A complete listing of important dates to celebrate equity, diversity, and inclusion around the world
Celebrating Diversity, Equity, and inclusion is as important as promoting them. Here is a list of important dates announced and supported by major diversity-related organizations around the world. If we have missed any dates, let us know!
| DATES | DIVERSITY & CULTURAL CELEBRATION | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | Celebrated within most Western countries |
| January 1 | Feast Day of St. Basil | Eastern Orthodox Church holiday |
| January 1 | Black American: Emancipation Proclamation | President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves to be free |
| January 3 | Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus | Celebrated by Christians |
| January 4 | World Braille Day | Celebrate the importance of the universal touch-based communication system for the full realization of human rights for blind and partially sighted people |
| January 5 | Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh | Sikh festival that commemorates the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of the Sikhs. It is a religious celebration in which prayers for prosperity are offered. |
| January 5 | Twelfth Night | A festival in some branches of Christianity that takes place on the last night of the Twelve Days of Christmas, marking the coming of the Epiphany |
| January 6 | Epiphany or Dia de los Reyes (Three Kings Day); Armenian Orthodox Christmas | |
| January 7 | Eastern Orthodox Christmas Christmas in Russia | |
| January 10 | Mahayana New Year (Buddhist) | |
| January 13 | Lori-Maghi | Annual festival celebrated by the Sikhs commemorating the memory of 40 Sikh martyrs |
| January 14 | Makar Sankranti or Maghi | Hindu: Celebrates the harvest |
| January 17 | World Religion Day | Highlight the ideas that the spiritual principles underlying the world’s religions are harmonious, and that religions play a significant role in unifying humanity |
| January 20 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. |
| January 26 | Republic Day of India | National holiday in India. It honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950 replacing the Government of India Act (1935) as the governing document of India and thus, turning the nation into a newly formed republic |
| January 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | Officially proclaimed, in November 2005, International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust by the United Nations General Assembly. |
| January 28 | Mahayana New Year | Celebrated by the Mahayana Buddhist branch |
| January 29 | Oprah Winfrey’s birthday | |
| End of January | Bell Let’s Talk Day (Mental Health) | |
| Month of February | Black History Month Recreation Therapy Month LGBT+ History Month | |
| February 1 | National Freedom Day | Celebrates the signing of the 13th Amendment that abolished slavery in 1865. |
| February 1 | St. Brigid of Kildare | Feast day for St. Brigid celebrated by some Christians |
| February 3 | Setsubun-Sai (Beginning of Spring) | One day before the start of spring according to the Japanese lunar calendar. It is not a national holiday. For many centuries, people have been performing rituals with the purpose of chasing away evil spirits at the start of spring. |
| February 11 | Asian-American Women’s Equal Pay Day | To raise awareness about the pay gap between Asian-American women and White men |
| February 11 | International Day of Women and Girls in Science | |
| February 12 | Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) | |
| February 14 | Have a Heart Day (On-reserve funding/conditions) | A child and youth-led reconciliation event that brings together caring Canadians to help ensure First Nations children have the services they need to grow up safely at home, get a good education, be healthy, and be proud of who they are. |
| February 14 | Pink Triangle Day | Has been adopted by the larger LGBTQ community as a popular symbol of LGBTQ pride and the LGBTQ rights movement |
| February 14 | St. Valentine’s Day | |
| February 14 | Birthday of Frederick Douglass | Renowned abolitionist, who helped free the slaves |
| February 12-14 | Losar | The Tibetan Buddhist New Year |
| February 15 | Parinirvana or Nirvana Day | Remembers Buddha’s passing in 483 BC and his final nirvana. Commemoration of Buddha’s death at the age of 80. |
