17th - World Religion Day – A day set aside to address the need for religious unity.

19th - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - (United States) Observed Birthday of the African American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in civil rights.

26th - India Republic Day – National holiday of India to mark the adoption of a constitution and transition from a British dominion to a republic.

29th - Tu B’Shvat* (Jewish) – Jewish Arbor Day

February

National Black History Month

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. It is celebrated annually in the United States and Canada in February and the United Kingdom in the month of October.  The remembrance originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week." Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly
influenced the lives and social condition of African-Americans: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass.

Also:  International Friendship Month and American Heart Month

1st - National Freedom Day – an observance in the U.S. that honors the signing by Abraham Lincoln of the resolution that later became the 13th amendment to the constitution outlawing slavery.

5th - Mexico’s Constitution Day – drafted in 1917, the constitution is in use still today.  It is celebrated with parades and festivals.

6th - National Wear Red Day – Americans nationwide wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.

12 –28th - Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada

14th - Valentine’s Day (United States) – traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other with gifts of flowers and candy.

14th - Chinese New Year (Year of the Tiger)

15th - Presidents’ Day (United States)

15th - Susan B. Anthony Day – commemorates the prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States.

16th - Mardi Gras (United States) – refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, ending on the day before Ash Wednesday (Fat Tuesday).

March

National Women’s History Month

2nd - Read Across America (Dr. Seuss’s Birthday) – an initiative created by the NEA honoring the 20th century’s famous children’s author.  "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

8th - International Women’s Day (United Nations) – celebrates women’s achievements throughout history and across nations.  It is also known as the United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace.

17th - St. Patrick’s Day (Ireland, United States) – an annual feast day which celebrates St. Patrick, the most commonly recognized of Ireland’s patron saints.

20th - First Day of Spring

20-21st - Naw-Ruz (Baha’i New Year) – Persian national festival celebrating the Iranian New Year.  The festival lasts for thirteen days and is a time of renewal and joy.

24th - Rama Navami (Hindu) – celebration of the birth of the hero of the religious epic poem Ramayana, Lord Rama.

28th - Palm Sunday (Christian) – the sixth and last day of Lent, commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and begins Holy Week (week before Easter).

29th - Apr 5th - Passover* (Jewish) – an eight day holiday recognizing the liberation of the children of Israel from Egypt.

April

National Poetry Month

2nd - Good Friday (Protestant, Roman Catholic) - commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.

4th - Easter (Protestant, Roman Catholic) – the most important Christian holiday which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus from the dead on the third day of his crucifixion.

7th - World Health Day - celebrated under the sponsorship of the World Health Organization to create “awareness of a specific health theme.  2010 will focus on urbanization and health.

10th - Yom HaShoah* (Jewish) is Holocaust Remembrance Day which was established to remember the Holocaust and the six million Jews who perished.

14th - Vaisakhi also known as Baisakhi (Sikh) is an ancient harvest festival which marks the beginning of a new solar year and new harvest season. It has special significance as on this day in 1699, the 10th Guru Gobind Singh Ji organized the order of the Khalsa.

20th - Ridvan* (Bahá'í ) – the most holy Bahá'í  festival is a twelve-day celebration commemorating the commencement of Bahá'u'lláh's prophet hood.

22nd - Earth Day - is celebrated in the U.S. on April 22nd and is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth's environment. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the March equinox.

May
 

National Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) is celebrated in May to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution in 1978 to commemorate Asian-American Heritage Week during the first week of May. This date was chosen because two important anniversaries occurred during this time: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in America on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad (by many Chinese laborers) on May 10, 1869. In 1990 Congress voted to expand it from a week to a month long celebration and in May 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.

Also: National Jewish-American Heritage Month, Haitian Heritage Month, National Older Americans Month and National Cancer Research Month

5th - Cinco de Mayo (Mexico) – celebrates the victory of the historical battle of 1862 between Mexico and France and is a symbol of Mexican pride and unity.

9th - Mother’s Day - a day to honor mothers and motherhood. It is now celebrated on various days in many parts of the world.

18th - Shavuot* (Jewish) – marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and day the Torah was given at Mount Sinai.

