Inclusive Observances
Southwest Minnesota State University aspires to be recognized throughout Minnesota and beyond as an inclusive and student-centered university. With this vision in mind, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is proud to provide our campus and community with a resource that recognizes and celebrates diverse cultural, religious, and social events throughout the year. This resource can be used to support greater visibility and knowledge about the vast array of practices and traditions valued by different groups and members of our campus community.
Whether you are personally affiliated with a religion or not, we encourage you to consider utilizing this resource. Awareness of observance dates helps to support the success of students and employees while advancing our efforts of inclusion and belonging across our campus community.
Observances By Month 2025
The list provided below includes some but not all religious observances, cultural celebrations, historical anniversaries, and identity-specific commemorations; the list was developed using the Anti-Defamation League calendar of observances.
06.01.25-06.3025 | LGBTQ+ Pride Month
Commemorates the anniversary of the June 28, 1969, riot in New York City, the incident that initiated the modern gay rights movement in the United States.
06.19.25 | Juneteenth
Originally commemorating the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, it is now celebrated throughout the U.S. to honor African American freedom and achievement.
07.04.25 | Independence Day
Anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776.
07.26.35 | Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Day
Commemorates the 1990 signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which guarantees equal opportunity for people with disabilities.
09.01.25 | Labor Day
Celebrated the first Monday in September in recognition of U.S. workers.
09.04.25-09.05.25 | Mawlid Al-Nabi (Also known as Milad Al-Nabi)
The observance of the birthday of the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, which is celebrated in Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Shi’a Muslims celebrate it five days later than Sunni Muslims.
09.15.25 | National Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebrates the contributions, heritage and culture of Hispanic and Latino Americans.
09.21.25-09.23.25 | Rosh Hashanah
Beginning of the Jewish New Year and first of the High Holy Days, which marks the beginning of a ten-day period of penitence and spiritual renewal.
09.22.25-10.01.25 | Navaratri
Nine-day festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil. It worships God in the form of the universal mother commonly referred to Durga, Devi or Shakti, and marks the start of fall.
09.23.24 | Bi Visibility Day
Seeks to draw attention to public policy concerns and foster respect for bi+ individuals and communities.
09.26.25 | Ganesh Chaturthi
Celebrates the birthday of Ganesha, the Hindu elephant deity.
10.01.25-10.31.25 | LGBT History Month
Marks and celebrates the lives and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the US.
10.01.25-10.31.25 | National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Recognizes the contributions of workers with disabilities.
10.01.25 | Dussehra/Das Sera
Anniversary of the day when Rama killed the evil demon, Ravana. Also known as Durga Puja, which celebrates the goddess of Durga. Hindu observance.
10.02.25 | International Day of Non-Violence
Marked on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence, a U.N. commemoration promoting the principle of non-violence and the desire to secure a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding.
10.02.25 | Yom Kippur
The “Day of Atonement” marks the end of the Ten Days of Penitence that begin with Rosh Hashanah.
10.07.25-10.13.25 | Sukkot
The week-long Jewish “Feast of Booths” commemorates the 40-year wandering of the Israelites in the desert on the way to the Promised Land. No work is permitted on the first two and last day of Sukkot.
10.13.25 | Columbus Day
Columbus Day is observed on the second Monday in October. Established in 1892, Columbus Day commemorates the contributions of Italian Americans to the US.
10.13.25 | Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Native American Day)
Celebrates and honors Native American history and culture.
10.20.25 | Diwali
Also called Deepavali, “Festival of Lights,” it celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance.
10.31.25 | Halloween
The eve of All Saints’ Day.
11.01.25 | All Saints’ Day
Commemorates all known and unknown Christian saints. Eastern Orthodox Christianity observes it on the first Sunday after Pentecost.
11.01.25-11.30.25 | National American Indian Heritage Month
Celebrates and honors the history and culture of Native Americans and indigenous peoples in the US.
11.02.25 | All Souls’ Day
Commemoration of all faithful Christians who are now dead. In Mexican tradition, it is celebrated as Día de los Muertos between Oct. 31 and Nov. 2 and is an occasion to remember dead ancestors and celebrate the continuity of life.
11.04.25 | Election Day
A day set by U.S. law for the election of public officials.
11.09.25-11.10.25 | Kristallnacht
Also known as the Night of the Broken Glass, commemorates the 1938 pogrom against Jews throughout Germany and Vienna.
11.11.25 | Veterans’ Day
Honors military veterans and the U.S. Armed Services.
11.20.25 | Transgender Day of Remembrance
Memorializes those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.
11.27.25 | Thanksgiving Day
Following a 19th-century tradition, it commemorates the Pilgrims’ harvest feast in the autumn of 1621. It is considered by some to be a “National Day of Mourning” in recognition of the conquest of Native Americans by colonists.
12.01.25 | World AIDS Day
International Day of Action on HIV and AIDS.
12.10.25 | Human Rights Day
On this day in 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12.12.25. | Our Lady of Guadalupe
Celebrates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (by her title, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico and the Americas) before Juan Diego, an indigenous convert to Roman Catholicism, on the Mexican hill of Tepeyac in 1531.
12.14.25-12.22.25 | Hanukkah
The eight-day “Festival of Lights,” also known as Chanukah, celebrates the rededication of the Temple to God's service in 164 BCE and commemorates the victory of the Maccabees over the Greek King, Antiochus, who sought to suppress freedom of worship.
12.15.25 | Bill of Rights Day
Commemorates the signing into law of the ten original amendments of the United States Constitution in 1791.
12.21.25 | Winter Solstice
Marks the first day of the season of winter. The length of time between sunrise and sunset is the shortest of the year, with the sun shining closest to the Southern Hemisphere and the farthest from the Northern Hemisphere.
12.24.25 | Christmas Eve
Celebration of the arrival of Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus.
12.25.25 | Christmas
Commemorates the birth of Jesus.
12.26.25 | Kwanzaa
A seven-day celebration honoring African American heritage and its continued vitality. “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits (of the harvest) in Swahili.
12.29.25 | Wounded Knee Day
On December 29, 1890, more than 200 Lakota Sioux were massacred by U.S. troops at Wounded Knee in South Dakota.
12.31.25 | New Year's Eve
In the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve, the last day of the year, is December 31. In many countries, at evening social gatherings, many people dance, eat, drink, etc.
Student religious accommodations are to be worked out directly between the student and their faculty. Employees will need to arrange accommodations with their supervisor.
Comments and suggestions for how to improve this resource can be submitted to Jeet.Sausen@smsu.edu or Erin.Kline@smsu.edu.
More Information:
For a comprehensive observances calendar, please visit the Anti-Defamation League calendar of observances.
Last Modified: 4/24/25 8:37 AM | Website Feedback