Religious Holidays:
⭐ Rosh Hashanah: (Sundown October 2 – Sundown October 4): Rosh Hashanah, which is Hebrew for “first of the year,” is one of the holiest days in Judaism, celebrating the New Year, the birthday of the Universe, and the creation of Adam and Eve. It is part of the High Holidays with Yom Kippur, which comes 10 days later (September 24th – September 25th). Rosh Hashanah is a time of rejoicing and introspection; it offers an occasion to celebrate the completion of another year while also providing an opportunity to take stock of one’s life and contemplate the upcoming year.
⭐ Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Evening October 11 – October 12): Yom Kippur is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. It marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.
⭐ Sukkot (Sundown October 16 – Sundown October 23): Sukkot is a Jewish festival of thanksgiving and harvest commemorating the dwelling of the ancient Israelites in booths in the wilderness.
⭐ Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) (October 23 – October 25) and Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing in Torah”) (October 24 – October 25) are two holidays that come at the conclusion of Sukkot – in Israel they are combined into one holiday; in the rest of the world, they are celebrated over two consecutive days. These two holidays anticipate the coming year with prayer and engaging with the Torah.
Religious Holidays:
⭐ Rosh Hashanah: (Sundown October 2 – Sundown October 4): Rosh Hashanah, which is Hebrew for “first of the year,” is one of the holiest days in Judaism, celebrating the New Year, the birthday of the Universe, and the creation of Adam and Eve. It is part of the High Holidays with Yom Kippur, which comes 10 days later (September 24th – September 25th). Rosh Hashanah is a time of rejoicing and introspection; it offers an occasion to celebrate the completion of another year while also providing an opportunity to take stock of one’s life and contemplate the upcoming year.
⭐ Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) (Evening October 11 – October 12): Yom Kippur is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. It marks the culmination of the Ten Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.
⭐ Sukkot (Sundown October 16 – Sundown October 23): Sukkot is a Jewish festival of thanksgiving and harvest commemorating the dwelling of the ancient Israelites in booths in the wilderness.
⭐ Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly) (October 23 – October 25) and Simchat Torah (“Rejoicing in Torah”) (October 24 – October 25) are two holidays that come at the conclusion of Sukkot – in Israel they are combined into one holiday; in the rest of the world, they are celebrated over two consecutive days. These two holidays anticipate the coming year with prayer and engaging with the Torah.
Cultural Holidays:
⭐ International Day of Older Persons (October 1): The United Nations sets aside October 1 to draw attention to the challenges of population aging in the twenty-first century and to promote societal development for people of all ages. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected.
⭐ German American Heritage Day (October 6): This day honors the contributions German Americans have made to the country.
⭐ Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 14): Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in the United States and across the world.
⭐ Columbus Day (October 14): Columbus Day was made a federal holiday in the United States in 1968, set to begin in 1971. In 1934, Congress passed a statute requesting an annual proclamation from the President. According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress believed that “by commemorating Columbus’s voyage…the nation would be honoring the courage and determination which enabled generations of immigrants from many nations to find freedom and opportunity in America.”
Cultural Holidays:
⭐ International Day of Older Persons (October 1): The United Nations sets aside October 1 to draw attention to the challenges of population aging in the twenty-first century and to promote societal development for people of all ages. Seventy-five years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected.
⭐ German American Heritage Day (October 6): This day honors the contributions German Americans have made to the country.
⭐ Indigenous Peoples’ Day (October 14): Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in the United States and across the world.
⭐ Columbus Day (October 14): Columbus Day was made a federal holiday in the United States in 1968, set to begin in 1971. In 1934, Congress passed a statute requesting an annual proclamation from the President. According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress believed that “by commemorating Columbus’s voyage…the nation would be honoring the courage and determination which enabled generations of immigrants from many nations to find freedom and opportunity in America.”
Awareness Week/Month Celebrations:
⭐ Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM): During DVAM, victim advocates, allied professionals, survivors of abuse, their loved ones, and the surrounding community come together to mourn the lives lost to domestic violence and connect with others working to create change.
⭐ National ADHD Awareness Month: October is National ADHD Awareness Month. ADHD Awareness Month is dedicated to educating the public about ADHD, promoting research about ADHD, and helping to develop communities of support and professional development for those with ADHD.
⭐ National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM): The event began in 1985 as a weeklong awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in collaboration with Imperial Chemical Industries.
⭐ National Disability Employment Awareness Month: In 1945, Congress designated the first week of October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,” in part, to help disabled WWII veterans find employment. Since then, the concept of disability has shifted.
⭐ National Transfer Student Week: The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) declares the third week of each October as National Transfer Student Week (NTSW). NISTS organizes National Transfer Student Week to celebrate transfer students, educate others about the diverse needs of the transfer population, and recognize the professionals who support them on their journeys.
Awareness Week/Month Celebrations:
⭐ Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM): During DVAM, victim advocates, allied professionals, survivors of abuse, their loved ones, and the surrounding community come together to mourn the lives lost to domestic violence and connect with others working to create change.
⭐ National ADHD Awareness Month: October is National ADHD Awareness Month. ADHD Awareness Month is dedicated to educating the public about ADHD, promoting research about ADHD, and helping to develop communities of support and professional development for those with ADHD.
⭐ National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM): The event began in 1985 as a weeklong awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in collaboration with Imperial Chemical Industries.
⭐ National Disability Employment Awareness Month: In 1945, Congress designated the first week of October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,” in part, to help disabled WWII veterans find employment. Since then, the concept of disability has shifted.
⭐ National Transfer Student Week: The National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students (NISTS) declares the third week of each October as National Transfer Student Week (NTSW). NISTS organizes National Transfer Student Week to celebrate transfer students, educate others about the diverse needs of the transfer population, and recognize the professionals who support them on their journeys.