Multicultural Calendar and Events | Oklahoma State University

Multicultural Calendar and Events 2023

January Events
Date	Event Information
01/01	Emancipation Proclamation, New Year’s Day
01/04	National Braille Day
01/05	Guru Gobind Singh Gurpurab- Celebration of the birth of the tenth and last guru of the Sikh relligion
01/06	Feast of the Epiphany
01/07	Mahayana New Year - Buddhist New Year
01/15	Makar Sankranti- a festival in the Hindu faith that is dedicated to the Hindu religious sun god, Surya
01/16	World Religion Day
01/16	Martin Luther King Jr. Day
01/18	National Day of Racial Healing
01/18	Mahayana New Year (Buddhist New Year)
01/22	Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year (Year of the Rabbit), also known as Seollal or Korean New Year and Tet or Vietnamese New Year
01/27	International Holocaust Remembrance Day

February Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Black History Month
02/15	Nirvana Day- Buddhist Holiday commemorating the death of the historical Buddha and his entry into final or complete Nirvana. It is a time for contemplation of the Buddha's teachings.
02/18	Maha Shivaratri- Hindu festival celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva. It is a major festival within the Hinduism culture because it marks rememberance of overcoming darkness and ignorance in the world. On this day Shiva is said to have saved the world from the destruction on the condition that people worshipped him with great pride and enthusiasm.
02/20	World Day of Social Justice
02/21	Mardi Gras- A Christian holiday, also known as Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras refers to the events of the Carnival celebration, beginning with Epiphany and ending the day before Ash Wednesday. It is called Fat Tuesday because it is the last night to eat decadent foods before the sacrifices and fasting of Lent.
02/21	Tibetan New Year, also known as Losar
02/22	Ash Wednesday- Christian holy day of prayer and fasting, also marks the beginning of Lent
02/21-02/23	Mongolian New Year, also known as Tsagaan Sar

March Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Women’s History Month
All Month	Gender Equality Month
All Month	Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
All Month	Greek American Heritage Month
All Month	Irish American Heritage Month
03/06-03/7	Purim- Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people in the ancient Persion empire from Haman's plot of destruction
03/08	Holi- Hindu holiday honoring the winter crop harvest and advent of spring
03/08	International Women's Day
03/10	Recognition of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
03/14	Equal Pay Day- This date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year
03/17	St. Patrick’s Day- Commemorates the feast day of Saint Patrick, a Christian missionary who later became the Patron Saint of Ireland.
03/20	Spring Equinox/First Day of Spring
03/20	Naw-Ruz - Baha'i New Year, also known as Nowruz the Iranian or Persion New Year
03/21	International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (United Nations)
03/22	Emancipation Day Puerto Rico- Commemorates the end of slavery in Puerto Rico in 1873. Puerto Ricans celebrate this holiday by learning to dance plena and bomba and by honoring famous black Puerto Ricans.
03/22-03/31	Chaitra Navratri- Hindu festival that spans nine nights and is celebrated every autumn. Theoretically, there are four seasonal Navratri, however, in practice, it is the post-monsoon autumn festival called Sharada Navratri that is most observed in honor of the divine feminine Devi.
03/22-04/21	Ramadan Begins- celebrates the holiest month of the Muslim year. It is observed as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. A commemoration of Muhammad's first revelation, the annual observance of Ramadan is regarded as one of the five pillars of Islam.
03/25	International Day of Rememberance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade (United Nations)
03/30	Rama Navami- Celebrates the Hindu festival of the birthday of the God, Lord Rama. Devotees typically wear red and place extravagant flowers on the shrine of the God.
03/31	Cesar Chavez Day- Day honoring the American labor leader, community organizer, businessman, and Latino American civil rights activist
03/31	International Transgender Day of Visibility

April Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Autism Awareness Month
All Month	Celebrate Diversity Month
All Month	Earth Month
All Month	National Minority Health Month
All Month	Arab American Heritage Month
All Month	Scottish American Heritage Month
04/02	World Autism Awareness Day
04/05-04/12	Jewish Passover Begins- marks the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt
04/07	Good Friday- Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixation of Jesus and his death at Calvary
04/08	National Day of Silence- Created in 1996 and held the second Friday of every April, Day of Silence is a campaign that seeks to shed light on what many LGBTQ youth experience daily. Initially intended to focus on this problem within the school system, it has since expanded into workplaces, university campuses, and sporting events
04/09	Easter- Christian holiday also known as Resurrection Sunday, is a festival and holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
04/13	Vaisakhi- Celebration of the founding of the Sikh community and the birth of the Khalsa (community that considers Sikhism as its faith)
04/13 - 04/15	Thai New Year or Songkran
04/14	Hindi New Year- The Hindu New Year, also known as Vikram Samvat, is celebrated in accordance with the Hindu Lunar Calendar. This day also marks the end of the one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one.
04/14	Tamil New Year- The day celebrates the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar and is a public holiday in both Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, and Sri Lanka
04/16	Orthodox Easter, also known as Pascha
04/17	Yom Hashoah or Holocaust Rememberance Day is observed as Israel's day of commemoration for the approximately 6 million Jews who perished in the Holocaust
04/18	Laylat al-Qadr- The holiest night of year for Muslims, is traditionally celebrated on the 27th day of Ramadan. It is known as the Night of Power and commemorates the night that the Quran was first revealed to the prophet Muhammad.
04/21-04/22	Eid al-Fitr- "Festival of Breaking the Fast", end of Ramadan
04/21	Start of Ridvan- 12 day festival in the Baha'i faith, commemorating Baha'ullah's declaration that he was a Manifestation of God
04/22	Earth Day- Marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970 that gave a voice to an emerging public consciousness about the state of our planet
04/27-04/29	Gathering of Nations – Largest pow-wow in the United States where over 500 tribes gather for 3 days in Albuquerque, New Mexico to celebrate & honor their culture

May Events
All Month	Mental Health Awareness Month
All Month	Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
All Month	Haitian Heritage Month
All Month	South Asian American Heritage Month
All Month	Jewish American Heritage Month
05/01	Beltane- An ancient Celtic festival celebrated on May Day, signifying the beginning of summer
05/05	Cinco de Mayo- Commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862 during the Franco-Mexican War. It has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage in the United States.
05/05	Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day
05/05	Buddha Day, also known as Vesak or Visakha Puja- A Buddhist festival that marks Gautama Buddha’s birthday, enlightenment, and death.
05/17	International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
05/21	World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
05/25-05/27	Shavuot- This Jewish holiday has double significance. It signifies the wheat harvest in Israel and commemorates the anniversary of the day when God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai.
05/29	Memorial Day- Federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who had died while serving in the United States Armed Forces

June Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Pride Month - The commemorative month is meant to recognize the sweeping impact that LGBTQ+ individuals, advocates, and allies have on history in the United States and around the globe.
All Month	AIDS Awareness Month
All Month	Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month
All Month	Black Music Month
All Month	National Caribbean American Heritage Month
06/12	Loving Day- Celebration of the anniversary of the 1967 United States Supreme Court Decision Loving v. Virginia which struck down all anti-miscegenation laws remaining in sixteen U.S. states
06/12	Puerto Rican Day Parade (NYC)- Held annually on the second Sunday in June, this celebration honors the 3.2 millions inhabitants of Puerto Rico and all people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage residing on the U.S. mainland
06/19	Juneteenth- Holiday celebrating the emancipation of African-Americans from slavery in the U.S. On June 19th 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Galveston Texas and informed slaves that the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished.
06/20	Canada's National Indigenous Peoples Day
06/20	World Refugee Day
06/21	Litha, Summer Solstice
06/28	Pride Day (Varies by City and Country)
06/28-06/29	Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski-Muslim holiday that honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God's command, only to have God intervene and substitute a ram or lamb instead

July Events
Date	Event Information
07/04	American Independence Day
07/09 - 07/10	Eid al-Adha, also known as Tabaski- Muslim holiday that honors the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God’s command, only to have God intervene and substitute a ram or lamb instead.
07/18	International Nelson Mandela Day- This day commemorates Mandela’s achievements in working towards human rights, peace, resolution, democracy, and reconciliation. It was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009.
07/26	Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act- This legislation prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government programs and services.
07/30	International Day of Friendship
07/30	Hijri or the Islamic New Year- The Islamic New Year or Hijri, meaning flight, commemorates when the Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, migrated from Mecca to Medina with his disciples to evade a conspired prosecution.

August Events
Date	Event Information
08/09	International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples- Pronounced by the United Nations in December 1994, this day is observed each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population, as well as to recognize the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues.
08/19	World Humanitarian Day
08/26	Women’s Equality Day
08/29	Guru Arjan Gurpurab (Sikh holyday)- A sikh festival or holyday is called Gurpurab, which means the Guru's Rememberance Day. This usually refers to the birth or death of certain Gurus.

September Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	National Recovery Month- Every September, Recovery Month is an opportunity to advocate for and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the evolution of a resilient and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.
All Month	National Guide Dog Month
09/02 - 09/05	Cherokee National Holiday - Every year on Labor Day weekend, many visitors travel to Tahlequah, Oklahoma to celebrate the Cherokee National Holiday or Cherokee Homecoming. This event is a commemoration of the signing of the Cherokee Nation Constitution in 1839, which re-established the tribe's government in Indian Territory after forced removal from its homelands in the southeast.
09/04	Labor Day
09/07	Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu Holiday)- Celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. He is considered a hero, protector, teacher, and friend. Celebrations are marked by devotional songs, dances, pujas, and Aarti
09/15	International Day of Democracy
09/15 - 10/15	Hispanic Heritage Month
09/15-09/25	Rosh Hashanah- Rosh Hashanah is also known as the Jewish New Year and is held on the first and second days of the Jewish month of Tishrei. Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" in Hebrew
09/16	Mexican Independence Day- Celebrates the “Cry of Independence” on September 16th, 1810, which started a revolt against the Spaniards
09/18	Ganesh Chaturthi- Hindu celebration of the elephant-headed deity, Ganesha, the god of prosperity and wisdom
09/21	International Day of Peace (United Nations)
09/23	Autumn Equinox or First Day of Autumn
09/24-09/25	Yom Kippur-Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the year in Judaism
09/29	Mid-Autumn Festival/Moon Festival/Mooncake Festival- A traditional Chinese festival celebrated by many East and Southeast Asian countries and regions. It is the second-most important holiday after Chinese New Year with a history dating back over 3,000 years. The Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar when the moon is at its roundest and brightest, symbolizing togetherness and reunion in Chinese culture.
09-29-10/06	Sukkot- Weeklong Jewish holiday that celebrates the gathering of the harvest and commemorates the miraculous protection God provided for the children of Israel when they left Egypt.
09/30	Orange Shirt Day - Founded in Canada, Orange Shirt Day is the legacy of the St. Joseph Mission Residential School Commemoration Project that took place in May 2013. This annual day, recognized on September 30th, opens the door to global conversations about Residential Schools. It is an opportunity to initiate essential dialogue about the effects of Residential Schools and their lasting impacts.

October Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Bullying Prevention Month
All Month	Breast Cancer Awareness Month
All Month	Domestic Violence Awareness Month
All Month	Down Syndrome Awareness Month
All Month	Family History Month
All Month	Global Diversity Awareness Month
All Month	LGBTQ History Month
All Month	National Disability Employment Awareness Month
All Month	Filipino-American Heritage Month
All Month	Italian American Heritage Month
All Month	Polish American Heritage Month
10/02	International Day of Nonviolence (United Nations)
10/06	German American Heritage Day
10/09	Eid e Milad or Milad un Nabi- Celebrates the birth of Muhammad, the central prophet of Islam. Muslims celebrate the life and death of the Prophet Muhammad depending on their beliefs and preferences. Some people treat this festival as a holiday, but others regard it as a solemn day.
10/10	World Mental Health Day
10/11	Indigenous People’s Day (Native American Day)
10/11	National Coming Out Day
10/20	Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ and Anti-bullying)- LGBTQ youth disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities. Each year, millions go purple for Spirit Day to support LGBTQ youth in a united stand against bullying.
10/22	International Stuttering Awareness Day

November Events
Date	Event Information
All Month	Movember (Awareness of Men’s Health Issues)
All Month	National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
11/01 - 11/02	Dia de los Muertos- The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday associated with the Catholic All Saints’ Day that involves family and friends gathering to pray for and remember loved ones who have died.
11/09	World Freedom Day
11/11	Veterans Day
11/12	Diwali- Important Hindu festival celebrating different gods and goddesses
11/16	Dutch American Heritage Day
11/20	Transgender Day of Remembrance
11/24	American Thanksgiving
11/27	Guru Nanak Gurpurab- One of the most sacred ceremonies in Sikhism commemorates the birth of Guru Nanak

December Events
Date	Event Information
12/01	World AIDS Day
12/03	International Day for People with Disabilities (United Nations)
12/08	Bodhi Day- Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Guatama Buddha experienced enlightenment
12/10	International Human Rights Day (United Nations)
12/12	Fiesta de Guadalupe Feast- This festival honors Mexico’s patron saint with music, dancing, and performances
12/7-12/15	Hanukkah- Celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 160s BC. After the Jewish religion and Jewish practices were outlawed by King Antiochus, Jewish priest Mattathias, his son Judah Maccabee, and their army revolted, ultimately forcing Antiochus out of Judea.
12/21	Yule- celebration of the Winter Solstice
12/25	Christmas- annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25th as a religious and cultural celebration
12/26-1/1	Kwanzaa- a tribute to African festivals of harvest
12/31	New Year's Eve