Calendar Cultural& Religious - EACH SCHOLAR: A VOICE. A DREAM. A BRIGHT FUTURE - Federal Way Public Schools
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Cultural &
Religious
Calendar
OFFICE OF EQUITY FOR SCHOLAR & FAMILY SUCCESS 2019 –2020
EACH SCHOLAR: A VOICE. A DREAM. A BRIGHT FUTURE.
Federal Way Public Schools
is rich in culture with a scholar
community that can speak more
than one hundred different
languages. We are a school
Strategic Plan
district that embraces diversity,
MISSION
values each and every scholar’s Goal 2 Whole Child:
experiences, and honors
Thriving, confident, In an environment of high
every family’s religious beliefs
responsible individuals expectations, high support,
and traditions. This diversity
and no excuses, the staff of
is reflected in the national Every scholar will be empowered
Federal Way Public Schools
observances celebrated every and prepared to develop
will continually learn, lead,
month. personal responsibility in order to
utilize data and collaborate
be positive, productive members
The purpose of this calendar is to ensure our scholars have
of society.
to provide our staff with insights a voice, a dream and a
into our scholars’ diverse bright future.
cultural and religious beliefs
Pillar 2 Safe climate and
and practices. strong relationships with
families and community OUR CORE BELIEFS
Please continue to send your Our second pillar recognizes We believe every scholar
child to school during holiday that schools can’t do it alone. can learn at the highest
times. You can share with your Therefore, we will embrace level.
child’s teacher and/or counselor parents, caregivers, and the We believe our scholars
any specific needs your child entire Federal Way community must have voice, see
might have during this time. as vital partners in the education themselves in their
of all our scholars. We will schooling, and be
This a living document that nurture trust and mutual respect connected to the adults
will be revised throughout among home-school-community that teach them.
the school year based on the through shared responsibility
feedback and input we receive for scholar success, proactive We believe race, socio-
from scholars, families, and communication, and meaningful economics, language,
staff members. Please provide stakeholder voice. cultural background, and
feedback and/or suggestions on other exceptionalities
our cultural calendar by emailing should not be predictors of
equityculturalcalendar Don’t let absences scholar achievement.
@fwps.org. add up! We believe what we do in
Just two (2) absences every the classroom every day
FEDERAL WAY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT month adds up to 20 school days! has the greatest impact on
Federal Way Public Schools does not discriminate in any Students who miss 10%, or 18 scholar learning.
programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin
days, in a school year are at risk of We believe we must
or ethnicity, religion, creed, sex or gender, sexual orientation,
gender expression or identity, age, marital or family status, falling behind academically. continually learn and grow
veteran or military status, disability, or the use of a trained dog
Here are 3 simple tips to help in our practice if we are
guide or service animal. The District provides equal access to
the Boy Scouts of America and other designated youth groups. you and your child get ready for to meet the needs of all
If you have questions or complaints regarding alleged school every day: scholars.
discrimination please contact the district office at 33330 8th
Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 98003 and ask for one of the • Set your alarm, leaving extra We believe we must
following coordinators listed below. time for unexpected delays. intentionally collaborate
Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator
• Lay out clothing and supplies and use data as a guide to
Dan Dizon | compliance@fwps.org | 253-945-2000
Title IX Coordinator for the next day. improve our practice.
Dan Dizon | titleix@fwps.org | 253-945-2000 • Make sure your transportation We believe our families are
504/ADA Compliance Coordinator
plan is in order. critical partners in each
Executive Director of Student Support Services
504@fwps.org | 253-945-2000 child’s learning.
