SIETAR World:
February
February 16, 2022 – SIETAR Nederlands WEBINAR: “Trends in cross-cultureel leiderschap anno nu” (“Trends in Cross-Cultural Leadership Today”) facilitated in Dutch. Visit SIETAR Nederland Events to register!
February 16, 2022 – SIETAR Washington, D.C. WEBINAR: "Supporting Asian American, Pacific Islander & Indigenous Trafficking Survivors Through Intercultural Lenses" with Mei Tomko. Visit SIETAR USA Local Groups Upcoming Events to register!
February 17, 2022 – SIETAR UK Talk: “OPEN University Distinguished Speaker Series: Intercultural Competence in the Workplace” with Prof. Mike Byram. Visit SIETAR UK Events to register!
February 23, 2022 – SIETAR Europa WEBINAR: “HOW TO ROCK THE VIRTUAL SPACE: What are the key factors when designing EXTRAordinary and memorable virtual learning journeys?” with Dr. Barbara Covarrubias, FH-Prof. Dr. Eithne Knappitsch, Dr. Anna Zinenko, and Dr. Svetlana Buko. Visit SIETAR Europa Events to register!
February 24, 2022 – SIETAR Switzerland Culture Club: “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion” with Gundhild Hoenig and Tom Waterhouse. Visit SIETAR Switzerland Events to register!
March
March 8, 2022 – SIETAR Switzerland WEBINAR: “Actioning Inclusion” with Ishita Ray, Nadege Minois and Vincent Morvan. Visit SIETAR Switzerland Events to register!
March 10, 2022 – SIETAR USA WEBINAR: “Culture and the Dual Career Dilemma” with Yvonne Quahe. Visit SIETAR USA Events to register!
Other Events:
February
February is Black History Month/African American History Month in the United States and Canada. Since 1976, the month has been designated to remember the contributions of people of the African diaspora.
February 14: St. Valentine’s Day, a Western Christian feast day honoring one or two early saints named Valentinus. Typically associated with romantic love and celebrated by people expressing their love via gifts.
February 15: Lantern Festival, the first significant feast after the Chinese New Year, named for watching Chinese lanterns illuminate the sky during the night of the event.
February 15: Parinirvana Day (or Nirvana Day), the commemoration of Buddha’s death at the age of 80, when he reached the zenith of Nirvana. February 8 is an alternative date of observance.
February 16: Maghi-Purnima, a Hindu festival especially for worshippers of Lord Vishnu. Millions of devotees take a holy bath on this day. Devotees also carry out charity work on this day.
February 16: Magha Puja Day (also known as Maka Bucha), a Buddhist holiday that marks an event early in the Buddha’s teaching life when a group of 1,250 enlightened saints, ordained by the Buddha, gathered to pay their respect to him. It is celebrated on various dates in different countries.
February 20: World Day of Social Justice was declared by the U.N. General Assembly in 2007. The U.N. holds social justice-focused events to commemorate the day.
February 21: International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1999. The purpose of the day is, “to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world [and] … promote unity in diversity and international understanding, through multilingualism and multiculturalism.” (United Nations, 2021)
February 21: Presidents Day, a federally recognized celebration in the United States of George Washington’s birthday, as well as every president proceeding Washington.
February 25–March 1: Intercalary Days or Ayyám-i-Há, celebrated by people of the Bahá’í faith. At this time, days are added to the Bahá’í calendar to maintain their solar calendar. Intercalary days are observed with gift giving, special acts of charity, and preparation for the fasting that precedes the New Year.
March
March is Women’s History Month. Started in 1987, Women’s History Month recognizes all women for their valuable contributions to history and society.
March is also National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, which was established to increase awareness and understanding of issues affecting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
March is National Multiple Sclerosis Education and Awareness Month. It was established to raise public awareness of the autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord and assist those with multiple sclerosis in making informed decisions about their health care.
March 1: Maha Shivarati, Hindu festival celebrated each year to honor Lord Shiva. It is celebrated just before the arrival of spring. It is also known as the Great Night of Shiva or Shivaratri and is one of the largest and most significant among the sacred festival nights of India.
March 1: Lailat al Miraj, a Muslim holiday that commemorates the prophet Muhammad's nighttime journey from Mecca to the “Farthest Mosque” in Jerusalem, where he ascended to heaven, was purified, and given the instruction for Muslims to pray five times daily. Note that in the Muslim calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Muslims will celebrate Lailat al Miraj on the sundown of February 28.
March 1: Mardi Gras, the last day for Catholics to indulge before Ash Wednesday starts the sober weeks of fasting that accompany Lent. The term “Mardi Gras” is particularly associated with the carnival celebrations in New Orleans, Louisiana.
March 1: Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. Though named for its former religious significance, it is chiefly marked by feasting and celebration, which traditionally preceded the observance of the Lenten fast. It is observed by various Christian denominations.
March 2: Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent on the Christian calendar. Its name is derived from the symbolic use of ashes to signify penitence. It takes place immediately after the excesses of the two days of Carnival that take place in Northern Europe and parts of Latin America and the Caribbean.
March 2 (sunset) to March 20 (sunset): Nineteen-Day Fast, a time in the Bahá’í Faith to reinvigorate the soul and bring one closer to God. The fast takes place immediately before the beginning of the Bahá'í New Year.
March 3–5:Losar, the Tibetan Buddhist New Year, a time of renewal through sacred and secular practices.
March 8: International Women’s Day. First observed in 1911 in Germany, it has now become a major global celebration honoring women’s economic, political and social achievements.
March 9: Asian-American Women’s Equal Pay Day. The aim is to raise awareness about the pay gap between Asian-American women and White men. Asian-American women are paid 90 cents for every dollar paid to white men.
March 13–April 15: Deaf History Month. This observance celebrates key events in deaf history, including the founding of Gallaudet University and the American School for the Deaf.
March 16-17: Purim, a Jewish celebration that marks the time when the Jewish community living in Persia was saved from genocide. On Purim, Jewish people offer charity and share food with friends.
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday started in Ireland to recognize St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who brought Christianity to the country in the early days of the faith.
References
National Congress of Parents and Teachers. (n.d). “2021-2022 Multicultural Calendar Multicultural Calendar.” National Congress of Parents and Teachers, https://www.pta.org/docs/default-source/files/runyourpta/2020/diversity/multicultural-calendar.pdf.
Office Holidays Ltd. “US Diversity Months.” Office Holidays Ltd., Office Holidays Ltd., 2022, www.officeholidays.com/diversity-months.
United Nations. (n.d.). International Mother Language Day. Retrieved February 2, 2021, from https://www.un.org/en/observances/mother-language-day
Provided by Emily Kawasaki
Assistant Editor
The Interculturalist: A Periodical of SIETAR USA