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Filipino-American Friendship

Filipino-American Friendship Day

On July 4, 1946, following Japan’s defeat in World War ll, the United States granted independence to the Philippines, a U.S. possession since 1898. Today, the 4th of July is observed in the Philippines as Philippine-American Friendship Day, a day that pays tribute to the long partnership between the two countries.

Disability Independence Day

Disability Independence Day

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. Throughout the year and on the ADA Anniversary (July 26), the ADA National Network recognizes this landmark event and the important work to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

homecoming podcast

The Homecoming Podcast

Dr. Thema Bryant is a licensed psychologist, ordained minister, and sacred artist. Using artistic expression, spirituality, psychology and culture, Dr. Bryant-Davis is an internationally recognized lecturer, performer, and minister.

The Homecoming Podcast with Dr. Thema is a podcast to facilitate your journey home to yourself by providing weekly inspiration and health tips. Welcome home!

The Martyrdom of the Bab

The Martyrdom of the Bab

From the evening of Tuesday, July 9, 2019 to the evening of Wednesday, July 10, 2019, Baha’is around the world will observe the Martyrdom of the Báb. This holiday commemorates the 1850 execution of the co-founder of the Baha’i faith, the Báb, in Persia. It is one of nine holy days during which work and school is suspended. 

World Population Day

World Population Day

 2023 Theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality. Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. What women and girls want matters. They make up 49.7% of the global population, yet women and girls are often ignored in discussions on demographics, with their rights violated in population policies.

read-in

National African American Read-In

The National African American Read-In (AARI) is a groundbreaking effort to encourage communities to read together, centering African American books and authors.

It was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month. This initiative has reached more than 6 million participants around the world.

black freedom struggle

Black Freedom Struggle

The Black Freedom Struggle is a website focused on Black Freedom, featuring select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history.

The intention is to support a wide range of students, as well as independent researchers and anyone interested in learning more about the foundation of ongoing racial injustice in the U.S. – and the fights against it.

Black history month

Black History Month

A collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration to pay tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

cultural humility podcast

Cultural Humility Podcast

Join Dr. Miguel Gallardo, Director of the MA in Clinical Psychology MFT with Latinx Communities program, for the Cultural Humility Podcast.

allyship resources

Pepperdine Allyship Resources

Pepperdine Libraries is pleased to curate book displays throughout the libraries. They complement these displays with virtual bookshelves so their patrons can review the list of books from anywhere in the world. Partnering with the Office of Community Belonging, they're thrilled to share resources on allyship. View the virtual bookshelf with the link above.

National Caribbean American heritage

National Caribbean American Heritage Month

"Through the commemoration of this month, we hope to ensure that America is reminded that its greatness lies in its diversity, with Caribbean immigrants from founding father Alexander Hamilton, to journalist Malcolm Gladwell, who have shaped the American dream." 

pride

Pride

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Pride Month (LGBTQ+ Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community.

juneteenth

Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. Juneteenth honors the end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday. Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. Partnering with the Office of Community Belonging, Pepperdine has set up an in-person book display in Payson Library along with a virtual bookshelf to celebrate the holiday. They have also created a Juneteenth guide for further reading.

loving day

Loving Day

People around the world observe Loving Day every year on June 12th in meaningful and personal ways. While all are welcome, it can be especially significant for interracial couples, multiracial families, mixed race and transracially adopted people, and those with similar lived experience. 

national poverty

National Poverty in America Awareness Month

Hunger and malnutrition, limited access to education and other basic services, social discrimination and exclusion, disabilities, restricted access to participation in the democratic process.

MLK federal holiday

Martin Luther King Jr., Federal Holiday

On a late summer day in 1963, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., stood on the National Mall before hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who had gathered to march for freedom, justice, and equality.  On that day, Dr. King shared a dream that has continued to inspire a Nation:  To bring justice where there is injustice, freedom where there is oppression, peace where there is violence, and opportunity where there is poverty.

