Holidays & Observances
September
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894.
Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades, sporting events and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested that the day should be observed with – a street parade to exhibit "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.
Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans.
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Ganesh Chaturthi (gu-Ne-sh cha-tur-thee) also known as Vinayaka Chaturthi is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Lord Ganesh. This 10-day festival usually falls in August or September. Ganesha is the God of wisdom, intellect, prosperity, good fortune, and the remover of obstacles. Born to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, his name derives from ‘gana’ meaning common people and so his name translates to ‘Lord of the People’. Many believe that Lord Ganesh brings order to this universe and worship him before embarking on a new endeavor, intellectual journey, or business enterprise. Therefore, it is common to see images or statues of him in these places.
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Ganesh Chaturthi is a 10-day festival that begins on the Chaturthi (4th day) of Bhadrapada month in the Hindu Calendar. This usually falls in August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
Ganesha murtis (idols) are installed on temporary platforms at local temples, communities and decorated with garlands and flowers. Smaller Ganesha murtis are also installed in personal Mandirs (temples) at devotees’ homes.
Ganesha has a sweet tooth so people offer Modaks which are conical shaped rice dumplings stuffed with grated coconut and jaggery. Other offerings include Sundal (chickpeas garnished with coconut, chillies and mustard), Appam and other sweets.
Ganesha murthis are then taken on public processions amid festivities, chanting and dancing. On the 10th day, devotees bid farewell to Ganesha with deep respect followed by Ganapati Visarjan which is the immersion of the Ganesha murti in a nearby water body. People chant in the Marathi language “Ganapati Bappa Morya, Pudhchya Varshi Laukariya” which means “Goodbye Lord Ganapati, please return quickly next year”. The chant is in honor of the 4th century saint Morya Gosavi who was an ardent Ganesha devotee.
Ganesha is the younger son of Shiva and Parvati. He has an elephant head. There is a lot of symbolism in Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism). The elephant head which is the largest head among land animals represents the vast intellect (Buddhi) of Ganesha.
Ganesha is also called Vigneshwara which means the Remover of obstacles. People pray to Ganesha before they embark on any new activity or start of any ceremony to ward off difficulties and achieve success.
Ganesh Chaturthi has been used to revive patriotic sentiments in India by various Indian leaders. In 1893, Indian freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak (also known as Lokamanya Tilak) made the festival a community celebration thereby allowing people to gather in public spaces to workaround the British ban on large gatherings.
Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) has influenced many neighboring countries including East Asia and SouthEast Asia due to trade and cultural contact. Ganesha is worshiped in other religions such as Buddhism and Jainism. Ganesha is worshiped in slightly different forms across the globe. He is Kangiten or Shoten in Japan, Ts’ogsbdag in Tibet, Phra Phikanet in Thailand, Maha-Pienne in Myanmar, Totkharour Khagan in Mongolia, Prah Kenes in Cambodia.
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Patriot Day (not to be confused with Patriots' Day celebrated in April) is a holiday observed in the United States on September 11 to commemorate the lives of those who died 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 died attempting to rescue people trapped by the attacks.
By a joint resolution of the U.S. Congress on Dec. 18, 2001, September 11 was designated as Patriot Day. The resolution calls for the president of the United States to issue a yearly proclamation requesting that all U.S. flags be flown at half-staff. Further, Americans are asked to honour the dead with a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 AM, Eastern Standard Time, the time that the first airplane struck the World Trade Center, and to respect the ceremonies of remembrance when they are conducted. Prior to passage of the resolution, several other names had been proposed for the day, such as the National Day of Remembrance and the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
Patriot Day is not a federal holiday and schools and businesses do not close. Public transit systems run on their regular schedules. Some people and organizations may take some time out to hold prayers for the victims of the attacks, but these do not usually affect public life for more than a few minutes.
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Grandparents' Day
September 8, 2024 CULTURAL CELEBRATION
September 8, 2024 CULTURAL CELEBRATION
Grandparents' Day or National Grandparents' Day is a secular holiday celebrated in various countries. It was celebrated for the first time in Poland in 1965. In the US National Grandparents Day is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day & is a cultural observance, not a holiday. Like Mother’s day and Father’s day a whole day is dedicated to our grandparents. Grandparents and children have a special connection that is proven to both make grandparents live longer, and also make children more emotionally resilient. Grandparents Day is an opportunity to treasure that connection and spend some quality family time together.
Many people honor their grandparents through a range of activities such as gift-giving, card-giving, and for children to invite their grandparents to school for a day where they participate in special lessons or special assembly programs. Many school students take part in story-telling activities that relate to their grandparents, as well as art or poster competitions where children often use a story about their grandparents in their artwork.
