Hi team,
On behalf of the eHealth Technologies DEI Committee, we’d like to shed light on the many observances and holidays celebrated by our team members and beyond throughout the month of September.
Do you celebrate any of these observances? If so, we’d love to hear more about why they are important to you. Feel free to share your memories and photos and we may include them in the next employee newsletter – send an email to BrilliantIdeas@ehealthtechnologies.com.
September 4: Labor Day in the United States honors the contributions that workers have made to the country and is observed on the first Monday of September.
September 6 – 7: Krishna Janmashtami is a Hindu celebration of Lord Vishnu’s most powerful human incarnation, Krishna, the god of love and compassion. Celebrations include praying and fasting.
September 11: The beheading of St. John the Baptist is a holy day observed by various Christian churches that follow liturgical traditions. The day commemorates the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, who was beheaded on the orders of Herod Antipas through the vengeful request of his stepdaughter, Salome, and her mother. The holiday is celebrated on August 29th for Western Christians and September 11th for Eastern Orthodox Christians.
September 12: Rastafarians celebrate the Ethiopian New Year on this date and believe that Ethiopia is their spiritual home.
September 14: Elevation of the Life-Giving Cross (Holy Cross) is a day that commemorates the cross used in the crucifixion of Jesus. It is celebrated by some Christian denominations.
September 15 (sundown) to 17 (sundown): Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year celebration marking the creation of the world.
September 15 – October 15: Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
September 18: International Equal Pay Day was celebrated for the first time in 2020. It represents the long-standing efforts toward the achievement of equal pay for work of equal value. It further builds on the United Nations’ commitment to human rights and its efforts to eliminate all forms of discrimination, including discrimination against women and girls.
September 19: Ganesh Chaturthi is a Hindu holiday lasting approximately 10 days in which the elephant-headed Hindu god is praised and given offerings.
September 20: Initiated by the United Nations, the HeForShe movement advocates for gender equality. Its mission is to unite people of all genders in the pursuit of equality for all.
September 21: Mabon, the second harvest ritual celebrated in Gaelic, Pagan, and Wiccan traditions, is the first day of fall and the celebration of the vernal equinox. The holiday is about gathering wisdom and honoring elders.
September 22: Native American Day is a federal holiday observed annually on the fourth Friday in September in the states of California and Nevada, and on the second Monday in October in South Dakota and Oklahoma.
September 24-25: Yom Kippur is one of the two main Jewish High Holy Days. Occurring on the 10th month of Tishrei, it focuses on repentance and atonement. Fasting and intense prayer are common during this religious observance.
Sep. 25 – Oct. 1: National Hereditary Cancer Week is an opportunity to shine light on hereditary cancer, impart knowledge, and save lives. This is a time to acknowledge and honor everyone with a genetic mutation that increases their cancer risk, as well as the families and caregivers that support them. If you are a hereditary cancer survivor, previvor, caregiver or family member, this week is about honoring you and sharing information to help others who may be at an increased risk.
September 27 – 28: Mawlid, Mawlid an-Nabi ash-Sharif, or Eid Milad un-Nabi, is the observance of the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
September 28: Teacher’s Day in Taiwan is used to honor teachers’ contributions to their students and society in general. People often express their gratitude to their teachers by paying them a visit or sending them a card. The birth of Confucius, the model master educator in ancient China, is also commemorated on this date.
September 29: Michaelmas, or the Feast of Michael and All Angels, is a minor Christian festival dedicated to Archangel Michael that is observed in some Western liturgical calendars.
September 29 – October 14: Pitru Paksha – These 16 Hinduism holy days are dedicated to offering prayers and food for the souls of Hindu ancestors. It is seen to honor and repay the debt (dharma) owed to ancestors for their happiness and well-being.