Annual Observances

January

January 1: New Year's Day is the first day of the year on the Gregorian calendar. Across the world, many celebrate the new year with parties and festivities on New Year's Eve and have family gatherings on the day.

January 4: World Braille Day raises awareness of the importance Braille and its importance as a means of communication for blind and visually impaired people across the world. It is also a key reminder about the essence of independence and accessibility of those with disabilities.

3rd Monday of January: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day commemorates the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a well-known activist who was one of the most prominent leaders in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968. This holiday if often celebrated as a day of community service. Many businesses are often open, but government offices are closed.

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January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day honors the memories of the six million Jews and others persecuted and systematically murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators. It is encouraged to take January 27 as a day to develop educational programs and raise awareness of the Holocaust and other international genocides while properly honoring the victims of Nazism and help prevent future devastation from genocides.

February

February 1: National Freedom Day celebrates the signing of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery in 1865.

February 14: Valentine's Day (or St. Valentine's Day) is a holiday when lovers express their affection with greetings and gifts. It originated as a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus.

February 20: World Day of Social Justice is a day to encourage people to raise voices against social injustice while promoting equal rights and opportunities among people.

Last Saturday of February: National TRIO Day is a day of celebration, reflection, and action around increased access to higher education for disadvantaged students. On this day, departments and organizations are encouraged to share information bout the federal TRIO Programs and celebrate the perseverance, hard work, and dedication of the students who have earned or are earning degrees.

March

1st Friday of March: Celebrate National Employee Appreciation Day to show gratitude to the team who work hard to drive success in a business. By creating a culture of continuous appreciation, businesses can significantly improve morale, productivity, and employee retention.

March 8: International Women's Day recognizes the critical contributions that women have made in society through their social, economic, cultural, and political achievements.

March 17: St. Patrick's Day is a holiday started in Ireland to recognize St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the country in the early days of the faith. It is a day packed with parades, good luck charms, and all things green.

March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was established n 1966 by the United Nations in response to the tragic events of 1960 as an effort to combat racial discrimination, promoting racial equality and fostering global harmony.

March 31: Trans Day of Visibility celebrates trans and non-binary people and raises awareness of discrimination faced by trans people worldwide.

Occurs 46 Days Before Easter: Ash Wednesday is a solemn reminder of human mortality and the need for reconciliation with God and marks the beginning of Lent. Most will attend chapel services and receive blessed ashes on their foreheads.

Occurs around March and April:

Holi: Festival of Colors is an ancient Indian celebration that marks the first day of spring. Traditionally, the two-day festival gathers people together to celebrate the coming of spring with love, happiness, and new life. The holiday consists of dancing, singing, and throwing powdered paint and water, along with authentic foods.

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April

April 1: April Fools' Day is an annual holiday that consists of practical jokes, pranks and hoaxes.

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day raises awareness about people with autism and highlight the need to help improve the quality of life of those with autism so they can lead full and meaningful lives as an integral part of society.

2nd Friday of April: National Day of Silence is a student-led day of action that takes place to raise awareness against the harassment and bullying of LGBTQ+ individuals. It is a day-long vow of silence that symbolizes the silencing of LGBTQ+ individuals.

1st Sunday After the Paschal Full Moon: Easter is a holiday celebrated by Christians to recognize Jesus' return from death after crucifixion.

April 22: Earth Day promotes world peace and sustainability of the planet. Many events are held across the world in support of environmental protection of the Earth.

April 26: Lesbian Visibility Day aims to increase visibility, representation, and support for the lesbian community.

Last Saturday of April: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program to prevent drug misuse or abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications. This also occurs in October.

May

May 5: Cinco de Mayo is a holiday commemorating the Mexican Army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). This day celebrates Mexican culture and heritage with a variety of festivities, including parades and mariachi music performances.

Last Monday of May: Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States established to honor military veterans who died in wars fought by the U.S. forces.

June

June 19: Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, honors the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas and Louisiana finally heard they were free, two months after the end of the Civil War.

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June 28: The Stonewall Riots Anniversary is celebrated every year on June 28 to commemorate the events that occurred at the Stonewall Inn and to honor those who stood up for their rights. This day is a reminder of the progress that has been made in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, as well as an opportunity to reflect on the work that still needs to be done.

