Category: Diversity Calendar

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our December interfaith calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

This month, the last of 2023, will feature some of the largest world religious holidays of the year. We at Diversity Resources pride ourselves on informing you about important December awareness days, December diversity days, December heritage months, December high holy days, December religious holidays, and religious festivals. We hope that what you learn each month is enough for you to share with your loved ones or coworkers, so they can learn about other cultures and religions too.

Our 2023 Interfaith Calendar offers an extensive collection of all of the high holy days,  religious holidays, and festivals the entire year.

Please note that if a holiday begins the evening before, we will mark it with an asterisk (*).

December Religious Holidays

December 7 – 15 – Hanukkah
This eight-day holiday celebrates the victory of the Jewish people over the Syrian Greeks, ending three years of religious persecution and restoring their independence. During the “Festival of Lights,” a candle is lit on a menorah each day of the celebration, symbolizing the miraculous eight days that the lamp oil lasted when Jews returned to their Temple.

December 21 – January 1 – Yule
This Wiccan and Pagan holiday celebrates the winter solstice. Some present-day Christmas customs, like singing carols, are celebrated during this time too.

December 22 – Guru Gobind Singh’s Birthday
Celebrate the birthday of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, today. This poet, philosopher, and most importantly, warrior, was formally made a Sikh leader at the age of nine.

December 25 – Christmas
This celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated widely around the world. It is celebrated with large get-togethers of family and friends, gift exchanges, and caroling.

December 26 – January 1 – Kwanzaa
This African American cultural observance, first held in 1966, spans seven days of celebrating each of the seven principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba) by lighting a candle every day.

Did You Know?

By learning more about those around you, you learn even more about yourself. By growing as a human being and understanding people who are different from you, you will be a better worker or manager. When people feel understood, they are happier and work more effectively and more cohesively in a team.

Our 2023 Diversity Calendar and 2023 Interfaith Calendar both are powerful resources to use to not only learn more about those around you but to provide inclusive scheduling for your employees. To learn more about our DEI calendar, enjoy a free trial of our interactive DEI Calendar.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our December diversity calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

The end of the year is upon us, and the Winter Solstice is around the corner. This month, take time to learn more about religious celebrations from different faiths. In this monthly sample, we aim to share December awareness days, December diversity days, December heritage months, December high holy days, December religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Here’s a sampling of the many different religious holidays and cultural celebrations on our Diversity Calendar 2023

Monthly Standouts

December 1 – World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day is observed globally on December 1st each year to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, honor those who have lost their lives to the disease, and support those living with HIV.

December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Help all your employees feel included, including those with disabilities. On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, host a training session to avoid unconscious bias and help employees understand why having an accessible workplace is essential. By creating an inclusive work culture, your staff can have a better understanding of those they work with, and those with a disability will feel a sense of belonging.

December 16 – Las Posadas 

Typically celebrated in Mexico and other Latin American countries, this time of prayer refers to the Spanish word posada for lodging or home. This comes from the Nativity story where Mary gives birth to Jesus in an inn. For many Catholics and Protestants alike, this is an extremely religious time of reflection approaching Christmas, so refraining from scheduling meetings on this day is advisable.

December 22 – Winter Solstice or Yule

Celebrated in both Pagan and Wiccan faiths, Yule or Yuletide originated as a festival in Germany, which celebrated the newborn solstice sun.

December 25 – Christmas

Observed every December 25, nearly 160 countries globally celebrate this holiday. While a religious holiday for Christians, it’s it is also widely recognized as a cultural holiday in many countries. While the date of celebration may vary among different churches, they all honor it for the same reason, the birth of Jesus who died for their sins. It’s holy day of obligation for Roman Catholics.

Check out our Interfaith Calendar 2023 for more religious holidays.

December 26 – Kwanzaa

Celebrated from December 26 – January 1, this festival of African American culture focuses on each of the seven principles, Nguzo Saba, each day. Nearly six million Americans celebrate this seven-day celebration.

The name Kwanzaa comes from Swahili for first fruits, as some of the first fruit festivals of the season occur in December or January during the southern solstice in Southern African countries.

Don’t Forget To…..