A presidential proclamation by President Jimmy Carter on September 6, 1979, made this day official – it designated Sunday, September 9, 1979, (being the “first Sunday of September following Labor Day”) as National Grandparents Day. Each year the President is requested to issue a proclamation to: designate the first Sunday in September after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day; and to call on people, groups and organizations to observe the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala & falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali. Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated pookalam, ambrosial Onasadya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala.
While predominantly a Kerala festival, regions in other states, including Uttar Pradesh (Balia and Baway), Gujarat (Bharuch), and Maharashtra also honor its significance.
As with many other Hindu holidays, there are multiple legends of why a particular celebration occurs and what the religious significance is. The most common is the story of King Mahabali’s devotion and selflessness.
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Hispanic Heritage Month is a month-long celebration of Hispanic and Latino history and culture. While we celebrate Hispanic and Latino communites beyond this month, from September 15 to October 15 we give extra recognition to the many contributions made to the history and culture of the United States, including important advocacy work, vibrant art, popular and traditional foods, and much more.
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.
Beginning in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week”, but it was later extended to a month in 1988. Since then, HHM has been celebrated nationwide through festivals, art shows, conferences, community gatherings, and much more. The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua on September 15th, Mexico on September 16th, and Chile on September 18th. They also include holidays that recognize Hispanic contributions such as Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day that is celebrated in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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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Constitution Day (or Citizenship Day) is an American federal observance that recognizes the adoption of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens. It is normally observed on September 17, the day in 1787 that delegates to the Constitutional Convention signed the document in Philadelphia. When it falls on a weekend or on another holiday, schools and other institutions observe the holiday on an adjacent weekday.
The law establishing the present holiday was created in 2004. Before this law was enacted, the holiday was known as "Citizenship Day" and celebrated on the third Sunday in May. In addition to renaming the holiday "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," the act mandates that all publicly funded educational institutions, and all federal agencies, provide educational programming on the history of the American Constitution on that day. In May 2005, the United States Department of Education announced the enactment of this law and that it would apply to any school receiving federal funds of any kind.
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Mawlid (Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi)
September 16, 2024 ISLAM
September 16, 2024 ISLAM
Mawlid , also known as Eid-e-Milad un-Nabi ( 'feast of the birth of the prophet'), is an observance of the day when the Islamic prophet Muhammad is reported to have been born. It is commemorated in Rabi' al-Awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. 12th Rabi' al-awwal is the accepted date among most of the Sunni scholars, while some Shi'a scholars regard 17th Rabi' al-awwal as the accepted date.
The history of this celebration goes back to the early days of Islam when some of the Tabi‘un began to hold sessions in which poetry and songs composed to honour Muhammad were recited and sung to crowds in the major cities.The Ottomans declared it an official holiday in 1588, known as Mevlid Kandil. The term Mawlid is also used in some parts of the world, such as Egypt, as a generic term for the birthday celebrations of other historical religious figures such as Sufi saints.
Most denominations of Islam approve of the commemoration of Muhammad's birthday;The Mawlid observance is generally approved of across the four Sunni schools of law, Shi'ism, and by mainstream Islamic scholarship. Mawlid is recognized as a national holiday in most of the Muslim-majority countries of the world except Saudi Arabia and Qatar which are officially Salafi. Some denominations including Wahabism, Deobandism and the Ahmadiyya disapprove its commemoration.
Throughout the world, there are a variety of expressions for the observance of the birth of the Prophet: some celebrations take place simply in private homes; other Muslims decorate their local mosque with lights and hold large festive gatherings. Celebrations of Mawlid al-Nabi include sharing food, attending lectures about the Prophet’s life and virtues, salawat prayer services, participating in marches, and reciting the Qur’an, litanies, and devotional poetry of the Prophet. In some countries, such as Pakistan, the entire month of Rabi’ al-Awwal is observed as the Prophet’s “birth month.” In Singapore, the observance of Mawlid al-Nabi is a one-day festival which often includes special “birthday parties” for poor children and orphans in addition to the regular prayers and lectures in local mosques. Azhar Square in Cairo is the site of one of the largest celebrations, with over two million Muslims in attendance.
