Welcome to the Department of Biology’s Days of Significance page. We promote diversity and inclusion as one of our core values. Part of celebrating diversity and inclusion is recognizing the vast array of beliefs, celebrations, and events that our community participates in. This page is a place to recognize those days and provide information about them to lift up all important days in our community. If anything is missing or if you have any questions, reach out to DEI Officer Hallie Dowling-Huppert. The list below will be updated annually.
January
Month-long observances
- National Mentoring Month, which celebrates the importance of mentoring as a driver of meaningful change for young people
- Poverty Awareness Month, which is a month-long initiative to raise awareness and call attention to the growth of poverty in America
- Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which is dedicated to educating people about the crime of human trafficking, as well as how to spot it
Days of significance
- January 1: New Year’s Day, which celebrates the start of 2022
- January 4: National Braille Day, which is a day to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and independence for people who are blind or visually impaired
- January 16: World Religion Day, which was initiated in 1950 by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of the U.S., and is now celebrated worldwide on the third Sunday in January
- January 17: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which honors the activist and minister assassinated in 1968, whose accomplishments have continued to inspire generations of Americans
- January 18-January 20: Mahāyāna New Year, which is the Buddhist New Year and a time for reflection and new beginnings. In Mahāyāna countries, the New Year starts on the first full moon day in January
- January 24: International Day of Education, which is a day of celebration proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly to honor the role of education in peace and development
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which pays tribute to the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and reaffirms UNESCO’s unwavering commitment to counter antisemitism, racism, and other forms of intolerance that may lead to group-targeted violence
February
Month-long observances
- Black History Month, which remembers important people and events in the history of the African diaspora
- American Heart Month, which raises awareness about cardiovascular health
Days of significance
- February 1: National Freedom Day, which commemorates the day in 1865 that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Amendment abolishing slavery (although it was not ratified by the states until later on)
- February 1: Lunar New Year (Year of the Tiger), which celebrates the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it a time to reunite with immediate and extended family
- February 4: Rosa Parks Day, which remembers Rosa Parks’ role in the civil rights movement in the U.S.
- February 8: Safer Internet Day, which calls for initiatives to make the internet a safer place for children and young people
- February 14: Valentine’s Day, which recognizes the Catholic St. Valentine and is a general day to celebrate romance
- February 15: Nirvana Day, which is an annual Buddhist festival that remembers the death of the Buddha when he reached Nirvana at the age of 80
- February 15: International Childhood Cancer Day, which is part of a global campaign to support children and adolescents with cancer and their families
- February 20: World Day of Social Justice, which recognizes that social development and justice are indispensable for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security within and among nations
March
Month-long observances
- Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which raises awareness of the barriers faced by those with disabilities
- Gender Equity Month, which draws attention to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.
- Greek-American Heritage Month, which celebrates the culture of over 2.5 million Greek Americans
- Irish-American Heritage Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and descendants in the U.S.