New year's resolutions

Making your New Year's Resolution Stick

By making your resolutions realistic, there is a greater chance that you will keep them throughout the year, incorporating healthy behavior into your everyday life.

lunar new year

Lunar New Year

Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.

global family day

Global Family Day  

Celebrated every year on January 1, Global Family Day starts the new year with a positive message of unity to the world. Yes, believe it or not, we are all one! Cultures and religions across the world may be different but, the truth is, all of mankind is a large family that can survive and succeed only if united. And yes, this is a goal that can be achieved — all that is required is spreading the message of peace and unity.

international custom day

International Customs Day

International Customs Day is celebrated on January 26 every year and was initiated by the World Customs Organization (W.C.O.) in 1983. This day celebrates all the customs officials and agencies that toil day in and day out to ensure effective world trade management. The officials also ensure the smooth functioning of trade operations across international borders and put people at the very center of the transformation process.

world braille day

World Braille Day

Braille is a tactile representation of alphabetic and numerical symbols using six dots to represent each letter and number, and even musical, mathematical and scientific symbols. Braille (named after its inventor in 19th century France, Louis Braille) is used by blind and partially sighted people to read the same books and periodicals as those printed in a visual font. Braille is essential in the context of education, freedom of expression and opinion, as well as social inclusion.

Holocausts remembrance

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

The United Nations General Assembly designated January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this annual day of commemoration, the UN urges every member state to honor the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism and to develop educational programs to help prevent future genocides.

world religion day

World Religion Day

World Religion Day takes place each January, aiming to promote understanding and peace between all religions as well as mutual understanding and tolerance between peoples from different backgrounds.

disabilities awareness

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Each March, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), and our partners work together to create a social media campaign that highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities. The campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face in connecting to the communities in which they live.

Innovation and technology for gender equality

Innovation and technology for gender equality

The United Nations Observance of IWD, under the theme “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”, recognizes and celebrates the women and girls who are championing the advancement of transformative technology and digital education. The observance will explore the impact of the digital gender gap on widening economic and social inequalities, and it will also spotlight the importance of protecting the rights of women and girls in digital spaces and addressing online and ICT-facilitated gender-based violence.

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue and Film

Is an annual observance held on March 11 all over the world, which has taken place for the past 13 years. This day was created in 2010 by Javed Mohammed, a writer and producer from California. The main aim of the celebration is to share and discuss Muslim culture to create a link and understanding across faiths and to promote a better knowledge of Muslim culture.

Greek-American Heritage Month

Greek-American Heritage Month

NJSACC celebrates the culture, accomplishments and experiences of Greek people during Greek-American Heritage Month in March.

pi day

Pi Day

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi Day is an annual opportunity for math enthusiasts to recite the infinite digits of Pi, talk to their friends about math, and eat pie.

equal pay

Equal Pay Day

According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, “This date symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year." Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men's and women's wages. (It was originally called ‘National Pay Inequity Awareness Day’ and changed to Equal Pay Day in 1998.)

equal gender diversity

Sexual and Gender Diversity in March

March is an important month for celebrating sexual and gender diversity. Many of us are already aware of Women’s History Month. March is also regarded as Gender Equality Month, which serves as a call to celebrate the history, contributions, and wellness of community members who are impacted by gender-based bias and oppression. We honor and uplift the livelihoods of all femmes, transgender and non-binary people, and women and girls this month and year-round.

St. Urho

Celebrating St. Urho

It's not just the Irish who throw a party this time of year. Across the US, small groups of Finnish Americans are celebrating St Urho's Day, which falls on 16 March.

St. Patty

St. Patrick’s Day 

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated annually on March 17, the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. St. Patrick’s Day 2023 will take place on Friday, March 17. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. On St. Patrick’s Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon.

Irish American heritage month

Irish American Heritage Month

In March, the National Archives celebrates the contributions of Irish Americans in our nation’s history during Irish American Heritage Month. 

