by The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section

Cultural Awareness Brief from The Justice William J. Murray Jr. Unity Bar Section  

October is Filipino American History Month, commemorating the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental United States which occurred on October 18, 1587 when “Luzones Indios” came ashore from the Spanish galleon Nuestra Senora de Esperanza and landed at what is now Morro Bay, California; the month celebrates and brings awareness to the significant role Filipinos have played in American history. October is also LGBT History Month in recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender history and the history of the gay-rights movement, National Disability Employment Awareness Month which draws attention to employment barriers for the disabled, Polish American Heritage Month commemorating the first Polish settlers and celebrating the history and culture of the Polish community in America, and Global Diversity Awareness Month to bring awareness to the diversity of cultures and the positive impact diversity can have on society.

October 1 is National Day of the People’s Republic of China, a celebration commemorating Mao Zedong’s formal proclamation of the establishment of the People’s Republic of China; it kicks off China’s “Golden Week,” during which many Chinese people go traveling around the country. October 1 is also Dasara ( or Vijayadashami) in the eastern and northeastern states of India and Nepal marking the end of Durga Puja and remembering the goddess Durga’s victory over the buffalo demon Mahishasura to help restore dharma. October 1 to 2 (sundown to sundown) is Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar and a day of atonement marked by fasting and ceremonial repentance marking the creation of the world. October 2 is Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday, a holiday in India also recognized as the International Day of Non-Violence.

October 3 is Day of German Unity, a holiday in Germany commemorating the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990. October 3 is also Gaecheonjeol (or National Foundation Day), a holiday in South Korea celebrating the formation of the first Korean state of Gojoseon in 2333 BC. October 4 is St. Francis Day, feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals and the environment, celebrated by many Catholic denominations. October 4 is also the Blessing of the Animals; in congruence with St. Francis Day, many Unitarian Universalists have picked up on the Catholic tradition of blessing animals, particularly, pets, as St. Francis was known for his special connection to animals. October 5 is Republic Day, a holiday in Portugal commemorating the establishment of a republican form of government in the country in 1910. October 5 to 8 is Chuseok (or Hangawi), a mid-autumn harvest festival and a three-day holiday in South Korea. October 6 is Mid-Autumn Festival, a Chinese harvest festival celebrating autumn. October 6 to 13 is Sukkot, a seven-day Jewish festival giving thanks for the fall harvest.

October 8 is Latina Equal Pay Day; the aim is to raise awareness about the wider-than-average pay gap between Latinas and White men. October 9 is Hangul Day (or Korean Alphabet Day), observed in South Korea to recognize the invention and proclamation of Hangul, the Korean alphabet. October 10 is Guayaquil Independence Day, an Ecuadorian holiday recognizing the day a group of Guayaquil natives took over the Spanish military post and declared independence from Spanish rule. October 10 is also World Mental Health Day, a day meant to increase public awareness about the importance of mental health, mental health services, and mental health workers worldwide. October 11 is National Coming Out Day; for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, this day celebrates coming out and the recognition of the 1987 march on Washington for gay and lesbian equality.

October 12 is National Day of Spain (or Día de la Hispanidad), a holiday in Spain commemorating the Spanish legacy worldwide. October 12 is also Our Lady of Aparecida’s Day (or Nossa Senhora de Aparecida), a holiday in Brazil dedicated to the country’s patron saint, the Virgin Mary Aparecida. October 13 is Canadian Thanksgiving, a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year. October 13 is also Discovery of Two Worlds Day (or Descubrimiento de Dos Mundos or Dia de la Raza), a holiday in much of Central and South America commemorating the first encounters of Europe and Indigenous peoples; and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, an alternative celebration to Columbus Day that gives recognition to the indigenous populations affected by colonization. October 13 to 15 (sundown to sundown) is Shemini Atzeret, a Jewish holiday also known as The Eighth (Day) of Assembly which takes place the day after the Sukkot festival. October 14 to 15 (sundown to sundown) is Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday marking the end of the weekly readings of the Torah. The Torah is read from chapter one of Genesis to Deuteronomy 34 and then back to chapter one again, in acknowledgement of the words of the Torah being a never-ending cycle.

October 15 is International Pronouns Day which seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace. October 20 is Installation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib, a Sikh holy day celebrating Sri Guru Granth Sahib, their spiritual guide. October 20 is also Revolution Day in Guatemala, commemorating the day of the Guatemalan Revolution of 1944. October 21 to 25 is Diwali (or Divali or Deepavali), a five-day festival of lights among Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists that celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and lightness over darkness. October 22 to 23 (sundown to sundown) is Birth of Báb, a Bahá’í holiday celebrating the prophet Báb.

October 31 is Reformation Day, a Protestant Christian religious holiday celebrated alongside All Hallows’ Eve during the triduum of Allhallowtide in remembrance of the onset of the Reformation; and All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween, a celebration observed in a number of countries on the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows’ Day. It begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide, the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed. October 31 to November 1 (sundown to sundown) is Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.

September 26 is Native American Day, a U.S. holiday honoring Native American cultures and the history of violence against them in the United States; it is observed annually on the fourth Friday in September in the state of California and Nevada and on the second Monday in October in South Dakota and Oklahoma. September 27 is Elevation of the Life Giving Cross (Holy Cross); in some Christian denominations, this is a day that commemorates the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. September 27 is also Meskel, a religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches that commemorates the discovery of the True Cross by the Roman Empress Helena in the fourth century; and French Community Holiday, a Belgian holiday recognizing the cultural identity, traditions, and history of the French-speaking community of the country. September 28 is the commemoration of the Birth of Confucius, the model master educator in ancient China. September 29 is Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and All Angels; a minor Christian festival dedicated to Archangel Michael that is observed in some Western liturgical calendars. September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a Canadian holiday honoring the Indigenous children who never returned home and survivors of residential schools as well as their families and communities.