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A 2023-2024 calendar to support an inclusive College of Engineering community
Mission statement
The UW College of Engineering is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. Fostering a positive diversity climate is critical to achieving its benefits and is rooted in understanding how the College influences psychological safety and a sense of belonging for all its constituents. Culture is one of the overarching pillars we pursue in our vision and commitment to building an inclusive and equitable community for all students, staff, faculty and community members. This calendar aims to acknowledge and increase understanding of diverse cultures, traditions, values and beliefs.
Why these dates?
The cultural holidays, observances and events on this calendar were identified based on the following criteria:
- A faculty/staff member or student observing this event may be out of the office or absent from class on this day.
- A faculty/staff member or student’s engagement level may be affected by rituals practiced in observance of this event (e.g., reduced energy from fasting for Ramadan or negative association with a dominant culture’s holiday, such as Thanksgiving).
- A faculty/staff member may not be able to participate in activities before, during or after regular business hours on this day (e.g., not participating in Halloween activities or passing on events happening on the evening of a holy day observed by the Muslim or Jewish communities).
- This occasion may provide an opportunity to increase dialogue and knowledge about cultural traditions, celebrations, historical oppression, resilience, perseverance or triumph that might not otherwise present itself.
Acknowledgments
This calendar was adapted from a Cultures Connecting resource (Cultures Connecting, 2021), designed to support anti-bias efforts in organizations.
Cultures Connecting. (2021) Cultures Connecting Diversity Calendar 2021-2022 [Online Pamphlet].
Dynamic process
If you know of other holidays that meet the criteria above but were omitted, please contact the Office of Inclusive Excellence at coeoie@uw.edu.
Notes
- Please take notice of days that involve fasting and/or work restrictions. We encourage avoiding scheduling major meetings, exams, other events and work to accommodate these observances. Information about UW’s Religious Accommodations Policy here.
- Starred (*) holidays/observances begin at sunset of the date listed and go to sunset of the following day.
- Due to regional and cultural differences, the holidays listed may be celebrated on different dates by individuals of the same faith.
- Some holidays are based on the actual sighting of the moon and therefore dates may vary.
- For more information, click the event title to view its hyperlink.
April 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Autism Acceptance Month | ||
| All Month | Arab-American Heritage Month | ||
| March 22 – April 21* | Ramadan | Islamic | Involves fasting, work restrictions |
| April 2 | World Autism Awareness Day | ||
| April 2 | Palm Sunday | Christian / Orthodox | Work restrictions |
| April 2 – 8 | Holy Week | Christian | Work restrictions |
| April 5 – 13* | Passover | Jewish | Involves fasting, work restrictions |
| April 6 | National Tartan Day | Scottish American | |
| April 6 | Holy Thursday | Christian | |
| April 7 | Good Friday | Christian | Work restrictions |
| April 9 | Easter Sunday | Christian | Work restrictions |
| April 14 | Vaisakhi | Sikh | |
| April 14 | Orthodox Good Friday | Christian Orthodox | Work restrictions |
| April 14 | Day of Silence | LBGTQ+ and Allies | |
| April 14-16 | Bun Pi Mai (Lao New Year) | Laotian | |
| April 14-17* | Cambodian New Year | Cambodian | |
| April 17-18 | Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) | Jewish | |
| April 18 | Laylat al-Qadr (Night of Power) | Islamic | |
| April 20-21 | First Day of Riḍván | Bahá'i | Work restrictions |
| April 21-22 | Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan) | Islamic | Work restrictions |
| April 24 | Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day | ||
| April 24 | Orthodox Easter | Christian Orthodox | Work restrictions |
| April 29 | Ninth Day of Ridván | Bahá'i | Work restrictions |
| April 30 | Día de los Niños | Mexican |
May 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Asian Pacific American Heritage Month | ||
| All Month | Mental Health Month | ||
| May 1 | Beltane | Neo-Pagan | |
