Awareness Calendar

Multicultural and religious holidays and observances.

Diwali Celebration

Multicultural and Religious Holidays & Observances

Expanding our knowledge of the diverse cultural and faith traditions of members of our academic community helps strengthen relationships with one another, fosters collegiality, respect, and acceptance, and positively impacts our overall campus culture.

Please keep in mind that this calendar is an educational resource intended to provide a general overview, and the information may not apply to all individuals in any given culture or faith, nor is this an exhaustive list.  To recommend additional religious or cultural observances to be highlighted in this calendar, please contact our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ODEI@midwestern.edu

Recent Campus Activities & Programs

Native American Heritage Month

We honored and celebrated Native American Heritage Month with Tony Duncan and his family who graciously shared Indigenous Americans' traditions and rich culture with our campus community. It was an honor to have them share meaningful stories through regalia, songs, and dances.

Native American dancers visit campus

First-Gen Proud Event

Midwestern University students, faculty, and staff gathered to hear a panel share their common story. The panel included faculty from the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (CDMI), the Chicago College of Optometry (CCO), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), the College of Graduate Studies (CGS), and members of the Student Services staff who are the first in their family to graduate from college. Through this shared experience, students in similar situations and event attendees gained insight into how others worked through similar situations and challenges in their pursuit of higher education.

First-Gen Proud! Midwestern University.

Alumni Diversity Council

The Alumni Diversity council was created to support the University’s commitment to embracing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusivity as an integral part of academic excellence, skilled patient care, and growing and strengthening our community. The council engages with the University community in many ways including special service projects.

Council Day of Service

Observances

January 1st: New Year's Day (modern Gregorian calendar)

January 1st: Global Family Day / World Peace Day

January 1st: Gantan-sai/ Shogatu/ Shinto New Year Holiday (Shinto)

January 2nd: St. Basil's Day (Orthodox Christian)

January 4th: World Braille Day

January 6th: Epiphany/ Twelfth Night/ Dia de los Reyes/ Three Kings Day (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)

January 6th: Christmas Day (Armenian Orthodox Christian)

January 7th (Julian Calendar): Christmas Day (Eastern Orthodox Christian)

January 17th: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday and National Day of Service

January 27th: International Holocaust Remembrance/Day of Commemoration Day

January 22, 2023 / February 10, 2024 / January 29, 2025: Lunar New Year | Chinese Chunjie | Vietnamese Tet | Korean Solnal | Tibetan Losar | Spring Festival 

Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month 

February 1st: National Freedom Day

February 1-2: Imbolc / Candlemas

February 3: Setsubun-sai (Shinto)

February 2nd: Groundhog Day

February 11th: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

February 14th: Valentine's Day

February 14th: Arizona Statehood Day

February 15th: President's Day

February 17th: Random Act of Kindness Day

February 21, 2023: Tibetan New Year/ Losar (Buddhism)

February 28th (February 29th in leap years): Rare Disease Day

February - March: Ash Wednesday and Lent 

Ayyám-i-Há Baha'i

Black History Month/African-American History Month

Illinois holiday celebrated the first Monday in March: Casimir Pulaski Day 

March 2 - 20, 2023: Nineteen Day Fast Period (Baha'i***)

March 6th, 2023: Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)

March 6-7, 2023 / March 23-24, 2024 / March 13-14, 2025 / March 2-3, 2026: Purim (Judaism)

March 8th: International Women's Day

March 8,  2023 / March 25, 2024 / March 14, 2025: Holi (Hinduism)

March 8 - 10, 2023 / March 25 - 27, 2024 / March 14 - 16, 2025: Hola Mohalla (Sikhism)

March 17th: St. Patrick's Day

March 21st: World Down Syndrome Day

March 22nd - April 21st, 2023 / March 10 - April 9, 2024 / February 28 - March 30, 2025 / February 17 - March 18, 2026 *: Ramadan (Islam; dates may vary. Halal/Islamic dietary restrictions** apply.)

March 21 - 22, 2023 / March 20 - 21, 2024 / March 21 - 22, 2025 & 2026*:  Naw Ruz (Baha'i***)

March 31st: César Chávez Day 

Women’s History Month

Nowruz/Norooz (Persian New Year)

Equal Pay Day

Taoist Festival honoring the Shen of Water, East and Spring

Greek-American/Hellenic Heritage Month

Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

** "Halal dietary restrictions apply” refers to the foods prohibited according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath: Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. (Also observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)

***Baha'is holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting. 

April 5-13, 2023/ April 22-30, 2024 / April 12-20, 2025*: Passover/Pesach (Judaism; dates may vary)

April 2, 2023/ March 24, 2024 / April 13, 2025 / March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christianity) April 6th: RAINN Day

April 7, 2023 / March 29, 2024 / April 18, 2025 / April 3, 2026: Good Friday (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)

April 9th, 2023 : Easter (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)

April 14, 2023 / May 3, 2024 / April 18, 2025): Holy Friday / Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox Christian)

April 14th: Vaisakhi  (Sikh/Hindu)

April 16th, 2023: Pascha/ Easter  (Eastern Orthodox Christian Church)

April 21 - May 2, 2023 **: Ridvan (Baha'i; 1, 9, 12th days)

April 21 -22, 2023 / April 9-10, 2024 / March 30-31, 2025 / March 19-20, 2026 *: Eid al-Fitr (Islam; dates may vary. Halal/Islamic dietary restrictions** apply.)

