual is to walk to a river or stream and recite special prayers of penitence. Afterward, one throws breadcrumbs in the river, to symbolically cast away sins.
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Navratri, (Sanskrit: “Nine Nights”) in Hinduism, major festival held in honour of the divine feminine. Navratri occurs over 9 days during the month of Ashvin (in the Gregorian calendar, usually Sep–Oct). It ends with the Dussehra (also called Vijayadashami) celebration on the 10th day. In some parts of India, Dussehra is considered a focal point of the festival, making it effectively span 10 days instead of 9. Additionally, as Navratri depends on the lunar calendar, in some years it may be celebrated for 8 days, with Dussehra on the 9th. There are four similar festivals, also called Navratri, which are held at various times of the year. However, the early autumn festival, also called Sharad Navratri, is the most significant. It begins on the same day as Durga Puja, a 10-day festival devoted to the victory of the goddess Durga, which is particularly celebrated in certain eastern states.
Navratri is celebrated differently in India’s various regions -
For many people it is a time of religious reflection and fasting, while for others it is a time for dancing and feasting.
Among fasting customs are observing a strict vegetarian diet and abstaining from alcohol and certain spices.
Typically, the festival’s nine nights are dedicated to different aspects of the divine feminine principle, or shakti.
While the pattern varies somewhat by region, generally the first third of the festival focuses on aspects of the goddess Durga, the second third on the goddess Lakshmi, and the final third on the goddess Sarasvati.
Offerings are often made to the goddesses and their various aspects, and rituals are performed in their honour.
One popular ritual is Kanya Puja, which takes place on the eighth or ninth day. In this ritual nine young girls are dressed as the nine goddess aspects celebrated during Navratri and are worshipped with ritual foot washing and given offerings such as food and clothing.
In some parts of India, Navaratri/Dussehra is associated with the victory of the god Rama over the demon-king Ravana.
In northern India the Ram Lila (“Play of Rama”) is the highlight of the festival. On successive nights different episodes of the epic poem the Ramayana are dramatized by young actors elaborately costumed and masked; the pageant is always climaxed by the burning of huge effigies of the demons on the 10th day (Dussehra)
Among some followers of the goddess Durga, who are particularly predominant in Odisha, Bengal and Assam, the festival is known as or coincides with the Durga Puja (“Rite of Durga”).
In addition to family observances, the puja, or ritual, days are also celebrated with public concerts, recitations, plays, and fairs.
The celebration of Durga-Puja in Kolkata, West Bengal has been given the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) tag.
In Nepal, Dussehra is also known as Dashain and is the longest Hindu festival in the country. It is celebrated over two weeks with prayers and offerings to Goddess Durga.
Navaratri is not only about honoring the role the various female manifestations (e.g. Lakshmi, Parvati, Saraswati) play in Hinduism, but also the role the loving, compassionate, and gentle, yet sometimes powerful and fierce feminine energy plays in our lives.
This is a good time of the year to recognize (at school & in the town) nine female leaders who have made an international, national, or local impact.
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This is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess. It is also celebrated by Nepali-Indian people who live in the Indian states of Sikkim, Assam and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. Lhotshampa people in Bhutan and Burmese Gurkhas in Myanmar also celebrate this festival.. Dashain is a time for family reunions, exchange of gifts and blessings, and elaborate pujas (rituals).
Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and prowess, is worshipped and offered sacrifices to ensure the devotees' progress and prosperity. During the first ten days, pilgrims flock to various river confluences early in the morning and sacred shrines in the evening. Ghatasthapana, Phool Pati, Mahaastami, Nawami and Vijaya Dashami are the series of the events under Dashain each marked with a different set of rituals (read more in additional resources).
Dashain celebrations involve various customs and traditions. Here are ten ways people celebrate Dashain in Nepal:
1. Family Reunions: During Dashain, family members come together, often traveling long distances to celebrate with their loved ones. It's a time for family bonding and togetherness. This is particularly important as many Nepalis are outside the country for employment.
2. Flying Kites: Kite flying is a popular tradition during Dashain. People of all ages fly colorful kites, and competitions are held among kite flyers. Hindus believe that the flying kites send a message to the rain god to stop sending more rain.
3. Swings (Ping): Swing sets are erected in many public places, and people, especially children, enjoy swinging on them. It's a symbol of fun and festivity. You can see traditional temporary swings made from bamboo and ropes. In cities, there are modern swings different from traditional ones.