Every year, our DEI calendar offers important information on diversity events and religious celebrations. This valuable information allows companies to plan cultural celebrations or to better understand their staff with an inclusive workplace. Find out about the upcoming year’s events in our Diversity Calendar 2024 and Interfaith Calendar 2024.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our November interfaith calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

In this month’s blog, you’ll find some of the interfaith calendar events happening this month. This month, we feature four different religions: Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Our goal every month is to inform you of a variety of different religious festivals or holidays. Our hope is that you’ll share these posts with others who want to learn more about other cultures and religions.

In our monthly samples, we aim to share November awareness days, November diversity days, November heritage months, November high holy days, November religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Our 2023 Interfaith Calendar offers an extensive collection of all of the high holy days,  religious holidays, and festivals the entire year.

Please note that if a holiday begins the evening before, we will mark it with an asterisk (*).

November Religious Holidays

November 1 – All Saints Day
This day honors saints or martyrs who have been canonized in the Catholic Church. Many countries, including  Poland, Spain and Mexico, observe it as a public holiday. In Mexico, it’s also known as Dia de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead).

November 12 – Diwali
One of the most important Hindu festivals of the year, Diwali focuses on celebrating various gods and goddesses. The day before Diwali, homes are cleaned and decorated with flowers, and white is painted on the front door to bring good luck. The Festival of Lights features lamps lit everywhere for the entire five days to ensure that Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess that brings good fortune, finds her way home.

Learn more about Hinduism holy days and Hindy religious observances.

November 27 – Guru Nanak Ji’s Birthday
This day celebrates the birthday of Guru Nanak Ji, the founder of Sikhism. In India, it’s also known as Guru Nanak Gurpurb, Guru Nanak Dev HI Jayanti, and Guru Nanak Parkash Utsav.

November 27 – Jain New Year
This is celebrated after Diwali, on the first day after the month of Kartika every year. The ritual of Snatra Puja, where supreme beings are praised, is performed at the temple.

Did You Know?

Having a diverse and inclusive workforce is powerful, but if you don’t take the time to understand every member, it isn’t as productive. By allowing yourself and your staff to learn about everyone they work with, they will feel understood and in turn have a better attitude and will work more efficiently.

Our 2023 Diversity Calendar and 2023 Interfaith Calendar both are powerful resources to use to not only learn more about those around you but to provide inclusive scheduling for your employees. To learn more about our DEI calendar, enjoy a free trial of our interactive DEI Calendar.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our November diversity calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

With Fall in full swing, November has even more exciting days to celebrate at home or in the workplace. Here’s a sampling of the many different religious holidays, cultural celebrations, and awareness months on our Diversity Calendar 2023.

In our monthly samples, we aim to share November awareness days, November diversity days, November heritage months, November high holy days, November religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Celebrated Themes

Native American Heritage Month

November is Native American Heritage Month where the voices of the oppressed and marginalized Indigenous people are heard all month long, and hopefully all year long too. Take some time this month to learn about the traditions and cultures, including the music and dance of local tribes in your area.

National Veterans and Military Families Month

November is also National Veterans and Military Families Month, where we show appreciation to all those serving in our military and veterans who have served. Give our service members and all veterans the appreciation they deserve for the sacrifices they and their families make for our freedoms.

Movember

Movember is an annual campaign that takes place in November to raise awareness for men’s health issues, particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. During this month, men are encouraged to grow mustaches to spark conversations about these important topics and raise funds for research and support programs.

Monthly Standouts

November 11 – Veterans Day

It’s also known as Armistice Day, which celebrates the one-year anniversary of the end of fighting and the start of peace negotiation for World War I. It was later renamed Remembrance Day and then Veterans Day to honor veterans from every war in American history. It is celebrated on November 11 as it went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th day in 1918.

November 12 – Diwali

Diwali acknowledges the life battle between good and evil or darkness and light. The victory of good over evil is celebrated during Diwali or the Festival of Lights. This celebration runs for five days in India during the Hindu months of Ashwin and Kartika. A great way to celebrate this in the workplace is to put lights around the breakroom with traditional Indian sweets like Mithai.

It’s important to know that Diwali is also an official holiday in many other countries including Trinidad & Tobago, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Singapore, Guyana, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Nepal.

Learn more about Hinduism holy days on our Hindu Religious Observances Calendar.