Last Sunday of June: PRIDE Day commemorates the Stonewall Riots that occurred on June 28, 1969 and celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) community.

July

July 4: Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July) is a United States holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, where the original thirteen American colonies declared independence from Britain and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America.

July 14: International Non-Binary Day celebrates the contributions of non-binary people and focuses on the issues affecting them. It is a day of education and raising awareness on what non-binary is and means for others.

August

August 26: Women's Equality Day commemorates certification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that gave women the right to vote. A proclamation for this day was introduced in 1971 recognizing Women's Equality Day and since that time, every U.S. president has published a proclamation recognizing this as a national day.

September

1st Monday of September: Labor Day honors the contribution that workers have made to the United States.

September 14: Founders' Day is a 24-hour giving event to celebrate the rich history of our university and its continued commitment to our top priority – the students of Wichita State.

September 21: International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations to be an inspiring day of action focused to reducing violence and strengthen the ideals of peace around the world.

September 23: Celebrate Bisexuality Day is dedicated to celebrating bisexuality and raising awareness of the bisexual community. It is an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of bisexual people and to make their visibility more visible.

Occurs on a Tuesday in September: National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday devoted to getting every eligible American registered to vote.

Occurs around September and October:

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional festival celebrated on the 15th day of the eight month on the lunar calendar. It is a time for family reunions, gathering with friends, admiring the moon, and eating delectable mooncakes.

Rosh Hashanah is a Jewish holiday that ushers in the beginning of the Jewish year celebrating the creation of the world.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year. It is known as the "Day of Atonement," which occurs on the 10th day of Tishri.

October

2nd Monday of October: Indigenous Peoples' Day is a day that represents a moment to honor the rich histories, cultures, traditions, and contributions of Indigenous people in the United States.

October 10: World Mental Health Day creates awareness of mental health support and resources around the world.

October 11: National Coming Out Day raises awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ community and champion the idea that homophobia thrives in silence. On this day, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ will "come out," which is a term that stems from coming out of the closet. This gives individuals the opportunity to share with their friends or family about their sexuality.

October 26: Intersex Awareness Day brings to light the challenges that intersex individuals face, as well as the concept of visibility and representation.

October 31: Halloween is a celebration observed in a number of countries dedicated to remembering the dead. In today's celebrations, many people dress up in costumes, carve pumpkins, go trick-or-treating, and attend other festive activities.

Last Saturday of October: National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program to prevent drug misuse or abuse of prescription and over-the-counter medications. This also occurs in April.

Occurs around October and November:

Diwali is a five-day festival of lights that celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness. The holiday is observed on the 15th day of Kartik.

November

November 1-2: Día de los Muertos is a two-day holiday that reunites the living and dead. Families create ofrendas (offerings) to honor their departed family that have passed.

November 11: Veteran's Day is a federal holiday honoring military veterans. The date is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world and commemorates the ending of World War I in 1918.

November 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 1998 to memorialize those whose lives were lost as a result of transphobia and to raise awareness of the continued violence endured by the transgender community.

4th Thursday of November Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.

December

December 1: World AIDS Day commemorates those who have died of AIDS and acknowledges the need for continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities was designed to raise awareness in regard to people with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide them with equal opportunity.

December 10: International Human Rights Day was established in 1948 by the United Nations to commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

December 25: Christmas is the day that many associate with Jesus' birth. This day is filled with giving gifts, attending church services, decorating Christmas trees, sharing meals with family and friends, and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

Other Observances

Based on New Crescent Moon Sighting: Eid al-Fitr is one of two major holidays celebrated by Muslims around the world and commemorates the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

Based on New Crescent Moon Sighting: Eid al-Adha is the second and the largest of the two main holidays celebrated in Islam. This holiday is a four-day celebration remembering the story of Ibrahim (Abraham). Known as the Feast of Sacrifice, the celebration centers around sacrifice to Allah. Eid al-Adha is determined to be 10 days after the sighting of a new crescent moon, which falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar.

Based on Institution: Sonia Kovalevsky Day is an opportunity for middle and high school students and their teachers to join the Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Physics in celebrating women in mathematics and those who are pursuing a career in math or another STEM field.