Multicultural Calendar for September

Multicultural Calendar - September 2008

Select a Month:

Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 - October 15

In 1988, what previously was known as Hispanic Heritage Week (September 10-16) became known as Hispanic Heritage Month as declared by President Ronald Reagan. During this month, several Latin American countries gained their independence. The word "Hispanic" is a cultural term that encompasses several different Latin countries. Hispanics come from various races and include bloodlines of Mayan, Aztec, Spanish, Mexican, and many others.

September 1:

Labor Day (Canada, USA) - Dating back to the 1880s, this holiday is the result of efforts of the labor union movement. It commemorates the
economic and social achievements of workers.

September 9:

Chong Yang (China) - A holiday dedicated to the older generation. Chong Yang cake is prepared, and everyone is encouraged to enjoy nature.

September 11:

Day of Remembrance or Patriot Day - The effects of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon impacted Americans and most other nations and has caused us to focus on the devastation terrorism has caused the world.

Meskerem - New Year (Egyptian) - During the time of Pharaohs 4,000 years ago, the Ethiopian Coptic Church appearance of Soothis (Dog Star) marked the signal that the Nile River would rise, flooding the fertile
plains so that planting could begin. The end of the rainy season became known as the New Year.

September 13:

Ramadan (Islamic) - The ninth month of the Islamic year and the holiest month in Islam. The most prominent event of this month is the fasting that Muslims observe. In accordance with the fourth of the Sunni Five Pillars of Islam and one of the Shi'a Branches of Religion, observant Muslims fast every day during the month between dawn and sunset.

September 15:

Independence Day (Central America) - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Keiro no hi (Japan) - A national holiday honoring older citizens.

September 16:

Dia de la Independence (Mexico) - Celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain on this day in 1820.

Oktoberfest (Germany) - In 1810, King Joseph Maximillian of Bavaria first decided to celebrate his marriage with Princess Theresa of Saxonie in royal style. Originally it was meant to be just a simple horse race event, but the Bavarian character quickly took over and it became a happy gathering of cheerful beer drinkers. Oktoberfest now attracts approximately 7 million visitors each year.

September 17:

Aloha Week (Hawaii) - Begun in 1945, Aloha Week celebrates Hawaiian traditions and costumes. It starts the third week of September on the island of Oahu, and each island celebrates the holiday on a different week until the end of October.

September 21:

Independence Day (Armenia) - Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

September 22:

Chichen Itza Festival (Mexico) - On Autumn Equinox Day, thousands gather at the Mayan Temple of Kukulkan to see the interplay of sun and shadow as they form the impression of a long-tailed serpent leading downward to the stone head of the serpent Kukulkan.

September 23:

*Shubun no hi (Japan) - On Autumn Equinox Day, the Japanese honor family ancestry, visiting ancestral graves and having family reunions.

Nerlyn Echevarria is an
Engineer I in Richmond, Va.
(Click image to enlarge)

Spotlight: Nerlyn Echevarria, Puerto Rico

Encyclopedias define the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as a “self-governing, unincorporated territory of the United States,” but Nerlyn Echevarria simply describes her native land as a cultural and ethnic crossroads.

“Puerto Rico represents a cultural and racial mix,” Echevarria says. “Taíno (Native Indian), Spanish, African and North American culture converge in our food, music, language, architecture, religion, lifestyles, arts and crafts.”

Echevarria is an Engineer, participating in a two-year rotational program and currently working with the Technical Solutions Systems Protection department in East Richmond.

The Taíno inhabited the Caribbean island before Spanish colonists arrived in 1493, during Christopher Columbus’ second journey to the Americas. Columbus named the island San Juan Bautista, in honor of St. John the Baptist. Later the island took the name of Puerto Rico, Spanish for “Rich Port,” while its capital retained the name of San Juan.

Echevarria says Puerto Ricans, who, by law, are United States citizens, “love their country, and at the same time accept the free association with the United States, always emphasizing loyalty to their own culture, folklore, hospitality and way of life.”

For example, Puerto Rico send its own contestants in major international events, such as the Olympic Games and the Miss Universe beauty pageant. However, Echevarria points out that Puerto Rico’s economic system uses the U.S. dollar and that Americans do not need a passport to travel to the island and return to the mainland.

Spanish and English are Puerto Rico’s official languages, but Spanish is dominant, Echevarria says. “Puerto Rican schools teach English as a second language from first grade through high school and college.”

During the 20th Century, Puerto Ricans began migrating in large numbers to the United States mainland. Echevarria moved to Richmond from Puerto Rico in January 2007 after Dominion recruited her at a job fair at her college, the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that more people of Puerto Rican birth or heritage now live in the United States than in Puerto Rico itself. For example, Echevarria notes she has relatives in New York, Boston and Chicago, but adds that her parents, brothers and her husband’s family still live in Puerto Rico.

Echevarria says Puerto Rico’s crossroads culture has produced “some unique musical rhythms.” For example, Salsa emerged from Puerto Rico to become a musical form in New York City. Bomba and Plena are also native sounds and both rely heavily on percussion. Bomba, of African origin, has a call and response interplay between drummer and dancer. Plena blends elements from Puerto Ricans’ wide cultural backgrounds, including music that Taíno tribes may have used during their ceremonies.

Some of the instruments used in traditional Puerto Rican music originated with the Taíno people. Most noteworthy is the güiro, a notched, holed out gourd, which was adapted from pre-Columbian days.

Along with the language, the Spanish also brought Roman Catholic Christianity, which became Puerto Rico’s predominant religion. Echevarria says many of the island’s major holidays coincide with religious celebrations.

For example, Echevarria says, “Puerto Rico’s Christmas season is long, starting right after Thanksgiving Day and officially lasting until Dia de Reyes, (Three Kings Day, or Epiphany, on January 6, which commemorates the Three Kings’ visit to the Christ Child).”

“Our most predominant tradition is on January 5, the feast of Epiphany’s Eve,” Echevarria adds. “On this night, children place water and grass under their beds for the Three Kings’ camels, and, in return, the Three Kings bring presents, which they leave under the bed, after the camels eat the grass. Children wake up early on Dia de Reyes to check out what Balthazar, Melchior and Gaspar left them.” •

September 24:

Heritage Day (South Africa) - Celebrates the cultural diversity in South Africa and serves as a time for various heritages to bond together.

September 28:

Harvest Moon Festival (China, Taiwan, Vietnam) - The festival is celebrated with family reunions, moon gazing and eating of moon cakes. In Vietnam, it is called "Trung Thu."

September 30:

Rosh Hashana (Jewish) - The Jewish new year for people, animals and legal contracts. Rosh Hashanah extends over the first two days of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, even in Israel where most holidays last only one day, and occurs 162 days after the first day of Pesach (Passover).

San Geronimo Day (Aboriginal) - Named after St. Jerome, an Apache fighter, this day is celebrated by the Native Americans and Hispanics in the Pueblo.

[*Date of observance may vary according to sighting of the new moon.]

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