The Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights (OICR) and the Office of the Provost would like to share several celebrations, commemorations, and moments of raising awareness for members of our community. We welcome the celebration of each of these holidays on our campuses and encourage support for those requiring accommodations. For more information, please review the Religious Accommodations Policy and the Religious Accommodations Frequently Asked Questions.
Last Updated: October 1, 2026
Heritage and Awareness Celebrations
Hispanic Heritage Month
September 15 to October 15
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the many diverse cultures and histories within Hispanic and Latine communities, as well as members of those culture’s achievements and contributions to the United States. First recognized as Hispanic Heritage Week by President Lyndon Johnson in 1968, it was expanded to a month-long observance by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. The celebration begins on September 15, the anniversary of the independence of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, and concludes on October 15. It also includes Día de la Raza on October 12, an alternative observance to Columbus Day that recognizes the histories, cultures, and resilience of Indigenous peoples and the diverse peoples of the Americas.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, we invite the entire community to participate in programs hosted by Puerto Rican / Latin American Cultural Center’s (PRLACC).
UConn is also proud that the Hartford, Stamford and Waterbury campuses are federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Members of our community can connect with a variety of campus resources, including PRLACC, the Association of Latinx/a/o Faculty and Staff (ALFAS), the Center for Career Development, El Instituto: Institute of Latina/o, Caribbean, and Latin American Studies and La Comunidad Intelectual, a learning community that recognizes and critically examines Latine, Caribbean, and Latin American cultures, customs, and traditions.
Filipino American History Month
October 1 – October 31
Filipino American History Month (FAHM) celebrates Filipino heritage and culture, and recognizes the contributions of Filipino Americans to American history. The Filipino American National Historical Society introduced FAHM in 1992, and Congress officially recognized FAHM in 2009. FAHM is celebrated in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Filipinos to America (California) on October 18, 1587.
German American Heritage Month
October 1 – October 31
German American Heritage Month honors the contributions made by German Americans, the largest ancestry group in the United States. The first German immigrants came to the United States on October 6, 1683, when thirteen families settled in Pennsylvania. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 6th as German American Day in 1983 to celebrate the 300th anniversary and to strengthen the United States’ relationship with Germany.
Italian American Heritage Month
October 1 – October 31
Over five million Italians immigrated to the U.S. between 1820 and 2000, and there are currently over 26 million Americans of Italian descent living in the U.S. Proclaimed in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush and Congress, this month honors the achievements, contributions, and successes of Italian immigrants and their descendants in the United States. Each October, millions of Americans of Italian descent come together to reflect on their histories, traditions, and values. Celebrations typically include cultural festivals and parades, the largest of which is held in New York City.
LGBTQIA+ History Month
October 1 – October 31
LGBT History Month was inaugurated in 1994 by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson, to celebrate the national and international contributions made by members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Wilson chose October because schools are in session and because October already had National Coming Out Day (10/11). Today, October also hosts International Pronouns Day (10/21), Intersex Awareness Day (10/26), and Asexual Awareness Week (10/25 – 10/31). LGBTQIA+ History Month provides possibility models, builds community, and emphasizes the continued importance of civil rights. To learn more information and to attend events, please visit the Rainbow Center’s website.
Polish American Heritage Month
October 1 – October 31
Polish American Heritage month celebrates the positive impact Polish Americans have had and continue to have on the United States, as well as Polish history and culture. Originally celebrated in August, Polish American Heritage Month is now observed in October to commemorate the arrival of the first Polish settlers in Jamestown, VA in October 1608 as well as the death of Casimir Pulaski, the father of American cavalry. First celebrated by the Polish American Cultural Center in Philadelphia in 1981 under the leadership of the Center’s President, Michael Blichasz, Polish American Heritage Month is now recognized nationally by the President and Congress.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
October 1 – October 31
During DVAM, survivors, advocates, allied professionals, loved ones, and communities come together to mourn those whose lives have been lost to domestic violence, honor and support survivors, and connect with others working to prevent domestic violence and create change. DVAM began in 1981 as a “Day of Unity” organized by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed in October 1987, and Congress officially recognized October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989.
