Days and months of acknowledgment, awareness, and action

Acknowledging important days at the University of New Brunswick

At UNB, we believe in the power of recognition and reflection. Throughout the year, we observe a variety of significant days that honour diverse cultures, histories, and causes. These days provide us with the opportunity to pause, reflect and engage with the values and traditions that shape our community and the world.

Why acknowledging these days matters

Recognizing these important days is more than a formality; it is a commitment to inclusivity, awareness and education. By acknowledging these days, we:

Support decolonization: Through dialogue and fostering relationships, we are committed to incorporate Indigenous knowledges, perspectives and practices into our learning environment and institutional culture to advance reconciliation.

Celebrate diversity: We honour the rich tapestry of cultures, faiths, and identities that make up our university community.

Promote awareness: We bring attention to critical social issues, fostering a deeper understanding and empathy among our students, faculty and staff.

Encourage reflection: We provide moments for personal and collective reflection on our values, history and the ongoing journey towards a more just and equitable society.

Build community: We strengthen our sense of belonging and solidarity by coming together to observe these significant days.

By month

January

Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 1: Kwanzaa ends
Jan. 1: Gantan-Sai (Shinto)
Jan. 1: Fast of the Holy Nativity (Orthodox)
Jan. 2: Hanukkah ends (Judaism)
Jan. 4: World Braille Day
Jan. 5: Guru Gobind Singh Ji Birthday (Sikhism)
Jan. 6: Feast of Epiphany, Three Kings Day (Christianity)
Jan. 6: Theophany (Christianity and Orthodox)
Jan. 7: Feast of the Nativity (Christianity Orthodox)
Jan. 7: Christmas Day (Rastafarian)
Jan. 8: Bodhi Day, (Buddhism)
Jan. 10: Pasha Putrada Ekadashi (Hinduism)
Jan. 13: Maghi (Sikhism)
Jan. 13: Lohri (Hinduism)
Jan. 14: Makar Sankranti (Hinduism)
Jan. 14: Mahayana New Year (Buddhism)
Jan. 17: Thai Pongal Ends (Hinduism)
Jan. 18-25: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (Christianity)
Jan. 19: World Religion Day
Jan. 19: Timkat (Ethiopian Orthodox)
Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Jan. 24: International Day of Education
Jan. 25: Tu B'Shvat (Judaism)
Jan. 25: Conversion of Saint Paul-Faith (Christianity)
Jan. 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Jan. 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
Jan. 29: Chinese/Vietnamese/Korean New Year/Lunar New Year

February

All month: Black History Month
All month: Black Queering month
Feb. 1: Saint Brigid’s Day (Christianity)
Feb. 2: World Wetlands Day - UN
Feb. 2: Imbolc (Paganism)
Feb. 2: Vasanta Panchami (Hinduism)
Feb. 2: Saraswati Puja on Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Feb. 2: Candlemas (Christianity)
Feb. 3: Setsubun (Japan) (Shinto/Buddhism)
Feb. 4: International Day of Human Fraternity - UN
Feb. 6: International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation - UN
Feb. 7: World Interfaith Harmony Week (1-7)
Feb. 8: Laylat al-Mi'rāj (Islam)
Feb. 9: International Day of Pink
Feb. 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Feb. 12: International Day for the Prevention of Violent Extremism as and when Conducive to Terrorism - UN
Feb. 12: Canadian Sexual and Reproductive Health Day
Feb. 14: Pink Triangle Day
Feb. 15: National Flag of Canada Day
Feb. 15: Nirvana Day (Buddhism)
Feb. 16: Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week (observed for 8 days)
Feb. 17: Sexual and Reproduction Health Awareness Week
Feb. 17: Family Day
Feb. 20: World Day of Social Justice
Feb. 23: Pink shirt Day
Feb. 23: Meatfare Sunday (Christianity/Orthodox)
Feb. 24: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
Feb. 24: Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (Christianity)
Feb. 25: Laylat al Baraat (Hinduism)
Feb. 25: Ayyam-i-Ha (Intercalary Days begins, 25-28) (Baha'i)
Feb. 26: Maha Shivaratri (Hinduism)
Feb. 28: First Day of Ramadan (until March 30) (Islam)
Feb. 28: Losar Tibetan New Year (until March 2) (Buddhism)
Feb. 28: Hindi New Year (Hinduism)