Naw-Ruz

Baha’i New Year, Naw-Ruz

You would think that the world’s people would celebrate this day—and it turns out they do. Called Naw-Ruz, Nowruz or New Year’s by Zoroastrians, Alewites, Sufis, some Muslims, and Baha’is, this secular holiday has been observed around the world for more than three thousand years. (In Farsi, the Persian language, Naw-Ruz means “new year” or “new day.”) Naw-Ruz probably originated with Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra), the monotheistic messenger who founded Zoroastrianism ten centuries before Christ.

ethnic equality

Ethnic Equality Month

Ethnic Equality Month is celebrated in February every year. It is a period to recognize the similarities all people have, yet acknowledge, appreciate and respect the differences in all of us. So no matter what race you are, or what ethnicity you belong to, everyone is equal and deserves equal rights and equal opportunities. Ethnic Equality Month is a good time to reflect and challenge ourselves, as a group and individually. It brings to light the unfortunate biases that still exist in our society, how far we’ve come in achieving equality, and what each one of us can do to contribute to something the world should be striving to achieve; social equality and justice.

ramadan

Ramadan 2023

The Islamic calendar follows the phases of the moon, commonly known as the lunar cycle. As a result, the Holy month of Ramadan falls approximately 10 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. The Ramadan start date for 2023 is expected to begin on Wednesday 22 March, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca. Lasting for 30 days, Ramadan will end on Friday 21 April, with the celebratory days of Eid al-Fitr starting on Saturday 22 April or Sunday 23 April.

purim

Purim

Purim (Heb. פּוּרִים) is one of the most joyous and fun holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination.

transatlantic slave trade

Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery

The Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery was established in 2007 with the adoption of General Assembly resolution 62/122. The Programme raises awareness of the history of the transatlantic slave trade, its impact on the modern world, and its legacies, including racism and prejudice. Over the years, the Programme has established a global network of partners, including from educational institutions and civil society, and developed resources and initiatives to educate the public about this dark chapter of history and promote action against racism.

international women's day

International Women's Day

Collective action and shared ownership for driving gender parity is what makes International Women's Day impactful. Gloria Steinem, world-renowned feminist, journalist and activist once explained "The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights." So make International Women's Day your day and do what you can to truly make a positive difference for women.

Justice

Gender, Racial, and Ethnic Justice

Despite significant progress, structural inequality based on gender, race, class, disability, and ethnicity persists around the world and is compounded and complicated by today’s challenges. Gender-based violence—rooted in patriarchy and laws, policies, and cultural norms aimed at curtailing rights—inflicts deep, lasting physical, psychological, and economic damage. People of color are disproportionately policed and incarcerated. Immigrants and LGBTQ+ people are targeted simply because of who they are.

community service month

Community Service Month

 April recognizes all those who give their time and energy during National Volunteer Month. In fact, the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) offers a multigenerational approach to community volunteerism by giving older adults the opportunity to volunteer with youth ranging from infancy to 21 years of age. 

Earth month

Earth Month

Climate Calling is a conference dedicated to exploring climate change, its consequences, and our moral calling to respond to growing concerns about the future of our planet. The conference is led by a group of Pepperdine faculty members from diverse disciplines. Attendees learn about topics such as species extinction, drought, flooding, marine impacts, sustainable food practices, and environmental justice and activism through a keynote lecture, student presentations, and on-campus activities.

 

earth day

Earth Day

 April 22 is Earth Day, a worldwide holiday where people ban to together to support environmental protection and pledge to better co-exist with nature. It is time to show our gratitude towards Mother Earth.

autism month

Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Acceptance Month. The recognition raises awareness about autism acceptance and promotes inclusion and connectedness for people with autism. Social and community support can help people with autism achieve optimal health and reach their full potential. CDC promotes early identification and provides essential data on autism to inform programs and policies that support children with autism and their families.

Arab American Heritage Month 

Arab American Heritage Month 

During April, we uplift Arab American Heritage Month. These resources will help educators celebrate Arab identity, counter negative stereotypes, teach about Arab history and cultures, and ensure an inclusive environment that supports Arab American students this month and throughout the year.

Scottish-American

Tartan (Scottish-American) Heritage Month

It’s time to celebrate Scottish American Heritage Month with events, educational resources, exciting cultural celebrations, and more. Each year, we take the time to honor the contributions of Scottish Americans throughout history, as well as the culture and peoples of Scotland. It’s an important time for Scottish and Scottish-American individuals and others to learn about Scottish-American culture and experiences.

diversity month

Celebrate Diversity Month

The Diversity Council provides a forum for the GSEP community to engage in events, professional development and, meaningful discussions related to multicultural issues impacting the community and the world. These experiences are meant to provide a means for faculty, staff, and students to cultivate their multicultural knowledge, embrace differences, and build community. All students, alumni, faculty, staff, and guests are welcome to attend.