UConn’s Violence Against Women Prevention Program (VAWPP) is dedicated to addressing and preventing sexual violence through education, outreach, and advocacy. VAWPP offers workshops and resources that engage the campus community in preventing sexual violence and addressing its root causes.
The Office for Inclusion and Civil Rights (OICR) provides resources for those who may be experiencing domestic violence. For information about advocacy, medical or counseling services, academic or work support, transportation or financial assistance, reporting, and investigations, visit UConn’s Title IX website.
For student-led support, In-Power provides a gender-inclusive community for victim-survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and/or intimate partner violence at any point in their healing process. The group focuses on empowerment, autonomy, and resilience while providing opportunities for connection and support. For more information or to join the group, contact in-power@uconn.edu.
Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October 1 – October 31
October was first designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month (DSAM) in the 1980s and has been recognized ever since. More than 400,000 people are living with Down syndrome in the United States. It is a time to raise awareness, celebrate the abilities and achievements of individuals with Down syndrome, and advocate for their inclusion and support.
National ADHD Awareness Month
October 1 – October 31
October is National ADHD Awareness Month. It is dedicated to educating the public about ADHD, promoting research about ADHD, and helping to develop communities of support and professional development for those with ADHD. This October, National ADHD Awareness Month is partnering with organizations around the world with the shared global goal of dissemination of reliable information about ADHD and its treatments. The 2026 ADHD Awareness Month theme in the United States is “A Community of Support.”
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1 – October 31
The event began in 1985 as a weeklong awareness campaign by the American Cancer Society, in collaboration with Imperial Chemical Industries. It later became a monthlong event. The goal of NBCAM is to promote screening and prevention of the disease that affects one in eight women in the U.S. every year and 2.3 million women worldwide. For information about breast cancer care services, visit the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center at UConn Health.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October 1 – October 31
In 1945, Congress designated the first week of October as “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week,” in part, to help disabled WWII veterans find employment. Since then, the concept of disability has shifted. Congress dropped the word “physically” in the 1970s to provide a more inclusive view. In 1973, Congress passed Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act which protects the rights of persons with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Section 504 protects the rights not only of individuals with visible disabilities but also those whose disabilities might not be apparent.
Over the next few decades, activists and educators helped shift national understanding of ability, leading to more inclusive views about type of disability, greater recognition of the intersections between identity and ability, and stronger legislation to protect people with disabilities from discrimination. In 1990, the United States passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which made it illegal to discriminate along the basis of identity and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else in the United States. This month celebrates these accomplishments while also raising awareness of barriers that still need to be addressed. Find more about the month at the Department of Labor’s website.
UConn has a strong commitment to expanding inclusion through the Center for Students with Disabilities. UConn also promotes awareness through academic programs like the Certificate of Interdisciplinary Disability Studies in Public Health and the Human Development and Family Sciences Disabilities concentration, as well as academic centers like the Center for Excellence in the Study of Developmental Disabilities and the Collaborative on Postsecondary Education and Disability, and through courses on Disability Studies at the Storrs and Waterbury campuses.
National Transfer Student Week
October 19 – October 23
National Transfer Student Week (NTSW), held during the third full week of October, is an annual nationwide celebration recognizing transfer students and the faculty and staff who support them. NTSW highlights the experiences, contributions, and resilience of transfer students while encouraging campuses to build welcoming communities where transfer students can thrive.
Cultural and Federal Holidays
International Day of Older Persons
October 1
The United Nations sets aside October 1 to draw attention to the challenges of population aging in the twenty-first century and to promote societal development for people of all ages. In 1948, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, a monumental document in the history of human rights. Written by representatives from around the world with different legal, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, it is the first document articulating the fundamental human rights that are meant to be universally protected. This year’s theme is “The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives.”