| February 15 | Birthday of Susan B. Anthony | Advocate for women’s right, who helped women gain the right to vote |
| February 15 | Presidents Day | Federally recognized celebration in the United States of George Washington’s birthday, as well as every president proceeding Washington. |
| February 16 | Vasant Panchami | Hindu festival that highlights the coming of spring. |
| February 16 | Mardi Gras | last day for Catholics to indulge before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that accompany Lent. The term “Mardi Gras” is particularly associated with the carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana. |
| February 20 | World Day of Social Justice | An international day recognizing the need to promote social justice, which includes efforts to tackle issues such as poverty, exclusion, gender equality, unemployment, human rights, and social protections. |
| February 25-26 | Purim | Jewish celebration that marks the time when the Jewish community living in Persia was saved from genocide. On Purim, Jewish people offer charity and share food with friends. |
| February 26 | Lantern Festival | A Chinese festival that marks the final day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. |
| February 27 | Maghi-Purnima | Hindu festival especially for worshippers of Lord Vishnu. Millions of devotees take a holy bath on this day. Devotees also carry out charity work on this day. |
| Last Wednesday of February | Pink Shirt Day | (Anti-Bullying) – CKNW Kids’ Fund |
| Month of March | Women’s History Month Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month National Women’s History Month Ethnic Equality Month National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education Month Gender Equality Month National Kidney Month Greek-American Heritage Month National Colon Cancer Awareness Month Irish-American Heritage Month | |
| March 1 | Zero Discrimination Day | |
| March 5 | Employee Appreciation Day | |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | A time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. The world has made unprecedented advances, but no country has achieved gender equality. |
| March 10 | Harriet Tubman | Leader of the Underground Railroad who helped slaves escape to freedom |
| March 11 | Maha Shivarati | Hindu: One of the major festivals in Hinduism dedicated to worshipping Lord Shiva. People celebrate Maha Shivratri by fasting, keeping vigil and doing pujas at homes and temples. |
| March 14 | Pi Day | Pay tribute to the most famous constant in math and physics: the number you get when you divide the circumference of a circle by its diameter. It’s represented by the Greek letter “π” — in English, “pi.” Museums and science centers mark the day with educational programs, music, pi memorization challenges and at least one parade, though many math fans celebrate simply by enjoying a slice of pie. |
| March 17 | St Patrick’s Day | Irish: Marks the birthday of this Irish saint, who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle |
| March 19 | Naw-Ruz | Baha’I New Year |
| March 21 | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | |
| March 25 | International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade | |
| March 27 | Passover begins | Jewish |
| March 28 | Holi | Hindu |
| March 28 | Palm Sunday | Christian |
| March 31 | Equal Pay Day |
| DATES | DIVERSITY & CULTURAL CELEBRATION | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
| Month of April | Arab-American Heritage Month Tartan (Scottish-American) Heritage Month Autism Awareness Month National Volunteer Month Celebrate Diversity Month National Child Abuse Prevention Month Earth Month | |
| April 2 | World Autism Awareness Day | |
| April 2 | Good Friday | Christian |
| April 4 | Easter | Christian |
| April 4 | Refugee Rights Day | Canadian Council for Refugees |
| April 8 | Yom Hashoah | Jewish |
| Second Wednesday of April | International Day of Pink | Anti-Bullying |
| Early April | Early Apr (varies) | Equal Pay Coalition |
| April 12 | Ramadan begins | Muslim |
| April 20 | Start of Rivdan | Baha’i |
| April 22 | International Earth Day | |
| April 23 | National Day of Silence (LGBTQIAA+) | |
| April 22-24 | Gathering of Nations | More than 500 Native American tribes meet to celebrate their traditions and cultures |
| April 28 | National Day of Mourning | |
