LGBTQ History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 LGBTQ+ icons. Each day a different Icon is featured. It was started in 1994 by a High School Teacher. LGBTQ History is the only community that does not have its history taught at home, school, etc. A list of this year's Icons can be found at the below link:
https://lgbthistorymonth.com/background
First celebrated in 1993, this day is meant to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide. Mental health should be cared for just like we try to care for our physical health, as we watch what we eat, exercise, and do annual physical exams. Why do we only think about mental health when it gets bad enough to notice it?
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people’s mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected. And services for mental, neurological, and substance use disorders have been significantly disrupted.
Yet there is cause for optimism. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.
During this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign, WHO (World Health Organization) will showcase the efforts made in some of these countries and encourage you to highlight positive stories as part of your own activities, as an inspiration to others.
We also encourage you to participate in this campaign. How? On October 10th post on social media using #WorldMentalHealthDay to help encourage others
And/or you can post your story on the CSS DEI Teams channel (you can find details on how to access it in the News section on Paycor)
An alternative celebration to Columbus Day, this day gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization.
National Indigenous Peoples Day formerly National Aboriginal Day is a day recognizing and celebrating the cultures and contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Indigenous peoples of North America.
The day was first celebrated in Canada in 1996, after it was proclaimed that year by then Governor General of Canada Roméo LeBlanc, to be celebrated annually on 21 June.
This date was chosen as the statutory holiday for many reasons, including its cultural significance as the Summer solstice, and the fact that it is a day on which many Indigenous peoples and communities traditionally celebrate their heritage. A proposal to rename the day National Indigenous Peoples Day was made in 2017. The bill to make that change (C-369) was still being debated by parliament when the legislature was dissolved. The federal Crown has begun referring to the day as National Indigenous Peoples Day, regardless.
This day has been celebrated as a statutory territorial holiday in the Northwest Territories since 2001 and in Yukon since 2017. It is not, however, currently considered a statutory holiday across the rest of the country.
This day raises awareness for individuals within the LGBTQ+ Community and champions the idea that homophobia flourishes in silence. This is a day where many members of the community will take that 1st big step and “come out” to family and friends.
An Islamic holiday commemorating the birthday of the prophet Muhammad. During this celebration, homes and mosques are decorated, large parades take place, and those observing the holiday participate in charity events.
This day is the observance of the birthday of Islam founder Prophet Muhammad, celebrated during the month of Rabiulawal, the third month of the Muslim calendar. Shi’a Muslims celebrate it five days later than Sunni Muslims. In the early days of Islam, observation of Muhammad's birth as a holy day was usually arranged privately, and later was an increased number of visitors to the Mawlid house that was open for the whole day specifically for this celebration.
The early celebrations, included elements of Sufic influence, with animal sacrifices and torchlight processions along with public sermons and a feast. The celebrations occurred during the day, in contrast to modern-day observances, with the ruler playing a key role in the ceremonies. Emphasis was given to the Ahl al-Bayt with the presentation of sermons and recitations of the Qur'an.
The exact origins of the Mawlid is difficult to trace. According to Muhammad in History, Thought, and Culture: An Encyclopedia of the Prophet of God, the significance of the event was established when Muhammad fasted on Monday, citing the reason for this was his birth on that day, and when Umar took into consideration Muhammad's birth as a possible starting time for the Islamic calendar. According to Festivals in World Religions, the Mawlid was first introduced by the Abbasids in Baghdad.
It has been suggested that the Mawlid was first formalized by Al-Khayzuran of the Abbasids. Ibn Jubayr, in 1183, writes that Muhammad's birthday was celebrated every Monday of Rabi' al-awwal at his birthplace, which had been converted into a place of devotion under the Abbasids.
International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace.
Referring to people by the pronouns they determine for themselves is basic to human dignity. Being referred to by the wrong pronouns particularly affects transgender and gender-nonconforming people. Together, we can transform society to celebrate people’s multiple, intersecting identities.
Samhain is a pagan religious festival originating from Celtic culture. It welcomes in the harvest and ushers in the dark half the year. People who celebrate this holiday believe that the veil between this world and the spirit world breaks down and allows for interaction between the living and the members of the Otherworld. This is an important holiday in the Wicca religion. Halloween is based on this holiday and traditions from it.