Chinese• ChineseNewYear(Jan.31st)

• SpringFestivalGoldenWeek(Jan.31st–Feb.6th).

• LanternFestival(Feb.14th)

• QingmingFestival(Apr.5th)celebratedApril5th–7th,marksthetimethattemperaturesbegintoriseandrainfallincreases.

• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)

• DragonBoatFestival(June2nd)atraditionalholidaythatcommemoratesthelifeanddeathofthefamousChinesescholarQuYuan(ChuYuan).

• DoubleSeventhFestival(Aug.2nd).ChineseequivalenttoValentine’sDay.

• Mid-AutumnFestival(Sept.6th-8th)

• NationalDay(Oct.1st).Celebrationslastfrom(Oct.1st–7th)

• WinterSolsticeakaWinterFestival(Dec.22nd)

Japanese• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st).

• Coming-of-AgeDay(SecondMondayofJanuary)anationalholidaytoencouragethosewhohavenewlyenteredadulthoodtobecomeself-reliantmembersofsociety.

• BeginningofSpring(Feb.3rd)

• NationalFoundationDay(Feb.11th)celebratesthefoundationofJapanandtheaccessionofitsfirstEmperor.

• VernalEquinoxDay(March21st)

• ShowaDay(Apr.29th)thepurposeoftheholidayistoencouragepublicreflectionontheturbulent63yearsofHirohito’sreign.

• ConstitutionDay(May3rd)

• GreeneryDay(May4th)

• Children’sDay(May5th)

• OceanDay(3rdMondayofJuly)adaytogivethanksfortheocean’sbountyandtoconsidertheimportanceoftheoceantoJapanasanislandnation.

• Obon(July/August13-15)

• RespectfortheAgedDay(3rdMondayofSeptember)

• AutumnEquinoxDay(AroundSeptember23rd)

• LaborThanksgivingDay(November23rd)

• Emperor’sBirthday(December23rd),currentemperor’sbirthdayisalwaysanationalholidayandchangeswitheachnewemperor

Korean• SeollalakaKoreanNewYear’sDay

(Jan.30th–Feb.1st)

• IndependenceMovementDay(March1st)

• Dano(May5th),thisfestivalwasashamanisticritualworshippingtheskydeityincelebrationoftheendofsowingseason.Accordingtohistoricaltexts,thepeopleofMahanconfederacycelebrateddayandnightwithdancingandsingingafterthesowingseasoninMay.

• Children’sDay(May5th)

• MemorialDay(June5th)

• LiberationDay(August15th),commemoratesvictoryoverJapanday,whenKoreawasliberatedfromcolonialrule.It’stheonlypublicholidaycelebratedbybothNorthandSouthKorea.

• Chuseok(fifteenthdayofthe8thmonthbythelunarcalendar),thismajorholidayfallsonAugust15accordingtothelunarcalendarandisconsideredthenation’smostimportantholiday.AlthoughChuseokitselfisasingleday,theholidayperiodincludesthedaybeforeandafter,involvinganarrayoftraditionalactivities.EarlyonChuseokmorning,thefamilygatherstogethertoperformtraditionalancestralrites.AfeastoftraditionalKoreanfoodsispreparedforthememorialservice,afterwhicheveryoneenjoysthefestivemealandexchangesgifts.DuringChuseok,peoplenationwideleavethecityinordertoreturnbacktotheirfamily’shometownfortheholiday.

• NationalFoundationDay(Oct.3rd)

• HanguelDay(October9th)

Russian• ChristmasDay(January7th)

• ProtectoroftheMotherlandDay(Feb.23rd),

With a population of almost 20 million residents, New York State is the home of people from across our planet.

With residents from over 170 sovereign nations, New York City alone is one of the most diverse urban centers on Earth. The factors that create this tremendous diversity are based on social, economic and geopolitical forces that shape our world. Our ability to coexist in a peaceful and civil society serves as an example to all nations that tolerance for ethnic and religious diversity can create a progressive and egalitarian-focused society. For a nation in the midst of heated debates over immigration reform, our tapestry of ethnic groups and nationalities can be classified as the “American Empire coming home.”

