January

• New Year's Day (Jan. 1): Most New Year's festivities begin on Dec. 31, the last day of the Gregorian calendar, and continue into the early hours of Jan. 1. Common traditions include attending parties, eating special New Year's foods, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (Third Monday): Celebrates the civil rights leader's birthday and his contributions to the civil rights movement.
• Chinese New Year (Varies — either January or February based on the Chinese lunar calendar): Celebrates the beginning of the Chinese lunar new year and involves various cultural traditions and festivities.

February

• Black History Month: A month dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the achievements and contributions of African Americans to American history.
• Mardi Gras (Varies — either February or March based on the Christian liturgical calendar): A festive celebration before Lent, particularly famous in the Caribbean, New Orleans, USA, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

March

• International Women's History Month: Recognizes and celebrates the achievements and contributions of women throughout history.
• International Women's Day (March 8): A global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.
• Saint Patrick's Day (March 17): Celebrates Irish culture and heritage, often marked by parades and wearing green.
• International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (March 21): Promotes the elimination of racial discrimination and encourages tolerance and understanding.
• Nowruz (Usually March 21): Marks the first day of spring and is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. Also known as the Persian New Year.
• Easter (Varies — either March or April): Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Easter typically falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring on or after the spring equinox.
• International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31): Celebrates and raises awareness of transgender and non-binary individuals.

April

• Sikh Vaisakhi (Varies - usually in April): Celebrates the founding of the Khalsa and the Sikh New Year.
• Emancipation Day - USA (April 16): Congress passed the Compensated Emancipation Act to end slavery in the District of Columbia and President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill into law on April 16, 1862. Other countries celebrate their own Emancipation Days as well to commemorate the abolition of slavery and the emancipation of enslaved individuals at different times during the year.

May

• Holocaust Remembrance Day (Varies - usually in April or May): Commemorates the victims of the Holocaust and raises awareness about genocide and prejudice.
• Cinco de Mayo (May 5): Celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.
• Memorial Day: An American holiday, observed on the last Monday of May, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

June

• LGBTQ+ Pride Month: Celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and promotes LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance.
• Juneteenth (June 19): Commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and celebrates African American freedom and culture.

July

• Independence Day (July 4): From 1776 to the present, Independence Day has been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual family gatherings and barbecues.

August

• International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples (Aug. 9): Recognizes and promotes the rights and well-being of indigenous communities worldwide.

September

• Labor Day: Pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday.
• Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15): Celebrates the contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans to the United States.
• Rosh Hashanah (Varies — either September or October based on the Jewish lunar calendar): The Jewish New Year, commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe.
• Yom Kippur (Varies — either September or October based on the Jewish lunar calendar): The Jewish Day of Atonement, observed through fasting and prayer.
• International Day of Peace (Sept. 21): Promotes peace and non-violence worldwide.

October

• Disability Awareness Month: Promotes awareness and understanding of disabilities and the importance of inclusion.
• Indigenous Peoples' Day (Second Monday): Recognizes and celebrates the culture and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the Americas.
• National Coming Out Day (Oct. 11): Promotes a safe and accepting environment for LGBTQ+ individuals to come out and share their identities.
• Diwali (Varies - usually in October or November): The Hindu festival of lights celebrated by millions of people worldwide.
• Halloween (Oct. 31): The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.

November

• Native American Heritage Month: Honors and celebrates the culture, history, and contributions of Native Americans.
• Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) (Nov. 1 – 2): A Mexican and Latin American holiday that honors deceased loved ones through celebrations, food, and offerings.
• Veterans Day (Nov. 11): Honors military veterans and their service to the United States.
• International Day for Tolerance (Nov. 16): Promotes tolerance, understanding, and respect among diverse cultures and religions.
• Thanksgiving: A national holiday in the United States occurring on the fourth Thursday. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists from England and the Native American Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies.

December

• International Day of Persons with Disabilities (Dec. 3): Promotes the rights and well-being of people with disabilities and raises awareness about disability-related issues.
• International Human Rights Day (Dec. 10): Marks the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and promotes human rights and equality for all.
• Hanukkah (Varies — usually in December): The Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrating faith and miracles.
• Christmas (Dec. 25): A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 – Jan. 1): An African American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community, and culture.