 

World Autism Awareness Day

World Autism Awareness Day

In recent years, major progress has been made in increasing awareness and acceptance of autism, not least thanks to the many amazing autistic advocates who have worked tirelessly to bring the lived experience of autistic people to the wider world. Additionally, medical professionals, researchers and academics in many countries are now incorporating the neurodiversity paradigm, coined by sociologist Judy Singer in the late 1990s, in their work.

passover

Passover Starts

Passover is celebrated by Jews every year, commemorating the anniversary of our miraculous Exodus from Egyptian slavery, as told in the Bible. On the first two nights of Passover (just the first night in Israel), we hold a Seder. After candles have been lit, we enjoy a ritual-rich 15-step feast, which centers around telling the story of the Exodus.

International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda 

International Day of Reflection on the Genocide in Rwanda 

Debate as tool for Peace building. We aim at improving the critical thinking and communication skills of secondary students so that they become engaged and active citizens in their communities. We envision a society where differences are embraced and conflict is resolved without resorting to violence, through teaching the youth how to disagree on public policy issues without treating your opponent as an enemy

easter

Easter

Christians around the globe prepare to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In celebration, we’ve compiled a list of five movies sure to get you in the Easter spirit that you can check out right now from Pepperdine Libraries. Our resources are always available to Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff. And as a reminder, members of the public interested in borrowing physical materials, including DVDs, are welcome to join the Friends of the Library or become a Waves Associate.

 

National Day of Silence

National Day of Silence

The GLSEN Day of Silence is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies  all around the country—and the world—take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ+ people in schools. Started in the mid 90’s by two college students, the Day of Silence has expanded to reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. Every April, students go through the school day without speaking, ending the day with Breaking the Silence rallies and events to share their experiences during the protest and bring attention to ways their schools and communities can become more inclusive.

Youth Homelessness Matters Day

Youth Homelessness Matters Day

Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) is a national day that was conceived in 1990 to raise awareness and public discussion about child and youth homelessness. Over the years, it has grown into a national celebration of young people’s resilience and an important day of advocacy for sustainable and innovative solutions to support the needs of children and young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

First Day of Ridvan—Festival of Ridvan

First Day of Ridvan—Festival of Ridvan

Ridvan (say "rez-VONN") is one of the holiest holidays for the members of the Bahá'í (say "BA-hi") faith. It lasts 12 days and is also known as the "Most Great Festival" or the "King of Festivals." This year, Ridvan begins at sunset on April 20th and lasts until sunset on May 2nd. Out of the 12 days of Ridvan, there are three holy days in which people do not go to work or school. Instead, they gather with the Bahá'í community for prayers and religious meetings. Musical and artistic performances are also included in the festivities

advisor appreciation day

Advisor Appreciation Day 

Advisor Appreciation Day, on April 21, is an annual observance to celebrate the role of advisors in the education sector. The education system of the U.S. has been in use since the 1700s. It aims to appreciate the work of education advisors. Education advisors are academic counselors or consultants for students going to or in college. They help students choose majors, apply for scholarships, and with their choice of subjects and career decisions. People celebrate this day by thanking advisors for their contribution to guiding young lives. They spend a lot of time and energy and are not always compensated well.

Ramadan end

Ramadam Ends

Ramadan 2023 begins at sunset on Wednesday, March 22 and ends on Saturday, April 20. Ramadan is the ninth month of the 12-month Islamic calendar, a lunar calendar that’s based on the phases of the moon. The lunar calendar falls short of the solar calendar by 11 days. As a result, Ramadan doesn’t start on the same date each year and instead, over time, passes through all the seasons.

The Ninth Day of Ridvan

The Ninth Day of Ridvan

For Baha’is the twelve-day period between April 20th and May 1st marks the holiest and happiest festival of the year, called Ridvan (pronounced Rez-wan). These Baha’i Holy Days, which celebrate the beginning of the Baha’i Faith in 1863 as its Founder Baha’u’llah prepared for exile, also recognize a period of great turmoil in Baha’i history and signify the transformation of suffering and oppression into joy.

