Awareness Calendar
Multicultural and religious holidays and observances.
Multicultural and Religious Holidays & Observances
Expanding our knowledge of the diverse cultural and faith traditions of members of our academic community helps strengthen relationships with one another, fosters collegiality, respect, and acceptance, and positively impacts our overall campus culture.
Please keep in mind that this calendar is an educational resource intended to provide a general overview, and the information may not apply to all individuals in any given culture or faith, nor is this an exhaustive list. To recommend additional religious or cultural observances to be highlighted in this calendar, please contact our Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at ODEI@midwestern.edu.
Recent Campus Activities & Programs
Native American Heritage Month
We honored and celebrated Native American Heritage Month with Tony Duncan and his family who graciously shared Indigenous Americans' traditions and rich culture with our campus community. It was an honor to have them share meaningful stories through regalia, songs, and dances.
First-Gen Proud Event
Ƶ students, faculty, and staff gathered to hear a panel share their common story. The panel included faculty from the College of Dental Medicine-Illinois (CDMI), the Chicago College of Optometry (CCO), the College of Health Sciences (CHS), the College of Graduate Studies (CGS), and members of the Student Services staff who are the first in their family to graduate from college. Through this shared experience, students in similar situations and event attendees gained insight into how others worked through similar situations and challenges in their pursuit of higher education.
Alumni Diversity Council
The Alumni Diversity council was created to support the University’s commitment to embracing diversity and fostering a culture of inclusivity as an integral part of academic excellence, skilled patient care, and growing and strengthening our community. The council engages with the University community in many ways including special service projects.
Observances
January 1st: (modern Gregorian calendar)
January 1st:
January 1st: Gantan-sai/ Shogatu/ Shinto New Year Holiday (Shinto)
January 2nd: St. Basil's Day (Orthodox Christian)
January 4th:
January 6th: (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)
January 6th:
January 7th (Julian Calendar):
January 17th:
January 27th:
January 22, 2023 / February 10, 2024 / January 29, 2025:
February 1st:
February 1-2: Imbolc / Candlemas
February 3: Setsubun-sai (Shinto)
February 2nd: Groundhog Day
February 11th:
February 14th: Valentine's Day
February 14th:
February 15th:
February 17th:
February 21, 2023: Tibetan New Year/ (Buddhism)
February 28th (February 29th in leap years):
February - March:
Black History Month/African-American History Month
Illinois holiday celebrated the first Monday in March:
March 2 - 20, 2023: Nineteen Day Fast Period (Baha'i***)
March 6th, 2023: Magha Puja Day (Buddhist)
March 6-7, 2023 / March 23-24, 2024 / March 13-14, 2025 / March 2-3, 2026: (Judaism)
March 8th:
March 8, 2023 / March 25, 2024 / March 14, 2025: (Hinduism)
March 8 - 10, 2023 / March 25 - 27, 2024 / March 14 - 16, 2025: (Sikhism)
March 17th: St. Patrick's Day
March 21st:
March 22nd - April 21st, 2023 / March 10 - April 9, 2024 / February 28 - March 30, 2025 / February 17 - March 18, 2026 *: (Islam; dates may vary. Halal/Islamic dietary restrictions** apply.)
March 21 - 22, 2023 / March 20 - 21, 2024 / March 21 - 22, 2025 & 2026*: Naw Ruz (Baha'i***)
March 31st:
(Persian New Year)
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
** "Halal dietary restrictions apply” refers to the foods prohibited according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath: Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. (Also observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)
***Baha'is holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting.
April 5-13, 2023/ April 22-30, 2024 / April 12-20, 2025*: (Judaism; dates may vary)
April 2, 2023/ March 24, 2024 / April 13, 2025 / March 29, 2026: Palm Sunday (Roman Catholic, Protestant Christian, Eastern Orthodox Christianity) April 6th:
April 7, 2023 / March 29, 2024 / April 18, 2025 / April 3, 2026: Good Friday (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)
April 9th, 2023 : (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)
April 14, 2023 / May 3, 2024 / April 18, 2025): Holy Friday / Good Friday (Eastern Orthodox Christian)
April 14th: (Sikh/Hindu)
April 16th, 2023:
April 21 - May 2, 2023 **: Ridvan (Baha'i; 1, 9, 12th days)
April 21 -22, 2023 / April 9-10, 2024 / March 30-31, 2025 / March 19-20, 2026 *: (Islam; dates may vary. Halal/Islamic dietary restrictions** apply.)