- National Colon Cancer Awareness Month, which turns attention toward the fight to cure colon cancer
- National Kidney Month, which raises awareness of kidney health
- National Multiple Sclerosis Education Month, which is dedicated to educating others about those affected by multiple sclerosis
- National Women’s History Month, which honors the vital role of women in American history
Days of significance
- March 1: Mardi Gras, which is a Christian holiday and popular cultural celebration with deep historical roots
- March 1: Maha Shivarati, which is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of the god Shiva
- March 2: Ash Wednesday, which is a Christian holiday that marks the beginning of the Lent penance period, which ends on Easter
- March 4: Employee Appreciation Day, which focuses the attention of employers on employee recognition
- March 7: Clean Monday, which marks the start of Great Lent in the Orthodox Christian Church
- March 8: International Women’s Day, which is a global day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women
- March 14: Pi Day, which celebrates the mathematical constant pi
- March 14: International Day of Mathematics, which celebrates the joy found in the vocation of mathematics
- March 16-17: Purim, which is the celebration of Jews’ salvation from slaughter by the Persian Empire, thanks to the bravery of Queen Esther and her cousin Mordecai
- March 17: St. Patrick’s Day, which is the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the fifth century
- March 17-18: Holi, which is a Hindu celebration that marks the beginning of spring after a long winter, symbolic of the triumph of good over evil
- March 21: World Down Syndrome Day, which raises awareness about people with Down syndrome
- March 31: Transgender Day of Visibility, which raises awareness about and celebrates the accomplishments of transgender and gender nonconforming people
April
Month-long observances
- Arab-American Heritage Month, which recognizes the heritage and contributions of Arab Americans
- Autism Awareness Month, which empowers and support the autism community
- Celebrate Diversity Month, which celebrates the cultural diversity of the people around us
- Earth Month, which works toward achieving sustainable development in an inclusive and integrated way
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which recognizes the necessity of promoting the social and emotional well-being of all children
- National Volunteer Month, which promotes volunteering and encourage people to get involved in their communities
Days of significance
- April 2-May 2: Ramadan, which is a holy month of worship and prayer for those who practice Islam
- April 2: World Autism Awareness Day, which focuses on sharing stories about and providing opportunities for people with autism
- April 10: Palm Sunday, which is the Christian observance of Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem
- April 14: Lent, which is the Christian religious observance, ends
- April 15: Good Friday, which is the Christian commemoration of the Crucifixion of Jesus
- April 15-23: Passover, which is the Jewish commemoration of the anniversary of the exodus of Jews from Egyptian slavery
- April 17: Easter Sunday, which is the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ
- April 18: Patriot’s Day, which commemorates the Battles of Lexington and Concord that started the Revolutionary War
- April 20: Ridván, which is a festival celebrated by the Baha’i faith community, begins
- April 22: Earth Day, which marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement
- April 22: National Day of Silence, which is a national student-led demonstration where LGBTQIA+ students and allies take a vow of silence to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQIA+ people in schools
- April 24: Orthodox Easter, which is the date of the celebration of Easter for Orthodox Christians
- April 27-28: Yom Hashoah, also known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, which is Israel’s day of commemoration for the millions of people who perished during the Holocaust as a result of Nazi Germany
- April 28: Laylat al-Qadr, which is the Islamic festival that commemorates the night on which the Quran was revealed to the prophet Muhammad
May
Month-long observances
- ALS Awareness Month, which spreads awareness regarding the disease called amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Haitian Heritage Month, which celebrates Haitian heritage and culture
- Jewish-American Heritage Month, which recognizes and celebrates American Jews’ achievements and contributions to the U.S.
- Mental Health Month, which raises awareness about mental health to fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families
- National Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, which celebrates Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.
- Older Americans Month, which focuses on aging in place — how older adults can plan to stay in their homes and live independently in their communities for as long as possible
Days of significance
- May 1-May 2: Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan
- May 5: Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War
- May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, which draws the attention to the violence and discrimination experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex people and all other people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics
- May 21: World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, which provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the values of cultural diversity; support sustainable systems of governance for culture; achieve a balanced flow of cultural goods and services; increase mobility of artists and cultural professionals; integrate culture in sustainable development frameworks; and promote human rights and fundamental freedoms
- May 24: Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i), which marks the anniversary of the Báb’s announcement of His mission in 1844
- May 29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i), which marks the passing of Bahá’u’lláh in 1892
- May 30: Memorial Day, which honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military
June
Month-long observances
- Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, which is declared each June by the Alzheimer’s Association to help raise awareness about the disease, as well as show support for the millions of people worldwide living with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It’s also a time to recognize caregivers for the support they provide to those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
- Black Music Month, which was created by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 to celebrate the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage
- National Caribbean American Heritage Month, which recognizes and celebrates the significance of Caribbean people and their descendants in the history and culture of the U.S.