November 13 – 19 – Transgender Awareness Week / Transgender Day of Remembrance 

This one-week hopes to increase awareness about violence and gender identity issues in the transgender community. This week leads up to what is known as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which honors those lost to anti-gay crimes including Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed. Participate in a vigil to honor the lives lost due to anti-gay violence in America and worldwide.

November 27 – Guru Nanak Gurpurab

This festival commemorates the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. This sacred time is celebrated on the 15th day of the month Kartik. One fun fact is that the word gurpurab stands for birthday or the celebration and prayer associated with this day.

Don’t Forget To….

Set aside time to celebrate different holidays and celebrations in your workplace. Not only will it allow your staff to learn about different cultures, but it’ll allow your team to feel accepted too. Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace help increase productivity, boosts morale, and will lead to a better rapport.

To gain access to all 100+ events this year, visit our interactive Diversity Calendar. For more information on religious celebrations in 2023, visit our Interfaith Calendar 2023. To get a head start next month, here’s our December 2023 Diversity Calendar blog post.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our October interfaith calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

Every month, we focus on an assortment of different events to allow you to learn more about other religions and their most important days. Our 2023 Interfaith Calendar offers an an-inclusive look at all of the most popular religious holidays, high holy days, and religious festivals. Our monthly blog post is just a sampling of events occurring each month.

In our monthly samples, we aim to share October awareness days, October diversity days, October heritage months, October high holy days, October religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Please note that if a holiday begins the evening before, we will mark it with an asterisk (*).

October Religious Holidays

October 6-8* – Shemini Atzeret
Shemini Atzeret is a Jewish holiday that follows Sukkot, a seven-day festival where Israelites were commanded to go to the temple in Jerusalem. This day celebrates the end of Sukkot and the restart of the annual schedule of Torah readings.

October 15 – 24* – Navaratri
This annual Hindu festival honors Durga, a goddess known as Adi Parashakti, who defeated a demon after a battle that lasted nine days and nights. It’s celebrated with worship, scripture readings, and dancing. It ends on the tenth day with Dussehra, which commemorates her victory.

Learn more about Hinduism holy days and Hindy religious observances.

October 16* – Birth of the Bab
The Bab, also known as Siyyid-Ali-Muhammad, is a symbolic figure believed to have been sent to tell the Manifestations of God or Baha’u’llah. The Birth of the Bab and the Birth of Baha’u’llah (the Twin Holy Days) are celebrated continuously.

October 24 – Dussehra
One of the major Hindu festivals celebrated at the end of Navaratri, Dussehra holds different significance in various regions of India. For some, it represents the end of Durga Puja, commemorating Durga’s victory in restoring dharma. For others, it marks Rama’s victory over Ravana during Ramlila. The festival is celebrated with fireworks, music performances, and waterfront processions with Durga clay statues.

October 31 – Samhain
This Gaelic festival marks the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter or the darker half of the year. In ancient times, it involved large feasts and bonfires, And it was considered a time when the veil between the physical world and the Otherworld was thin.

Did You Know?

When you consciously learn about other cultures and religions, you help the world to be understood. In the workplace, a workforce is made of different genders, religions, races, and ethnicities. These differences are what make us so unique.

Our 2023 Diversity Calendar and 2023 Interfaith Calendar both are powerful resources to use to not only learn more about those around you but to provide inclusive scheduling for your employees. To learn more about our DEI calendar, enjoy a free trial of our interactive DEI Calendar.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our October diversity calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

Fall is here, and October brings another diverse set of events and holidays to learn more about and celebrate throughout the month. Take some time this month to learn more about celebrations from cultures different than your own. Take some time to learn about these important days and awareness months with our Diversity Calendar 2023.

In our monthly samples, we aim to share October awareness days, October diversity days, October heritage months, October high holy days, October religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Celebrated Themes

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

First declared by Congress to raise awareness for the needs of those disabled in the United States, this month also celebrates the contributions of the nearly 18.6 million members of the United States Workforce. As a result of the month being honored, Congress has since created the Office of Disability Employment Policy in the Department of Labor which helps to educate and train people who are unemployed or underemployed and disabled in America.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This annual international health campaign day can be celebrated in many ways, whether breast cancer walks or runs as well as other events honoring those who are fighting the disease and those who have lost their fight too. In 2009, Male Breast Cancer Awareness Week began during the third week of October too.