Revised 8/9/2019
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 22019
2020 FWPS Calendar
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 27 28 29 30 31 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 29 30 31
JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL
S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 26 27 28 29 30
MAY JUNE
2 019 –2 02 0 I M P O R TA N T D AT E S S M T W T F S S M T W T F S
1 2 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sep 6 First Day of Kindergarten
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
Sep 16–20 Open House
Jan 30 End of Semester 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
17 18 19 20 21 22 23 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
N O N - S C H O O L D AY S 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 28 29 30
31
Oct 11 District Professional Development Day
Nov 11 Veterans Day
Nov 28–29 Thanksgiving Break First Day
Dec 23– Jan 3 Winter Break No School
Jan 20 MLK Day
Scholar-Led Conferences/No School
Jan 31 Semester Break
Early Release
KEY
Feb 14 Snow Make Up Day
Feb 17 Presidents Day Early Dismissal
Apr 6–10 Spring Break District Professional Development Day
May 25 Memorial Day Seniors’ Last Day
June 15–16 Snow Make Up Days Last Day/Early Dismissal
05/22/19
EACH SCHOLAR: A VOICE. A DREAM. A BRIGHT FUTURE.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 3RELIGION W H E N T H E Y FA S T H O W T H E Y FA S T W H Y T H E Y FA S T
Baha’i The Baha’i fast takes place Abstain from food and drink To focus on love of God
during Ala, the 19th month from sunrise to sunset. and spiritual matters.
of the Baha’í year, from
March 2-20.
Buddhist All the main branches of Depending on the Buddhist A method of purification.
Buddhism practice some tradition, fasting usually means Theravadin and Tendai
periods of fasting, usually abstaining from solid food, Buddhist monks fast as
on full-moon days and other with some liquids permitted. a means of freeing the
holidays. mind. Some Tibetan
Buddhist monks fast
to aid yogic feats, like
generating inner heat.
Catholic Catholics fast and abstain On Ash Wednesday and Good Teaches control of fleshly
from meat on Ash Friday, two small meals and desires, penance for sins,
Wednesday and Good Friday, one regular meal are allowed; and solidarity with the
and abstain from meat on meat is forbidden. On Fridays poor. The Lenten fast
all Fridays in Lent. For many in Lent, no meat is allowed. prepares the soul for a
centuries, Catholics were For the optional Friday fast, great feast by practicing
forbidden to eat meat on some people substitute a austerity. The Good Friday
all Fridays, but since the different penance or special fast commemorates the
mid-1960s, abstaining from prayer instead of fasting. day Christ suffered.
meat on Fridays outside of
Lent has been a matter of
local discretion.
Eastern There are several fast In general, meat, dairy Strengthens resistance
Orthodox periods, including Lent, products, and eggs are to gluttony; helps open a
Apostles’ Fast, Dormition prohibited. Fish is prohibited person to God’s grace.
Fast, and the Nativity Fast, on some fast days and allowed
and several one-day fasts. on others.
Every Wednesday and Friday
is considered a fast day,
except those that fall during
designated “fast-free weeks.”
Hindu Fasting is commonly Depends on the individual. A way to enhance
practiced on New Moon and Fasting may involve 24 hours concentration during
Full Moon days and during of complete abstinence from meditation or worship;
festivals such as Shivaratri, any food or drink, but is more purification for the system;
Saraswati Puja, and Durga often an elimination of solid sometimes considered a
Puja (also known as foods, with an occasional drink sacrifice.
Navaratri). Women in North of milk or water.
India also fast on the day of
Karva Chauth.
Jewish Yom Kippur, the Day of On Yom Kippur and Tisha Atonement for sins and/or
Atonement, is the best- B’Av, eating and drinking are special requests to God.
known fast day. The Jewish forbidden for a 25-hour period,
calendar has six other fast from sundown to sundown.
days as well, including Tisha On the other fast days, eating
B’Av, the day on which the and drinking are forbidden
destruction of the Jewish only from sunrise to sundown.
Temple took place.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 4RELIGION W H E N T H E Y FA S T H O W T H E Y FA S T W H Y T H E Y FA S T
The Church of The first Sunday of each Abstain from food and drink Closeness to God;
Jesus Christ month is a fast day. for two consecutive meals and concentration on God
of Latter-day Individuals, families, or wards donate food or money to the and religion. Individual or
Saints may hold other fasts at will. needy. After the fast, church family fasts might be held
members participate in a “fast to petition for a specific
and testimony meeting.” cause, such as healing for
one who is sick or help
with making a difficult
decision.