- Pride Month LGBTQIA+ Month, which occurs in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBTQIA+ people have had in the world
Days of significance
- June 8: Race Unity Day, also known as Race Amity Day, which was started by the Bahá’í National Spiritual Assembly to raise awareness about the importance of racial harmony and understanding.
- June 12: Loving Day, which honors the U.S. Supreme Court’s 1967 decision to strike down laws in several states that banned interracial marriage
- June 19: Juneteenth, which is a federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans
- June 20: World Refugee Day, which is an international day designated by the United Nations to honor refugees around the globe. It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.
- June 21: Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan), which is aa pagan holiday and one of eight sabbats during the year. Litha (also known as Midsummer) occurs on the summer solstice, and celebrates the beginning of summer
- June 28: Pride Day (varies by city), which is a dedicated day during Pride month to celebrate and honor LGBTQIA+ people
July
Month-long observances
- French-American Heritage Month, which recognizes the important contributions made to the U.S. by Americans of French descent
- BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month, which highlights the unique mental health challenges and needs of historically disenfranchised or oppressed racial and ethnic groups in the U.S.
Days of significance
- July 4: Independence Day, which is a federal holiday in the U.S. commemorating the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776
- July 9: Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” which signifies the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim, known as Abraham in Christianity and Judaism, to sacrifice his son, Ismail as ordered by Allah
- July 11: World Population Day, which directs attention to the urgency and importance of population issues
- July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day, which raises awareness surrounding the issues that non-binary people face around the world
- July 18: International Nelson Mandela Day, which is an annual international day in honor of Nelson Mandela, celebrated on Mandela’s birthday
- July 24: Asalha Puja or Dharma Day, which is a Theravada Buddhist festival
- July 26: Disability Independence Day, which commemorates the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990
- July 30: International Day of Friendship, which celebrates friendships between peoples, countries, cultures, and individuals that inspire peace efforts and build bridges between communities
- July 30: Hijri New Year, also called The Islamic New Year, which marks the beginning of a new lunar Hijri year, and is the day on which the year count is incremented
August
Days of significance
- August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, which raises awareness and protects the rights of the world’s indigenous population
- August 17: Marcus Garvey Day, which honors Garvey, a Jamaican-born political activist, orator, publisher, journalist, and entrepreneur who fought for the rights of Afro-Jamaicans
- August 18: Krishna Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna, the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu on Earth
- August 19: World Humanitarian Day, which recognizes humanitarian personnel and those who have lost their lives working for humanitarian causes
- August 26: Women’s Equality Day, which commemorates the adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment in order to prohibit the states and federal government from denying the right to vote on the basis of sex
- August 31: Ganesh Chaturthi, which is a Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of Ganesh to Earth from Kailash Parvat with his mother Goddess Parvati/Gauri
September
Month-long observances
- Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 in the U.S. to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S.
Days of significance
- September 1-9: Paryushana Parva, which means “abiding” or “coming together” and is the most important Jain religious observance of the year
- September 5: Labor Day, which celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers
- September 11: Patriot Day (National Day of Service and Remembrance), which represents a chance to help others in tribute to those killed and injured on September 11, 2001
- September 11: The Ethiopian New Year, Enkutatash’ in Amharic, which marks 1 Meskerem or the first day in the Ethiopian calendar as well as the relative end of Ethiopia’s rainy season
- September 16: Mexican Independence Day, which honors the country’s fight for independence from Spain
- September 18: International Equal Pay Day, which draws attention to the gender pay gap and the systemic inequalities it is rooted in
- September 21: International Day of Peace, which is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire
- September 23: Native American Day, which is a holiday observed in several states to celebrate Native American culture
- September 25-27: Rosh Hashanah, which is the Jewish New Year
- September 26: European Day of Languages, which encourages language learning across Europe
- September 26- October 5 Navaratri, which is a Hindu festival that spans nine nights (and 10 days) and is celebrated every year in the autumn
- September 27: Meskel, which is a Christian holiday that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena (Saint Helena) in the fourth century
- September 29: Michaelmas, which is a Christian festival celebrating the Archangel Michael
October
Month-long observances
- Hispanic Heritage Month, which is celebrated annually from September 15 to October 15 in the U.S. to recognize the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the U.S.