March

All month: Women's History Month
All month: Greek Heritage Month
All month: Irish Heritage Month
March 1: AIDS Zero Discrimination Day
March 1: St. David’s Day (Christianity)
March 2: Cheesefare Sunday (Orthodox)
March 3: Clean Monday (Orthodox)
March 4: World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development (UNESCO)
March 4: Purim begins (4-14) (Judaism)
March 5: International Day for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Awareness
March 5: Ash Wednesday, Lent begins (Christianity)
March 8: International Women's Day
March 10: International Day of Women Judges
March 10: Commonwealth Day
March 14: Purim ends (2-14)(Judaism)
March 14: Holi (Hinduism/Sikhism)
March 15: International Day to combat Islamophobia
March 17: Saint Patrick’s Day (Christianity)
March 19: Saint Joseph’s Day (Christianity)
March 20: International Day of Happiness
March 20: French Language Day
March 21: Youth Day (New Brunswick, from NB Human Rights Commission)
March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
March 21: World Down Syndrome Day
March 21: Nowruz (Persian New Year) (Zoroastrianism)
March 21: Ostara (Paganism)
March 21: Naw-Ruiz (New Year) (Baha'i)
March 22: World Water Day
March 24: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 25: Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Christianity)
March 26: Birth Anniversary of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroastrianism)
March 27: Laylat al-Qadr (Islam)
March 29: Īd al-Fiṭr (Islam)
March 30: Saka New Year(Balinese Hinduism, Nyepi)
March 30: Magha Puja Day (Buddhism)
March 30: Last Day of Ramadan (starting Feb. 28) (Islam)
March 31: National Indigenous Languages Day
March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility
March 31: Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

April

All month: Sikh Heritage Month
All month: Genocide Awareness Month
All month: Condemnation and Prevention Month
All month: World Autism Month
April 1: Kha b-Nissan Spring Festival 2025
April 2: World Autism Awareness Day
April 2: Solar New Year
April 3: International Day Against Victim Blaming
April 6: National Tartan Day
April 6: Rama Navami (Hinduism)
April 7: Tutsi Genocide Memorial Day
April 7: World Health Day - WHO
April 9: Vimy Ridge Day
April 9: Whit Monday (Christianity)
April 10: Mahavir Jayanti (Jainism)
April 12: International Day of Pink
April 12: Pesach Passover begins (Judaism)
April 12: Memorial of Jesus’ Death (Christianity)
April 12: Hanuman Jayanti (Hinduism)
April 13: Palm Sunday (Christianity)
April 14: International Day of Silence
April 14: Bengali New Year
April 14: Sinhalese and Tamil New Year
April 14: Vaisaki (Sikhism)
April 14: Mesha Sankranti (Hinduism)
April 16: Theravadin New Year 3 days (Buddhism)
April 17: Equality Day, anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
April 17: Maundy Thursday (Christianity)
April 17: Lent ends (Christianity)
April 18: Good Friday (Christianity/Orthodox)
April 19: Holy Saturday
April 20: Easter Sunday (Christianity/Orthodox)
April 20: Pesach (Passover ends) (Judaism)
April 21: Grounation Day (Rastafarian)
April 21: Easter Monday (Christianity/Orthodox)
April 21: First day of the Festival of Riḍván (Baha'i)
April 22: International Mother Earth Day
April 23: World Book and Copyright Day – UNESCO
April 23: English Language Day
April 23: Spanish Language Day
April 23: Yom HaShoah (Judaism)
April 23: Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) *
April 24: International Girls in ICT Day
April 24: Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day
April 25: Holy week (20-25) (Christianity)
April 26: International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day
April 26: World Intellectual Property Day - WIPO
April 28: World Day for Safety and Health at Work Day - UN
April 28: National Day of Mourning
April 28: Birthday of Guru Angad Dev (Sikhism)
April 29: Ninth Day of Riḍván (Baha'i)
April 30: Arab American Heritage Month

May

All month: Asian Heritage Month
All month: Jewish Heritage Month
All month: Dutch Heritage Month
All month: South Asian Heritage Month
All month: Mobility Awareness Month
May 1: Twelfth day of the Festival of Riḍván (Baha'i)
May 1: Beltane (Paganism)
May 3: World Press Freedom Day
May 5: National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (Red Dress Day)
May 5: World Portuguese Language Day - UN
May 7: International Family Equality Day
May 7: Child and Youth Mental Health Day (Human Rights Commission NB)
May 8: Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives During the Second World War
May 11: Mother’s Day
May 12: International Nurses Day
May 12: Vesak Day (Buddhism)
May 15: International Day of Families
May 16: International Day of Living Together in Peace
May 16: Lag B’Omer (Judaism)
May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia
May 12-18: Nursing Week
May 19: Victoria Day
May 19: Malcolm X Day
May 21: World Day of Culture Diversity for Dialogue and Development
May 22: Harvey Milk Day
May 23: Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon - UN
May 24: Disability Awareness Week (New Brunswick) (Human Rights Commission NB)
May 25: African Liberation Day
May 25: Declaration of the Báb (Baha'i)
May 25-31: International Week of Solidarity with Peoples of Non-Self-Governing Territories
May 27: Visakha Puja - Buddha Day (Buddhism)
May 29: Ascension Day (Christianity)
May 29: Ascension of the Bahá'u'lláh (Baha'i)
May 30: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May 30: Jewish American Heritage Month
May 30: Sexual Assault Prevention and Awareness Month
May 30: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sahiv (Sikhism)