April 22nd: Earth Day

April 17-18, 2023 / May 4-5, 2024 / April 24-25, 2025 / April 13-14, 2026: Yom HaSho'ah/Holocaust Remembrance Day

Arab-American Heritage Month

Ugadi/Gudi Padwa

National Deaf History Month

Autism Awareness Month

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month

Parkinson's Awareness Month 

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

** "Halal dietary restrictions apply” refers to the foods prohibited according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath: Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. (Also observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)

May 9-15: National Women's Health Week

May 15th: Armed Forces Day

May 18th: Ascension Day/40th Day of Easter (Orthodox Christian)

May 25 -27, 2023/ Jun 11-13, 2024 / Jun 1-3, 2025/ May 21-23, 2026 *: Shavout (Judaism)

May 26, 2023 / May 15, 2024 / May 5, 2025: Buddha Day / Visakha Puja (Buddhist)

May 29, 2023: Ascension of the Baha'u'llah (Baha'i**)

Mother's Day

Memorial Day

Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Haitian Heritage Month

Jewish-American Heritage Month

Older Americans Month

Speech and Hearing Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month 

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

** Baha'is holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting. 

June 7-14: Multiracial Heritage Week

June 12th: Loving Day

June 15th: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day

June 19th: Juneteenth Holiday

June 20th: World Refugee Day

June 28-29, 2023*: Eid al-Adha (Islam; dates may vary)

National Men's Health Month 

LGBTQIA+ Pride Month

Caribbean-American Heritage Month

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

July 4th: Independence Day

July 11th: World Population Day

July 18th: Nelson Mandela International Day

July 24th: Pioneer Day

July 26 - 27, 2023*: Tish'a B'Av (Judaism)

Disability Pride Month

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

August 1st: Lammas / Lughnasadh Beginning of Harvest Celebration (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)

August 9th:  International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

August 15th: Assumption of Mary (Catholic Christian)

August 26th:  National Women’s Equality Day

August 21st: National Senior Citizen Day

August 26th: Women's Equality Day

August 30, 2023: Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)

Ashura

National Minority Donor Awareness Month

Islamic New Year | Hijri New Year | Arabic New Year

Labor Day

September 6-7, 2023: Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)

September 15 - October 15: Hispanic Heritage Month

September 17th: Constitution Day and Citizenship Day

September 10th: World Suicide Prevention Day

September 18th: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

September 21st: International Day of Peace

September 15-27, 2023 / October 2-4, 2024 / September 22-24, 2025*: Rosh Hashanah (New Year - Judaism High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions apply.)

September 21-29: Mabon / Alban Elfed / Autumnal Equinox (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)

Oct. 15-24, 2023 / Oct. 2-12, 2024 / Sept. 22 - Oct. 2, 2025: Navaratri (Hindu) 

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

October 2nd: International Day of Non-Violence

Sept. 24-25, 2023 / Oct. 11-12, 2024 / Oct. 1-2, 2025**: Yom Kippur  (Judaism - High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions** apply.)

Sept. 29- Oct. 6, 2023 / Oct. 16-23, 2024 / Oct. 6-13, 2025 **: Sukkot (Judaism - High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions** apply.)

October 10th:  World Mental Health Day

October 16-18, 2022 / Oct. 6-8, 2023 / Oct. 23-25, 2024 / Oct. 13-15, 2025*: Shemini Atzeret (Judaism. Kosher restrictions apply.)

October 24th, 2022/ October 20th, 2025: Diwali (Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain; date varies year to year)

October 25th: Birth of the Bab (Baha'i)

October 26-27th, 2022*: Birth of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)

October 28th: National Immigrants Day

October 31 - November 1: Samhain (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)

Global Diversity Awareness Month

Filipino-American Heritage Month

German-American Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

Italian-American Heritage Month

​Polish-American Heritage Month

Blindness Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Emotional Wellness Month

National Bullying Prevention Month

National Depression Education and Awareness Month

​National Diabetes Awareness Month 

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

** “Kosher restrictions apply” refers to the dietary guidelines of Jewish law which apply daily throughout the year. Restrictions include pork, shellfish (fish is allowed) and mixing meat with dairy.

November 1: All Saints Day (Catholic and Protestant Christian)

November 2: All Souls Day (Catholic Christian)

November 8th: Guru Nanak Gurpurab (Sikh)

November 11th: Veterans Day

November 12th, 2023 / November 1, 2024: Diwali (Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain; date varies year to year)

November 16th: International Day For Tolerance

November 19th: International Men’s Day

November 25th: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Thanksgiving Day

November 27-December 24: Advent (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian)

Native American Heritage Month

December 3rd: International Day of People with Disabilities

December 3rd: Illinois Statehood Day

December 8th: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception/ Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic; Holy Day of Obligation)

December 10th: Human Rights Day

Dec. 7-15, 2023 / Dec. 25 - Jan. 2, 2025 *: Hanukkah / Chanukah (Judaism; kosher restrictions apply.)

December 21st: Yalda / Chelleh Night

December 21st: Dongzhi Festival

Yule/Midwinter/Alban Arthan/Winter Solstice (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)

December 23rd: HumanLight

December 25th:  Christmas (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)

December 26th - January 1st: Kwanzaa

December 31st: New Year's Eve 

* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day. 

Reminder about Dates

Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice. Islamic dates are approximate; the official days can be plus/minus one day and depend upon the official physical sighting of the new moon.

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