Heritage and Identity Days

Celebrating the diversity of culture, heritage and identity

 With students, faculty, staff and guests representing over 160 countries, Binghamton University values the unique and enriching cultural experiences that each community member brings to our campus. The University acknowledges or observes various heritage months and cultural/identity recognition days to celebrate the rich tapestry of the Binghamton community.

Members of our campus community can request accommodations for cultural and religious observances. The academic guide outlines reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations, including a list of upcoming cultural and religious holidays and related policies.

This calendar of cultural holidays and identity days showcases the breadth of cultural holidays, identity days, and celebrations worldwide. Our calendar runs from fall to summer. Please note, this is not an exhaustive list. 

A ative American woman in brightly colored clothing A group of female Indians celebrate Diwali An illustrated postage stamp celebrating Kwanzaa

Cultural/Identity Recognition Days and Heritage Months

Heritage Months
  • FEBRUARY
    Black History Month
  • MARCH
    Women's History Month
  • APRIL
    Arab American Heritage Month
    Earth Month
    Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month
  • MAY
    Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
    Jewish American Heritage Month
    Haitian Heritage Month
  •  JUNE
    LGBTQ+ Pride Month
  • JULY
    Disability Pride Month
  • SEPTEMBER
    Latin American Heritage Month
  • OCTOBER
    LGBTQ+ History Month
    National Disability Employment Awareness Month
  • NOVEMBER
    Native American Heritage Month

Calendar runs fall 2026 - summer 2027

FALL 2026

September

October

  • Oct. 10 – World Mental Health Day

    World Mental Health Day promotes mental health education and awareness, and advocacy against social stigma.

  • Oct. 11 – National Coming Out Day

    National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+)

  • Oct. 12 – Indigenous Peoples’ Day

    Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America. (U.S.)

  • Oct. 15 – LGBTQ+ Spirit Day

    LGBTQ+ Spirit Day is an annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday in October. Spirt Day offers LGBTQ youth and their families a means of visibility and existence only made possible by providing life-saving visibility for those who need it more than ever. On Spirit Day observers wear purple to support LGBTQ youth and prevent bullying. (U.S./LGBTQ+)

  • Oct. 21– International Pronouns Day

    International Pronouns Day seeks to make respecting, sharing, and educating about personal pronouns commonplace (International/LGBTQ+)

  • Oct. 25-31 – ACE Week 

    ACE Week, formerly Asexual Awareness Week, is an international campaign dedicated to raising awareness and expanding education of asexuality.

    A time to celebrate how far our community has come and to dream about the future we will create together. Learn more.

  • Oct. 26 – Intersex Awareness Day

    Intersex Awareness Day commemorates the anniversary of the first public demonstration by intersex people in the United States and seeks to highlight injustice faced by intersex communities. (U.S./LGBTQ+)

  • Oct. 28 – National Immigrants Day

    National Immigrants Day celebrates the immigrants from 196 countries who live in the USA. (U.S.)

  • Oct. 31 – Halloween

    Halloween (International)

November

December 

SPRING 2027

January

February

  • Feb. 1 – National Freedom Day

    In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th amendment (outlawing slavery). In 1948, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming Feb. 1, the first National Freedom Day. (U.S.)

  • Feb. 5 – Kashmir Solidarity Day

    Kashmir Solidarity Day is observed by the people in Pakistan and Kashmir who have been fighting for their freedom for more than 70 years. (Pakistan/International)

  • Feb. 6 – Lunar New Year

    The Lunar New Year marks the first new moon of the lunar calendar and is derived from 12 full cycles of the moon. It is celebrated by many East Asian countries, especially those influenced by Chinese culture, including China, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. (Asia/International)

  • Feb. 6 - 20– Chinese New Year

    Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days, starting with New Year's Eve and culminating in the Lantern Festival. The celebration includes many rituals to usher in good luck for the upcoming year. 2027 marks the Year of the Goat. (China)

  • Feb. 7 – National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

    First observed in 1999, this day acknowledges how HIV disproportionately affects the Black community. (U.S.)

  • Feb. 8 - March 8 – Ramadan

    Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic calendar, a time for worship, reflection and self-discipline. It is marked by fasting, communal prayer, charity, and Quranic study to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims abstain from food, drink, smoking, and intimacy from pre-dawn to sunset , culminating in the festival of Eid al-Fitr.

