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Monthly Awareness Calendar [1]

Holy days, Heritage, and History Months

This calendar includes a listing of holy days / holidays, heritage, history and awareness months. This is meant to serve as a resource and tool to help promote awareness and share information. This is not exhaustive of all major holy days in every religious tradition and some variances of dates will exist due to regional differences. Our CU community is encouraged to find opportunities to learn about and honor identities and cultures year-round as a part of our on-going commitment to advancing inclusive excellence.

Points to remember

Dates are assembled from several calendars. Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice.

▲ Denotes a day that may have a work restriction and/or may be commonly taken off.
■ Denotes a day that may commonly be observed with fasting.

  • Common dietary considerations for event planning
    • Kosher refers to the dietary guidelines of Jewish law which apply daily throughout the year. Restrictions include pork, shellfish (fish is usually allowed) and mixing meat with dairy.
    • Halal refers to the foods permitted according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Meat should be prepared in a specific way and will be certified. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
    • Vegetarian is a diet that does not include meat and may include restrictions on other animal products.
    • Pescatarian is a vegetarian diet that includes fish or other aquatic animals.
    • Vegan refers to a diet that does not include any meat or food derived from animals (e.g., eggs, dairy products, etc.).
    • Gluten-free refers to a diet that excludes any food that contains gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye.
    • Lactose intolerance
    • Nut allergies (peanuts and/or tree nuts)
    • Shellfish allergies

 

Monthly Observances

January

Month-long:

Days:

12/21-1/1

Yule [5]

Paganism and Wicca

 

12/26-1/1

Kwanzaa [6]

African American and Pan-African holiday

▲

1/1

New Year’s Day [7]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

1/7

Eastern Orthodox Nativity [8]

Orthodox Christianity

 

1/11

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day [9]

U.S. observed

 

1/16

National Religious Freedom Day [10]

U.S. observed

 

1/20

Martin Luther King Jr. Day [11]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

1/20

Inauguration Day [12]

U.S. observed

 

1/26-1/27

Lailat al Miraj [13]

Islam

 

1/27

International Holocaust Remembrance Day [14]

United Nations

 

1/29

Lunar New Year [15]

Cultural

 

February

Month-long:

Days:

2/1

National Freedom Day [18]

National Slavery and Human Trafficking Month

 

2/12

Chinese Lantern Festival [19]

Chinese and Buddhism

 

2/14

Valentine’s Day [20]

Paganism

 

2/15

Parinirvana [21]

Buddhism

 

2/17

President’s Day [22]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

2/13-2/14

Laylat al Bara’at [23]

Islam

 

2/26

Maha Shivaratri [24]

Hinduism

▲ ■

2/28-3/30

Ramadan [25]

Islam

■

March

Month-long:

Days:

2/28-3/30

Ramadan [25]

Islam

■

3/4

Mardi Gras [28]

Christianity

 

3/5

Ash Wednesday [29]

Christianity

■

3/5–4/17

Lent [30]

Christianity

■

3/7

Employee Appreciation Day [31]

Capitalism

 

3/8

International Women’s Day [32]

United Nations

 

3/13-3/14

Purim [33]

Judaism

 

3/14

Holi [34]

Hinduism

 

3/17

St. Patrick’s Day [35]

Secular

 

3/20

Norwuz [36]

United Nations

 

3/21

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination [37]

United Nations

 

3/22

Anniversary of Boulder King Sooper shooting [38]

Colorado

 

3/25

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade [39]

United Nations

 

3/27

Laylat al-Qadr [40]

Islam

 

3/29-3/30

Eid al-Fitr [41]

Islam

▲

3/31

International Transgender Day of Visibility [42]

GLSEN

 

3/31

Cesar Chavez Day [43]

State of Colorado holiday

▲

April

Month-long:

Days:

3/5–4/17

Lent [30]

Christianity

■

4/8

Equal Pay Day [54]

U.S. observed

 

4/2

World Autism Awareness Day [55]

United Nations

 

4/6

International Asexuality Day [56]

International

 

4/11

Day of Silence [57]

GSLEN

 

4/12-4/20

Passover [58]

Judaism

▲

4/13

Palm Sunday [59]

Christianity

 

4/18

Good Friday [60]

Christianity

▲ ■

4/20

Eastern Orthodox Pascha [61]

Orthodox Christianity

 

4/20

Easter [62]

Christianity

▲

4/20

Anniversary of Columbine HS Massacre [63]

Colorado

 

4/22

Earth Day [64]

U.S. observed

 

4/23

Administrative Professionals Day [65]
 

U.S. observed

 

4/23-4/24

Yom HaShoah / Holocaust Remembrance Day [66]