April 22nd:
April 17-18, 2023 / May 4-5, 2024 / April 24-25, 2025 / April 13-14, 2026:
Arab-American Heritage Month
Autism Awareness Month
Stress Awareness Month
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
** "Halal dietary restrictions apply” refers to the foods prohibited according to Islamic dietary law throughout the year. Restrictions include alcohol and pork.
Shabbat, Jewish Sabbath: Every week from Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. (Also observed by several Christian denominations, the largest being 7th Day Adventists)
May 9-15:
May 15th: Armed Forces Day
May 18th: Ascension Day/40th Day of Easter (Orthodox Christian)
May 25 -27, 2023/ Jun 11-13, 2024 / Jun 1-3, 2025/ May 21-23, 2026 *: Shavout (Judaism)
May 26, 2023 / May 15, 2024 / May 5, 2025: Buddha Day / Visakha Puja (Buddhist)
May 29, 2023: Ascension of the Baha'u'llah (Baha'i**)
Mother's Day
Older Americans Month
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
** Baha'is holidays begin at sunset on the day preceding the given date. There are also 19 days of fasting.
June 7-14:
June 12th:
June 15th:
June 19th:
June 20th:
June 28-29, 2023*: (Islam; dates may vary)
National Men's Health Month
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
July 4th:
July 11th:
July 18th:
July 24th:
July 26 - 27, 2023*: Tish'a B'Av (Judaism)
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
August 1st: Lammas / Lughnasadh Beginning of Harvest Celebration (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)
August 9th:
August 15th: Assumption of Mary (Catholic Christian)
August 26th:
August 21st:
August 26th:
August 30, 2023: Raksha Bandhan (Hindu)
National Minority Donor Awareness Month
September 6-7, 2023: Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September 15 - October 15:
September 17th:
September 10th:
September 18th:
September 21st:
September 15-27, 2023 / October 2-4, 2024 / September 22-24, 2025*: (New Year - Judaism High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions apply.)
September 21-29: Mabon / Alban Elfed / Autumnal Equinox (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)
Oct. 15-24, 2023 / Oct. 2-12, 2024 / Sept. 22 - Oct. 2, 2025:
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
October 2nd:
Sept. 24-25, 2023 / Oct. 11-12, 2024 / Oct. 1-2, 2025**: (Judaism - High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions** apply.)
Sept. 29- Oct. 6, 2023 / Oct. 16-23, 2024 / Oct. 6-13, 2025 **: Sukkot (Judaism - High Holy Days. Kosher restrictions** apply.)
October 10th: World Mental Health Day
October 16-18, 2022 / Oct. 6-8, 2023 / Oct. 23-25, 2024 / Oct. 13-15, 2025*: Shemini Atzeret (Judaism. Kosher restrictions apply.)
October 24th, 2022/ October 20th, 2025: (Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain; date varies year to year)
October 25th: Birth of the Bab (Baha'i)
October 26-27th, 2022*: (Baha'i)
October 28th:
October 31 - November 1: Samhain (Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)
German-American Heritage Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
National Diabetes Awareness Month
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
** “Kosher restrictions apply” refers to the dietary guidelines of Jewish law which apply daily throughout the year. Restrictions include pork, shellfish (fish is allowed) and mixing meat with dairy.
November 1: All Saints Day (Catholic and Protestant Christian)
November 2: All Souls Day (Catholic Christian)
November 8th: (Sikh)
November 11th:
November 12th, 2023 / November 1, 2024: (Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain; date varies year to year)
November 16th: International Day For Tolerance
November 19th:
November 25th:
November 27-December 24: Advent (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christian)
December 3rd:
December 3rd:
December 8th: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception/ Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic; Holy Day of Obligation)
December 10th:
Dec. 7-15, 2023 / Dec. 25 - Jan. 2, 2025 *: (Judaism; kosher restrictions apply.)
December 21st:
December 21st:
(Druid, Pagan, Wiccan)
December 23rd:
December 25th: (Roman Catholic and Protestant Christian)
December 26th - January 1st:
December 31st:
* Indicates the holiday begins at sundown on the first day through sunset on the last day.
Reminder about Dates
Lunar calendars vary based on region and practice. Islamic dates are approximate; the official days can be plus/minus one day and depend upon the official physical sighting of the new moon.