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure
- Bullying Prevention Month, which is a month long event to prevent childhood bullying and promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which acknowledges domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims
- Down Syndrome Awareness Month, which celebrates people with Down syndrome and make others aware of their abilities and accomplishments
- Filipino-American Heritage Month, which commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental U.S.
- Italian-American Heritage Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the U.S. particularly in the arts, science, and culture
- LGBTQIA+ History Month, an annual month-long observance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender history, and the history of the gay rights and related civil rights movements
- Polish-American Heritage Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of polish immigrants and their descendants
Days of significance
- October 2: International Day of Non-Violence, which is the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence
- October 4-5, Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, which is the holiest day of the year in Judaism
- October 7-8 Mawlid, or Eid Milad un Nabi, which is the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad
- October 9-16: Sukkot, which commemorates the years that the Jewish people spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land
- October 10: World Mental Health Day, which is intended to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in support of mental health
- October 10: National Native American Day in Wisconsin and South Dakota, which honors the cultural contributions of Native American communities to the respective state’s history, as well as to the overall country
- October 10: Indigenous Peoples’ Day, which celebrates and honors Native American people and cultures
- October 11: National Coming Out Day, which celebrates coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer
- October 15: White Cane Safety Day, which raises awareness about the canes that visually-impaired people use to move freely and safely from place to place
- October 16-18: Shemini Atzeret, which is a Jewish festival following the festival of Sukkot
- October 17-18 Simchat Torah, which is a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle
- October 17: Spirit Day, which raises awareness for LGBTQIA+ youth, who disproportionately face bullying and harassment because of their identities
- October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day, which raises awareness about stuttering, a communication disorder involving disruptions, or dysfluencies, in a person’s speech
- October 24: Diwali, which is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists
- October 26-27: Birth of the Bab and Birth of Baha’u’llah, also known as the Twin Holy Birthdays or the Festivals of the Twin Birthdays, which are two successive holy days that celebrate the births of two central figures of the Bahá’í faith
- October 31: Halloween, which is a tradition that originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts
November
Month-long observances
- National Native American Heritage Month, which celebrates and remembers the history, heritage, and culture of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians
Days of significance
- November 1-2: Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, which is a traditional Mexican holiday honoring deceased family members and loved ones
- November 1: All Saints’ Day, also called All Hallows’ Day, Hallowmas, or Feast of All Saints, which commemorates all the saints in the Christian church who have attained heaven
- November 11: Veterans’ Day, which is a day that pays tribute to all American veterans, especially living veterans who served their country honorably
- November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance, which is an annual observance that honors the memory of transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence
- November 24: Thanksgiving, which is a holiday in the U.S. celebrating gratitude for the harvest feast
- November 26: Day of the Covenant, which is a day when followers of the Bahá’í faith commemorate the appointment of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá as a major figure in the religion
- November 28: Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha, which marks the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Baha in the Bahá’í faith
December
Month-long observances
- HIV/AIDS Awareness Month, which is dedicated to dispelling stigmas and promoting clear health information about HIV/AIDS
- Human Rights Month, which encourages us to reflect on the way we treat others, as well as what we can offer in the fight for human rights for all people
Days of significance
- December 3: International Day for People with Disabilities, which highlights the importance of recognizing the rights of people with disabilities — as not only a matter of justice but an investment in a common future
- December 10: Human Rights Day, which is the anniversary of the day that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948
- December 18-26: The first day of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, which lasts eight nights and celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrian Greek army
- December 21: Yule Winter Solstice, which is the pagan celebration of the winter solstice. This day simultaneously celebrates the shortest day of the year, midwinter, and the return of the sun.
- December 25: Christmas, which is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion
- December 26- January 1: Kwanzaa, which is an African harvest celebration, begins