Judaism

 

4/30

Denim Day [67]

For Sexual Assault Awareness Month

 

May

Month-long:

Days:

5/1

National College Decision Day [73]

Higher education

 

5/11

Mother’s Day [74]

U.S. observed

 

5/17

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia [75]

United Nations

 

5/12

Vesak [76]

Buddhism

 

5/26

Memorial Day [77]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

June

Month-long:

Days:

6/1-6/3

Shavuot [82]

Judaism

▲

6/4-6/9

The Hajj [83]

Islam

 

6/15

Father’s Day [84]

U.S. day of observance

 

6/6-6/7

Eid al-Adha [85]

Islam

▲

6/19

Juneteenth [86]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

6/20

World Refugee Day [87]

United Nations

 

6/21-6/22

Denver Pride [88]

Colorado

 

6/26-6/27

Hijri New Year / Islamic New Year [89]

Islam

 

July

Month-long:

Days:

7/4

Independence Day [91]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

7/5-7/6

Day of Ashura [92]

Muslim

 

7/14

International Non-binary People’s Day [93]

Human Rights Campaign

 

7/18

Nelson Mandela International Day [94]

United Nations

 

7/20

Anniversary of Aurora theater shooting [95]

Colorado

 

7/26

National Disability Independence Day [96]

U.S. Observed

 

August

Month-long:

  • National Back to School Month

Days:

8/1

Colorado Day [97]

Colorado

 

8/2-8/3

Tisha B’Av [98]

Judaism

■

8/5

National Night Out [99]

U.S. observed

 

8/9

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples [100]

United Nations

 

8/14-8/15

Arbaeen Day [101]

Islam

 

8/15

Krishna Janmashtami [102]

Hinduism

 

8/19

World Humanitarian Day [103]

United Nations

 

8/23

International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition [104]

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

 

8/26

Women’s Equality Day [105]

U.S. observed

 

September

Month-long:

Days:

9/1

Labor Day [110]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

9/4-9/5

Mawlid [111]

Islam

 

9/10

World Suicide Prevention Day [112]

World Health Organization

 

9/11

Patriot Day / Anniversary of 9/11 [113]

U.S. day of observance

 

9/7-9/21

Pitru Paksha [114]

Hinduism

 

9/22-9/24

Rosh Hashanah [115]

Judaism

▲

9/22-10/1

Navaratri [116]

Hinduism

 

9/27

National Public Lands Day [117]

U.S. day of observance

 

October

Month-long:

 

Days:

9/22-10/1

Navaratri [116]

Hinduism

 

10/1-10/2

Yom Kippur [127]

Judaism

▲ ■

10/2

Dussehra [128]

Hinduism

 

10/6

Frances Xavier Cabrini Day [129]

Colorado state holiday

 

10/6-10/13

Sukkot [130]

Judaism

▲

10/9

National Stop Bullying Day [131]

U.S.observed

 

10/10

World Mental Health Day [132]

World Health Organization

 

10/11

National Coming Out Day [133]

U.S. observed

 

10/13

Indigenous People’s Day [134]

U.S. observed

▲

10/13

Columbus Day [135]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

10/15

International Pronouns Day [136]

International

 

10/20

Diwali [137]

Hinduism

▲

November

Month-long:

Days:

11/1

All Saints Day [146]

Christianity

 

11/1-2

Día de los Muertos [147]

Mexico, many Latinx countries, U.S.

 

11/8

National STEM and STEAM Day [148]

U.S.

 

11/8

Intersex Day of Solidarity [149]

 

 

11/11

Veterans Day [150]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

11/20

Transgender Day of Remembrance [151]

GLAAD

 

11/25

International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women [152]

United Nations

 

11/27

Thanksgiving [153]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

11/27

National Day of Mourning / Indigenous People’s Sunrise Ceremony [154]

U.S. observation

 

11/28

Native American Heritage Day [155]

U.S. observation

 

11/29

Anniversary of Sand Creek Massacre [156]

Colorado

 
11/29 International Day of Solidarity [157] United Nations  

December

Month-long: none

Days:

12/1

World AIDS Day [158]

Global observance

 

12/3

International Day of Persons with Disabilities [159]

United Nations

 

12/7

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day [160]

U.S. observance

 

12/14-12/22

Hanukkah [161]

Judaism

 

12/8

Bodhi Day [162]

Buddhism

▲

12/10

International Human Rights Day [163]

United Nations

 

12/12

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe [164]

Catholicism

 

12/16-12/24

Las Posadas [165]

Mexico and additional parts of Latin America

 

12/21-1/1

Yule [5]

 

 

12/25

Christmas [166]