4. New Clothes and Gifts: People wear new clothes during Dashain and exchange gifts among family and friends. This symbolizes the renewal of relationships. The children mostly enjoy their new clothes. We believe that this tradition of wearing new clothes began when the clothes were not very affordable.
5. Tika and Jamara: Elders bless the young ones by applying Tika (a mixture of yogurt, rice, and vermillion) and placing Jamara (barley grass) on their foreheads. This symbolizes protection and good fortune.
6. Animal Sacrifice: Sacrificing animals like goats, buffaloes, or chickens to honor the goddess Durga is quite common. The meat is then shared among family and friends. Vegetarians cut vegetables as a symbol of offering to Durga.
7. Card Games and Gambling: Though illegal, people do gamble in Dashain. It's a time when people enjoy friendly competitions and games. You can observe several types of gambling, like cards, kauda, and Langur Burja during Dashain.
8. Visiting Temples and Shrines: Many people visit temples and shrines to seek blessings and offer their prayers to the goddess Durga. Nepal has thousands of temples in each and every corner of the country, especially in the Kathmandu Valley.
9.Music and Dance: Festive music and traditional dances are performed in various communities. It's a time for cultural expression and entertainment. You can hear special celebratory tunes throughout Nepal during Dashain.
10. Feasting: No festival is complete without good food. Dashain is a time of indulgence in delicious Nepali cuisine. Families prepare elaborate feasts with dishes like sel roti, mutton curry, and sweets.
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Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar), it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service. Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah are known as Judaism’s “High Holy Days.”
According to tradition, the first Yom Kippur took place after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and arrival at Mount Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. Descending from the mountain, Moses caught his people worshipping a golden calf and shattered the sacred tablets in anger. Because the Israelites atoned for their idolatry, God forgave their sins and offered Moses a second set of tablets.
According to tradition, God judges all creatures during the 10 Days of Awe between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, deciding whether they will live or die in the coming year. Jewish law teaches that God inscribes the names of the righteous in the “book of life” and condemns the wicked to death on Rosh Hashanah; people who fall between the two categories have until Yom Kippur to perform “teshuvah,” or repentance. As a result, observant Jews consider Yom Kippur and the days leading up to it a time for prayer, good deeds, reflecting on past mistakes and making amends with others.
Traditions and Symbols of Yom Kippur
Pre-Yom Kippur feast: On the eve of Yom Kippur, families and friends gather for a bountiful feast that must be finished before sunset. The idea is to gather strength for 25 hours of fasting.
Breaking of the fast: After the final Yom Kippur service, many people return home for a festive meal. It traditionally consists of breakfast-like comfort foods such as blintzes, noodle pudding and baked goods.
Wearing white: It is customary for religious Jews to dress in white—a symbol of purity—on Yom Kippur. Some married men wear kittels, which are white burial shrouds, to signify repentance.
Charity: Some Jews make donations or volunteer their time in the days leading up to Yom Kippur. This is seen as a way to atone and seek God’s forgiveness. One ancient custom known as kapparot involves holding a live chicken or bundle of coins and circling it over one’s head while reciting a prayer. The chicken or money is then given to the poor.
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Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra,Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated every year at the end of Durga Puja and Navaratri. It is observed on the tenth day of the month of Ashvin, the seventh in the Hindu lunisolar calendar.The festival typically falls in the Gregorian calendar months of September and October.
Vijayadashami is observed for different reasons and celebrated differently in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.In the southern, eastern, northeastern, and some northern states of India, Vijayadashami marks the end of Durga Puja, commemorating goddess Durga's victory against the buffalo-demon Mahishasura to restore and protect dharma. In the northern, central, and western states, it marks the end of Ramlila and commemorates the deity Rama's victory over the demon-king Ravana. Alternatively, it marks a reverence for Durga one of the aspects of the feminine power (Shakti)
Vijayadashami celebrations include processions to a river or ocean front that involve carrying clay statues of Durga,Lakshmi, Saraswati, Ganesha, and Kartikeya, accompanied by music and chants, after which the images are immersed in the water for dissolution and farewell. In other places, towering effigies of Ravana, symbolising evil, are burnt with fireworks, marking evil's destruction. The festival also starts the preparations for Diwali, the important festival of lights, which is celebrated twenty days after Vijayadashami.