Many Muslims feel that the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday is particularly important in the American context, and have therefore begun to add distinctly American elements as part of its celebration. Shane Atkinson of the American Mawlid Project produces music to amplify praise of the Prophet in an original American style. His songs, “Southern Salawat” and “Appalachian Salawat” fuse elements of Southern and Appalachian music styles with traditional Islamic themes. While al-Burda al-Sharif, the most popular praise poem of the Prophet, has now been translated several times into English from Arabic, original praise poetry in English has also been produced from the likes of Walid Lounès Bouzerar, Asim Yusuf, Cat Stevens, and Baraka Blue. Other literature in English today includes works on the rulings, virtues, benefits, and methods of celebrating Mawlid al-Nabi. Organizations like Celebrate Mercy and Grand Mawlid are dedicated to spreading the message of Mawlid al-Nabi throughout the year by hosting conferences, classes, and events with prayer and poetry performances with renowned Muslim American scholars, artists, and activists. The various ways in which American Muslims adopt the celebration of Mawlid al-Nabi shows both their love for the Prophet and their concern with passing this onto the next generation.
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Mexican Independence Day
September 16, 2024
September 16, 2024
Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican national holiday that celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato.
Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico. There is no scholarly agreement on what was exactly said by Hidalgo, but his speech, also known as the cry of Dolores (el Grito de Dolores), was made on September 16, 1810 to motivate people to revolt against the Spanish regime. Hidalgo’s army fought against the Spanish soldiers in the fight for independence, but he was captured and executed on July 30, 1811. Mexico's independence was not declared until September 28, 1821.
Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties (fiestas), food, dance and music on September 16. Flags, flowers and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – are seen in public areas in cities and towns in Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate this festive occasion. "Viva Mexico" or "Viva la independencia” are shouted amidst the crowds on this day.
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Mid-Autumn Festival/Tsukimi/Chuseok
September 17, 2024 BUDDHIST
September 17, 2024 BUDDHIST
The 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calendar is an important day to celebrate the full moon and harvest by several countries in East and Southeast Asia. In China, it is the Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival. In Japan, it is called Tsukimi meaning moon viewing. In North and South Korea, it is Chuseok meaning “autumn evening” and also known as Hangawi meaning mid-autumn. And in Vietnam, it is Tết Trung Thu.
First celebrated during China's Zhou Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago (although it wasn't widely recognized until about 1,500 years later during the Tang Dynasty), the festival pays homage to the moon. As in ancient times, people today honor it by burning incense, setting up ceremonial altars with offerings, lighting lanterns, and spending time with loved ones, often on rooftops under the moonlight.
While the exact customs vary by country, they were originally observed to show gratitude to the moon for a good harvest. Decorative lanterns with wishes written on them are usually made by children and are proudly displayed in trees or in houses, floated down rivers, or flown high into the air — a small candle placed inside makes the Kongming lanterns act like mini hot-air balloons.
Oftentimes, people of Chinese descent will gather together and enjoy mooncakes after sundown. These round, filled confections are elaborately decorated, often with patterns depicting the legends of the festival. People give mooncakes as gifts and serve them at family gatherings. Depending on where you are, pumpkins, crabs, and other seasonal foods of the harvest are also eaten at this time, while tea, baskets of fruit, and osmanthus wine are shared. In some places, there's even a public holiday.
In South Korea, the celebration lasts three days, and many people travel to reunite with relatives — instead of mooncakes, the celebratory food is a type of stuffed rice cake called songpyeon.
In Taiwan, the Mid-autumn Festival is a national holiday, and festivities include eating mooncakes and pomelo, a large citrus fruit related to grapefruit.
In Japan, the moon is worshipped and families decorate their homes with beautiful flowers.
In Vietnam, the Mid-autumn Festival is referred to as the “Children’s Festival,” and youngsters carry lanterns as they watch lion dances and feast on mooncakes.
In Singapore’s Chinatown neighborhood and the Gardens by the Bay, you'll find lantern displays as well as traditional and contemporary versions of mooncakes.
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Autumnal Equinox
September 22, 2024
September 22, 2024
Autumnal equinox is one of the 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 autumnal equinox falls about September 22 or 23, as the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south. In the Southern Hemisphere the equinox occurs on March 20 or 21, when the Sun moves north across the celestial equator. The name equinox comes from the Latin aequus (equal) and nox (night)
According to the astronomical definition of the seasons the September equinox is the first day of autumn for the Northern Hemisphere, and first day of spring for the Southern Hemisphere. The September equinox will fall at 12:44 UTC (7:44 a.m. CDT) on September 22, 2024.
As the September equinox rolls by, the chances to see the aurora borealis display increases for those located at high Northern Hemisphere latitudes. According to NASA, the equinoxes are prime time for Northern Lights—geomagnetic activities are twice more likely to take place in the spring and fall time, than in the summer or winter.
Many cultures around the world hold feasts and celebrate festivals and holidays to mark the September equinox.
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