U.S. federal holiday

▲

12/26-1/1

Kwanzaa [6]

African American and Pan-African holiday

▲

12/31

New Year’s Eve [167]

 

 
 

Groups audience: 
Office of Collaboration
Source URL:https://www.cu.edu/collaboration/monthly-awareness-calendar

Links
[1] https://www.cu.edu/collaboration/monthly-awareness-calendar [2] https://www.mentoring.org/campaigns/national-mentoring-month/ [3] https://www.state.gov/national-slavery-and-human-trafficking-prevention-month/#:~:text=January%20is%20National%20Slavery%20and,and%20how%20to%20spot%20it. [4] https://www.stalkingawareness.org/stalking-awareness-month-2022/ [5] https://www.learnreligions.com/all-about-yule-2562972 [6] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history [7] https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/new-year-day [8] https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/common/orthodox-christmas-day [9] https://www.compassion.com/world-days/human-trafficking-awareness-day.htm [10] https://nationaltoday.com/national-religious-freedom-day/ [11] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Martin-Luther-King-Jr-Day [12] https://www.usa.gov/inauguration [13] https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/holydays/lailatalmiraj.shtml [14] https://www.ushmm.org/remember/international-holocaust-remembrance-day [15] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chinese-New-Year [16] https://africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/about/ [17] https://www.nasfaa.org/finaidfeb [18] https://www.state.gov/national-freedom-day-deepening-our-resolve-to-fight-human-trafficking/ [19] https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/lantern-festival.htm [20] https://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day-2 [21] https://nationaltoday.com/parinirvana-day-nirvana-day/#:~:text=Parinirvana%20Day%2C%20also%20known%20as,around%20for%20over%202%2C600%20years%3F [22] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/presidents-day [23] https://icalendars.net/religion/islamism/laylat-al-baraat [24] https://isha.sadhguru.org/mahashivratri/significance-of-mahashivratri/ [25] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/ramadan [26] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2021/irish-american-heritage.html [27] https://womenshistorymonth.gov/ [28] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mardi-gras [29] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ash-Wednesday-Christian-holy-day [30] https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/various/lent [31] https://nationaltoday.com/national-employee-appreciation-day/ [32] https://www.un.org/en/observances/womens-day/background [33] https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm [34] https://www.holifestival.org/ [35] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Saint-Patricks-Day [36] https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-nowruz-day [37] https://www.un.org/en/observances/end-racism-day [38] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Boulder_shooting [39] https://nationaltoday.com/international-day-of-remembrance-of-the-victims-of-slavery-and-the-transatlantic-slave-trade/ [40] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Laylat-al-Qadr [41] https://pluralism.org/ramadan-and-eid-al-fitr [42] https://www.glsen.org/activity/transgender-day-visibility [43] https://chavezfoundation.org/about-cesar-chavez/ [44] https://www.autismacceptance.org/ [45] https://nationaltoday.com/celebrate-diversity-month/ [46] https://hmh.org/education/genocide-awareness-month-resources/ [47] https://www.insightintodiversity.com/national-arab-american-heritage-month/ [48] https://www.nad.org/2022/01/31/national-deaf-history-month-dates/ [49] https://rewardvolunteers.coop/celebrate-national-volunteer-month/ [50] https://www.nsvrc.org/saam [51] https://www.lesbianvisibilityweek.com/ [52] https://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek [53] https://www.cur.org/what/events/urw/ [54] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/equal-pay-day.html [55] https://www.un.org/en/observances/autism-day [56] https://internationalasexualityday.org/en/ [57] https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/usa/national-day-of-silence [58] https://www.chabad.org/holidays/passover/default_cdo/jewish/Passover.htm [59] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Palm-Sunday [60] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Good-Friday [61] https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha [62] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Easter-holiday [63] https://www.history.com/topics/1990s/columbine-high-school-shootings [64] https://www.earthday.org/ [65] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_Professionals_Day [66] https://www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance/resources/calendar [67] https://www.denimdayinfo.org/ [68] https://asianpacificheritage.gov/ [69] http://www.haitianheritagemuseum.org/haitian-heritage-month/ [70] https://www.jewishheritagemonth.gov/ [71] https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Health-Awareness-Month [72] https://www.military.com/military-appreciation-month [73] https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/when-is-college-decision-day/ [74] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/mothers-day [75] https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/against-homophobia [76] https://www.un.org/en/observances/vesak-day [77] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history [78] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/caribbean-american-heritage-month.html [79] https://www.iamanimmigrant.com/ [80] https://www.them.us/story/the-complete-history-of-pridehttps:/www.them.us/story/the-complete-history-of-pride [81] https://www.nsc.org/workplace/national-safety-month [82] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shavuot [83] https://www.britannica.com/topic/hajj [84] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/fathers-day [85] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eid-al-Adha [86] https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth [87] https://www.un.org/en/observances/refugee-day [88] mailto:https://denverpride.org/ [89] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/6/islamic-new-year-what-you-need-to-know [90] mailto:https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecasey/2022/07/04/disability-pride-month-july/?sh=7af747fe6f93 [91] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th [92] https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/ashura [93] https://www.hrc.org/news/celebrating-the-diversity-of-the-non-binary-community-for-international-non [94] https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/ [95] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Aurora,_Colorado_shooting [96] https://adaanniversary.org/#:~:text=On%20July%2026%2C%202022%20the,ADA32%20or%20Facebook%20use%20%23ThanksToTheADA. [97] https://www.rmpbs.org/blogs/rocky-mountain-pbs/colorado-day-2021-celebrate-145th-birthday/ [98] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tisha-bav-101/ [99] https://natw.org/ [100] https://www.un.org/en/observances/indigenous-day [101] https://whoishussain.org/who-is-hussain/the-day-of-arbaeen/ [102] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Durga-Puja [103] https://www.un.org/en/observances/humanitarian-day [104] https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/slavetraderemembranceday [105] https://nationalwomenshistoryalliance.org/resources/commemorations/womens-equality-day/ [106] https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/ [107] https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/ [108] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisexual_Awareness_Week [109] https://nationaltoday.com/celebrate-bisexuality-day/ [110] https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/historyhttps:/www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history [111] https://www.britannica.com/topic/mawlid [112] https://www.paho.org/en/campaigns/world-suicide-prevention-day-2021 [113] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Patriot-Day [114] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/religion/rituals-puja/pitru-paksha-2021-date-significance-and-shradh-rituals-to-be-followed/articleshow/86391131.cms [115] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/rosh-hashanah-history [116] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Navratri [117] https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/public-lands-day.htm [118] https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month [119] https://ncadv.org/2021DVAM [120] http://fanhs-national.org/filam/about/ [121] https://italialiving.com/featured/national-italian-american-heritage-month/ [122] https://www.glaad.org/blog/celebrate-lgbt-history-month [123] https://www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm/ [124] https://www.loc.gov/accessibility/disability-employment-awareness-month/ [125] https://pac1944.org/featured-stories/october-is-polish-american-heritage-month/ [126] https://www.nfpa.org/Events/Events/Fire-Prevention-Week/About [127] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/yom-kippur-history [128] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dussehra [129] https://www.cabriniday.com/ [130] https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/sukkot-101/ [131] https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/national-day/national-stop-bullying-day-second-wednesday-in-october [132] https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-mental-health-day [133] https://www.hrc.org/resources/national-coming-out-day [134] https://www.farmersalmanac.com/when-is-indigenous-peoples-day [135] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Columbus-Day [136] https://pronounsday.org/ [137] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Diwali-Hindu-festival [138] https://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/college-ready-writing/its-acwrimo [139] https://www.ncai.org/initiatives/native-american-heritage-month#:~:text=November%20is%20Native%20American%20Heritage,important%20contributions%20of%20Native%20people. [140] https://ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/ncdmonth [141] https://acl.gov/news-and-events/downloads-and-multimedia/NFCM [142] https://www.militaryfamily.org/november-is-military-family-appreciation-month/ [143] https://www.scholarshipproviders.org/page/NatlSchMonth [144] https://www.nea.org/resource-library/american-education-week-november-15-19-2021 [145] https://www.glaad.org/transweek [146] https://www.britannica.com/topic/All-Saints-Day [147] https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/day-of-the-dead [148] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/stem-day.html [149] https://intersexday.org/en/intersex-day-of-solidarity/ [150] https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp [151] https://www.glaad.org/tdor [152] https://www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day [153] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/thanksgiving-myth-and-what-we-should-be-teaching-kids-180973655/ [154] https://www.colorlines.com/articles/unthanksgiving-indigenous-peoples-sunrise-ceremony-honors-resistance-over-revisionism [155] https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/native-american-heritage-day.html [156] https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sand-creek-massacre [157] https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-solidarity-with-the-palestinian-people [158] https://www.worldaidsday.org/about/ [159] https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities [160] https://www.nps.gov/perl/learn/historyculture/national-pearl-harbor-remembrance-day.htm [161] https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/hanukkah [162] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Day [163] https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day [164] https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/do-you-know-about-our-lady-guadalupe-here-s-why-n828391 [165] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Las-Posadas [166] https://www.history.com/topics/christmas [167] https://www.calendar-12.com/holidays/new_years_eve/2025