Global Diversity Awareness Month

October is also a time to celebrate and promote respect for all cultures and embrace the richness of diversity in our global community. It is an opportunity to learn about different backgrounds, traditions, and perspectives that contribute to the tapestry of humanity.

Monthly Standouts

October 9 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day (US)

Celebrated the second Monday of October and coinciding with Columbus Day, this day honors the culture and history of all Native American people in the United States and its territories. It’s a day to recognize the violence they have faced in our history and the continued pursuit to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day forever.

If you live in South Dakota, it’s known as Native Americans’ Day, Discoverers’ Day in Hawaii, and American Indian Heritage Day in the State of Alabama. 

October 10 – World Mental Health Day

Nearly 50.2% of the LGBT community and 1 in 5 adults have experienced mental illness, according to the National Alliance on Mental Health. This international effort to expand mental health awareness was first celebrated in 1992. This day is intended to support those inflicted with mental illness and to break the silence on the stigma of having illness in America. For some additional insights on diversity and mental health, check out our Workplace Diversity and Mental Health article.

Learn more about September diversity days with our Diversity Calendar 2023.

Don’t Forget To….

Make your workplace more engaging by having diverse celebrations for different causes or cultures. This allows your staff to feel a sense of belonging and others to learn about things different from their own life.

To see all 100+ events this year,  check out our interactive Diversity Calendar. For more information on religious celebrations throughout the year, visit our Interfaith Calendar 2023. To get a head start next month, visit November 2023 Diversity Calendar blog post.

Below you’ll find a small sampling of our September interfaith calendar events – to see all 100+ events this year, see our interactive online DEI Calendar.

This month will focus on several different world religions and provide interesting information about each event. We hope that we inspire you to share this post with your coworkers, friends, and family to help continue the important conversation about diversity and inclusion topics like these.

Our 2023 Interfaith Calendar includes a more comprehensive account of all the religious holidays and holy days worldwide. Our monthly blog post is just a sampling of events occurring each month.

In our monthly samples, we aim to share September awareness days, September diversity days, September heritage months, September high holy days, September religious holidays, and religious festivals.

Please note that if a holiday begins the evening before, we will mark it with an asterisk (*).

September Religious Holidays

September 11 – Coptic New Year (Nayrouz)
This feast day commemorates all martyrs in the Coptic Orthodox Christianity faith. Celebrate by eating red dates, symbolize the martyr’s blood and the purity of their hearts.

September 15 – 17 – Rosh Hashanah
The first of the Jewish High Holy Days, occurring in late summer/early fall, is a two-day observance for both Orthodox and Conservative Jews. It marks the beginning of the new civil year and the anniversary of the creation of Adam and Eve. It’s known as the day of judgment, which leads followers to self-examine their lives and repent their sins prior to these important Jewish holy days.

Learn more about Jewish holy days and religious holidays.

September 21 – 29 – Mabon
Both the Pagan and Wiccan religions mark the autumnal equinox with this day. It is when the day and night are equal, symbolizing balance and harmony. It is a time to give thanks to Mother Earth.

September 24 – 25 – Yom Kippur
Another one of the most important Jewish high holy days, Yom Kippur focuses on atonement. The 10 Days of Awe precede it, during which followers ask for forgiveness for your sins.

September 27* – Mawlid al-Nabi
Celebrate the birth of the Prophet Muhammad in Rabi’ al-Awwal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. It is observed with festivities and remembrance of the Prophet’s life and teachings.

September 29 – October 14 – Pitru Paksha
This is a 16-day period in the Hindu calendar when they pay homages to their ancestors with food offerings.

Learn more about Hinduism holy days and Hindy religious observances.

Did You Know?

When you take the time to learn about other cultures and religions, you grow not only as a person, but as an employee, a manager, and just a human being. This allows others around you to feel seen and accepted, leading to increased productivity and overall happiness. This is very important in a workplace full of different genders, races, ethnicities, religions, and more.

Our 2023 Diversity Calendar and 2023 Interfaith Calendar both are powerful resources to use to not only learn more about those around you but to provide inclusive scheduling for your employees. To learn more about our DEI calendar, enjoy a free trial of our interactive DEI Calendar.