If you live in or are from the United States, you likely know that the month of August is one month without an official US federal holiday. In fact, according to the US Office of Personnel Management, in 2022, every month except March, April, and August has a federal holiday. This might surprise you, as March, for example, is when we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, which I’ve written about before. But, not every major holiday is a federal holiday, so even some months without federal holidays have something to celebrate. The fact that August doesn’t have any of these holidays can make the month seem to drag on with nothing to celebrate.
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| A double rainbow in August. (Personal collection/Karen P. Peirce) |
However, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, August contains lots of reasons for celebration. In my research on the subject, I came across a list of August holidays provided by NBC’s Today show. Shelby Deering, who compiled the list, found holidays and observances that are celebrated on every single day in August. Here are a few of my favorites:
Originated by the United Nations in 1994, the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People “marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations.” The aim of this holiday is to “raise awareness of [indigenous] population groups.” As the UN points out, “indigenous peoples are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to people and the environment,” so it seems appropriate to celebrate their uniqueness.
In addition, as the UN notes, indigenous people “make up less than 5 per cent of the world’s population, but account for 15 percent of the poorest” and suffer “problems related to the protection of their rights as distinct peoples.” As such, it seems the least we can do to set aside one day a year to recognize indigenous people in the hopes of raising awareness about the struggles they face. Why not celebrate hope for positive change?
August 19: World Humanitarian Day
World Humanitarian Day is another holiday that was originated by the United Nations. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the holiday, which was established in 2008, commemorates the death on August 19, 2003, of 22 humanitarian aid workers in Baghdad, Iraq. Included among the dead was the UN Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Iraq.
As indicated by OCHA, more people than you might think can be considered humanitarians. A few of the humanitarian aid workers OCHA indicates deserve special recognition each year on this date are the teachers, drivers, counsellors, health workers, shelter specialists, data analysts, protection officers, water specialists, security advisors, emergency responders, advocates, fundraisers, and negotiators who spring into action whenever a humanitarian crisis erupts. World Humanitarian Day seems like a great opportunity to recognize those who work to help others.
August 20: International Homeless Animals’ Day
The International Society for Animal Rights (ISAR) established International Homeless Animals’ Day in 1992. The observance’s aim is to “halt the suffering of unwanted companion animals and feral and stray cats and dogs that have been abandoned and left to fend for themselves.” According to the ISAR, not only is this holiday celebrated throughout the United States, but it is also celebrated around the world, including 50 countries and six continents. Who doesn’t love a chance to help animals?
August 26: Women’s Equality Day
A bill establishing Women’s Equality Day was introduced in the US Congress in 1971 and passed in 1973. According to the National Women’s History Alliance, the bill noted that the observance “calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality,” and the date of August 26 was selected to commemorate the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women in the United States the right to vote. As a woman, I might be biased in favor of women’s equality day, but as a human, I think any day that honors the equality of all humans is worth celebrating.
So there you have it, a selection of holidays to celebrate during the month of August. Why not look through the list and choose a few you think are worth celebrating? I’d love to hear which ones you pick!