Muslim Ramadan, the ninth month Abstain from food, drink, Some Muslims fast
of the Muslim calendar, is a smoking, profane language, every Monday (some
mandatory fasting period and sexual intercourse from say Thursday) because
that commemorates the before the break of dawn until Prophet Muhammad was
period when the Qur’an was sunset for the entire month. said to do this, and some
first revealed to Prophet fast during the month of
Muhammad. Various Muslim Sha’baan, which precedes
customs recommend days Ramadan, and especially
and periods of fasting in during the three days
addition to Ramadan. leading up to Ramadan.
Pagan No organized fast days, but At the discretion of the Intended to purify a
some pagans choose to fast individual, some totally abstain person energetically;
in preparation for Ostara from food, others reduce how often used to raise
(spring equinox). much they eat. vibrational levels as
preparation for magical
work. Ostara fasting is
used to cleanse oneself
from heavier winter foods.
Protestant At the discretion of Though some people abstain Evangelical fasts have
(Evangelical) individuals, churches, from food or drink entirely, become increasingly
organizations, or others drink only water or popular in recent years,
communities. juice, eat only certain foods, with people fasting for
skip certain meals, or abstain spiritual nourishment,
from temptations, edible or solidarity with
not. impoverished people, a
counterbalance to modern
consumer culture, or to
petition God for special
needs.
Protestant Not a major part of the Discretion of those fasting. For spiritual improvement
(Mainline) tradition, but fasts can be or to advance a political
held at the discretion of or social-justice agenda.
communities, churches, One example: the ELCA’s
other groups, and “Campaign of Prayer,
individuals. Fasting, and Vigils.”
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 5Observances by Month
The increasingly pluralistic population of the United States
is made up of many different ethnic, cultural, faith and
religious communities. To enhance mutual understanding
and respect among various groups, this calendar of
Observances by Month serves as a tool to increase
awareness and sensitivity about religious obligations
as well as ethnic and cultural festivities that may affect
students, colleagues and neighbors in your community.
Religious Observations
The multi-faith calendar includes significant religious
observances of the major faiths represented in the
United States. It can be used as a resource when
planning school exam schedules and activities,
“We are committed to providing learning
or when scheduling workplace festivities and
community events. Note that Bahá’í, Jewish and environments in which your child, and each
Islamic holidays begin at sundown the previous of our approximately 23,000 student-scholars,
day and end at sundown on the date listed. Muslim learns at high levels with the academic and
holiday dates may vary based on interpretations of
social-emotional supports they need to
the lunar calendar.
graduate college-and-career ready.”
National and International Holidays
The calendar notes U.S. holidays that are either S U P E R I N T E N T D E N T D R . TA M M Y C A M P B E L L
legal holidays or observed in various states and
communities throughout the country. Important
national and international observances that may be
commemorated in the U.S. are also included.
Calendar System
The dates of secular holidays are based on the
Gregorian calendar, which is commonly used for civil
dating purposes. Many religions and cultures follow
various traditional calendar systems that are often
based on the phases of the moon with occasional
adjustments for the solar cycle. Therefore, specific
Gregorian calendar dates for these observances will
differ from year to year. In addition, calculation of
specific dates may vary by geographical location and
according to different sects within a given religion.
Sources
www.DiversityBestPractices.com
www.k12.wa.us/Equity/Holidays.aspx (OSPI)
www.adl.org (Anti-Defamation League)
www.Calendarpedia.com
www.timeanddate.com
www.chabad.org
www.catholic.org
www.pacer.org
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 6September
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
September 1 Hijri New Year is the day that marks the beginning of the new Islamic calendar year.
September 2 Labor Day in the United States honors the contribution that laborers have made to the
country and is observed on the first Monday of September.
September 9–10 Ashura is recognized by Muslims to mark the martyrdom of Hussain, and
commemorates the day Noah left the ark and the day Allah saved Moses from the
Egyptians.
September 12 Ethiopian New Year: Rastafarians celebrate the New Year on this date and believe that
Ethiopia is their spiritual home.
September 15– NATIONAL HISPANIC-LATINX HERITAGE MONTH
October 15
September 16 Mexican Independence Day commemorates the 1810 revolution that ended
Spanish dictatorship.
