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: September 23, 2026
Heritage and Awareness Celebrations
Native and Indigenous Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage month (also known as “National American Indian Heritage Month” and “Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month”). First recognized by President George H.W. Bush in 1990, this month honors the cultures, histories, and legacies of America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal nations that continue to thrive here today. It celebrates the traditions, languages, and stories of hundreds of Native nations and works to ensure that their histories and contributions endure. This month also acknowledges the painful history Native and Indigenous Peoples in the United States have faced, marked by unjust federal policies and state-sanctioned campaigns of violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror.
UConn recognizes Native and Indigenous resilience and strength throughout the year. Through its Land Acknowledgement Statement, UConn acknowledges that our university sits on lands taken through violence, displacement, assimilation, and terror. The Native American and Indigenous Studies Initiative (NAISI) supports research, scholarship, and engagement with Indigenous communities, while the Native American Cultural Programs (NACP) provides programming, resources, and community for Native and Indigenous students. Students can also find community through the Native American and Indigenous Student Association (NAISA). We invite the UConn community to learn more about programs and events through the NACP website.
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
Established in 1983, National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness month is observed each November to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and its impact on individuals, families, and caregivers. Read more on the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America website.
National Diabetes Month
Observed each November, National Diabetes Month raises awareness about diabetes, its impact on health, and the importance of prevention and management. Learn more about diabetes and ways to support your health on the American Diabetes Association website.
Epilepsy Awareness Month
Epilepsy Awareness month is observed every November in the United States. During this month, organizations and individuals work to raise public awareness, reduce stigma surrounding epilepsy, and promote understanding of this neurological disorder. To understand and learn more, check out the Epilepsy Foundation website.
Lung Cancer Awareness Month
Observed each November, Lung Cancer Awareness Month raises awareness about lung cancer, including prevention, screening, treatment, research, and support for those affected by the disease. Read more on the Lung Cancer Foundation of America website.
Movember
Movember is an annual global campaign that raises awareness about men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. It aims to challenge stigma, encourage conversations about men’s health, and promote early detection and intervention. Find out more on the Movember website.
National Family Caregivers Month
Observed each November, National Family Caregivers Month recognizes and honors family caregivers and raises awareness of the important role they play in supporting loved ones who are aging, chronically ill, or living with disabilities. The month also highlights the challenges caregivers may face and the importance of resources and support for their well-being. Learn more on the Administration for Community Living website.
Cultural and Federal Holidays
Día de los Muertos “Day of the Dead”
November 1-2
Día de los Muertos honors and remembers ancestors and loved ones who have died through food, music, and gatherings. Originating in Mexico and celebrated by Mexican communities around the world, traditions vary but often include “una ofrenda” (an altar) decorated with photographs, candles, marigolds, favorite foods, and other offerings dedicated to loved ones.
National First-Generation Day
November 8
Since 2017, schools and universities across the country have dedicated this day to celebrating first-generation students, faculty, staff, and alumni. This day celebrates the accomplishments of students whose parents did not complete a four-year college degree. November 8th was selected to commemorate the signing of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965, which expanded access to higher education and created federal programs supporting first-generation and low-income students.
UConn has a total of nine individual TRIO Programs across the system: Upward Bound & Upward Bound Math & Science (located in high schools in Naugatuck, New London, Norwich, Vernon, and Willimantic), which supports college preparation and access, Student Support Services (Storrs & Hartford) and Student Support Services-STEM (Storrs), which supports college transition and success, and the McNair Scholars Program, which prepares first-generation/low-income students for doctoral studies in STEM disciplines.
World Freedom Day
November 9
World Freedom Day commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989, and recognizes the importance of freedom and democracy. First proclaimed by President George W. Bush in 2001, the observance honors those who have worked to advance freedom and fundamental rights. .
Veterans Day
November 11
Veterans Day honors all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It is distinct from Memorial Day, which commemorates those who died while serving in the U.S. military, and Armed Forces Day, which honors those currently serving. Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, marking the end of hostilities in World War I at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918. In 1954, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day to honor American veterans of all wars.
UConn’s Office of Veterans and Military Programs (VAMP) supports veterans, active service members, and their families. Services include certifying VA educational benefits, assisting students in their transition to life at UConn, providing supplemental programs and activities for student veterans, and connecting veterans with confidential mental and behavioral health assistance. VAMP also works closely with the Center for Students with Disabilities which has a wealth of resources for veterans regardless of ability status, and the Center for Career Development.
Shichi-Go-San
November 15
Shichi-Go-San, meaning “seven-five-three,” is a traditional Japanese celebration of children’s growth and well-being. Traditionally, families with children at these milestone ages visit Shinto shrines to give thanks for their healthy growth and pray for their continued health and happiness. Children often dress in traditional clothing and receive chitose-ame, or “thousand-year candy,” symbolizing wishes for a long and healthy life.
Native Women’s Equal Pay Day
November 19
Native Women’s Equal Pay Day raises awareness of the wage disparities experienced by Native women. The date symbolizes how far into the year Native women must work, on average, to earn what non-Hispanic White men earned in the previous year. The observance brings attention to the factors contributing to the wage gap and efforts to advance pay equity.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
November 20
The Transgender Day of Remembrance honors the memory of transgender and gender-diverse people whose lives have been lost to anti-transgender violence. The observance raises awareness of violence affecting transgender communities and provides an opportunity to remember and honor those who have died. UConn supports transgender and gender-diverse communities through the Rainbow Center, which provides opportunities for community-building, support, and resources. Visit the Rainbow Center’s website and Instagram account for more information.
