HRQuestions@fcps.edu
Last update: October 19, 2009
Calendar
of Religious and Cultural Observances
School Year 2009-2010
You are here: Fairfax County Public Schools > Calendars > Religious and Cultural Observances > SY 09-10 Calendar
For additional information concerning this calendar, please refer to the following pages:
One asterisk [*]: denote religious observances that begin at sundown of the day preceding the date given.
Two asterisks [**]: denote religious observances that begin the previous evening of the date given, at moon crescent.
A plus mark [+]: indicates events recurring on the same date every year.
| Date |
Event |
Annotation |
School
Implications |
| 2009 |
|||
| Aug 22- Sep 20 | **Ramadan | Estimated date of beginning of 9th month on Islamic calendar; 28-30 days of fasting from dawn to sunset to share experiences of the poor. Also the month when the Qur'an (Koran) was first revealed to Muhammad. Exact date comes from sighting of new moon by religious leaders. | Opportunity to discuss the history of the Islamic faith and its impact on Middle Eastern and Western civilizations as relevant to POS. Reasonable accommodations should be made for students and employees who might be fasting (which includes no liquids) during the school day. |
| Sep 7 | Labor Day | Begun in 1882, it became a national holiday in 1894. Observed on first Monday of September. | Opportunity to discuss the dignity of labor. FCPS schools and offices closed. The first day of class is Tuesday, September 8. |
| Sep 15-Oct 15 | +National Hispanic-American Heritage Month | Established by Presidential proclamation to include Columbus Day in the U.S. and Independence Days for Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. | Opportunity to discuss contributions of Hispanics to American society. |
*Sep 16 |
Lailat al-Qadr | Estimated date of the Night of Power that falls on an odd numbered night during last ten days of Ramadan. The Qur'an says this night is equal to 1,000 months of prayer and all prayers are answered. | Opportunity to discuss Muslim faith as it relates to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Sep 17 | +Citizenship Day, Sep 17 begins U.S. Constitution Week (Sep 17-23) |
Celebrates the unanimous approval of the U.S. Constitution by the delegates from the 13 states at the convention in Philadelphia, 1787. | Opportunity to teach concepts and principles on which the Constitution is based. |
| *Sep 19-20 | Rosh Hashanah | Jewish New Year, 5770. First two days of a ten-day period of repentance and renewal. | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Judaism as related to Program of Studies (POS). Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| *Sep 21 | Eid-al-Fitr | Estimated date for Muslim festival that breaks the fast of Ramadan. Marks completion of the reading of the Qur'an. The date is based on lunar sightings by Muslim clerics and cannot be precisely determined in advance. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent for several days. |
| Sep 21 | +United Nations: International Day of Peace | In 1981, the General Assembly proclaimed this day is “devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.” The Assembly decided as of 2002, this day would be observed as a global cease-fire and nonviolence, an invitation to all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities throughout the day. | Opportunity to discuss current events as related to world peace. |
| Sep 22 | +Higan | Buddhist celebration of the equinox, symbolizing peace, equality, and harmony. Occurs again on the spring equinox (Mar 20). | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Buddhism as related to the POS. |
| *Sep 28 | Yom Kippur | Jewish Day of Atonement. High holy day marked by fasting, repentance, and seeking of forgiveness. | Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of Judaism as related to POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Oct 3 | Chusok, Moon Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival | Harvest and thanksgiving festival held in Korea and other Far East countries honors ancestors and guardian spirits. "Moon cakes” are traditional food. | Opportunity to discuss Korea and other Far Eastern countries and the harvest celebrations in various cultures. |
| *Oct 3-11 | Sukkot (alternate spelling Succoth) | Jewish festival of thanksgiving and remembrance of when the Jews wandered in the wilderness after the exodus from Egypt. Also note: Shemini Atzeret on Oct 10; Simchat Torah on Oct 11. | Opportunity to discuss harvest celebrations in various cultures. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Oct 6 | +German-American Day | Established by Presidential proclamation to recognize German Americans and founding of Germantown, PA, the first settlement of German immigrants in America, 1683. | Opportunity to discuss German and other European immigrant groups in American history. |