I hope this overview of major holidays celebrated by millions of our fellow residents will continue to foster the notion that unity is achieved and maintained through mutual respect and understanding.

As always, if I can be of assistance to you with this or any other community issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at my office 718-893-0202 or 518-455-5514.

Assemblyman Marcos A. CrespoChair, Assembly Task Force on New Americans

A Brief List of Major Holidays Celebrated by the Tapestry of Ethnic Groups in The Empire State

combinesthemeaningsbehindtheUnitedStates’MemorialDay,Veteran’sDayandFather’sDay.

• InternationalWomen’sDay(March8th)• Cosmonaut’sDay(April12th)• SpringandLaborDay(May1st)• VictoryDay(May9th),marksthecapitulationof

NaziGermanytotheSovietUnionintheSecondWorldWar

• RussiaDay(June12th)• DayofNationalUnity(November4th),

commemoratesthepopularuprisingwhichexpelledPolishoccupationforcesfromMoscowinNovember1612

Polish• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• Epiphany(Jan.6th)• EasterDay(April20th)• EasterMonday(April21st)• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)• ConstitutionDay(May3rd)• WhitSunday(June8th),inmanypartsoftheworld,

Pentecosthasbecomeatraditionaldayforbaptismstotakeplace.Onthisday,manypeopleenjoyfamilygatherings,picnics,oroutingstothecountry.Pentecostiscalled“theGreenHoliday”inPoland.Itisatimewhenpeopledecoratetheirhouseswithgreenbranchestobringblessingsonthehomeandthepeoplelivinginit.

• CorpusChristi(June19th)• AssumptionofMary(Aug.15th)• AllSaints’Day(Nov.1st)• IndependenceDay(Nov.11th)• Christmas(Dec.25th)• BoxingDay(Dec.26th)

Italian• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• Epiphany(Jan.6th)• EasterSunday(April20th)• EasterMonday(April21st)• LiberationDay(April25th),commemorates

theendofWordWar2andtheendofNazioccupationofItaly.

• RepublicDay(June2nd),commemoratesthereferendumof1946,whentheItalianpopulationwascalledtodecidewhatformofgovernment(monarchyorrepublic)togivetothecountryafterWorldWarIIandthefalloffascism.

• AssumptionDay(August15th)• AllSaints’Day(Nov.1st)• ImmaculateConception(Dec.8th)• Christmas(Dec.25th)• SaintStephan’sDay(Dec.26th)

German• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• EasterMonday(April21st)• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)• AscensionDay(May29th)• WhitMonday(June9th)

• DayofGermanUnity(Oct.3rd),commemoratestheanniversaryofGermanreunificationin1990

• Christmas(Dec.25th)• BoxingDay(Dec.26th),istraditionallythe

dayfollowingChristmasDay,whenservantsandtradesmenwouldreceivegifts,knownasa“Christmasbox”,fromtheirbossesoremployers.Today,BoxingDayisthebankholidaythatgenerallytakesplaceon26December.

Irish• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• SaintPatrick’sDay(March17th),isacultural

andreligiousholidayonthedeathdateofthemostcommonly-recognizedpatronsaintofIreland.TheholidayisobservedbytheCatholicChurch,theAnglicanCommunion,theEasternOrthodoxChurchandLutheranChurch.ThedaycommemoratesSaintPatrickandthearrivalofChristianityinIrelandaswellasthecelebratingtheheritageandculture.

• EasterMonday(April21st)• MayDay(May5th)• JuneBankHoliday(June2nd)• AugustBankHoliday(Aug.4th)• OctoberbankHoliday(Oct.27th)• Christmas(Dec.25th)• SaintStephan’sDay(Dec.26th),isaChristian

saint’sdaytocommemorateSaintStephen,celebratedon26DecemberintheWesternChurchand27DecemberintheEasternChurch.