| Month of May | ALS Awareness Month South Asian American Heritage Month Haitian Heritage Month Older Americans Month Indian Heritage Month National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month Jewish-American Heritage Month Mental Health Month | |
| May 5 | Cinco de Mayo | Commemorates Mexico’s defeat of the French army, observed primarily by Mexican Americans |
| May 9 | Laylat al-Qadr | Muslim |
| May 11 | Ramadan ends | Muslim |
| May 12 | Eid al-Fitr | Muslim |
| May 17 | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia | |
| May 19 | Birthday of Malcolm X | The civil rights leader |
| May 21 | World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development | |
| May 22 | Declaration of the Bab | Baha’i |
| May 29 | Ascension of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
| May 31 | Memorial Day | |
| Month of June | AIDS Awareness Month Pride Month (LGBTQIAA+) Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month National Caribbean American Heritage Month Black Music Month National Aboriginal History Month/Indigenous People’s Month (Canada) Caribbean American Heritage Month | |
| June 2 | Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 | Native American |
| June 5 | World Environment Day | |
| June 8 | Race Unity Day | |
| June 12 | Loving Day | |
| June 13 | International Albinism Awareness Day | |
| June 14 | Puerto Rican Day Parade | Puerto Rican |
| June 19 | International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict | |
| June 19 | Juneteenth | Black American; Commentates the liberation of slaves in Texas, and celebrated nationwide |
| June 20 | National Indigenous Peoples Day | |
| June 20 | World Refugee Day | |
| June 21 | National Indigenous Peoples Day | |
| June 21 | Litha, Summer Solstice | Pagan |
| June 24 | Pride Day (LGBTQIAA+) (varies by city and country) | |
| June 27 | Canadian Multiculturalism Day | |
| June 27 | Birthday of Helen Keller | People With Disabilities; the pioneer in advocating for those with disabilities |
| DATE | DIVERSITY & CULTURAL CELEBRATION | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
| Month of July | French-American Heritage Month | |
| First Monday of July | National Injury Prevention Day | Parachute |
| July 2 | Birthday of Thurgood Marshall | Black American; the civil rights leader and first Black Supreme Court justice |
| July 4 | Independence Day | |
| July 6 | 14th Dalai Lama | Tibetan; marks the birth of Tibet’s leader in exile, and Nobel Peace Prize recipient |
| July 9 | Martyrdom of the Bab | Baha’i) |
| July 11 | World Populace Day | |
| July 14 | Bastille Day | |
| July 17 | The Hajj | Islamic; annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, required by all able Muslims at least once in their lifetime |
| July 18 | International Nelson Mandela Day | |
| July 19 | Eid al-Adha | Muslim |
| July 22 | Glioblastoma Awareness Day | National Brain Tumor Society |
| July 24 | Pioneer Day | Mormon |
| July 24 | International Self-Care Day | International Self-care Foundation |
| July 26 | National Disability Independence Day | |
| July 26 | Americans with Disabilities Act | Outlawed discrimination against people with disabilities |
| July 28 | World Hepatitis Day | World Health Organization |
| July 30 | International Day of Friendship | |
| Month of August | National Civility Month | |
| August 4 | Barack Obama | The first Black President of the United States |
| August 9 | International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples | United Nations |
| August 9 | Hijri New Year | Muslim |
| August 19 | Al-Hijri | Islamic |
| August 12 | International Youth Day | United Nations |
| August 15 | Feast of the Assumption | Roman Catholic; celebrating the belief of the entry into heaven of the Virgin Mary |
| August 17 | Marcus Garvey Day | |
| August 19 | World Humanitarian Day | United Nations |
| August 24 | Birthday of Marlee Matlin | The only hearing-impaired actor to win the Oscar for best actor/actress |
| August 26 | Women’s Equality Day | |
| August 29 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu |
| August 30 | Janmashtami | One of the great Hindu festivals, celebrating popular deity |
| Month of September | Hispanic Heritage Month National Guide Dog Month National Recovery Month | |
| September 5 | International Day of Charity | United Nations |
| September 5 | International Day of Charity | United Nations |
| September 6 | Labor Day | |