  • Feb. 10 – Ash Wednesday

    Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and contemplation that concludes on Easter Sunday. (Christian)

  • Feb. 10 - March 25 – Lent

    The six weeks beginning Ash Wednesday leading to Easter Sunday. Through fasting or contemplation, this period marks a solemn observance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The span includes Palm Sunday and Good Friday. (Christian)

  • Feb. 14 – Valentine’s Day

    Originally a Christian feast day honoring several early Christian martyrs named Valentine. Through later folk traditions, it has become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration of romance and love in many regions of the world. (Christian/International)

  • Feb. 15 – Parinirvana or Nirvana Day

    Parinirvana or Nirvana Day remembers Buddha’s passing in 483 BC and his final nirvana. (Buddhist)

  • Feb. 15 – President’s Day

    Part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971, President's Day is a federal holiday that takes place on the third Monday of February. While many states still separately acknowledge the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and George Washington (Feb. 22), President's Day is a way to honor both presidents. (U.S.)

  • Feb. 21-27– Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week

    An international event to foster awareness and acceptance of aromantic spectrum identities and the issues they face. Aromantic individuals often experience little to no romantic attraction and demonstrate little interest in romantic relationships. (International/LGBTQ+)

March

  • March 6 – Shivratri

    Shivratri is a festival celebrated annually in honor of the god Shiva. The name also refers to the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance. (Hindu)

  • March 8 – International Women’s Day

    A day to celebrate women's social, economic, cultural and political achievements. It's also a call to raise awareness about discrimination and take action to drive gender parity. (International)

  • March 9-10 – Eid-al-Fitr

    "Festival of Breaking the Fast," which may be called Lesser Eid or Eid, and is celebrated by Muslims worldwide to mark the end of the month-long dawn-to-sunset fasting of Ramadan. (Islam/Muslim) 

  • March 10 – Harriet Tubman Day

    An American holiday honoring anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman. A former slave, Tubman helped over 70 slaves escape bondage via the Underground Railroad. Learn more about Tubman and her legacy at Binghamton University's Harriet Tubman Center for Freedom and Equity. (U.S.)

  • March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day

    St. Patrick’s Day marks the birthday of this Irish saint, who brought Christianity to the Emerald Isle. (Irish)

  • March 20 – Spring Equinox

    The day on which the sun's warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet. (International)

  • March 21 – Naw-Ruz

    Naw-Ruz is an ancient Persian festival celebrating the New Year, and for Baha’is, it marks the end of the annual 19-Day Fast and coincides with the spring equinox. (Baha'i)

  • March 21 – International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (United Nations)

  • March 22 – Holi

    A joyful and colorful festival celebrated by Indian communities throughout the world. It is a celebration of spring, friendship, family and the triumph of good over evil. (Hindu)

  • March 22-23 – Purim

    Commemorating the saving of the Jewish people and the defeat of Haman, as recounted in the Book of Esther. On Purim, observers are enjoined to exchange gifts and make donations to the poor. (Jewish)

  • March 26 – Good Friday

    Christians annually commemorate the death of Jesus Christ on Good Friday, also called "Holy Friday" or "Great Friday" by Orthodox Chrisitians, the Friday before Easter (Pascha). Orthodox Christians usually observe the Holy day by fasting and refraining from work in remembrance of Christ's great sacrifice. (Christian)

  • March 28 – Easter

    A Christian holy day and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion. (Christian)

  • March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility

    International Transgender Day of Visibility (International/LGBTQ+)

April

  • April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day

    World Autism Awareness Day honors and seeks to improve the lives of people on the Autism spectrum so they can lead full and meaningful lives. (People with Disabilities)

  • April 6 – International Asexuality Day 

    International Asexuality Day is a worldwide event celebrating and advocating for the full asexual spectrum, including demisexual, greysexual, and other ace identities. Individuals under the ACE spectrum typically lack sexual attraction or desire for others. (International/LGBTQ+)

  • April 7 – Ugadi

    Ugadi or Yugadi, also known as Samvatsarādi, is the New Year's Day for the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Karnataka in India. (Hindu) 

  • April 19 – Day of Silence

    Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)