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For the fourth year in a row, the United States will officially observe Indigenous Peoples Day alongside Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples' Day celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.Observing this day is a way to center and celebrate the histories, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous peoples. It is a time to focus on contemporary Native communities, dispel myths and misinformation, and support more accurate and authentic representations of Native Americans. In 2024, the holiday falls on Monday, October 14.
On May 24, 2023, after a recount of the original Annual Town Election vote of May 2 and & by a narrow margin of 15 votes the residents of the Town of Westford passed a ballot question that made the 2nd Monday in October Indigenous Peoples’ Day, superseding previous local references to Columbus Day.
President Biden became the first U.S. president to issue a proclamation recognizing Indigenous Peoples’ Day in 2021, writing, "Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society." While the Joe Biden administration has officially recognized Indigenous Peoples' Day since 2021, it is not yet a federal holiday. More than a dozen states recognize some version of the holiday in place of Columbus Day. Some states and cities, however, still celebrate Columbus Day or Italian Heritage Day.
As of 2023, some 29 states do not celebrate Columbus Day and have renamed it or replaced it with Indigenous Peoples Day. Some states recognize Indigenous Peoples Day via proclamation, while others treat it as an official holiday. Among the states where the holiday is observed or honored are Alaska, Minnesota, Vermont, Iowa, North Carolina, California, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Virginia, Oregon, Texas, as well as South Dakota, which celebrates Native Americans’ Day, Hawaii, which celebrates Discoverers' Day, and Alabama, which celebrates American Indian Heritage Day. Washington, D.C. also recognizes the holiday.
There has been some effort to formally designate Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday. The Indigenous Peoples' Day Act, reintroduced in Congress on October 2, 2023, would designate the second Monday of October as Indigenous Peoples’ Day nationwide.
“Our country has long failed to recognize and acknowledge its dark history of erasure and harm brought upon the first inhabitants of the Americas,” said California Congresswoman Norma Torres in a statement. “By designating Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday, we take a small but important step toward recognizing the injustices in our nation’s history and uplifting the vibrant traditions, history, and culture of all Indigenous communities—an integral part of the cultural fabric of the United States.” The bill currently has 56 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 11 cosponsors in the Senate.
Additional Resources
Check out Indigenous Peoples’ Day Massachusetts to learn more about efforts to officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a state holiday.
Unlearning Columbus Day Myths: Celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day
What is Indigenous Peoples Day? A day of celebration, protest and reclaiming history
Tips for Talking and Teaching About Indigenous People
Native Now: How to Talk in a Respectful Way About and With Native Peoples
National Museum of the American Indian: Terminology
Native Knowledge 360° Essential Understandings about American Indians: A framework from NMAI that highlights key concepts about the rich and diverse cultures, histories, and contemporary lives of Native Peoples
Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492. Though it was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states it since late 18th century it did not become a federal holiday until 1937. The first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the US took place on October 12, 1792. Organized by the Society of St. Tammany, also known as the Columbian Order, it commemorated the 300th anniversary of Columbus’ landing.
Although his explorations were financed by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus was a native of Genoa, Italy, and over the years Italian Americans took up the cause of honouring his achievement. The 300th anniversary of his landing was celebrated in New York City in 1792 by the Society of St. Tammany, or Columbian Order, and the 400th anniversary, in 1892, by presidential proclamation nationwide. During the latter half of the 19th century, the day began to be celebrated in cities with large numbers of Italian Americans, and in 1937 it became a national holiday by presidential proclamation. The day came to be marked by parades, often including floats depicting the ships of Columbus, and by public ceremonies and festivities. By the quincentennial in 1992, the holiday was an occasion for discussing the European conquest of American Indians, and some people objected to celebrating the event.
For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous Peoples' Day, now celebrated in many U.S. states and cities.
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Sukkot is a weeklong Jewish holiday that comes five days after Yom Kippur. Sukkot celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection G‑dprovided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt. We celebrate Sukkot by dwelling in a foliage-covered booth (known as a sukkah) and by taking the “Four Kinds” (arba minim), four special species of vegetation.
The first 2 days (sundown on October 16 until nightfall on October 18 in 2024) of the holiday (one day in Israel) are yom tov, when work is forbidden, candles are lit in the evening, and festive meals are preceded by Kiddush and include challah dipped in honey.