| May 1 | May Day (International Workers’ Day) | International | |
| May 2 | Twelfth Day of Ridván | Bahá'i | Work restrictions |
| May 4 | Dharma Day | Buddist | |
| May 5 | Cinco de Mayo | United States / Mexican | |
| May 10 | Día de las Madres (Mother’s Day) | Mexico/ Latin America | Not celebrated May 14th |
| May 14 | Mother’s Day | United States | |
| May 17 | International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, Biphobia | LGBTQIA+ | |
| May 24 | Declaration of the Báb | Bahá'i | |
| May 25 – 27 | Shavuot | Jewish | |
| May 26 | Buddha Day / Visakha Puja / Vesek | Buddhist | |
| May 28 | Pentecost | Christian | |
| May 29 | Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh | Bahá'i | |
| May 29 | Memorial Day | United States | University observed holiday |
June 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All month | Pride Month | ||
| All month | Caribbean-American Heritage Month | ||
| June 2 | Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 | Native American | |
| June 5 | World Environment Day | International | |
| June 11 | Race Unity Day | ||
| June 12 | Loving Day | International/ LGBTQ+ & Allies | |
| June 12 | Philippine Independence Day | Filipino | |
| June 18 | Father’s Day | United States | |
| June 19 | Juneteenth | United States | Observed holiday on June 20 |
| June 20-22 | Summer Solstice/ Litha | Neo-Pagan | |
| June 26 – July 1 | Hajj | Islamic | |
| June 28 – 29 | Eid-ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice) | Islamic | Work restrictions |
July 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All month | Disability Pride Month | LGBTG+ and ADA | |
| July 4 | Independence Day | University observed holiday | |
| July 6 | 17th of Tammuz | Jewish | |
| July 9* | Martyrdom of the Báb | Bahá'i | |
| July 14 | International Non-Binary People’s Day | International | |
| July 18 – 19 | Hijri New Year (Islamic New Year) | Islamic | |
| July 19 | Muharram | Islamic | |
| July 19 – August 16 | Al Hijra / Muharram | Islamic | |
| July 23 | Birthday of Haile Selassie | Rastafarian | |
| July 26 | Disability Independence Day | United States | |
| July 26* | Tisha B’Av | Jewish | Fasting |
| July 27* | Ashura | Islamic | Work restrictions |
August 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1 | Lughnasadh | Neo-Pagan | |
| August 1 | Asalha Puja | Buddhist | Work restrictions |
| August 1 – 6 | International Youth Day | International | |
| August 9 | International Day of World’s Indigenous People | Indigenous People | United Nations Holiday |
| August 13 – 16 | Obon | Japanese Buddhist | Work restrictions |
| August 26 | Women’s Equality Day | United States | |
| August 30 | Raksha Bandhan | Hindu |
September 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 4 | Labor Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| September 6-7 | Krishna Janmashtami | Hindu | |
| September 11 – 18 | Paryushana | Jain | |
| September 12 | Enkutatash (Ethiopian New Year) | Ethiopian | |
| September 15-17* | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish | Work restrictions |
| September 15 - October 15 | Hispanic Heritage Month | Also referred to as Latino/x Heritage Month | |
| September 16 | Mexican Independence Day | Mexican | |
| September 18 | Tzom Gedaliah | Jewish | Involves fasting |
| September 19 | Ganesh Chaturthi | Hindu | Work restrictions |
| September 19-25 | International Week of the Deaf | International | |
| September 21-29 | Mabon | Neo-Pagan | |
| September 23 | International Day of Sign Languages | International | |
| September 24-25* | Yom Kippur | Judaism | Fasting, work restrictions |
| September 26-27* | Mawlid al-Nabi | Judaism | Fasting, work restrictions |
| September 28 | Meskel | Ethiopian & Eritrean Orthodox | |
| September 28-30 | Chuseok | Korea | |
| September 29 | Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Festival) | China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Vietnam | |
| September 29 - October 6 | Sukkot | Jewish | Work restrictions |
October 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Disability Employment Awareness Month | ||
| All Month | LGBT History Month | ||
| All Month | Filipino American History Month | ||
| October 6 – 8* | Shemini Àtzeret | Jewish | Work restrictions |
| October 7 – 8* | Simchat Torah | Jewish | Work restrictions |
| October 9 | Indigenous People’s Day | United States | |
| October 10 | World Mental Health Day | International | |
