September 2023 language and cultural dates for your diary
Calendar snapshots
25th – Yom Kippur, Jewish
A festival of atonement, Yom Kippur is the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar. It is marked by a 25-hour fast, continuous prayer and abstention from wearing leather shoes, make up or perfume.
23rd – International Day of Sign Languages
This UN awareness day is celebrated during the International Week of the Deaf (the last full week of September each year). It promotes the use of sign language as central to Deaf people’s human rights, and celebrates the diversity of sign languages and Deaf culture worldwide.
28th – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox
Meskel marks the 4th century discovery of the crucifixion cross in Jerusalem. Celebrants hold a big bonfire in Meskel Square, Addis Ababa. Worshippers from different churches across Ethiopia gather, wearing colours that represent their churches and playing musical instruments, each of which holds special meaning.
This month’s dates at a glance
Religious/cultural
7 – Krishna Janmashtami, Hindu
8 – Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary, Christian
Nativity of The Theotokos, Orthodox Christian
11 – Paryushana Parvarambha begins, Jain
14 – Feast of the Cross, Christian
16-17 – Rosh Hashanah, Judaism
18 – Fast of Gedaliah, Judaism
19 – Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindu
Samvatsari, Jain
21 – Feast of Saint Matthew, Christian
23 – Mabon, Wicca and Pagan
25 – Yom Kippur, Judaism
27 – Mawlid Al-Nabi, Islam
28 – Meskel, Ethiopian Orthodox Christian
Anant Chaturdashi, Hindu
29 – Feast of Saint Michael and All Angels, Christian
30 Sept-6 Oct – Sukkot, Judaism
Awareness And Events
5 – International Day of Charity
10 – World Suicide Prevention Day
18 – International Equal Pay Day
Professional Care Workers Week
19 – International Week of the Deaf
Adult Learners Week
21 – World Alzheimer’s Day
23 – Autumn Equinox
23 – International Day of Sign Languages
25 Sept-1 Oct – UK National Inclusion Week
30 Sept – National Non-Verbal Awareness Day UK