| *Oct 11 | Simchat Torah | Jewish holy day on which reading of the Torah is finished, and a new cycle of readings begins. It means "rejoicing for the Torah." | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Oct 12 | Columbus Day (observed) | Commemorates the landfall of Columbus in the New World, October 12, 1492. Observed on the second Monday in October. | Opportunity to discuss the Age of Exploration and the frontiers which have yet to be explored. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| Oct 12 | +Yorktown Victory Day | Virginia state recognition of Washington's victory at Yorktown. Commemorates the Revolutionary War battle fought in 1781. | Opportunity to discuss the political and military contributions of Virginia to the American Revolution. |
| Oct 17 | Diwali | Hindu and Jain 5-day Festival of Lights celebrated as the New Year. Hinduism has no standard calendar, so persons who come from various parts of India may celebrate this holiday on different dates but always some time in October or November. | Opportunity to discuss differences and similarities in celebrations of the new year and also the origins and beliefs of Hinduism and Jainism as related to the POS. |
| Oct 24 | +United Nations Day |
Marks anniversary of ratification of United Nations' Charter, 1945. | Opportunity to discuss principles and activities of the U.N. |
| Oct 31 | +Halloween | Originally ancient Celtic (Druid) autumn festival "Samhain" that began the new year. "All Hallow's Eve" is the night before Roman Catholic All Saints' Day. | Opportunity to discuss how customs of ancient peoples have been incorporated into later cultures and religions that replaced them, as related to POS. |
| Oct 31 | +Reformation Day | Commemorates actions by Martin Luther in 1517 that began the Reformation and Protestant movement in Christianity. | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Protestant religions as related to POS. |
| Nov 1 | +All Saints' Day, Dia de los Muertos | Holy Day of Obligation for Roman Catholics is important celebration in Mexico and Latin America and also observed by the Eastern Orthodox and Anglican churches to honor martyrs and saints who have no special feast day. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Nov 1-30 | +National American Indian Heritage Month | Presidential proclamation affirms contributions of American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians to American life. May also be referred to as Native American Heritage Month. | Opportunity to discuss cultures of indigenous American people and the positive and negative outcomes of interactions with European settlers. |
| Nov 2 | Birthday of Guru Nanak Dev | Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Sikh religion in 1469. | Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of Sikh religion as related to POS. |
| Nov 3 | Election Day | U.S. national elections held on first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. | Opportunity to discuss structure of American government and citizenship obligations. This day and one preceding are teacher workdays; students do not attend. |
| Nov 11 | +Veterans' Day | Federal holiday to honor all veterans of U.S. military. First known as Armistice Day, it marked end of World War I on 11th hour of 11th day of 11th month, 1918. | FCPS schools and offices are open. Teachers are directed by the School Board to engage their students in activities to honor veterans and recognize role of the military in American democracy. |
| Nov 12 | +Birth of Baha'u'llah | Commemorates the birth of the founder of the Baha'i faith in 1817. | Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of the Baha'i faith as related to the POS. |
| Nov 24 | Martyrdom Day (Guru Teg Bahadur Ji) | Sikh anniversary of Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur Ji in 1675, the ninth Guru. | Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of the Sikh faith as related to the POS. |
| Nov 26 | Thanksgiving | Institutionalizes an event begun by the Pilgrims to thank God for surviving their first year and for a successful harvest. In 1789 President George Washington proclaimed "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and single favors of Almighty God." | Opportunity to discuss harvest celebrations in various cultures and also the role of religion in American secular life as related to the POS. FCPS schools and offices closed. Next day also observed as holiday by FCPS in place of Veteran's Day. |
| *Nov 28 | Eid-al-Adha | Festival of Sacrifice marks the obedience of Ibrahim (Abraham) to God's will and is culmination of the Hajj when Muslims from all over the world make a pilgrimage to Makka (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia. | Opportunity to discuss commonalities among Islam, Judaism, and Christianity as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a four-day time of religious significance could be absent. |
Nov 29, |
Sundays of Advent | Advent, a period of spiritual preparation preceding Christmas, begins on the fourth Sunday before December 25. Widely celebrated in European countries. | Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of Christianity as related to POS objectives. |
| Dec 6 | +St. Nicholas Day |
Widely observed in European countries as the time when children are given presents (rather than on Christmas Day). | Opportunity to discuss differences in customs and religious practices within a religion as well as similarities among different religions. |