Papua New Guinea Independence Day
September 17 Constitution Day and Citizenship Day commemorates the ratification of the United
States Constitution in 1787 and honors all who have become United States citizens.
September 23 Saudi Arabia National Day commemorates the country’s unification.
Autumnal Equinox
September 28 Teacher’s Day in Taiwan is used to honor teachers’ contributions to their students and
to society in general. This date was chosen to commemorate the birth of Confucius,
the model master educator in ancient China.
September 30 Rosh-Hashanah is the Jewish New Year celebration, marking the creation of the world
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 7October
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
NATIONAL BULLYING PREVENTION MONTH is recognized around the world. Founded in 2006, this campaign
is intended to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention and also to change the culture around
bullying, which was historically considered a childhood rite of passage.
LGBT HISTORY MONTH is a U.S. observance started in 1994 to recognize lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender
history and the history of the gay rights movement.
NATIONAL DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT AWARENESS MONTH draws attention to employment barriers that still
need to be addressed.
October 3 Iraq National Day
Republic of Korea National Foundation Day
October 4 St. Francis Day is the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the
environment, celebrated by many Catholic denominations.
Blessing of the Animals: Unitarian Universalists have adopted the Catholic tradition of
blessing animals, as St. Francis was known for his special connection to animals.
October 8 Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, is a day of atonement marked by
fasting and ceremonial repentance.
October 11 National Coming Out Day: 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 and lesbian equality.
October 13–20 Sukkot (Feast of Booths or Tabernacles) is a seven day Jewish festival giving thanks for the
fall harvest and remembrance of the journey of the children of Israel out of Egypt.
October 14 Canadian Thanksgiving is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and
other fortunes in the past year.
National Indigenous People’s Day is an alternative celebration to Columbus Day, giving
recognition to the indigenous populations of America affected by colonization.
October 19 This day marks the beginning of Dussehra (Dasera), a ten-day festival celebrated by
Hindus to recognize Rama’s victory over evil.
October 20–22 Shemini Atzeret, “The Eighth (Day) of Assembly” is the observed on the day following the
Jewish festival Sukkot.
October 21–22 Simchat Torah marks the end of the weekly readings of the Torah. Jewish people read the
Torah in a cycle to acknowledge the words of the holy book being circular, never-ending.
October 27–31 Diwali, the Hindu, Jain and Sikh five-day festival of lights celebrates new beginnings and
the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness.
October 29 The Birth of Bahá’u’lláh is celebrated as the founder of the Bahá’í religion.
October 31 Halloween, or Samhain, is a Pagan and Gaelic acknowledgement of death, ancestors, and
winter. It is also observed as a mainstream holiday in a number of countries.
Reformation Day, a Protestant Christian holiday, is celebrated alongside Halloween during
the triduum of Allhallowtide in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation.
October 31– Mexican family and friends gather during Dia de los Muertos, a time of remembrance for
November 2 dead ancestors and a celebration of the continuity of life.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 8November
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans.
November 1 All Saints Day honors Christian saints, men and women who lived holy lives, some
martyred for their faith. In Eastern Christianity, the day is observed on the first Sunday
after Pentecost.
November 2 Christians celebrate All Souls Day to commemorate all faithful Christians who have died.
November 3 National Day for the Federated States of Micronesia
November 4 National Day for Tonga
November 9 Cambodian Independence Day
November 9–10 Eid Milad Un Nabi is an Islamic holiday commemorating the Prophet Muhammad’s
birthday. During this celebration, homes and mosques are decorated, large parades
take place, and those observing the holiday participate in charity events.
November 11 Veterans Day is an annual United States 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 the first World War in 1918.
November 14– Nativity Fast, a period of abstinence and penance practiced by the Eastern Orthodox,
December 24 Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Catholic churches to prepare for the Nativity of Jesus.
November 16 International Day for Tolerance by the United Nations encourages tolerance, respect,
dialogue and cooperation among different cultures and peoples.
November 20 Transgender Day of Remembrance was established in 1998 to memorialize those who
have been killed as a result of transphobia, and to raise awareness of the continued
violence endured by the transgender community.