21st - Wesak (Buddhist) – Also known as Vesak, is a famous holiday, sometimes informally called "Buddha's Birthday." It celebrates the birth, enlightenment (Nirvana) and passing away (Parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha.

21st - World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is annually held to help people learn about the importance of cultural diversity and harmony.

27th - National Senior Health and Fitness Day – a health and fitness event for older adults  promoting the importance of regular physical activity and to showcase what local organizations are doing to improve the health and fitness of older adults in their community.

31st - Memorial Day (observed) – a time for Americans to collectively reflect on the impact of lives lost in U.S. wars and to celebrate all war veterans; a national day of mourning.  Since 2000, U.S. citizens are asked to pause for one minute of silence at 3 pm.  This minute of silence is called the National Moment of Remembrance.

5th - World Environment Day – one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

7th - National Cancer Survivor Day – is a symbolic event to demonstrate that life after a cancer diagnosis can be a reality.

14th - Flag Day (United States) – honors the U.S. flag and commemorates the flag’s adoption in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress.

19th - Juneteenth Emancipation Day (United States) – celebrates the day when the Union General, Gordon Grange, announced that all slaves were free.  Due to the slow travel of news, Texas did not hear of Lincoln’s Proclamation until more than two years after it was issued.

20th - Fathers’ Day –day honoring fathers, celebrated on the third Sunday of June, in 52 of the world's countries and on other days elsewhere.

21st - Summer Solstice - For most people in the Northern Hemisphere, this is known as the longest day and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is the highest.

27th - Helen Keller’s Birthday – Born in 1880, Keller was an American author, political activist and lecturer. She was the first deaf and blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree.  She worked for the American Foundation for the Blind giving new hope to those with disabilities.  She also campaigned for women’s suffrage, workers’ rights and other progressive causes.

Since 1985, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has designated the month of July as Recreation and Parks Month. Recreation facilities and parks across the country annually use July to celebrate the kick off of summer programming as well as a time to pull their communities together to volunteer, get involved in great outdoor physical activities and advocate for parks and recreation.

Also: Celebrate Freedom Month, Sun Safety Month and Mental Illness Awareness Month

1st - Canada Day - Canada's national day, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1867 enactment of the British North America Act, which united Canada as a single country.

1st - The Birth of the Internet in 1969 - the Internet started when the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the United States Defense Department began a network called ARPANET in 1969.  Today it is a global system of interconnected computer networks serving billions of users worldwide.

2nd - Lincoln Penny Anniversary – the Lincoln penny was released to the public in 1909.  It marked a radical departure from the accepted styling of U.S. coins, introducing for the first time a portrait coin in the regular series.

10th - Ramadan Begins* (30 Days) (Muslim, Moslem) –the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything that is in excess or ill-natured; from dawn until sunset.

15th - Assumption Day (Catholic and Christian) – a special holy day to celebrate the ascension of the Virgin Mary into heaven.

19th - National Aviation Day (United States) – celebrates the history and development of aviation and coincides with the birthday of Orville Wright, who, together with his brother Wilbur, made significant contributions to powered flight.

26th - Women’s Equality Day (United States) – established in 1971, the date commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, the Women’s Suffrage Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which gave U.S. women full voting rights in 1920.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month is the period to recognize the contributions of Hispanic-Americans to the United States and to celebrate Hispanic heritage and culture. The observation, started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week, was approved by President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15th and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. September 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. They all declared independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18 and September 21, respectively.

Also:  National Preparedness Month

6th - Labor Day (United States) – a federal holiday dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.

8th - Rosh Hashanah* (Jewish) – is one of the holiest days and marks the beginning of the Jewish new year.  It is considered to be a time to begin introspection; looking back at the mistakes of the past year and planning the changes to make in the new year.

11th - Patriot Day (United States) – an annual observance to remember those who were injured or died during the terrorist attacks on the United States – also referred to as 9/11.

16th - 16 de Septiembre (Mexican Independence Day) – marks the beginning of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain in 1810.

17th - Constitution Day (United States) – a federal observance that recognizes the ratification of the United States Constitution and those who have become U.S. citizens.