| Dec 8 | +Bodhi Day | Buddhist celebration of the enlightenment of Buddha as he meditated under a bodhi tree. | Opportunity to discuss beliefs of Buddhism as related to POS. |
| Dec 8 | +Feast of Immaculate Conception | Roman Catholic Holy Day of Obligation in celebration of Mary, Mother of Jesus. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Dec 10-17 | +Human Rights Week | Celebrates the adoption of Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations in 1948. | Opportunity to discuss the principles and implications of this document and current human rights issues. |
| Dec 12 | +Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe | Celebrates the Roman Catholic patron saint of Mexico and other countries in Latin America. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| *Dec 12-19 | Hanukkah (alternate spelling Chanukah) | Jewish Festival of Lights; eight-day commemoration of the miracle of oil enough for one night lasting eight nights. Also marks rededication of the Second Temple in 165 B.C.E. and victory of Maccabees over the Syrians. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Dec 15 | +Bill of Rights Day | Commemorates 1791 addition of first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution known as the Bill of Rights. George Mason of Fairfax County is regarded as "Father of the Bill of Rights" and ratification by Virginia was the deciding vote. | Opportunity to discuss the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities described in the Bill of Rights. |
| *Dec 18 | Islamic New Year (Muharram 1) | Estimated date for Muslim New Year 1431. The precise date is dependent on date of Eid-al-Fitr. Muharram is the first month of the year on the Muslim calendar. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Dec 21 | +Yule | Winter solstice. Longest night of the year celebrated by ancient Celts and Druids in Britain with bonfires to drive away darkness. Observed by modern Wiccans as the promise of Spring. | Opportunity to discuss influence of ancient folklore on modern culture as related to the POS. |
| Dec 25 | +Christmas | Celebrated by Roman Catholics and Protestants as the birth of Jesus, founder of Christian faith. | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Christian faith as related to the POS. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| Dec 26-Jan 1 | +Kwanzaa | African-American cultural celebration created in 1966 in recognition of traditional African harvest festivals. The name is a Swahili word meaning "first" and signifies the first fruits of the harvest. | Opportunity to discuss harvest celebrations in various cultures. |
2010 |
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| Jan 1-3 | +Japanese New Year Festival | Celebration of the beginning of the year Heisei 22, the 22nd year of Emperor Akihito's reign. People decorate front entrances of houses, dress in their best clothes to visit shrines, and meet with friends and family. | Opportunity to discuss features of Japanese culture and new year celebrations in various countries. |
| Jan 1 | +New Year's Day | Year 2010 on Gregorian (Western) calendar. New Year's is time for gift giving in Greece and some other countries. | Opportunity to discuss the origins of various calendars and methods of calculating them. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| Jan 6 | +Epiphany or Three Kings Day | Celebrates visit of the Three Kings to infant Jesus and ends the 12 Days of Christmas. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Jan 7 | +Orthodox Christmas | Celebrated by Eastern Orthodox churches as the birth of Jesus, founder of the Christian faith, using date from Julian calendar. | Opportunity to discuss branches of Christianity as related to POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Jan 15 | Lee-Jackson Day | Virginia state holiday recognizing service of Robert E. Lee and Thomas (Stonewall) Jackson to the Commonwealth on Friday prior to third Monday in January. | Opportunity to discuss leadership, decision making, and issues associated with the U.S. Civil War. FCPS schools and offices are open. |
| Jan 18 | Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday (observed) | Honors African-American civil rights leader and winner of 1964 Nobel Peace Prize. Observed on third Monday in January. | Opportunity to discuss leadership, the civil rights movement, and current civil rights issues. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| Feb 1-28 | +National Black History Month | Recognizes achievement and contributions by African-Americans. Begun by Howard University historian Carter G. Woodson in 1926 who chose February because it included birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas. | Opportunity to discuss the contributions of African-Americans to the development of the United States. |
| Feb 12 | +Birthday of Abraham Lincoln | Recognizes 16th President of U.S. who preserved the Union during the Civil War and issued the Emancipation Proclamation. | Opportunity to discuss the principles and qualities which Lincoln used to lead the nation through the Civil War. |