November 24 Feast of Christ the King, part of the Catholic liturgical year, recognizes the royalty of
Christ and encourages participants to consider time as a gift from God.
November 28 In the United States, Thanksgiving is always celebrated on the fourth Thursday of
November. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessing of the harvest and of
the preceding year.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 9December
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
December 1 World AIDS Day was created to commemorate those who have died of AIDS, and to
acknowledge the need for a continued commitment to all those affected by the HIV/
AIDS epidemic.
December 1–24 Advent is the time of Christian celebration leading up to the birth of Christ.
December 3 International Day of Persons with Disabilities is designed to raise awareness of persons
with disabilities in order to improve their lives and provide equal opportunity.
December 10 International Human Rights Day was established by the United Nations in 1948 to
commemorate the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
December 12 Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Catholics commemorate the appearance of the
Virgin Mary near Mexico City in 1531.
December 13 St. Lucia’s Day, a festival of light celebrated most commonly in Scandinavia and Italy,
honors a young girl who was killed for her Christian faith in 304 AD.
December 16–24 Las Posadas, a nine-day Catholic celebration in Mexico, commemorates the trials Mary
and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.
December 21 The Winter Solstice/ Yule: For Pagans and Wiccans, the shortest day of the year
represents a celebration focusing on rebirth, renewal, and new beginnings as the sun
makes its way back to the earth. A solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice
each year when the sun reaches its highest position in the sky.
December 22–30 Hanukkah is celebrated by those of the Jewish faith around the world for eight days
and nights. Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Israelites over the Greek-Syrian
ruler, Antiochus about 2200 years ago.
December 25 Christmas is the day that Christians associate with Jesus’s birth.
December 26– Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday started by Maulana Karenga in 1966 to celebrate
January 1 universal African-American heritage.
December 29 Feast of the Holy Family is a liturgical celebration in the Catholic Church in honor of
Jesus, his mother and his foster father, St. Joseph as a family. The primary purpose of
this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 10January
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
January 1 New Year’s Day is the first day of the Gregorian calendar.
January 2 Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday: the Tenth Guru of the Sikhs is known as the Father of
the Khalsa, the pure ones.
January 6 Epiphany, celebrated by Eastern and Western Christians around the world, recognizes
the visit of the three wise men to the baby Jesus twelve days after his birth.
Armenian Orthodox Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on Epiphany.
January 7 Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus, thirteen days later
than other churches because they follow the Julian calendar.
January 10–12 Mahayana New Year is a holiday celebrated by the Mahayana Buddhist branch on the
first full-moon day in January.
January 15 Makar Sankranti, Hindu, is a major harvest festival celebrated in various parts of India.
January 18–25 During The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Christians pray for unity between all
churches of the Christian faith.
January 19 World Religion Day, observed by those of the Baha’i faith, promotes interfaith
harmony and understanding.
January 20 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday: Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, Dr. King
advocated non-violent social change until his assassination in 1968.
January 25 Lunar New Year, widely celebrated in South East Asian countries, honors ancestors and
is geared toward family celebrations. It takes place on the first day of the first month
according to the Chinese calendar, whose months coordinate with the phases of the
moon.
Chinese New Year, one of the most sacred of all traditional Chinese holidays, is a time
of family reunion and celebration.
January 26 Republic Day of India: commemorates the date the Constitution of India became law,
coinciding with India’s 1930 declaration of independence.
January 27 The International Day of Commemoration/UN Holocaust Memorial Day remembers
the victims of the Holocaust, marking the anniversary of the liberation of the
Auschwitz death camp in 1945.
January 30 Bodhi Day is a holiday observed by Buddhists to commemorate Gautama’s
enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, India.
January 31 The birthday of Guru Har Rai, the seventh Sikh guru, is celebrated.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 11February
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
BLACK HISTORY MONTH / AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH, in the United States and Canada, was
designated in 1976 to remember the contributions of people of the African Diaspora.
February 1 National Freedom Day commemorates the passage of the 13th Amendment,
abolishing slavery in 1865.
February 8 Lantern Festival is the first significant feast after Chinese New Year, so called because
the most important activity during the night of the event is watching Chinese lanterns
illuminate the night sky.