June

All month: National Indigenous History Month
All month: Pride Month
All month: Caribbean American Heritage Month
All month: Italian Heritage Month
All month: Filipino Heritage Month
All month: Portuguese Heritage Month
All month: ALS Awareness Month
All month: Deafblind Awareness Month
June 1: National Accessibility Week
June 1: Intergenerational Day
June 1: Shavuot begins (Judaism)
June 3: Shavuot ends (Judaism)
June 4: International Day of Children Victims of Aggression
June 5: Day of Hajj (Islam)
June 6: Russian Language Day - UN
June 7: ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá begins (Islam)
June 8: Pentecost (Christianity)
June 10: ʻĪd al-’Aḍḥá ends (Islam)
June 11: Saga Dawa, Shakyamuni’s birthday (Buddhism)
June 12: World Day Against Child Labour
June 12: Loving Day
June 13: International Albinism Awareness Day
June 14: World Blood Donor Day
June 15: Father’s Day
June 15: Trinity Sunday (Christianity)
June 16: Guru Arjan Sahib Martyrdom Day (Sikhism)
June 18: International Day for Countering Hate Speech
June 19: International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict
June 19: Juneteenth
June 19: Corpus Christi (Christianity)
June 20: World Refugee Day
June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
June 21: International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
June 21: World Humanist Day
June 21: Litha – Faith: Paganism
June 26: International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking
June 26: Al-Hijra New Year (Islam)
June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day
June 27: First of Muharram (Islam)

July

All month: Disability Pride Month
July 1: Canada Day
July 1: Fredericton Pride Week (Dates TBD)
July 5: International Day of Cooperatives - UN
July 5: Āshūrā (Islam)
July 10: Martyrdom of the Báb (Baha'i)
July 11: World Population Day
July 11: Imamat Day (Islam)
July 13: Obon (Ulambana) (Buddhism/Shintoism)
July 14: International Non-Binary People’s Day
July 15: World Youth Skills Day
July 18: Nelson Mandela International Day
July 20: International Moon Day
July 28: Chokhor Ducchen Festival (Buddhism)
July 30: International Day of Friendship
July 30: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

August

August 1: Saint John Pride Week (Dates TBD)
August 1: Emancipation Day
August 1: Lammas (Paganism)
August 1-7: World Breast Feeding Week - WHO
August 3: Tish'a B'Av (Judaism)
August 4: New Brunswick Day
August 6: Feast of the Transfiguration Celebration (Christianity)
August 9: International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
August 9: Raksha Bandhan (Hinduism)
August 12: NB Youth Day
August 15: National Acadian Day (Acadia)
August 15: Assumption of Mary (Christianity)
August 16: Sri Krishna Jayanti (Hinduism)
August 19: World Humanitarian Day
August 21: International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
August 22: International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief
August 23: International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition
August 27: Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)
August 29: International Day Against Nuclear Tests
August 29: Coptic New Year
August 30: International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances
August 31: International Day for People of African Descent

September

All month: National Hispanic Heritage Month
Sept. 1: Labour Day
Sept. 1: Canadian Gender Equality Week (Dates TBD)
Sept. 5: International Day of Charity
Sept. 6: Mawlid al-Nabi (Islam)
Sept. 6: Anant Chaturdashi Puja Muhurat (Hinduism)
Sept. 7: Pitru Paksha begins (Hinduism)
Sept. 8: International Literacy Day
Sept. 9: International Day to Protect Education from Attack
Sept. 10: World Suicide Prevention Day
Sept. 11: Ethiopian New Year
Sept. 15: New Brunswick Human Rights Day (HR Commission)
Sept. 15: International Day of Democracy
Sept. 16: International Day for Interventional Cardiology
Sept. 16: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer
Sept. 17: World Patient Safety Day - WHO
Sept. 18: International Equal Pay Day
Sept. 21: International Day of Peace
Sept. 21: Pitru Paksha ends (Hinduism)
Sept. 22-24: Rosh Hashanah begins (Judaism)
Sept. 22: Mabon (Paganism)
Sept. 23: International Day of Sign Languages
Sept. 23: Celebrate Bisexuality Day
Sept. 24: Rosh Hashanah ends (Judaism)
Sept. 26: International Week of the Deaf
Sept. 26: International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Sept. 27: Canadian Gender Equality Week
Sept. 28: International Day for Universal Access to Information
Sept. 28 - Oct. 2: Durga Puja (Hinduism)
Sept. 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation | Orange Shirt Day
Sept. 30: International Translation Day

