Cultural Calendar
September 2024
September 2 — Labor Day: Federal holiday
September 4 — Marcus Whitman day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
September 15 to October 15 – National Hispanic Heritage Month: This month honors Hispanic and Latino Americans for their contributions to U.S. culture.
September 17 — Constitution Day and Citizenship Day: This day commemorates the September 17, 1787, signing of the United States Constitution.
Fourth Saturday of September — Public lands day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
September 30 — Orange Shirt Day: A day to commemorate the children who were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools. It honors the resiliency Indigenous people have that supported them through the painful traumas and losses.
October 2024
Global Diversity Awareness Month: An awareness month with the goal of promoting respect toward various cultures.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month: This awareness month aims to advocate for individuals with disabilities and their inclusion in the workforce.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women; this month seeks to boost awareness of the disease.
National Polish American Heritage Month: A month selected to honor those with Polish heritage.
Second Sunday in October — Washington state children's day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
October 10 – World Mental Health Day: A day that advocates for mental health awareness and education; on this day, you can support the efforts by reflecting on your own biases regarding mental health and advocating against social stigma related to it.
October 12 – Indigenous People’s Day: This day honors the indigenous people of North America; the holiday was formerly called Columbus Day
November 2024
National American Heritage Month: This month celebrates the contributions — cultures, traditions, histories — of Native people to the United States
Movember: A monthlong fundraiser that seeks to raise awareness for men’s issues like suicide as well as prostate and testicular cancer
November 1 – All Saints’ Day, All Souls Day, Día de Los Muertos: These days are dedicated to all those who have passed away in the Christian faith as well as the Mexican and Aztec communities
November 12 – Diwali: An important celebration in the Hindu faith in which a variety of deities are praised
November 29 – Native American Heritage Day: As of 2021, there are 574 federally recognized Tribes in the United States. However, numerous others are still advocating for recognition
December 2024
December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities: This United Nations holiday raises awareness for the rights of individuals with disabilities.
December 7 — Pearl Harbor remembrance day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
December 10 – International Humans Rights Day: A holiday adopted by the UN in 1948 following the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 16 to December 24 – Las Posadas: A religious festival celebrated in Mexico and parts of the U.S. during the Christmas season.
December 18 — Blood donor day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
December 22 – Winter Solstice/Yule: A festival celebrated by Pagan and Wiccan faiths.
December 25 – Christmas: A Christian holiday marking the birth of their lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
December 25-January 5 – Hanukkah: A Jewish holiday celebrating Jew rising up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.
December 26-January 1 – Kwanzaa: An 8-day holiday often celebrated by Black Americans that was inspired by African harvest celebrations.
January 2025
January 11 — Human trafficking awareness day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 13 — Korean-American day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 15 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Celebrates one of the best-known civil rights activists, MLK Jr.
January 26 — Washington army and air national guard day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
January 27 – International Day of Commemoration in Memory of Victims of the Holocaust: A United Nations holiday that remembers the approximately 6 million Jews murdered during World War II
January — The date corresponding with the second new moon following the winter solstice, or the third new moon following the winter solstice should an intercalary month intervene, recognized as the lunar new year. A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature
February 2025
Black History Month: February was chosen to celebrate African American History because it holds the birthdays of two men who helped eliminate slavery: Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln
February 1 – National Freedom Day: celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.
February 10 – Lunar New Year: this festival marks the start of the new year in the lunar calendar used in East Asia, Southeast Asia and elsewhere
February 14 – Frederick Douglass’ birthday (observed): this day celebrates the birth of abolitionist and social reformer
February 15 – Susan B. Anthony’s Birthday: a leader of the women’s suffrage movement. She advocated for abolition, temperance, labor rights, and equal pay for equal work
February 19 — Civil liberties day of remembrance: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
February 24 – Lantern Festival: marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations.
February 28-March 30 — Ramadan: the start of Islam’s sacred month — during this time Muslims abstain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk
March 2025
Women’s History Month: honors the role of women in American history
March 5 – Ash Wednesday: a day of prayer and fasting that begins the Christian season of Lent
March 8 – International Women’s Day: A day highlighting the political, social, cultural, and economic achievements of women
March 8 – Holi: Hindu holiday that celebrates the winter harvest and onset of spring
March 9 — Billy Frank Jr. day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature..
March 10 – Harriet Tubman’s birthday (observed): American abolitionist who is well-known for her key role in the Underground Railroad
March 13 — Welcome home Vietnam veterans day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day: feast day of a Catholic saint who inspires cultural and religious celebrations around the world
March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 23-24 – Purim: a Jewish holiday celebrated by reading the Book of Esther, exchanging gifts and partaking in a celebratory meal.
March 24-25 – Holi: also known as the Festival of Colors, Holi is largely celebrated across India and marks the shift from winter to spring and the triumph of good over evil.
March 24 – Palm Sunday: a Christian celebration that originates from the palm branches waved by the crowd to greet and honor Jesus as he entered Jerusalem on the Sunday before Easter.
March 29 – Good Friday: a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum.
March 31 — Cesar Chavez day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature
April 2025
Celebrate Diversity Month: highlights unique backgrounds, cultures, and traditions
Autism Acceptance Month
Month of the Military Child
National Volunteer Month
April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day: raises awareness for those with autism that seeking to improve their lives and the acceptance of them in society
April 9 — former prisoner of war recognition day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 10 — Dolores Huerta day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 16 — Mother Joseph day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
April 12 to April 20 – Passover: A major Jewish festival that celebrates the freeing of Israeli slaves
April 20 – Easter: also called Resurrection Sunday, is one of the most important days of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. For many Christians, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence.
April 22 – Earth Day: holiday that applauds the planet we live on and all it does for us; Earth Day is observed by more than 192 nations.
May 2025
Mental Health Awareness Month: raises awareness for those living with mental and behavioral issues. This month also seeks to support families or communities who are impacted by mental illness.
Older Americans Month: celebrates how older Americans contribute to the United States
Jewish American Heritage Month: honors American Jews and their contributions to the United States throughout history
Asian American and Pacific Island Heritage Month: commemorates people with Asian and Pacific Island ancestry and their contribution to the United States
Better Hearing and Speech Month
May 5 – Cinco de Mayo: Mexican-American holiday that celebrates Mexico’s defeat of the French Army
May 15 — Water safety day: A day recognized by the Washington state Legislature.
May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia: this event seeks to raise awareness for the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
May 23 – Vesak Day: one of the most important Buddhist festivals, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, and celebrated at the full moon in the Indian month of Vaishaka.
May 26 – Memorial Day: a national holiday established to honor those who have died in American wars. Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It originated during the American Civil War, when citizens would place flowers on the graves of those who had been killed in battle.
June 2025
LGBT Pride Month: Pride Month recognizes LGBT people and the effect they’ve had on the world. June was selected to commemorate the Stonewall Riots. Explore more with our our LGBTQ inclusion training at the workplace
Caribbean American Heritage Month: This month recognizes those of Caribbean descent and the impact their accomplishments have had throughout American history
June 2 – Indian Citizenship Act of 1924: This act granted Native Americans born in the U.S. citizenship. However, they were not given the right to vote until 1957
June 12 – Loving Day: This day is the anniversary of the court decision that legalizes interracial marriage
June 14 – Flag Day
June 19 – Juneteenth: This day commemorates when the last African Americans learned of the Emancipation Proclamation (over two years after it was originally issued)
June 27 – Helen Keller’s Birthday: This day celebrates the birth of Helen Kellen, an individual who was both blind and deaf. She was a leading humanitarian in the 20th century as well as one of the co-founders of the ACLU