February 9–10 Tu B’shevat, a Jewish holiday recognizing “The New Year of the Trees,” is observed by
planting trees and eating dried fruits and nuts.
February 15 Nirvana Day, Buddhist, honors the day Buddha achieved complete Nirvana upon the
death of his physical body.
February 17 Presidents’ Day, a federally recognized holiday in the United States, celebrates George
Washington’s birthday and all U.S. Presidents.
February 20 World Day of Social Justice is a United Nations day to recognize efforts to achieve
fair outcomes for all through employment, social protection, social dialogue, and
fundamental principles and rights at work.
February 22 Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu holiday that honors Shiva, one of the Hindu deities.
February 24–26 Losar, the Tibetan Buddhist New Year, is a time of renewal through sacred and secular
practices.
February 25 Shrove Tuesday is a day of penitence and the last chance to feast before Lent begins.
Also known as Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday and Carnival Day, this day is observed in many
ways worldwide.
February 26 Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent in the Christian faith. As a display of
atonement, ashes are marked on worshippers. Lent, observed during the seven
weeks prior to Easter, is a time of reflection and preparation for the Holy Week and is
observed by fasting, charitable giving, and worshipping.
February 26–29 Intercalary Days is celebrated by people of the Baha’i faith. At this time, days are
added to the Baha’i calendar to maintain their solar calendar. Intercalary days are
observed with gift giving, special acts of charity, and preparation for the fasting that
precedes the New Year.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 12March
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH was started in 1987 to recognize all women for their valuable
contributions to history and society.
NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH increases awareness and understanding of
issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
NATIONAL MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS EDUCATION AND AWARENESS MONTH was established to raise public
awareness of the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and assist those with multiple
sclerosis in making informed decisions about their health care.
March 1–19 Nineteen-Day Fast, for members of the Baha’i faith, is meant to reinvigorate the soul
and bring one closer to God. It takes place immediately before the Bahá’í New Year.
March 2 Clean Monday, the beginning of Great Lent for Eastern Christian churches, starts 40
days before Orthodox Easter, counting Sundays.
March 8 International Women’s Day, first observed in 1911 in Germany, has become a major
global celebration honoring women’s economic, political, and social achievements.
March 9 Magha Puja Day is a Buddhist holiday that marks an event early in the Buddha’s
teaching life when a group of enlightened saints gathered to pay their respect to him.
March 10 Purim marks the time when the Jewish community living in Persia was saved from
genocide. To commemorate, Jewish people offer charity and share food with friends.
Holi, a Hindu and Sikh spring religious festival, is celebrated by throwing colored
powder and water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before in the memory of young
Prahlad escaping a fiery death from Demoness Holika.
March 13–April 15 DEAF HISTORY MONTH celebrates key events in deaf history, including the founding of
Gallaudet University and the American School for the Deaf.
March 17 St. Patrick’s Day started in Ireland to recognize the patron saint of Ireland, who brought
Christianity to the country.
March 19 Nowruz/Norooz, Persian New Year, is a day of joy, celebration and renewal.
Ostara/Eostre is a celebration of the spring equinox commemorated by Pagans and
Wiccans to mark the coming of spring and the fertility of the land.
March 20 Naw-Rúz, the Bahá’í New Year, is a holiday celebrated on the vernal equinox. It is one of
the nine Bahá’í holy days on which work is suspended
March 21 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a call to action to
eliminate all forms of racial discrimination worldwide.
March 22 Lailat-al-Miraj is a Muslim holiday that commemorates the Prophet Muhammad’s
journey from Mecca to Jerusalem where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and
given the instruction for Muslims to pray five times daily.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 13April
D AT E O B S E R VA N C E
CELEBRATE DIVERSITY MONTH was started in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all.
By celebrating differences and similarities during this month, organizers hope that people will gain a deeper
understanding of one another.
AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH was established to raise awareness about the developmental disorder that
affects children’s normal development of social and communication skills.
April 2 World Autism Awareness Day was created to raise awareness of the developmental
disorder around the globe.
Ram Navani is a Hindu day of worship and celebration of the seventh incarnation of
Vishnu (Lord Rama). Devotees wear red and place flowers on the shrine of the God.