| Feb 14 | Lunar New Year (may be called Chinese New Year; known also as Tet in Vietnam, and Seul-Nal in Korea) | Year 4708--Year of the Tiger. In Asian cultures, New Year's symbols are money in red envelops given to children and a dragon indicating good fortune. People clean house and pay off debts. Occurs on 2nd new moon after winter solstice. | Opportunity to discuss the meaning of animal symbols in Chinese calendar. Length of celebration varies among different cultures. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Feb 15 | +Birthday of Susan B. Anthony | Recognizes American reformer and leader of women's suffrage movement. | Opportunity to discuss the struggle for equality by women in American society. |
| Feb 15 | +Death of Buddha | Japanese observe this date, but, as with some other Buddhist observances, the event is celebrated at different times in different countries. | Opportunity to discuss similarities and differences among major religions as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Feb 15 | Eastern and Greek Orthodox Lent begins | For Eastern and Greek Orthodox Christians, a period of fasting and self-denial in preparation for Pascha (Easter). | Opportunity to discuss differences between the Western and Eastern Christian calendars and schism in Christianity as related to POS. |
| *Feb 15 | +Nehan (Nirvana Day) | Commemorates the death of Buddha and his entrance into Nirvana. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Feb 15 | Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day | Honors the first president of the U.S. and leader in the American Revolution, who was born on February 22, 1732. Observed on the third Monday in February. | Opportunity to discuss George Washington's leadership qualities and his contributions to the establishment of American form of government. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| Feb 16-20 | Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week | Promotes cooperation and justice among all religious, racial, and ethnic groups in U.S. It is sponsored by National Conference for Community and Justice the third week in February. | Opportunity to discuss the issues of eliminating racism and other forms of prejudice. |
| Feb 16 | Mardi Gras ("Fat" Tuesday) | A day of parades and revelry preceding the Christian season of Lent. Also known as Shrove Tuesday in Britain or Faschung in German speaking countries. | Opportunity to discuss differences among Christian religious denominations as related to the POS. |
| Feb 17 | Ash Wednesday | First day of Lent for Catholics and some Protestants who may come to work with a small mark of ashes on their forehead to symbolize penitence. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Feb 17-April 3 | Lent | Forty-day period before Easter observed by Catholics and some Protestants to prepare spiritually through fasting, prayer, and Bible study. | Reasonable accommodations should be made for students and employees observing dietary restrictions. |
| *Feb 28 | Purim | Jewish celebration lively with food, wine, noisemaking, and dramatic telling of story about how Queen Esther saved the Jews in ancient Persia from plot to destroy them. | Opportunity to discuss the history of Jews and other Middle Eastern societies as related to POS. |
| March 1 | Holi | Hindu spring festival celebrated on the full moon. Marked by frivolity and uninhibited behavior such as people throwing colored waters or powders on each other. | Opportunity to discuss similarities and differences in festivals of various cultures and religions. |
| March 1-31 | +Women's History Month | Established by Congress in 1987 to promote recognition of women in American history. March chosen for its association with Triangle Shirtwaist fire & events in the history of working women. | Opportunity to discuss the contributions of women to American society. |
| March 5 | +Crispus Attucks Day | Commemorates African-Americans who served in the American Revolutionary War. Attucks was one of five Americans killed in the "Boston Massacre" of 1770. | Opportunity to discuss the role of free blacks during the Colonial period in American history. |
| *March 9 | Mawlid al-Nabi (Prophet's Day) | Celebrates the birth of Prophet Muhammad, the founder of Islam, in 570 C.E. | Opportunity to discuss origin and beliefs of Islam as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| March 17 | +St. Patrick's Day | Commemorates Roman Catholic Bishop, Patron Saint of Ireland, who brought Christianity there. | Opportunity to discuss the role of the Irish in American history. |
| March 20 or 21 | +Higan | Buddhist celebration of the equinox, symbolizing peace, equality and harmony. Occurs again on autumnal equinox (Sep 22). | Opportunity to discuss distinguishing features of Buddhism as related to the POS. |
| March 21 | +Naw Ruz | Ancient first day of spring celebration of the new year in Iran, Afghanistan and neighboring countries. Also designated as New Year in the Baha'i religion. | Opportunity to discuss the origins of various calendars and new year celebrations. |
| March 28 | Mahavir Jayanti | Birth of Mahavir, the 24th and last Tirthanker ("Church-Founder") of Jain religion. | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Jain religion as related to the POS. |