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day

Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day

Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day is observed on April 24. On April 24, 1915, Ottoman authorities arrested Armenian intellectuals and community leaders in Constantinople—the start of a systematic campaign of violence against the Armenian community. In the years that followed, one and a half million Armenians were deported, massacred, or marched to their deaths—a tragedy that forever affected generations of Armenian families. 

National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.

Haitian Heritage Month

Haitian Heritage Month

 The month of May is Haitian Heritage Month and to celebrate the Haitian Heritage Museum will take part in a series of events and programming. First, the Haitian Heritage Museum will celebrate by having a cadre of events throughout the community where Haitians and non-Haitians alike can come get a taste of Haitian culture without leaving or needing a passport.

Jewish-American Heritage Month

Jewish-American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) each May is a celebration of the contributions and experiences of Jewish Americans and highlights how America’s Jewish communities have shaped and been shaped by the cultural, social, and economic fabric of the United States.

Mental Health Month

Mental Health Month

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Every year during the month of May, NAMI joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness. Read below to learn more about how you can get involved.

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month

South Asian Heritage Month was officially named in 2020 to celebrate the culture and contributions of South Asian countries and their peoples. During this month, many honor the people and countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and the Maldives. This month can play an important role in the validation and experience of many and preserves the rich history and voices of millions of people around the world. 

Personal History Awareness Month

Personal History Awareness Month

Personal History Awareness Month has been internationally observed every May since personal historians designated it as a time to encourage more people to discover their family histories. This is important because our families have lived through significant historical moments and responded to them in their own ways, demonstrating how historical moments affect people’s everyday lives. 

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment. For 2023, our theme is “Building a Strong Foundation”

Older Americans Month

Older Americans Month

Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM). The 2023 theme is Aging Unbound, which offers an opportunity to explore diverse aging experiences and discuss how communities can combat stereotypes. Join us in promoting flexible thinking about aging – and how we all benefit when older adults remain engaged, independent, and included.

Ridvan Ends 

Ridvan Ends 

The twelve days of Ridván are the most holy festival in the Bahá’í calendar. It celebrates the very beginning of the Bahá’í Faith, when its Prophet Founder, Bahá’u’lláh, announced to some of His followers that He was the Messenger of God for this Day, anticipated by all the world’s major religions.

star wars day

Star Wars Day 

While Star Wars fans are united in their love for the galaxy far, far away, a hallmark of Star Wars fandom is that no fan is the same as the next. Your first introduction to Star Wars, your favorite film or character, or how old you were when you fell in love with Star Wars makes your story different and unique. To celebrate May the 4th, StarWars.com spoke to several Star Wars Celebration Europe to answer just one question: “What does Star Wars mean to you?” Here are their responses in their own words.

Cinco de Mayo 

Cinco de Mayo 

You might hear about Cinco de Mayo parties. But even though celebrations of Cinco de Mayo (which translates to the Fifth of May) originated in Mexico, the day is more popular in the United States! So what does Cinco de Mayo celebrate? On the morning of May 5, 1862, 6,000 French troops stormed the Mexican city of Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza to bring it under French rule. The Mexican soldiers were outnumbered, but they fiercely fought back. By early evening, the French had retreated.

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost their Lives during WWII 

Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for those who Lost their Lives during WWII 

By resolution 59/26 of 22 November 2004, the UN General Assembly declared 8–9 May as a time of remembrance and reconciliation and, while recognizing that Member States may have individual days of victory, liberation and commemoration, invited all Member States, organizations of the United Nations System, non-governmental organizations and individuals to observe annually either one or both of these days in an appropriate manner to pay tribute to all victims of the Second World War.

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 

World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development 

From race and socioeconomic status to gender and sexual orientation, diversity comes in many different shapes and sizes. For many young adults, college is the first opportunity to encounter diversity. Although it can render human interaction more challenging, two experts and six students agreed that diversity is a necessary and invaluable aspect of the human experience, especially the college experience.