April 5 Palm Sunday, a Christian holiday, commemorating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
It is the last Sunday of Lent and the beginning of the Holy Week.
April 8 Lailat al Bara’a, also known as Barat, or Night of Forgiveness, is an Islamic holiday
during which practitioners of the faith seek forgiveness for sins.
April 8–16 Passover is an eight-day Jewish holiday and festival in commemoration of the
emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
April 9 Holy Thursday (or Maundy Thursday) is the Christian holiday commemorating the Last
Supper, at which Jesus and the Apostles were together for the last time before the
crucifixion. It is celebrated on the Thursday before Easter.
April 10 Good Friday is a day recognized by Christians on the Friday before Easter to
commemorate the execution of Jesus by crucifixion.
April 12 Easter, a holiday celebrated by Christians, recognizes Jesus’s return from death after
crucifixion.
April 14 Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi), celebrates the founding of the Sikh community as the
Khalsa (community of the initiated) and the birth of the Khalsa.
April 17 On the Day of Silence, students take a daylong vow of silence to protest the actual
silencing of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students and their straight
allies due to bias and harassment.
April 20–May 1 The Festival of Ridvan is a holiday celebrated by the Baha’i faith commemorating the
twelve days when the prophet-founder Baha’u’llah resided in Ridvan (Paradise) and
publicly proclaimed His mission as God’s messenger for this age.
April 22 Earth Day promotes peace and sustainability of planet Earth with global events.
April 24 Armenian Martyrs’ Day recognizes the genocide of approximately 1.5 million
Armenians between 1915 and 1923 in Turkey.
April 24–May 23 Ramadan is an Islamic holiday marked by fasting, praise, prayer and devotion to Islam.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 14May
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ASIAN-AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH in the United States, was chosen to
commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the
anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers
who laid the tracks on the project were Chinese immigrants.
OLDER AMERICANS MONTH was established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older
Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life.
JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH recognizes the diverse contributions of the Jewish people to American
culture.
May 5 Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday commemorating the 1862 victory at the Battle
of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. This day celebrates Mexican culture and
heritage, including parades and mariachi music performances.
May 7 Buddha Day (Vesak or Visakha Puja), a Buddhist festival that marks Gautama
Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, falls on the day of the full moon.
May 17 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia is a global
celebration of sexual orientation and gender diversities.
May 19 Lailat-al-Qadir, the holiest night of the year for Muslims, is celebrated on the 27th
day of Ramadan. This “Night of Power” commemorates the Quran being revealed to
the Prophet Muhammad.
May 21 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development acknowledges
the diversity in cultures as a source of innovation, exchange and creativity, and an
obligation to create a peaceful and equitable society based on mutual respect.
Ascension Day is celebrated by Christians forty days after Easter, commemorating
the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
May 23–24 Eid-al-Fitr, the first day of the Islamic month of Shawwal, marks the end of Ramadan.
Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to sermons and give food as charity.
May 25 Memorial Day in the United States is a federal holiday established to honor military
veterans who died in wars fought by American forces.
May 29–30 Shavuot, the Jewish “Feast of Weeks,” celebrates the covenant established at Mt.
Sinai between God and Israel and the revelation of the Ten Commandments.
May 31 Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter, marks a Christian commemoration of the
descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and women followers of Jesus. It marks
the birth of the Christian Church.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 15June
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LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH recognizes the impact that gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender individuals have had on the world, celebrated with pride parades, picnics, parties,
and memorials for those lost to hate crimes and HIV/AIDS.
June 14 Flag Day in the United States celebrates the history and symbolism of the American
flag.
All Saints’ Day, observed in Eastern Orthodox Christian churches on the first Sunday
after Pentecost, commemorates all known and unknown Christian saints.
June 15 Native American Citizenship Day commemorates the day in 1924 when the United
States Congress passed legislation recognizing the citizenship of Native Americans.
June 16 The Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev is observed by members of the Sikh faith. Guru
Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh guru and the first Sikh martyr.