The intermediate days (nightfall on October 18 until sundown on October 23 in 2024) are quasi holidays, known as Chol Hamoed. We dwell in the sukkah and take the Four Kinds every day of Sukkot (except for Shabbat, when we do not take the Four Kinds).
The final 2 days (sundown on October 23 until nightfall on October 25 in 2024) are a separate holiday (one day in Israel): Shemini Atzeret / Simchat Torah. Following the seven joyous days of Sukkot, is the happy holiday of Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah. The first day is called Shemini Atzeret and people still dwell in the sukkah, but without a blessing. Yizkor, the memorial for the departed, is also said on this day. The second day is known as Simchat Torah, during which the annual Torah reading cycle is completed. This joyous milestone is marked with dancing, traditionally following seven circuits known as hakafot, as the Torah scrolls are held aloft. Both days are celebrated by nightly candle lighting, festive meals at both night and day, and desisting from work. In Israel, the entire holiday is compacted into one heady 24-hour period.
Of all the Jewish holidays, Sukkot is the only one whose date does not seem to commemorate a historic event. The Torah refers to it by two names: Chag HaAsif (“the Festival of Ingathering,” or “Harvest Festival”) and Chag HaSukkot (“Festival of Booths”), each expressing a reason for the holiday.
In Israel, crops grow in the winter and are ready for harvest in the late spring. Some of them remain out in the field to dry for a few months and are only ready for harvest in the early fall. Chag HaAsif is a time to express appreciation for this bounty.
The name Chag HaSukkot commemorates the temporary dwellings made to shelter our ancestors on their way out of Egypt (some say this refers to the miraculous clouds of glory that shielded us from the desert sun, while others say it refers to the tents in which they dwelled for their 40-year trek through the Sinai desert).
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Halloween, is a holiday observed on October 31 and is noted for its pagan and religious roots and secular traditions. In much of Europe and most of North America, observance of Halloween is largely nonreligious, celebrated with parties, spooky costumes, jack-o’-lanterns, pumpkin carvings, and the giving of candy. But the holiday also marks the beginning of Allhallotide, a three-day Christian triduum dedicated to remembering the dead that begins with Halloween (October 31) and is followed by All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2).
Halloween had its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britainand Ireland. On the day corresponding to November 1 on contemporary calendars, the new year was believed to begin. That date was considered the beginning of the winter period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. During the Samhain festival the souls of those who had died were believed to return to visit their homes, and those who had died during the year were believed to journey to the otherworld. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their hearth fires for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in those ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. The period was also thought to be favourable for divination on matters such as marriage, health, and death. When the Romans conquered the Celts in the 1st century CE, they added their own festivals of Feralia, commemorating the passing of the dead, and of Pomona, the goddess of the harvest.
In the 7th century CE Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day, originally on May 13, and in the following century, perhaps in an effort to supplant the pagan holiday with a Christian observance, it was moved to November 1. The evening before All Saints’ Day became a holy, or hallowed, eve, from which the word "Halloween" evolved. By the end of the Middle Ages, the secular and the sacred days had merged. The Reformation essentially put an end to the religious holiday among Protestants, although in Britain especially Halloween continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday. Along with other festivities, the celebration of Halloween was largely forbidden among the early American colonists, although in the 1800s there developed festivals that marked the harvest and incorporated elements of Halloween. When large numbers of immigrants, including the Irish, went to the United States beginning in the mid 19th century, they took their Halloween customs with them, and in the 20th century Halloween became one of the principal U.S. holidays, particularly among children.
As a secular holiday, Halloween has come to be associated with a number of activities. One is the practice of pulling usually harmless pranks. Celebrants wear masks and costumes for parties and for trick-or-treating, thought to have derived from the British practice of allowing the poor to beg for food, called “soul cakes.” Trick-or-treaters go from house to house with the threat that they will pull a trick if they do not receive a treat, usually candy. Halloween parties often include games such as bobbing for apples, perhaps derived from the Roman celebration of Pomona. Along with skeletons and black cats, the holiday has incorporated scary beings such as ghosts, witches, and vampires into the celebration. Another symbol is the jack-o’-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin, originally a turnip, carved into a demonic face and lit with a candle inside. Since the mid-20th century the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has attempted to make the collection of money for its programs a part of Halloween.
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