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As we continue to build increasingly diverse teams, it's becoming more important than ever to recognize and honor the holidays that matter to each and every one of our employees. To help you foster an inclusive and welcoming workplace, we've compiled a list of holidays for the month of October.
Download our 2023 holidays calendar
Month-long Celebrations
Global Diversity Awareness Month
Global Diversity Awareness Month is an opportunity to celebrate how our different cultures, ethnicities, abilities, experiences, and other attributes contribute to more inclusive, dynamic, and innovative workplaces.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month is a time to educate and discuss disability employment issues and celebrate the contributions of America’s workers with disabilities
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer and show support for those who have been affected by breast cancer.
From Electives instructor Myra Sack, here are a few ways to show up and show support during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and throughout the year:
- Perform an act of kindness for those in your community who have suffered a loss
- Actively listen to a patient’s perspective or story
- Have conversations with those who are at risk about breast cancer awareness
- Provide a safe space for those in your community to be vulnerable
Other ways you can show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month include:
- Donate to breast cancer focused organizations
- Wear pink throughout the month of October
- Share facts and statistics that encourage preventative screenings
National Polish American Heritage Month
National Polish American Heritage Month celebrates Polish-American culture and their impact on American society.
Filipino American History Month
Filipino American History Month commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the continental US (October 1587) and celebrates the impact of Filipino culture on American history.
Download our 2023 holidays calendar
October 4-5
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur (Jewish) is an opportunity to atone for mistakes made and to set intentions for a better year.
October 5
Dussehra / Vijaya Dashami
Dussehra / Vijaya Dashami (Hindu) is a holiday to celebrate the defeat of the king Ravan by Lord Ram, which is referenced in the Hindu text “The Ramayana."
October 7
World Smile Day
World Smile Day is celebrated in honor of Harvey Bell, a commercial artist who created the smiley face in 1963.
October 7-8
Mawlid al-Nabi
Mawlid al-Nabi (Islamic) is a national holiday celebrating Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.
October 9-16
Sukkot
Sukkot (Jewish) is a harvest festival that commemorates the 40-year period of wandering in the desert.
October 10
Indigenous People’s Day
Indigenous People's Day is a day to honor and celebrate America’s first inhabitants.
World Mental Health Day
World Mental Health Day is a campaign to raise awareness of mental health issues and encourages efforts to make mental health care accessible for all.
October 11
National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day celebrates individuals who have come out as LGBTQ+. It was established on the anniversary of the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.
October 14
Day of Defenders and Defendresses
Day of Defenders and Defendresses (Ukraine) was established after the start of Russia’s occupation of Crimea and other regions in Ukraine.
October 19
Pronouns Day
Pronouns Day seeks to educate individuals about personal pronouns.
October 20
LGBTQ+ Spirit day
LGBTQ+ Spirit Day is a way to celebrate LGBTQ youth (by wearing purple) and to speak up against bullying in the queer community.
October 24
Diwali
Diwali (Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist) is India’s most important holiday of the year, which is also known as the Festival of Lights.
October 26-27
Birth of the Bab / Baha'u'llah
Birth of the Bab / Baha'u'llah (Baha’i) celebrates the incarnation of The Baby, who had a mission to spread awareness about the beginning of a new chapter in human history.
October 31
Halloween
Halloween originated as a Celtic festival, when people would wear costumes to ward off ghosts.
Download our 2023 holidays calendar
Does sourcing DEI instructors and content feel time-consuming and anxiety-producing?
The Electives platform has everything you need, including an impressive mix of quality and quantity content, instructors and experiences to do all your planning without the stress. Plus, we offer significant diversity of voices and formats, letting you select the best learning experiences for your team.
Our DEI library includes classes appropriate for every DEI program and initiative — from the most sophisticated to those just starting. Every DEI class creates a safe space to start DEI conversations and dive into the most complex and challenging topics and truths.
With an eye toward action, our DEI classes lay foundations while supporting DEI strategy and allyship at the individual, team and company-wide levels. Because we have niche-topic classes taught by a diverse community of instructors, our DEI classes are also perfect for holidays like Indigenous Peoples’ Day or employee resource groups (ERGs) that want to address specific topics by bringing in relevant instructors.
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