| October 11 | National Coming Out Day | United States | |
| October 15-24 | Navartri | Hindu | |
| October 16 | Birth of the Báb | Bahá'i | Work restrictions |
| October 16-17* | Birth of Bahá’u’lláh | Bahá'i | Work restrictions |
| October 17 | Spirit Day | LGBTQ+ and Allies | |
| October 24 | Dussehra (Dassera) | Hindu | Work restrictions |
| October 31 | Reformation Day | Christian | |
| October 31 | Halloween | United States | |
| October 31 - Nov 1 | Samhain/ Beltane | Wicca/ Paganism |
November 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Native American Heritage Month | ||
| November 1 | All Saint’s Day | Anglican & Roman Catholic | |
| November 1-2 | Día de los Muertos | Mexican | |
| November 8 | Birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji Gurpurab | Sikh | Work restrictions |
| November 11 | Veteran’s Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| November 12 | Diwali | Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Buddhist | Work restrictions |
| November 20 | Transgender Day of Remembrance | LGBTQ+ | |
| November 23 | Thansgiving Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| November 24 | Native American Heritage Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| November 27-28* | Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá | Bahá'i |
December 2023
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| December 1 | World AIDS Day | ||
| December 7-15* | Chanukah (Hanukkah) | Jewish | |
| December 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception | Catholic | |
| December 8 | Bodhi Day | Buddhist | |
| December 12 | Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Mexican Catholic | |
| December 16-24 | Las Posadas | Mexican | |
| December 16-24 | Simbang Gabi | Filipino Catholic | |
| December 21 - January 1 | Yule (Winter Solstice) | Neo-Pagan | |
| December 25 | Christmas Day | Christian | University observed holiday |
| December 26 - January 1 | Kwanzaa | African American |
January 2024
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 1 | New Year’s Day | International | Observed on January 2 |
| January 1 – 3 | Shōgatsu | Japanese | |
| January 6 | Epiphany (Three Kings Day) | Latin America & Caribbean | |
| January 15 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| January 15 | Makar Sankranti | Hindu | |
| January 20 | Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh | Sikh | |
| January 27 | International Holocaust Remembrance Day | International |
February 2024
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Black History Month | ||
| February 1 | National Freedom Day | African American | |
| February 1-2* | Imbolc | Neo-Pagan | |
| February 3 | Setsubun | Japanese | |
| February 6-7* | Lailat al Miraj | Muslim | |
| February 10 | Tết | Vietnamese | |
| February 10 | Lunar New Year | East & Southeast Asian | |
| February 14 | Valentine's Day | International | |
| February 14 | Ash Wednesday | Christian | |
| February 14-28 | Lent | Christian | |
| February 15 | Nirvana Day | Buddhist | |
| February 19 | Day of Remembrance | United States/ Japanese American | |
| February 19 | Presidents’ Day | United States | University observed holiday |
| February 24 | Magha Puja Day | Buddhist |
March 2024
| Date(s): | Holiday / Observance: | Cultural Group / Observed By: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Month | Women’s History Month | ||
| All Month | Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month | ||
| March 1 – 19 | Nineteen-Day Fast | Bahá'i | Involves fasting |
| March 8 | Maha Shivaratri | Hindu | Work restrictions |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | ||
| March 10 - April 9 | Ramadan | Islam | Involves fasting |
| March 17 | St. Patrick's Day | Irish | |
| March 19-20* | Naw Rúz | Bahá'I / Persian / Kurdish / Zoroastrianism | Work restrictions |
| March 20-21 | Persian New Year (Nowruz) | Iranian | Work restrictions |
| March 21 | International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination | International | |
| March 23-24* | Purim | Jewish | |
| March 24-25* | Holi | Hindu | |
| March 24 | Palm Sunday | Christian/Orthodox | |
| March 24-30 | Holy Week | Christian/Orthodox | |
| March 28 | Holy Thursday | Christian/Orthodox | |
| March 29 | Good Friday | Christian/Orthodox | |
| March 31 | César Chávez Day | United States | |
| March 31 | International Transgender Day of Visibility | International | |
| March 31 | Easter Sunday | Christian |