October

All month: LGBTQ History Month
All month: Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
All month: Hispanic Heritage Month
All month: German Heritage Month
All month: Islamic History Month
All month: Women’s History Month
All month: National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month
Oct. 1: International Day of Older Persons
Oct. 1: Yom Kippur (Judaism)
Oct. 2: International Day of Non-Violence
Oct. 2: Dussehra (Hinduism)
Oct. 4: Sisters in Spirit Vigil
Oct. 5: World Teacher’s Day - UNESCO
Oct. 6: World Habitat Day
Oct. 6: Sukkot begins (Judaism)
Oct. 6: Sharad Purnima (Hinduism)
Oct. 10: World Mental Health Day- WHO
Oct. 11: International Day of the Girl Child
Oct. 11: National Coming Out Day
Oct. 13: Thanksgiving
Oct. 13: International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction
Oct. 13: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah begins (Judaism)
Oct. 13: Sukkot ends (Judaism)
Oct. 15: Spirit Day
Oct. 15: Hispanic Heritage Month
Oct. 15: International Day of Rural Women
Oct. 15: Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah ends (Judaism)
Oct. 17: International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
Oct. 18: Persons Day (Canada)
Oct. 19: Body Confidence Awareness Week
Oct. 21: Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) (Jainism/Sikhism)
Oct. 22: The Birth of the Báb (Baha'i)
Oct. 23: The Birth of the Bahá'ulláh (Baha'i)
Oct. 24: United Nations Day
Oct. 24-30: Disarmament Week
Oct. 26: Intersex Awareness Day
Oct. 29: International Day of Care and Support
Oct. 31: National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Oct. 31: World Cities Day
Oct. 31: Samhain (Paganism)

November

All month: Native American Heritage Month
Nov. 1: All Saints’ Day (Christianity)
Nov. 2: Day of the Dead (Christianity)
Nov. 2: International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists
Nov. 3: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Baha'i)
Nov. 5: Birth date of Guru Nanak Dev Ji (Sikhism)
Nov. 6: International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict
Nov. 8: Indigenous Veterans Day
Nov. 8: Intersex Day of Remembrance
Nov. 9-15: International Week of Science and Peace
Nov. 11: Remembrance Day
Nov. 13: World Kindness Day
Nov. 14: World Diabetes Day
Nov. 15: International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime
Nov. 16: International Day for Tolerance
Nov. 17: International Students’ Day
Nov. 18: World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual
Nov. 20: Transgender Day of Remembrance
Nov. 20: Africa Industrialization Day
Nov. 20: National Child Day
Nov. 20: World Children's Day
Nov. 24: Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (Sikhism)
Nov. 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Nov. 25: Day of the Covenant (Baha'i)
Nov. 27: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (Baha'i)
Nov. 29: International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Nov. 30: Day of Remembrance for all Victims of Chemical Warfare
Nov. 30: First Day of Advent (Christianity)

December

Dec. 1: World AIDS Day
Dec. 2: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
Dec. 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Dec. 5: International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
Dec. 9: International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of Genocide
Dec. 9: International Anti-Corruption Day
Dec. 10: International Human Rights Day
Dec. 12: International Day Health Coverage Day
Dec. 12: International Day of Neutrality
Dec. 12: Feast of our Lady of Guadalupe (Christianity)
Dec. 14: Hanukkah begins (Judaism)
Dec. 18: International Migrants Day
Dec. 18: Arabic Language Day
Dec. 20: International Human Solidarity Day
Dec. 21: Yule (Paganism)
Dec. 22: Hanukkah ends (Judaism)
Dec. 24: Christmas Eve
Dec. 25: Christmas Day (Christianity)
Dec. 26: Boxing Day
Dec. 27: International Day of Epidemic Preparedness
Dec. 31: New Year’s Eve

Note: This list is not exhaustive and may be updated throughout the year.