Declaration of the Bab in Shiraz, Shavuot

Declaration of the Bab in Shiraz, Shavuot

On May 23, Baha’i's around the world will celebrate the holiday known as the Declaration of the Báb. It commemorates when the Báb announced in 1844 that he was the new messenger of God. The holiday begins two hours and eleven minutes after sunset on May 22, which is the exact time the Báb made his declaration.

Ascension of Bahau'llah 

Ascension of Bahau'llah 

Baha’u’llah, the founder of the Baha’i Faith, left this physical world on May 29th, 1892. In every religion, the death of its founder marks a momentous event – so how do Baha’is observe Baha’u’llah’s ascension? Essentially, Baha’is remember this mournful day each year by focusing on Baha’u’llah’s life and teachings, and by bearing witness to the belief that Baha’u’llah’s spirit did not die, but has been released from earthly limitations by ascending to a higher realm.

memorial day

Memorial Day 

Memorial Day, which is observed on the last Monday of May, commemorates the men and women who died while in the military service.  In observance of the holiday, many people visit cemeteries and memorials, and volunteers often place American flags on each grave site at national cemeteries.  A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time.

International Day for Biological Diversity

International Day for Biological Diversity

Biodiversity remains the answer to several sustainable development challenges. From nature-based solutions to climate, health issues, food and water security, and sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better.

Black Music Month

Black Music Month

June is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage. Formerly called National Black Music Month, this celebration of African American musical contributions is re-established annually by presidential proclamation.

French-American Heritage Month 

French-American Heritage Month 

This year we celebrate the bicentennial of the French Revolution by examining contemporary folk traditions of France and of French-speaking peoples of North America. The people of Britanny, Normandy, Poitou, Quebec, and the French-speaking communities of New England and Louisiana, North Dakota and Missouri share a common origin and linguistic affinity. 

race unity day

Race Unity Day

Although the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly created the holiday, it’s not a religious event or a Bahá’í holy day. The purpose of the holiday is to recognize and appreciate each other’s diversity and come together to make the world a better place. Outside of Race Unity Day, local Bahá’í communities host workshops, events, and classes throughout the year to further educate people and combat racism.

Filipino-American Friendship Day

Filipino-American Friendship Day

On July 4, 1946, following Japan’s defeat in World War ll, the United States granted independence to the Philippines, a U.S. possession since 1898. Today, the 4th of July is observed in the Philippines as Philippine-American Friendship Day, a day that pays tribute to the long partnership between the two countries.

The Martyrdom of the Bab

The Martyrdom of the Bab

From the evening of Tuesday, July 9, 2019 to the evening of Wednesday, July 10, 2019, Baha’is around the world will observe the Martyrdom of the Báb. This holiday commemorates the 1850 execution of the co-founder of the Baha’i faith, the Báb, in Persia. It is one of nine holy days during which work and school is suspended. 

 

World Population Day

World Population Day

2023 Theme: Unleashing the power of gender equality. Uplifting the voices of women and girls to unlock our world’s infinite possibilities. What women and girls want matters. They make up 49.7% of the global population, yet women and girls are often ignored in discussions on demographics, with their rights violated in population policies.

Pioneer Day

Pioneer Day

Completing a treacherous thousand-mile exodus, an ill and exhausted Brigham Young and fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints arrived in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847. The Mormon pioneers viewed their arrival as the founding of a Mormon homeland, hence Pioneer Day. The Mormons, as they were commonly known, left their settlement in Nauvoo, Illinois, and journeyed West seeking refuge from religious persecution.

Disability Independence Day

Disability Independence Day

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990 by President George H.W. Bush. Throughout the year and on the ADA Anniversary (July 26), the ADA National Network recognizes this landmark event and the important work to promote equal opportunity for people with disabilities.

Tisha B'Av

Tisha B'Av

Tisha B’Av, the Fast of the Ninth of Av, is a day of mourning to commemorate the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people, many of which coincidentally occurred on the ninth of Av. Tisha B’Av literally means “the ninth (day) of Av” in Hebrew. Although this holiday is primarily meant to commemorate the destruction of the Temple, it is appropriate to consider the many other tragedies of the Jewish people that also occurred on this day.