More Information About Commemorative and Public Holidays - Diversity Calender
On this page, you can find more information about the commemorative and public holidays featured on our Diversity Calendar. Through the provided links, you can access websites such as Wikipedia, where you’ll find an initial overview of the background, context, and origins of these special days.
January
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
New Year | Goes back to a Roman Tradition | A public holiday on which the beginning of the year is celebrated. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christmas | Christian Holidays | The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated according to the Julian calendar and therefore falls on January 7th. Read more on the website Middle East Eye. |
Voodoo Festival | Benin Tradition/ African Spirituality | Celebrates the ancient religion of voodoo and is a public holiday in Benin, West Africa. Further informations on the website of World Nomads. |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Commemorative Day | An U.S. holiday observed annually on the third Monday in January to honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Memorial Day for the Victims of National Socialism | Commemorative Day | A day of remembrance and action for the victims of National Socialism. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Chinese New Year | Chinese Holidays | A Chinese holiday that celebrates the new year. Further informations on the website of Chinese New Year. |
February
Black History Month: An annual celebration in February (in the US and Canada) or October (in the UK) that recognizes the achievements and history of the African diaspora. It serves to raise awareness of the contributions, struggles and cultural heritage of black people and to work towards social justice. Read more on the website of History.
| Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
International Day for Women and Girls in Science | Action Day | Recognizes the important contributions of women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Read more on the official website of women in science day. |
Parinirvana | Buddhist Holidays | Celebrated by Buddhists on February 15 and commemorates the death and final entry of Buddha into Nirvana. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Weiberfastnacht | Christian Holidays | Marks the beginning of the street carnival and is traditionally celebrated on the Thursday before Rosenmontag, especially in the Rhineland. Further informations on the website German Culture. |
Losar | Buddhist Holidays | The Tibetan New Year is celebrated from Feb. 28 to March 2 (depending on the lunar calendar). Read more on the website Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia. |
March
Gender Equality Month: Stands for the pursuit of equal opportunities and justice for all genders. It is a time to celebrate progress and continue to advocate for justice and equality. Read more on the website of the United Nations.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Ramadan | Muslim Holidays | The holy month of fasting and reflection for Muslims worldwide. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Rose Monday | Christian Holidays | The highlight of the carnival season and is celebrated with colorful parades and exuberant celebrations. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Ash Wednesday | Christian Holidays | Marks the beginning of the 40-day fasting period before Easter. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
International Women's Day | Action day | Recognizes the achievements of women and calls for equality. Read more on the website of the International Women's Day. |
Holi | Hindu Holidays | The Indian festival of colors, celebrates the arrival of spring and the triumph of good over evil. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
St. Patricks Day | Commemorative Day | An Irish holiday in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. Further informations on the website of national geographics. |
International Day against Racial Discrimination | Action Day | This day focuses on the fight against racism. It reminds us to protect the diversity of humanity and fight discrimination. Further informations on the website of the United Nations. |
Lailat al-Qadr | Muslim Holidays | Marks the Night of Destiny is considered the holiest night in Ramadan, when the first revelation of the Quran took place. Read more on the website Middle East Eye. |
Eid al-Fitr | Muslim Holidays | Marks the end of Ramadan and is a festival of thanksgiving and joy. Read more on the website of Britannica. |
April
Autism Awareness Month: Raises awareness of the challenges and strengths of people with autism. The aim is to promote inclusion and break down prejudices. Read more on the website of autism speaks.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Girls‘ and Boys‘ Day | Action Day | Young people have the opportunity to gain an insight into professions that are not "typical" for their gender. Read more on deutschland.de. |
Qingming Festival | Chinese Holidays | A Chinese holiday on which families commemorate their ancestors. Read more on Wikipedia. |
International Romani Day | Commemoration and Action Day | Honors the culture and history of the Roma and Sinti and calls for solidarity and respect for this community. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Pessach | Jewish Holidays | Commemorates the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their liberation from slavery. Further informations on chabad.org. |
Songkran | Buddhist Holidays | Marks the Thai New Year and is celebrated with joyful water fights. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Vaisakhi | Sikh Holidays | An important holiday for the Sikh and Hindu community, which marks the harvest festival and the founding of the Khalsa in Sikhism. Read more on the website sikhnet. |
Good Friday | Christian Holidays | A Christian day of remembrance of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Easter Sunday | Christian Holidays | Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus and is the most important Christian holiday. Further informations on the website Christianity.com |
Easter Monday | Christian Holidays | Continues the Easter celebrations and is often spent with outings and family time. Further informations on the blog Christian Tone. |
May
Mental Health Month: Raises global awareness over mental health and reduces stigma. Read more on Wikipedia.