June 19 Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is observed as a
public holiday in fourteen states in the United States. It 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, and so became the day of emancipation for thousands of
Black Americans. It is now celebrated throughout the U.S. to honor African-American
freedom and achievement.
June 20 World Refugee Day is set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness about the
plight of refugees and displaced persons.
June 28 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) Pride Day in the United States
commemorates the Stonewall Riots on June 28, 1969. It also marks the month that
same-sex marriage was legalized in the United States.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 16July
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July 1 Canada Day or Fête du Canada is a Canadian federal holiday that celebrates the
1867 enactment of the Constitution Act, which established the three former British
colonies of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, as a united nation called
Canada.
July 4 Independence Day (also known as the Fourth of July) is a United States federal
holiday that celebrates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4,
1776. The original thirteen American colonies declared independence from Britain,
and established themselves as a new nation known as the United States of America.
July 5 Asalha Puja Day or Dharma Day is a celebration of Buddha’s first teachings.
July 9 The Martyrdom of the Bab, Baha’, observes the anniversary of the Bab’s execution in
Tabriz, Iran, in 1850.
July 14 Bastille Day is a French federal holiday that commemorates the Storming of
the Bastilleon in 1789, regarded as the turning point of the French Revolution.
Celebrations are held throughout France.
July 18 Nelson Mandela International Day, recognizing Nelson Mandela’s birthday, was
unanimously adopted in 2009 by the UN General Assembly. More than a celebration
of “Madiba’s” life and legacy, it is a global movement to honor his life’s work and
encourage action to change the world for the better.
July 23 The Birthday of Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, is celebrated by
Rastafarians who consider him their Savior.
July 24 Pioneer Day, observed by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
commemorates the arrival in 1847 of the first Latter-day Saints pioneer in Salt Lake
Valley.
July 26 Disability Independence Day celebrates the anniversary of the 1990 signing of the
Americans with Disabilities Act.
July 30 International Day of Friendship, proclaimed in 2011 by the UN General Assembly,
fosters friendship between peoples, countries, cultures and individuals to inspire
peace efforts and build bridges between communities.
Tisha B’Av is a fast in commemoration of the destruction of two very holy and sacred
temples of Judaism destroyed by the Babylonians and Romans in ancient times. At
the of this fast, after passages from the Torah are read and understood, the washing
of the hands is performed.
July 31–August 3 Eid Al-Adha, an Islamic festival observed by Muslims around the world,
commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim to follow Allah’s command to sacrifice his
son Ishmael.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 17August
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August 3 Raksha Bandhan, a Hindu holiday, commemorates the loving kinship between a
brother and a sister. Raksha means protection in Hindi, and symbolizes the longing
a sister has to be protected by her brother. To celebrate, a sister ties a string around
her brother’s (or brother-figure’s) wrist, and asks him to protect her; the brother
gives the sister a gift and agrees to protect her for life.
August 6 Transfiguration is a holiday recognized by Orthodox Christians to celebrate when
Jesus communed with Moses and Elijah on Mount Tabor. To celebrate, adherents
have a feast.
August 9 International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples celebrates the richness of
indigenous cultures and recognizes the challenges indigenous peoples face today,
ranging from poverty to dispossession, discrimination and denial of basic human
rights.
August 12 International Youth Day celebrates young people and the integral role they play in
helping to create a world fit for children.
August 17 Marcus Garvey Day celebrates the birthday of the Jamaican politician and activist
revered by Rastafarians. Garvey began the Back to Africa movement, which
encouraged those of African descent to return to the land of their ancestors during
and after slavery in North America.
August 20 Murharram (Al-Hijrah or New Year) begins the first month in the Islamic year, a time
of mourning and peace.
August 22 Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu holiday lasting around 10 days, where the elephant-
headed Hindu God is praised and given offerings.
August 23 International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade is the anniversary of the
uprising in Santo Domingo (today Haiti and the Dominican Republic) that initiated
the abolition of slavery in the Caribbean.
August 26 Women’s Equality Day honors the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the
United States Constitution that gave women the right to vote. It was first introduced
in 1971 by Congresswoman Bella Abzug.
Cultural & Religious Calendar Federal Way Public Schools 18You can also read
