Dear Tanenbaum Community,
We are in the midst of the Jewish High Holy Days; Rosh Hashanah concluded at nightfall on September 13th, and Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—started at sundown on September 20th and ended at nightfall on September 21st. Later this week will mark Sukkot, from sundown on September 25th to nightfall on October 2nd. To learn more about this holiday and how it may impact an organization’s work, visit our Jewish Fall Holiday Fact Sheet.
Halloween, celebrated annually on October 31st with “trick-or-treating” and costumes in the United States, is both a cultural and religious holiday. Halloween shares historical ties with celebrations from several faiths and cultures, including the Celtic festival of Samhain (Oct. 31st-Nov. 1st). Halloween is followed by All Saints’ Day, also on November 1st, and All Souls’ Day on November 2nd, two days of commemoration for Catholics and many Protestant churches. November 1st-2nd is also Día de los Muertos, a Mexican celebration during which family and friends gather to remember loved ones who have died. To learn more, visit our Season of Spirits Fact Sheet.
Beginning on November 8th, Diwali—known as the Festival of Lights—will be celebrated across the world by Hindus, Jains, and Newar Buddhists. In several South Asian countries, such as India and Nepal, it is also an official, national holiday. Sikhs celebrate a different festival that falls around the same time called Bandi Chhor Diwas (Prisoner Release Day). To learn more about Bandi Chhor Diwas, Diwali, and how to accommodate those who observe them in your workplace, visit our Diwali and Bandi Chhor Diwas Fact Sheet.
Interested in learning more about other holidays? Our Workplace Resources page contains fact sheets on a wide variety of traditions and celebrations throughout the year.
Did You Know? On Diwali, India’s stock exchanges open for a special session called Muhurat Trading, considered an auspicious time for new investments and beginnings. While some are trading, others may be taking time away from work to celebrate—illustrating just how many different ways Diwali shows up in the workplace.
Warmly,
Rev. Mark Fowler and the Workplace Team