Multicultural Recognition Calendar

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The new multicultural recognition calendar is intended to help us recognize and learn about the broad swath of backgrounds and experiences shared by Ridgewater’s faculty, students, staff and community. These days were selected to help us celebrate and better understand people from across our community, many of whom have traditions or experiences unfamiliar to others, but have come together to learn, work and live with us and our fellow Warriors.

This calendar is not the final version, or the end of a conversation — it is the beginning. We want and need feedback from our community to help recognize and celebrate all members of our community, both to fill in areas we missed and to help guide us as we make decisions about the days we recognize. If you would like to suggest any updates to the calendar, or wish to share feedback, please complete our feedback form.

January

1 – New Year
16 – MLK Jr. Day (third Monday)
19 – World Religion Day (Bahai)
22 – Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year — January or February)
27 – Intl Holocaust Remembrance Day

February

Black History Month
Phlebotomist Week – February 13-17
20 – Presidents’ Day (third Monday)
21 – aka Fat Tuesday)
22 – Ash Wednesday

March

Women’s History Month
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Ag Week – 21-27
6 – Holi
8 – Intl Women’s Day
17 – St. Patty’s Day
19 – Certified Nurses Day
19 – National Poultry Day
22 – Ramadan

April

National Welding Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Health Information Professionals Week – April 18-24
5 – Passover
7 – Good Friday (Western Christianity)
9 – Easter (Western Christianity)
14 – Vaisakhi (either 13 or 14)
14 – Day of Silence
14 – Good Friday (Orthodox Christianity)
16 – Easter (Orthodox Christianity)
21 – Eid al-Fitr
22 – Earth Day

May

Asian and Pacific American Heritage Month
Military Appreciation Month
National Photography Month
Mental Health Awareness Month
National Nursing Week – May 6-12 (RN and LPN)
National EMS Week (EMT/ Paramedic) – May 21-27
Pet Week
2 – Teacher Appreciation Day
4 – May the 4th
5 – Vesak (aka Buddha Day)
6 – National Nurses Day
11 – MN Statehood Day
12 – National Child Care Provider Day (Friday before Mother’s Day)
14 – Mothers’ Day
14 – Hmong-American Day
29 – Memorial Day (last Monday)

June

LGBTQIA Pride Month
National Dairy Month
Auto Service Professionals Month
Refugee Awareness Month
National Nursing Assistants’ Week – June 15-21
6 – National Higher Ed Day
14 – Flag Day
17 – National Career Nurses Assistant Day
18 – Fathers’ Day
19 – Juneteenth
30 – Social Media Day

July

1 – Somali Independence Day
4 – Independence Day
26 – National Disability Independence Day

August

National Dog Month
National Suicide Awareness Month
5 – National Disc Golf Day (first Saturday)
26 – Women’s Equality Day

September

Latinx Heritage Month (Sept 15-Oct 15)
1 – National College Colors Day (Friday before Labor Day)
1 – National Food Bank Day (First Friday)
4 – Labor Day (First Monday)
11 – Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance
15 – Rosh Hashanah
15 – Third Friday – National Tradesman Day
23 – Celebrate Bisexuality Day
24 – Yom Kippur

October

National Economic Education Month
Adopt A Shelter Dog Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month
LGBT History Month
National Arts & Humanities Month
National Cyber Security Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Photographer Appreciation Month
Manufacturing Month
National Massage Week — 22-28 (last full week of October each year)
6 – German-American Day
10 – Indigenous Peoples Day
11 – National Coming Out Day
15 – Navrati
19 – Medical Assistant Day (third Wednesday in October each year)
31 – Halloween

November

Native American Heritage Month
Trans Awareness Month
Election Day (first Tuesday after the first Monday)
8 – First Gen Student Day
11 – Veterans Day
12 – Diwali/Tihar begins
23 – Thanksgiving (fourth Thursday)

December

3 – International Day of People with Disabilities
7-15 – Hanukkah
24 – Christmas
26-Jan.1 – Kwanzaa