  • April 19 – Mahavira-Jayanti

    Mahavira-Jayanti is one of the most important religious festivals in Jainism, celebrating the birth of Mahavir, the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara of the present Avasarpiṇī. (Jain/Sikh/Hindu) 

  • April 26-May 2 – Lesbian Visibility Week
  • April 21-29 – Passover/Pesach

    Passover/Pesach commemorates the freeing of Jewish people from Egypt. The first and last two days are observed as full holidays. Includes a ceremonial meal called the Seder comprising food of symbolic significance, traditions and prayers. (Jewish / date changes each year)

  • April 22 – Earth Day

    Earth Day – celebrated internationally in more than 192 countries (International)

May

SUMMER 2027

June

  • June 5-6 – Al-Hijra

    Al-Hijra/Al-Hijri is the first day of the month of Muharram representing the Islamic New Year. (Islam/Muslim)

  • June 10-12 – Shavuot

    Shavuot is the ‘Feast of Weeks,’ which marks the giving of the Law (Torah) at Mt. Sinai and is often linked with the Confirmation of teenagers. (Jewish)

  • June 13 – National Puerto Rican Day Parade

    Puerto Rican Day Parade – festivities are planned across the country to celebrate Puerto Ricans’ accomplishments and contributions. (Puerto Ricans)

  • June 13 – National Children’s Day

    National Children’s Day highlights how important children are in society and that some still face many problems and difficulties in different aspects of their lives (U.S.).

  • June 19 – Juneteenth

    A federal holiday that commemorates the liberation of  Black Americans in Texas, effectively ending the institution of slavery. (U.S.)

  • June 20 – World Refugee Day

    Designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe, celebrating the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. (United Nations)

  • June 20 – Father’s Day

    Father’s Day is a national holiday that commemorates fathers and the crucial role they play in people's lives, from childhood through to adulthood. (U.S.)

  • June 28 – Stonewall Riots Anniversary

    The Stonewall Riots Anniversary commemorates the Stonewall riots that began on June 28, 1969, in response to police brutality endured by the transgender, gay, and lesbian community in New York City. (LGBTQ+)

July

  • July 4 – Independence Day

    Also known as the Fourth of July. Commemorates the signing of the Declaration of Independence, by the 13 colonies, marking the the beginning of America's march toward independence. (U.S.)

  • July 14 – International Non-binary People's Day

    Observed each year on July 14 and is aimed at raising awareness and organizing around the issues faced by non-binary people around the world.[ (International/LGBTQ+)

  • July 16 – International Drag Day

    International Drag Day is an annual event held to celebrate drag art and culture around the world to bring awareness and acceptance of self-expression. (International/LGBTQ+)

  • July 25 – Parents’ Day

    Parents’ Day is observed in recognition of what parents do to care for their families and their contributions to society overall (U.S.).

August

  • Aug. 1 – International Friendship Day

    To promote understanding, cooperation and togetherness among people across the globe. (United Nations)

  • Aug. 3-8 – International Youth Day

    To raise awareness about the issues that many children and teenagers face around the world, especially those affected by poverty who can't get access to an appropriate education. (United Nations)

  • Aug. 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People

    International Day of the World’s Indigenous People celebrates unique cultures of indigenous peoples worldwide. (United Nations)

  • Aug. 11-12 – Tisha B’Av

    The annual day of mourning and fasting, as many disasters are said to have happened to the Jewish people on this day. The two main tragedies remembered on this day are the destruction of Solomon's Temple and the Second Temple in Jerusalem. (Jewish)

  • Aug. 15 – Feast of the Assumption

    Feast of the Assumption celebrate the belief of the entry into heaven of the Virgin Mary. (Christian/Roman Catholic)

  • Aug. 19 – World Humanitarian Day

    World Humanitarian Day honors humanitarian personnel and recognize their efforts as aid workers during humanitarian world crises, as well a day to remember those who lost their lives while in humanitarian missions. (United Nations)

  • Aug. 26 – Women’s Equality Day

    Women’s Equality Day commemorates women gaining the right to vote. (U.S.)

  • Aug. 29 – Individual Rights Day

    Individual Rights Day. This unofficial observance honors personal freedoms and the birthday of philosopher John Locke, who wrote about life, liberty, and property. (United Nations)

The Binghamton University Interfaith Council also maintains a calendar of religious holidays.