UConn supports older adults through educational initiatives, including Senior Citizen Audits for learners over 62, UConn Extension’s Center for Learning in Retirement (CLIR) for retirees and other adults from all walks of life, and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), based at the UConn Waterbury campus, part of a national network where adults over 50 can expand their minds and connect with other learners. In May of 2025, UConn joined the Age-Friendly University Global Network. UConn is now among more than 120 universities globally that are reimagining higher education’s role in an aging society. Building on this commitment, the UConn Age-Friendly University Affinity Group brings together faculty and staff from UConn and UConn Health to promote learning, collaboration, and age-inclusive initiatives across the university community, while supporting engagement among faculty, staff, retirees, and those approaching retirement. For more information on this group, email agefriendly@uconn.edu.
UConn Health is also part of this broader commitment to older adults. In 2024, UConn John Dempsey Hospital became part of the national Age-Friendly Health Systems movement, an initiative focused on implementing evidence-based practices to ensure that care for older adults is equitable, effective, and age-friendly.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
October 12
Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates the cultures, histories, and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples in the United States and across the world. It honors America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal nations that continue to thrive here today, recognizing their contributions and acknowledging their resilience and strength in the face of a centuries-long campaign of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror wrought upon Native and Indigenous communities in the United States and beyond. Currently, 14 states celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and in 2021, President Biden proclaimed it a national holiday. The State of Connecticut does not currently mark Indigenous Peoples’ Day, though several towns and communities within Connecticut celebrate it, including Mansfield.
UConn recognizes Native and Indigenous resilience and strength every day of the year. We acknowledge that our university sits on lands taken through the long campaigns of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror through our Land Acknowledgement Statement. We encourage reading this statement before any event held on UConn’s spaces. We also honor the cultures, histories, and legacies of Native and Indigenous peoples every day, primarily through the Native American Cultural Programs (NACP), which provides programming, initiatives, resources, and trainings for the Native and Indigenous Peoples who make a home at UConn.
Columbus Day
October 12
Columbus Day was made a federal holiday in the United States in 1968 under President Lyndon B. Johson, set to begin in 1971. In 1934, Congress passed a statute requesting an annual proclamation from the President. According to the Congressional Research Service, Congress believed that “by commemorating Columbus’s voyage…the nation would be honoring the courage and determination which enabled generations of immigrants from many nations to find freedom and opportunity in America.” Today, Columbus Day has also become a point of honoring Italian American heritage in the United States.
Religious Holidays
Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah
October 3 & October 4
Shemini Atzeret begins sunset October 2 and is the Eighth Day of the Assembly. Simchat Torah begins sunset October 3 and known as “Rejoicing in Torah”. These two holidays come at the conclusion of Sukkot – in Israel they are combined into one holiday; in the rest of the world, they are celebrated over two consecutive days. These two holidays anticipate the coming year with prayer and engaging with the Torah. Simchat Torah celebrates finishing the yearly cycle of reading the whole Torah and immediately start again at the beginning.
Feast of St Francis of Assisi
October 4
The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. He is remembered for his love for animals and nature. It’s on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi that many pets are blessed in churches.
Navaratri
October 11 – 20
Sharad Navaratri, also known as Shardiya Navaratri, Ashwina Navaratri, or Maha Navaratri, is a major Hindu festival dedicated to Goddess Durga and her nine forms. Celebrated over nine nights, Navaratri symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, with traditions and celebrations varying across regions and communities. The festival culminates with Dussehra, also known as Vijayadashami, Dasara, or Dashain, on October 20. Dussehra celebrates the victory of good over evil and is observed through a variety of traditions and festivities.
Samhain
October 31 – November 1
Samhain (a Gaelic word pronounced “sow-win”) is a pagan and wiccan religious festival originating from an ancient Celtic spiritual tradition. This festival traditionally marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, or the “darker half” of the year. While these dates are standard, the celebration of Samhain can extend beyond these times, depending on local customs and personal practices. Many participants choose to engage in festivities that span several days, incorporating both modern Halloween activities and traditional Samhain rituals, which allows for a full and enriched experience of this deeply spiritual time.