September

September 15 - October 15:

• Hispanic Heritage Month - In 1988, what previously was known as Hispanic Heritage Week (September 10-16) became known as Hispanic Heritage Month as declared by President Ronald Reagan. During this month, several Latin American countries gained their independence. The word "Hispanic" is a cultural term that encompasses several different Latin countries. Hispanics come from various races and include bloodlines of Mayan, Aztec, Spanish, Mexican, and many others.

September 1:

• Random Acts of Kindness Day (New Zealand) - Celebrates selfless acts performed by kind people to either help or cheer up a random stranger, for no reason other than to make people happier.

September 3:

• Chung Yuan Festival (China, Taiwan, Japan) - Known as Feast of Lanterns by Japanese Buddhists. In China and Taiwan, prayer services are held to remember their ancestors. In Japan, food is offered to them and all houses are lit with lanterns floated down rivers or the sea to guide their spirits back to the other world.

September 6:

• Labor Day (Canada, USA) - Dating back to the 1880s, this holiday is the result of efforts of the labor union movement. It commemorates the economic and social achievements of workers.

September 9:

• Chong Yang (China) - A holiday dedicated to the older generation. Chong Yang cake is prepared, and everyone is encouraged to enjoy nature.
• Rosh Hashana (Jewish) - The Jewish new year for people, animals and legal contracts. Rosh Hashanah extends over the first two days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, even in Israel where most holidays last only one day, and occurs 162 days after the first day of Pesach (Passover).

September 10:

• Eid ul-Fitr (Islamic) - Often abbreviated as simply Eid, this is an Islamic holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting.

September 11:

• Day of Remembrance or Patriot Day - The effects of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon impacted Americans and most other nations and has caused us to focus on the devastation terrorism has caused the world.

September 15:

• Independence Day (Central America) - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821.
• Aloha Week (Hawaii) - Begun in 1945, Aloha Week celebrates Hawaiian traditions and costumes. It starts the third week of September on the island of Oahu, and each island celebrates the holiday on a different week until the end of October.

September 16:

• Dia de la Independence (Mexico) - Celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain on this day in 1820.

September 18:

• Yom Kippur (Jewish) - the Jewish holiday of the Day of Atonement. It falls on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, and is commemorated with a 25-hour fast and intensive prayer. It is considered the holiest day of the Jewish year.
• Oktoberfest (Germany) - In 1810, King Joseph Maximillian of Bavaria first decided to celebrate his marriage with Princess Theresa of Saxonie in royal style. Originally it was meant to be just a simple horse race event, but the Bavarian character quickly took over and it became a happy gathering of cheerful beer drinkers. Oktoberfest now attracts approximately 7 million visitors each year.

September 20:

• Keiro no hi (Japan) - A national holiday honoring older citizens.

September 21:

• Independence Day (Armenia) - Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

September 22:

• Mid-Autumn Festival (China) - A day celebrated by families getting together and eating moon cake and dishes with duck.

September 23:

• Shubun no hi (Japan) - On Autumn Equinox Day, the Japanese honor family ancestry, visiting ancestral graves and having family reunions.
• Sukkot (Jewish) - A Biblical pilgrimage festival. In Israel (and among Reform Jews), Sukkot is a 7-day holiday, with the first day celebrated as a full festival with special prayer services and holiday meals. Outside the land of Israel, the first two days are celebrated as full festivals.

September 24:

• Heritage Day (South Africa) - Celebrates the cultural diversity in South Africa and serves as a time for various heritages to bond together.

September 28:

• Confucius' Birthday (China, Taiwan) - The birthday of Confucius is celebrated with a dawn ceremony at temples around the world. His birthday, in 551 BC, is celebrated as Teacher's Day in Taiwan.

September 30:

• San Geronimo Day (Aboriginal) - Named after St. Jerome, an Apache fighter, this day is celebrated by the Native Americans and Hispanics in the Pueblo.

 

Calendar information from Dominion. Republished here with permission.