2024
Recent News
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November
The Story of the First Thanksgiving
The story of the first Thanksgiving as it has been told and continues to be told, is a disservice to the truth and to those most affected by this: The First Peoples of this nation. Thanksgiving, also known as a National Day of Mourning to many Native Americans, is a reminder of the disease, oppression, and genocide that the arrival of the colonial settlers brought. “Native American people who first encountered the "pilgrims" at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts play a major role in the imagination of American people today.Read More -
Halloween
Read MoreYesterday, October 31st was Halloween. Also known as All Hallow’s Eve, it grew out of the Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in) which marked the end of the summer. For the friendly souls of the dead, people would leave food by the side of the road and light candles to help them find their way back to the spirit world. It also marked the beginning of the cold, dark winter. Land contracts were renewed at that time and the Celts believed that the spirits of the dead returned to earth, while the souls of those who had died that year journeyed to the underworld. Bonfires were lit atop the hills to frighten away evil spirits and sometimes masks were worn to confuse them. With the Roman conquest of the Celts, Samhain merged with the Feralia festival in which the Romans commemorated their dead. With the influence of Christianity, the church blended and replaced many ancient Celtic rites. -
Indigenous People's Month
Read MoreNovember is Indigenous People’s and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The theme for this year is “Affirming Native Voices: Visibility, Leadership, Service”. We honor the tapestry of achievements and the cultural and historical legacies of the First Americans who were the original inhabitants of what is now the United States and their descendants: the American Indian and Alaska Native people. We acknowledge that we are on the ancestral, unceded lands and traditional territories of the Massachusetts People. Theirs is the Indigenous Nation from whom the present-day Commonwealth of Massachusetts took its name. -
October
Día de muertos
Día de muertos or Day of the Dead is a traditional 3-day holiday celebrated throughout several Latin American countries from October 31st through November 2nd, dating back over 3,000 years to the pre-Hispanic Inca, Maya, and Aztec civilizations. It is rooted in the devotion to, honor and worship of ancestors and deceased loved ones. Their souls or spirits are welcomed back as they return to visit us in the world of the living.Read More -
Diwali
Diwali celebrations begin on October 31, 2024, the 13th day after Poornima, or the full moon. Dhanteras, the first day of Diwali, is a combination of the words dhan, which means “wealth” and teras, which means “thirteenth day”. Marking the beginning of the 5-day celebration of Diwali or Deepavali (from Sanskrit, which means row of lights), it is the Hindu New Year.Read More -
Indigenous People’s Day
On Monday, October 14th we observe Indigenous People’s Day. Established in Berkley, California in 1992, it coincides with the arrival of Columbus in 1492. Many cities and states began adopting the day and finally in 2021, President Biden was the first U.S. President to formally recognize this holiday, acknowledging the importance of honoring our Indigenous Ps also known as the First Peoples.Read More -
Yom Kippur
Read MoreThis coming weekend, beginning at sundown on Friday, October 11th through Saturday, October 12th at sundown, Yom Kippur will be observed by Jewish people around the world. -
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year’s theme is “No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone.”Read More -
September
Rosh Hashana
Rosh Hashanah, the 2-day celebration of the Jewish New Year, begins Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024, at sundown and ends on Friday, Oct 4, 2024 at sundown. These are the first two days of the Jewish month of Tishri and the beginning of the 10 days of Awe, culminating in the High Holiday of Yom Kippur.Read More -
Hispanic Heritage Month
¡Feliz mes de la Hispanidad!Read More
September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month, coinciding with several Latin American countries celebrating their days of independence. This year’s theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.”
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