| September 6 – 9 | Rosh Hashanah | The Jewish New Year |
| September 7 | Rosh Hashanah begins | Jewish |
| September 10 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu |
| September 11 | Patriot Day | US |
| September 15 | International Day of Democracy | |
| September 16 | Mexican Independence Day | |
| 4th week of September | Gender Equality Week | Canada |
| September 20 | Sukkot begins | Jewish |
| September 20 | HeForShe | Promotes gender equality, initiated by the United Nations |
| September 21 | International Day of Peace | |
| September 22 | Autumnal Equinox | |
| September 23 | Bi Visibility Day | Canada |
| September 23 | International Day of Sign Language | United Nations |
| September 26 | European Day of Languages | |
| September 27 | World Tourism Day | |
| September 30 | Orange Shirt Day |
| DATE | DIVERSITY & CULTURAL CELEBRATION | EXPLANATION |
|---|---|---|
| Month of October | Global Diversity Awareness Month Breast Cancer Awareness Month Bullying Prevention Month Domestic Violence Awareness Month Down Syndrome Awareness Month Filipino-American Heritage Month Italian-American Heritage Month LGBTQ History Month National Work and Family Month National Disability Employment Awareness Month Polish-American Heritage Month Family History Month Islamic History Month Healthy Workplace Month Women’s History Month | |
| October 2 | International Day of Nonviolence | |
| October 6 | Navrati begins | Hindu |
| October 10 | World Mental Health Day | |
| October 11 | National Coming Out Day | LGBTQIAA+ |
| October 11 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America |
| October 11 | National Native American Day | |
| October 11 | International Day of the Girl Child | United Nations |
| October 15 | White Cane Safety Day | Blind awareness |
| October 16 | Bosses’ Day | |
| October 17 | Spirit Day | LGBTQIAA+ anti-bullying |
| October 18 | National Persons Day (celebrates Women recognized as people) | Canada |
| October 19 | Eid Milad ul-Nabi | Muslim |
| October 20 | Sikh Holy Day | Birth of Guru Granth |
| October 21 | Spirit Day | LGBTQ2+; observers wear purple to support LGBTQ youth and prevent bullying |
| October 22 | International Stuttering Awareness Day | International Stuttering Association |
| October 26 | Intersex Awareness Day | InterACT |
| October 31 | Halloween | |
| October 31 | Dia de los Muertos begins | |
| Month of November | Movember National Native American, American Indian, and Alaskan Native Heritage Month | Awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer |
| 1st week of November | Treaties Recognition Week | Ministry of Indigenous Affairs |
| November 4 | Diwali | Hindu |
| November 6 | Birth of the Bab | Baha’i |
| November 7 | Birth of Baha’u’llah | Baha’i |
| November 9 | World Freedom Day | |
| November 10 | World Science Day for Peace and Development | United Nations |
| November 11 | Veterans Day | |
| November 16 | Dutch American Heritage Day | |
| November 16 | International Day for Tolerance | |
| November 20 | Transgender Day of Remembrance | GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) |
| November 20 | National Child Day | Canada |
| November 24 | Day of the Covenant | Baha’i |
| November 25 | International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women | United Nations |
| November 25 | Thanksgiving | |
| November 27 | Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha | Baha’i |
| November 28 | Hanukkah begins | Jewish; honors the Jewish triumph over Syrian Greeks and Jewish independence |
| Month of December | Universal Human Rights Month | |
| December 1 | World AIDS Day | |
| December 3 | International Day of Persons with Disabilities | Promotes the dignity, rights, and well-being of people with disabilities |
| December 6 | National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women | Canada |
| December 10 | International Human Rights Day | |
| December 10 | Human Rights Day | United Nations |
| December 16-24 | Las Posadas | Mexico; Commemorates events associated with the birth of Jesus |
| December 18 | International Migrants Day | United Nations |
| December 21 | Yule Winter Solstice | Pagan |
| December 25 | Christmas | Christian; celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Christian messiah |
| December 26 | Kwanzaa begins | |
| December 31 | New Year’s Eve |
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