National Adoption Day
November 21
Launched in 1999, National Adoption Day is a collective, grassroots effort to raise awareness of children waiting to be adopted from foster care in the United States. To learn more, visit the National Adoption Day website.
Loy Krathong
November 24
Loy Krathong is a traditional Thai festival celebrated annually in Thailand, marking the end of the rainy season during the twelfth month of the Thai lunar calendar. During the festival, people float small, decorated vessels called krathongs, traditionally made with banana leaves and adorned with flowers, candles, and incense, on rivers and other bodies of water. The tradition is associated with expressing gratitude for water, asking forgiveness for its misuse, and symbolically letting go of misfortune and negativity.
Holodomor Memorial Day
November 26
Observed on the fourth Saturday of November, Holodomor Memorial Day remembers the millions of Ukrainians who were starved to death in Ukraine in 1932 and 1933, many of whom were children. The day honors those who died and raises awareness of this chapter in history. For more information, visit the Holodomor Research and Education Consortium’s collection of educational materials.
National Day of Mourning
November 26
The National Day of Mourning, which takes place on the fourth Thursday of November every year, was established in 1970 by the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) as a day to honor and mourn Native and Indigenous people lost to genocide and colonialism, as well as to commemorate Native and Indigenous resilience and resistance. Every year, as a part of this commemoration, UAINE holds an outdoor speak-out and march at Cole’s Hill in Plymouth, MA. Many participants also fast from sundown the day prior to the event, and break their fast following the march, as a gesture of both mourning and solidarity. To read more about this event, please visit UAINE’s website.
Thanksgiving
November 26
Thanksgiving is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November each year. It is a day for expressing gratitude that, for many, is marked by family traditions, seeing loved ones, and kicking off the holiday season.
Religious Holidays
All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day
November 1 & 2
All Saints’ Day, on November 1, is observed in the Catholic and other Christian traditions as a solemn feast honoring all the saints, both the well-known and the countless faithful who lived lives of holiness without recognition. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, a commemoration of all saints is held on the first Sunday after Pentecost. All Souls’ Day, on November 2, is rooted in Catholic tradition and focuses on praying for the departed. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, “Soul Saturdays” are devoted to prayers for the departed. Together, these observances reflect Christian traditions of honoring the saints and remembering and praying for those who have died.
Diwali/Deepavali
November 8
Diwali or Deepavali is a Hindu festival of lights symbolizing the victory of righteousness and the lifting of spiritual darkness. The word “Deepavali” refers to rows of diyas, or clay lamps. This is one of the most popular festivals in the Hindu calendar. It commemorates Lord Rama’s return to his kingdom Ayodhya after completing his 14-year exile.
Jain New Year
November 9
Jains mark the New Year on the first day of the Hindu month of Kartika, following the commencement of their Diwali celebration. This holiday marks the day that Mahavira, the 24th and last Tirthankara, achieved moksha (liberation). On this day, Jains gather in the temple and perform the Snatra Puja ritual to worship the 24 Tirthankaras (Tirthankara is Sanskrit for “Ford-Maker,” a figure who has succeeded in crossing over life’s streams of rebirths and has made a path for others to follow).
Birthday of Báb
November 10
The Báb (the title means ‘the Gate’) was born in Shiraz, Persia in 1819. He was the prophet-herald of the Baha’i community and called people to religious renewal and to await the coming of a new messenger from God, ‘the one whom God shall make manifest’. Baha’is believe that this latter figure was Baha’u’llah (the title means ‘Glory of God’). Baha’is observe this holy day by abstaining from work. Gatherings normally involve prayers, devotional readings, music, and fellowship.
Birthday of Baha’u’llah
November 11
Baha’u’llah is the founder and prophet of the Baha’i faith. For Bahá’ís, this Holy Day is a celebration of the rebirth of the world through the love of God. Bahá’ís observe this day with community gatherings, prayers, and celebrations of the birth of Bahá’u’lláh. The birthdays of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh are celebrated as the Twin Holy Birthdays on two consecutive days each year. Bahá’ís typically abstain from work or school on these days.
Solemnity of Christ the King
November 22
Celebrated by the Catholic Church and many Christian denominations, this feast day proclaims the authority of Christ over all creation. Instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI, it’s intended to remind the faithful that ultimate allegiance belongs not to worldly powers but to Christ’s eternal reign of peace and justice. It falls on the final Sunday of the liturgical year, serving as a fitting close before Advent begins.
Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Birthday
November 24
This Sikh holy day celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the first of the ten Sikh Gurus and the founder of Sikhism. The day is celebrated with prayer, devotional singing, readings from the Guru Granth Sahib, community gatherings, and langar, the sharing of a free community meal. Guru Nanak’s teachings emphasized devotion to one God, equality, service to others, and compassion.
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur
November 24
This Sikh holiday commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth of the ten Sikh Gurus. Guru Tegh Bahadur was executed in 1675 for refusing to convert to Islam and for defending the right of others to practice their religion. His martyrdom is remembered as a sacrifice for religious freedom and the right of people to practice their faith without persecution.
Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá
November 28
This holy day is observed by members of the Bahá’í Faith in honor of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh, the founder of the Faith, who passed away in 1921. Remembered as a model of service, humility, and compassion, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was instrumental in spreading the Bahá’í teachings worldwide. The day is marked by prayers and gatherings that reflect on his life and his dedication to unity, peace, and the betterment of humanity.
First Day of Advent
November 29
Advent marks the beginning of the Christian liturgical year and the season of preparation for Christmas. In both Catholic and many Protestant traditions, it is a time of waiting and hope—looking back to Christ’s birth in Bethlehem and looking forward to his promised return. Advent wreaths, candles, and readings all emphasize themes of light breaking into darkness, hope, peace, joy, and love.