| *March 30 - April 6 | Passover or Pesach | Eight-day period marking the deliverance of the Jews from the slavery in Egypt. A Seder is held on the first two evenings emphasizing the concept of freedom. | Opportunity to discuss history and beliefs of Judaism as related to POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| April 1 | Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) | Roman Catholic observance of the Last Supper when Jesus gave an additional commandment (maundatum): “to love one another.” | Opportunity to discuss relationship of Christian and Jewish faiths as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| April 2 | Good Friday Holy Friday |
Commemoration by Roman Catholics, Orthodox Catholics, and Protestants of the crucifixion of Jesus. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| April 4 | Easter | Celebration of Christian belief in resurrection of Jesus from death is the most significant event in the Christian religion. First Sunday after first full moon after spring equinox. | Opportunity to discuss origins and beliefs of Christianity as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| April 4 | Pascha | Eastern Orthodox celebration of Easter. In the Eastern Orthodox religion, the formula for determining the date of Easter is: the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox after Jewish Passover. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| April 6 | +Founding of the Mormon Church | Commemorates the appearance by the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith in 1830. The official name is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. | Opportunity to discuss the growth of a major American-based religion and the beliefs of Mormonism as related to the POS. |
| April 8 | Vesak Buddha’s Birthday | Celebration of Buddha’s birthday in Japan where it is known as Hana Matsuri. May be celebrated on other dates by other branches of Buddhism. | Opportunities to discuss similarities and differences among religious groups as related to the POS. Students and employees for whom this time has religious significance could be absent. |
| *April 11 | Yom HaShoah | Memorializes the six million Jews who died in the Nazi Holocaust and emphasizes respect for human dignity. Observance not limited to Jews. | Opportunity to discuss religious tolerance and the issue of international action to protect human rights. |
| April 13 | +Huguenot Day | Celebrates the granting of religious freedom to Protestants in France with issuance of the Edict of Nantes. | Opportunity to discuss the concept of religious tolerance. |
| April 13 or 14 | +Vaisakhi | Sikh observance of rejection of Indian caste system and founding of Khalsa Brotherhood. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| *April 21 - May 2 | +Ridvan (Riz-wan) | Twelve-day celebration of the declaration of Baha'u'llah, prophet-founder of Baha'i, to his followers in 1863. | Opportunity to discuss origins of the Baha'i faith as related to POS. Students and employees for whom the day has religious significance could be absent. |
| April 23-26 | Festival of
the Goddess of Sam Mountain (BA Chua Xu Festival) |
Statue on Sam Mountain in Vietnam is a good luck symbol to people of many countries in Indochina regardless of their religion. Observed by some immigrant groups in Virginia. | Opportunity to discuss concept of good luck as expressed in various cultures. |
| April 23 | Vietnamese Founders’ Day | Celebration of the culture and history of Vietnam. Held on the 10th day of the 3rd month of the lunar year. | Opportunity to discuss the history of Vietnam, effect of colonialism and independence, and also the contributions of Vietnamese-Americans to the U.S. |
| April 30 | +Beltane | Wiccan spring festival of creation with origins in ancient Celtic and Druid folklore. | Opportunity to discuss effects of ancient cultures and folklore on modern society as related to POS. |
| May 1-31 | +Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month | Established by Presidential proclamation since 1979. This month was chosen because May 10th marks completion of transcontinental railroad built primarily by Chinese laborers. | Opportunity to discuss the contributions of people of Asian/Pacific heritage to American society. |
| May 1 | +Law Day | Established by Presidential proclamation in 1958 to promote equality, justice, and respect for the law. | Opportunity to discuss role of law in a democratic society. |
| May 1 | +May Day | Ancient spring festival in many European countries that has become associated with labor movements in modern times. | Opportunity to discuss ancient mythology or current labor issues. |
| May 5 | +Cinco de Mayo | Celebrated in Mexico and by Mexican-Americans in commemoration of the Battle of Puebla in 1862 when Mexico defeated a large French army. | Opportunity to discuss American-Mexican relations and effect of Mexican and Latino culture on American life. |
| May 6 | National Day of Prayer | First proclaimed by the Continental Congress in 1775, it is celebrated on the first Thursday in May. | Opportunity to discuss the role of religious freedom in the United States. FCPS guidelines for making religious accommodations for students are accessible here. |
