Diversity Holidays october2020 October is National Disability Employment October is LGBT History Awareness Month. This observance was Month, a U.S. obser- launched in 1945 when Congress declared the vance started in 1994 first week in October as “National Employ the to recognize lesbian, Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1998, the gay, bisexual and week was extended to a month and renamed. transgender history The annual event draws attention to employ- and the history of the ment barriers that still need to be addressed. gay-rights movement.

Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish festival giving thanks for Birth of Báb, a Bahá’í the fall harvest. holiday celebrating the birth of the prophet 2- 9 18 Báb.

St. Francis Day, Blessing of the feast day for St. Animals, in Francis of Assisi, congruence with the patron saint St. Francis Day. of animals and Many Unitarian 4 the environment, Universalists have celebrated by many picked up on the Catholic tradition of blessing 18-19 20 (sundown to sundown): Sikh Holy Day, the day Sikhs Catholic denomi- animals, particularly pets, as St. Francis was The birth of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder celebrate Sri Guru Granth Sahib, their nations. known for his special connection to animals. of the Bahá’í religion. spiritual guide.

Dasara, or Vijayadashami, Milvian Bridge Day, (sundown to sundown): Shemini Atzeret, a in the eastern and north- a one-day festival in Jewish holiday also known as The Eighth (Day) eastern states of India, it Fayetteville, West of Assembly, takes place the day after the Sukkot marks the end of Durga Virginia. It is the only festival, where gratitude for the fall harvest is Puja, remembering goddess day of the year peo- 9-11 deeply internalized. 25 Durga’s victory over the 28 ple can BASE jump buffalo demon Mahishasu- off a bridge into New ra to help restore dharma. River Gorge.

(sundown to sundown): Simchat Torah, a (sundown to sundown): Eid Milad un-Nabi, an Jewish holiday, marks the end of the weekly Islamic holiday commemorating the birthday of readings of the Torah. The holy book is read the prophet Muhammad. During this celebra- from chapter one of Genesis to Deuteronomy tion, homes and mosques are decorated, large 34 and then back to chapter one again, in parades take place, and those observing the acknowledgement of the words of the Torah holiday participate in charity events. 10-11 being a circle, a never-ending cycle. 28-29

National Coming Out Day (U.S.). For those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, this day celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay Mawlid Al-Nabi, the observance of the birthday of Islam founder 29 Prophet Muhammad, celebrated during the month of Rabiulawal, the and lesbian equality. 11 third month of the Muslim calendar. Shi’a Muslims celebrate it five days later than Sunni Muslims.

All Hallows’ Eve (Halloween), a celebra- Reformation Day, a Prot- tion observed in a number of countries on estant Christian religious the eve of the Western Christian feast of holiday celebrated along- All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day side All Hallows’ Eve observance of Allhallowtide, the time in (Halloween) during the 12 17-25 31 the liturgical year dedicated to remember- triduum of Allhallowtide Canadian Thanksgiving, a chance for people ing the dead, including saints (hallows), in remembrance of the to give thanks for a good harvest and other Navaratri, the nine-day fes- martyrs and all the faithful departed. onset of the Reformation. fortunes in the past year. tival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. It worships God in the form of the univer- november (sundown to sundown): Sam- National Indigenous Peoples Day, an alterna- sal mother commonly referred hain, a Gaelic festival marking tive celebration to Columbus Day, gives recog- to as Durga, Devi or Shakti, the end of the harvest season nition to the indigenous populations affected by and marks the start of fall. and the beginning of winter or colonization. 31-1 the “darker half” of the year. diversitybestpractices.com