Diversity Month: Celebrates the diversity of cultures, perspectives and lifestyles to promote inclusion. Read more on the website of the European Commission.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Labour Day (in Germany) | Action Day | A public holiday in Germany that honors the achievements of the labor movement. Read more on the website OfficeHolidays. |
Mother's Day | Commemoration Day | Mothers and their important role in the family and society are celebrated. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia | Action Day | Draws attention to discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people. Further informations on the website of IDAHOBIT. |
World Day of Cultural Diversity | Action Day | On this day cultural diversity is celebrated as an enrichment for societies. Further informations on the website of the United Nations. |
Vesakh | Buddhist Holidays | An important Buddhist holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment and nirvana of Buddha Gautama. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Ascencion Day | Christian Holidays | Commemorates the return of Jesus Christ to God, as described in the Bible. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Father's Day | Commemoration Day | In Germany, Father's Day traditionally coincides with Ascension Day. It is often celebrated with outings and celebrations among friends. Read more on Wikipedia. |
June
Pride Month: Pride Month celebrates the diversity and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is a time for solidarity, pride and the fight against discrimination. Read more on Wikipedia.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Eid ul-Adha | Muslim Holidays | The Feast of Sacrifice is one of the most important festivals in Islam. Read more on the website of History. |
Whit Sunday | Christian Holidays | Marks the descent of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Christian church. Read more on the website crosswalk.com. |
Whit Monday | Christian Holidays | A public holiday in many countries and is often used for outings and social gatherings. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Corpus Christi | Christian Holidays | A Catholic holiday on which the presence of Christ in the Eucharist is celebrated. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Juneteenth | Commemorative Day | Commemorates the abolition of slavery in the USA. It is a day that honors freedom, equality and the history of the African-American community. Further informations on the website of History. |
World Refugee Day | Action Day | A day of remembrance to raise awareness of the millions of refugees worldwide. It is a day to show compassion and solidarity. Read more on the website of The UN Refugee Agency. |
Midsommar | Swedish Tradition/ | A traditional Scandinavian festival that celebrates the longest day of the year. Further informations on the website of Screen Rant. |
July
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Ashura | Muslim Holidays | An important day in the Islamic calendar, especially for Shiites, who commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein in Karbala. Read more on the website of Middle East Eye. |
Asalha Puja | Buddhist Holidays | Also known as Dharma Day, commemorates the Buddha's first sermon after his enlightenment. Read more on Wikipedia. |
August
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Romani Holocaust Memorial Day | Commemorative Day | This day commemorates the persecution and murder of Roma and Sinti in the Holocaust. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples | Action Day | This day recognizes the culture, history and rights of indigenous communities worldwide. Read more on the website of the United Nations. |
Janmashtami | Hindu Holidays | This day marks the birth of Lord Krishna, a central figure in Hinduism. More informations on Wikipedia. |
September
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
World Suicide Prevention Day | Action Day | This day aims to raise awareness of suicide prevention and emphasize the importance of mental health. Read more on the website of the World Health Organisation. |
International Day for Peace | Commemoration and Action Day | This day reminds us to overcome conflicts and stand together for a more peaceful world. Further informations on the website of the United Nations. |
Rosch ha-Schana | Jewish Holidays | The Jewish New Year is a time of reflection and new beginnings. Read more on bbc. |
Navaratri | Hindu Holidays | A major Hindu festival dedicated to the goddess Durga and her various forms for nine days. Further informations on drikpanchang.com. |
October
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
Yom Kippur | Jewish Holidays | The Day of Atonement is the most important holiday in Judaism. Further informations on the website of the Jerusalem Post. |
Day of German Unity | Commemorative Day | The national holiday of Germany and commemorates the reunification in 1990. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Mawlid | Muslim Holidays | This holiday celebrates the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed. Read more on Wikipedia. |
International Coming out Day | Action Day | This day celebrates and supports the public declaration of LGBTQ+ identity. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Diwali | Hindu Holidays | The festival of lights is one of the most important festivals in Hinduism. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Halloween | Celtic Tradition | A popular festival that is mainly celebrated in the USA and Europe. Read more on Wikipedia. |
Reformation Day | Christian Holidays | Commemorates the beginning of the Reformation, triggered by Martin Luther's 95 Theses in 1517. Read more on Wikipedia. |
November
Movember: A movement in which men grow beards to raise awareness of issues such as men's health, particularly prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. Further informations on Wikipedia.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
All Saints' Day | Christian Holidays | A Christian holiday commemorating all saints, both known and unknown. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
Guru Nanak Gurpurab | Sikh Holidays | One of the most important holidays in Sikhism, which celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak, the founder of the religion. More informations on Wikipedia. |
St. Martins Day | Christian Holidays | Commemorates St. Martin of Tours, who is known for his charity. More informations on Wikipedia. |
International Men's Day | Action Day | Draws attention to the contributions of men to society and their health. Read more on the website for international men's day. |
World Children Day | Action Day | Focuses on the rights, well-being and education of children. Read more on the website of unicef. |
Thanksgiving (USA) | Christian Holidays | An important holiday in the USA on which families and friends come together to give thanks for the good things in life. Read more on Wikipedia. |
December
Universial Human Rights Month: Celebrates the importance of human rights worldwide. This month is a reminder that freedom, equality and dignity belong to all people, regardless of origin, gender or faith. Here is a link that leads to further informations on the website of trvst.
Commemorative or Public Holiday | Origin | Context |
International Day for People with Disabilitys | Action Day | Highlights the rights and potential of people with disabilities. Read more on the website of the United Nations. |
St. Nicholas Day | Christian Holidays | Commemorates St. Nicholas, who was known for his generosity. Read more on Wikipedia. |
International Day for Human Rights | Commemoration and Action Day | This day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations in 1948 and emphasizes the importance of freedom, justice and peace for all people. Read more on the website of the United Nations. |
Hanukkah | Jewish Holidays | Commemorates the miracle of the Temple of Antlers and the victory of the Maccabees. Read more on chabad.org. |
International Migration Day | Commemoration and Action Day | Recognizes and encourages the contributions of migrants to society and the challenges they face. Further informations on the website of the United Nations. |
Christmas Eve | Christian Holidays | The eve of Christmas and is often celebrated with family gatherings, church services and the decorating of the Christmas tree. Further informations on Wikipedia. |
| Christmas | Christian Holidays | Celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ and is an important festival in Christianity. Further informations on the website of Britannica. |
Second Day of Christmas | Christian Holidays | An additional holiday that is often used for relaxed family visits. Read more on the website of time and date. |
Kwanzaa | Afroamerican Commemoration Day | A festival that celebrates African culture, community and traditions. Read more on the official Kwanzaa website. |
Sylvester/ New Years Eve | Christian Holiday | Marks the end of the year and is often celebrated with parties, fireworks and a review of the past months. Further informations on deutschland.de. |