| May 11 | +Vietnam Human Rights Day | Joint Resolution of the U.S. Congress to support movement for democracy, freedom, and civil rights in Vietnam. | Opportunity to discuss the status of freedom and democracy in Vietnam and other countries worldwide. |
| May 13 | Ascension Day | Christian celebration of Jesus' ascent into heaven is observed 40 days after Easter Sunday. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| *May 19-20 | Shavuot (Festival of Weeks) | Jewish commemoration of Moses receiving the Law (Torah) on Mt. Sinai. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| May 23 | Pentecost or Whit Sunday | Christian celebration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles is observed on the Sunday 50 days after Easter. | Opportunity to compare role of disciples and missionaries in the spread of various religions to different parts of the world as related to the POS. |
| May 27 | Day of Vesak, Birth of Buddha | Among Buddhist holidays, this day is the most important as it commemorates the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism. "Buddha" means the "Enlightened One." | Opportunity to discuss Buddhism as related to POS. Buddhist celebrations are held on different dates in different countries, so participants might mark the occasion on various days depending on their national origin. This day is a holiday in Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, and Thailand. |
| May 31 | Confederate Memorial Day | Recognizes those who served in the confederate army on this date in Virginia. | Opportunity to discuss issues associated with the Civil War. |
| May 31 | Memorial Day | Commemorates all those who have died in military service to the U.S. in wartime. Observed on last Monday in May. | Opportunity to discuss obligation of citizens in military service to our country. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| June 14 | +Flag Day | Commemorates acceptance of Stars and Stripes as U.S. flag in 1777. | Opportunity to discuss the role of a flag and other national symbols in building unity and patriotism within a country. |
| June 19 | "Juneteenth" | Celebration of emancipation of slaves that began in the Southwestern part of U.S. but has become common in all regions. Marks time in 1865 when news of end of slavery came to Texas. | Opportunity to discuss African-American history and impact of black culture on American society. |
| June 24 | Nativity of John the Baptist | Religious festival widely celebrated in Latino cultures. | Employees for whom this is a day of religious significance could be absent. |
| July 4 | +American Independence Day | Commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by delegates from the 13 colonies at Philadelphia in 1776. | Opportunity to discuss principles of freedom and self-government contained in Declaration of Independence. FCPS schools and offices closed. |
| July 9 | Martyrdom of the Báb |
Baha'i anniversary of the Martydom of the Báb, 1850. |
Opportunity to discuss the origins and beliefs of the Baha'i faith as related to the POS. |
| July 13-15 | Obon | Lunar calendar date of Buddhist festival in Japan honoring the deceased with dancing and lighted lanterns. Popular in Hawaii even among non-Buddhists. May also be observed on August 13-15 (solar calendar). | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| *July 20 | Tish'a B'Av | Jewish day of fasting. Commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temple in 586 B.C.E. and 70 C.E. respectively. | Opportunity to discuss concept of religious tolerance in U.S. Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| July 24 | +Pioneer Day | Mormon observance of the arrival of Brigham Young at the site of Salt Lake City, Utah. | Opportunity to discuss concept of religious tolerance in U.S. |
| Aug 6 | +Hiroshima Day | Marks the anniversary of U.S. dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 to end World War II; ceremonies emphasize peace. | Opportunity to discuss impact of nuclear weapons on international relations as related to the POS. |
| Aug 15 | +Feast of Blessed Virgin Mary | Celebrates the Assumption of Mary, Mother of Jesus, into Heaven. | Opportunity to discuss role of women in various religions as related to the POS. |
| Aug 16 | Khao Phansa | One of the most holy days for Buddhists, particularly those from Thailand. First sermon by Buddha to his disciples is commemorated by serious contemplation and meditation. | Students and employees for whom this is a time of religious significance could be absent. |
| Aug 24 | Rakhi (Raksha) Bandham | Hindu and Jain celebration of love and friendship; women tie a "rakhi" (amulet) on siblings and friends to ward off evil. | Opportunity to discuss understanding religious practices different from one's own. |
If you have any questions or comments about this calendar, please communicate with the Office of Equity and Compliance, Department of Human Resources.
Email: HROfficeofEquity&Compliance@fcps.edu
Phone: 571-423-3050
FAX: 571-423-3057
| Curator:
HRQuestions@fcps.edu Last update: October 19, 2009 |
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