17th - Yom Kippur* (Jewish) – known as the Day of Atonement it is the holiest day of the year for Jews.  Its central themes are atonement and repentance.

21st - International Day of Peace (United Nations) – recognizes the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace.

22nd - Sukkoth* (Jewish) - also known as Sukkos, Feast of Booths, Feast of Tabernacles.  It is one of the three biblical pilgrim festivals, when it was traditional for Jews to visit the Temple in Jerusalem.

October

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). Various programs carried out throughout the month celebrate the contributions and skills of American workers with disabilities, while also highlighting the specific employment barriers that still need to be addressed.

Also: National Diversity Awareness Month, German-American Heritage Month, Italian-American Heritage Month, Polish-American Heritage Month and Filipino-American Heritage Month

8-16th - Navaratri (Hindu) – is a festival that lasts nine days and nine months. The word “Navaratri” actually means nine (Nava) nights (ratri). This is celebrated in different styles throughout India.

11th - Columbus Day Observance (United States) – federal holiday celebrating the 1492 arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas.

17th - Dussehra or Dasera (Hindu, Jain) –is among the most important festivals celebrated in India. It concludes the festival of Navaratri, and the holy day also commemorates the triumph of good over evil.

20th - Birth of the Bab (Bahá'í) - a holy day celebrating the birth of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith.

24th - United Nations’ Day –the anniversary of the Charter of the United Nations. It is devoted to making known to peoples of the world the aims and achievements of the United Nations Organization.

31st - Halloween (United States) - is an annual holiday with roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints, but is today largely a secular celebration with trick-or-treating and wearing costumes.

31st - Reformation Day (Protestant, Christian) – is a religious holiday celebrating protestant reformation. In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his letter, The 95 Theses, to the door of the Catholic Church protesting the sale of indulgences.

November

National American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month

Although the first "American Indian Day" was declared by the State of New York in 1916, a month long recognition of Native Americans was not achieved until 1990. In that year, President George Bush declared the first National American Indian Heritage Month on August 3rd. In each of the four previous years, Congress enacted legislation designating "American Indian Heritage Week." This consecutive legislation allowed for the establishment of a month-long observance.

Also: National Diabetes Awareness Month, National Arab-American Heritage Month and Latin-American Month

1st - All Saints Day (Christian, Roman Catholic) – honors all saints, particularly those who do not have their own special feast day. It is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas or All Hallow’s Day.

2nd - Dia de los Muertos (Mexico) – also known as the Day of the Dead, is a celebration commemorating those who are deceased with flowers and candles.

5th - Diwali (Hindu) - also popularly known as the Festival of Lights is one of the biggest festivals of Hindus. It is traditional for adherents of Diwali-celebrating faiths to light small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil within an individual.

11th - Veteran’s Day (United States) – an annual holiday to honor veterans of the armed forces. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world.

14-18th - Hajj (Islam) - the pilgrimage to Mecca is one of the greatest religious observances in Islam and the largest annual pilgrimage in the world. It is the fifth pillar of Islam, a moral obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so.

26th - Thanksgiving (United States) - a time to give thanks to God for the harvest and express gratitude to others for our many blessings. While historically religious in origin, Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as a secular holiday.

December

Universal Human Rights Month

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are entitled. In 1966, the General Assembly adopted the detailed covenants which complete the International Bill of Human Rights; and in 1976, the bill took on the force of international law.

Also: Stress Management Month

1st - World Aids Day - is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection.

1st - Chanukah* (Jewish) - an eight-day holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of the nine-branched Menorah.

7th - Al-Hijra (Muslim) – First day of the Islamic New Year celebrated on the first day of Muharram. It is the day when Mohammed began his migration from Mecca to Medina in Islamic Year 1.

10th - Human Rights Day (United Nations) – marks the anniversary of the presentation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

21st - Winter Solstice (International) - For most people in the Northern Hemisphere, this is known as the shortest day and the sun's daily maximum position in the sky is farthest from the earth.

25th - Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, International) – an annual holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth.

26th - Jan 1st - Kwanzaa (African-American) –a African American festival, celebrated by millions of people around the world, is a week-long celebration honoring African heritage and culture.