Heritage and Identity Calendar

The Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday is an official day of service and celebrates the civil rights leader’s life and legacy. Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture for more information about Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

National Day of Racial Healing is an annual observance that takes place on the Tuesday following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Visit National Day of Racial Healing for more information.

From the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: “November 2005, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution to assign January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day marks the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, one of the most infamous and deadliest concentration camps of the Holocaust.”

From Awareness Day: “National Freedom Day is an observance in the United States that honors the signing of a resolution that proposed the 13th Amendment of the nation’s Constitution on February 1, 1865. Abraham Lincoln, who was the president at the time, signed the resolution to outlaw slavery.”

Each year on March 8, International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on as a focal point in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Visit International Women’s Day for more information.

From GLAAD: “Each year on March 31, the world observes Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) to raise awareness about transgender people. It is a day to celebrate the lives and contributions of trans people, while also drawing attention to the poverty, discrimination, and violence the community faces.”

From Awareness Days: “Each year on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD), is celebrated and was adopted by the United Nations in 2007 to shine a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis.”

From National Today: “National Day of Silence was created in 1996 to shed light on what many LGBTQ youth experience daily. On this day, students take a vow of silence to raise awareness about bullying and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community. This has expanded into workplaces, university campuses and more.”

The International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia is observed on May 17 and aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide. VisitInternational Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia & Biphobia for more information.

Juneteenth, officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the ending of slavery in the United States. Elon University’s Freedom Footprints: A Juneteenth Journey through Elon’s Black History is a digital tour of the contributions of Black Americans to the growth and success of the institution. Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture for more information about Juneteenth.

International LGBT Pride Day, a day dedicated to LGBT pride, is held on June 28 to commemorate the anniversary of the Stonewall riots. The day predates the establishment of Pride Month during the month of June. Visit World Pride for more information about Pride Day.

From Inclusion Hub: “In the United States, July 26 is recognized annually as National Disability Independence Day, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law in 1990.”

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is observed on August 9 each year to raise awareness and protect the rights of the world’s indigenous population. This event also recognizes the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. Visit United Nations for more information about International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.

From National Today: “Women’s Equality Day recognizes the 1920 adoption of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution. This day also commemorates the passage of women’s suffrage in the U.S. and reminds us of the hurdles overcome by the heroic women who faced violence and discrimination to propel the women’s movement forward.”

From National Today: “The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.”

From National Today: “World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma. It was first celebrated in 1992 at the initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health.”

From National Today: “National Coming Out Day is an annual LGBT awareness day to support anyone “coming out of the closet” and LGBTQ+ individuals who choose to embrace their identity and live openly.

Though many communities had celebrated it for years, Indigenous Peoples’ Day was recognized by the White House for the first time in 2021 with a proclamation by President Joe Biden. The day honors the history and achievements of indigenous American cultures.

From the National Museum of the American Latino: “El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a day of celebration, particularly for the people in Mexico and Central America, and for many Mexican Americans in the United States. It is a day to honor and commemorate the lives of the dearly departed and to welcome the return of their spirits.”

From GLAAD: “Each year on November 20, the world observes Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) to honor the memory of the transgender people whose lives were lost in acts of anti-transgender violence.”

International Day of Persons with Disabilities is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. This day is observed with varying degrees of success around the planet. Visit United Nations for more information.

From the United Nations: “Human Rights Day is observed annually around the world on 10 December. It commemorates the anniversary of one of the world’s most groundbreaking global pledges: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).”

Black History Month is celebrated annually in the United States during the month of February. It is a time to recognize and honor the achievements, contributions, and history of African Americans. Visit the National Museum of African American History & Culture for more information about Black History Month.

From National Women’s History Museum: “Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. This month honors women’s contributions in American history.” During this month, International Women’s Day is celebrated on March 8th.

From National Today: “Celebrate Diversity Month takes place in April every year and was initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity of the world around us. It is a time to recognize and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and other factors, while honoring the common essence of humanity.”

From Arab American Foundation: “The Arab America Foundation formally recognizes the achievements of Arab Americans through the celebration of National Arab American Heritage Month (NAAHM) during the month of April.”

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is observed annually in May and celebrates and pays tribute to the contributions that generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawiians, and Pacific Islanders have made to American history, society and culture. This month is a time to honor the diverse histories and vast pan-ethnic diaspora of people from East, South, and Southeast Asia as well as the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. While this is celebrated in May, Elon holds celebrations in April. Visit Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month for more information.

Jewish American Heritage Month was first federally recognized in 2006, thanks to the advocacy efforts of Jewish American leaders. This month serves as a time to celebrate the contributions and experiences of Jewish Americans throughout our nation’s history. Visit Jewish American Heritage Month for more information.

From Library of Congress: “Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. During this month, LGBTQ Equal Pay Awareness Day is celebrated on June 15th.” During this month, Pride Day is celebrated on June 28th.

From There is a Day for That: “Immigrant Heritage Month aims to honor and recognize the contributions and diverse cultures of immigrants to the country. It was designated in 2014, when former President Barack Obama issued a presidential proclamation establishing June as National Immigrant Heritage Month.”

Sept. 15 – Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized from September 15 to October 15 in the U.S. Throughout the month, Hispanic Americans are recognized for their contributions to American history, culture and achievements. Visit National Hispanic Heritage Month for more information.

Global Diversity Awareness Month is an opportunity to remind people of the positive impact a diverse workforce can have on business and on society. Visit National Today for more information on Global Diversity Awareness Month.

From National Today: “This was created to educate the general public on the issues that workers with disabilities face and how employers can be more inclusive in their hiring practices.” National Disability Employment Awareness Month is celebrated throughout October.

LGBT History Month commemorates and celebrates the history of lesbian, gay, transgender, and bisexual people. Visit National Today for more information on LGBT History Month.

National Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions and contributions of Native people. Visit Native American Heritage Month for more information on National Native American Heritage Month.