Brazilian• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• CarnivalTuesday(March4th)• Carnivalend(March5th)• GoodFriday(April18th)• EasterSunday(April20th)• TiradentesDay(April21st)anniversaryofthe

deathofTiradentes(1792),consideredanationalmartyrforbeingpartoftheInconfidenciaMineira,aninsurgentmovementthataimedtoestablishanindependentBrazilianrepublic

• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)• CorpusChristi(June19th)• IndependenceDay(Sept.7th)celebratesthe

DeclarationofIndependencefromPortugalin1822.• OurLadyAparecida/Children’sDay(Oct.12th)• AllSoulsDay(Nov.2nd)• RepublicProclamationDay(Nov.15th)

commemoratestheendoftheEmpireofBrazilandtheproclamationoftheBrazilianRepublicin1889.

• ChristmasEve(Dec.24th)• Christmas(Dec.25th)• NewYear’sEve(Dec.31st)

Mexican• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• ConstitutionDay(Feb.5th)• BenitoJuarez’sBirthdayMemorial(March21st)• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)

• CincodeMayo(May5th),on9May1862,PresidentJuárezdeclaredthattheanniversaryoftheBattleofPueblawouldbeanationalholidayregardedas“BattleofCincodeMayo”.AlthoughMexicancitizensfeelveryproudofthemeaningofCincodeMayo,itisnotanationalholidayinMexicobutitisanofficialholidayintheStateofPuebla,wheretheBattletookplace.However,allpublicschoolsareclosednation-wideinMexicoonMay5th.

• IndependenceDay(Sep15th)commemoratesthestartoftheIndependenceWarbyFatherMiguelHidalgoyCostillain1810.

• RevolutionDay(Nov.20th)commemoratesthestartoftheMexicanRevolutionbyFranciscoI.Maderoin1910.

• Christmas(Dec.25th)

Dominican• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• Epiphany(Jan.6th)• OurLadyofAltagarcia(Jan.21st)• Duarte’sDay(Jan.26th)• IndependenceDay(Feb.27th)commemorates

independencefromHaitiin1844• GoodFriday(Apr.18th)• LaborDay(May5th)• CorpusChristi(June19th)isacelebratingofthe

beliefinthebodyandbloodofJesusChristandhisRealPresenceintheEucharistBytradition.Catholicstakepartinaprocessionthroughthestreetsofaneighborhoodneartheirparishfollowingmassandprayandsing.TheEucharist,knownastheBlessedSacrament,isplacedinamonstranceandisheldaloftbyamemberoftheclergyduringtheprocession.Aftertheprocession,parishionersreturntothechurchwherebenedictionusuallytakesplace.

• RestorationDay(Aug.16th)• OurLadyofLasMercedes(Sept.24th)• ConstitutionDay(Nov.10th)• Christmas(Dec.25th)

Pakistani• EidMiladun-Nabi(Jan.14th)• KashmirDay(Feb.5th)adaydedicatedtoshow

supportandunitywiththepeopleofIndian-administeredKashmir.

• PakistanDay(May23rd)• LaborDay(May1st)• Eid-ul-Fitr,Days1,2,&3(July29th,30th,&31st)• IndependenceDay(Aug.14th)• Eid-ul-Azha,Days1&2(Oct.5th&6th)• IqbalDay(Nov.9th)celebratesMuhammadIqbal,

Muslimphilosopherandgreatpoet,consideredthemostimportantfigureintheUrduliterature.

• Quaid-e-AzamDay(Dec.25th)

Indian• NewYear’sDay(Jan.1st)• GuruGovindSinghJayanti(Jan.7th)Sikh

festivalthatcommemoratesthebirthdayofGuru

GobindSingh,thetenthGuruoftheSikhs.Itisareligiouscelebrationinwhichprayersforprosperityareoffered.

• Pongal(Jan.14th)• MakarSankranti(Jan.14th)• Miladun-Nabi/Id-e-Milad(Jan.14th)• RepublicDay(Jan.26th)adaytorememberwhen

India’sconstitutioncameintoforceonJanuary26,1950,completingthecountry’stransitiontowardbecominganindependentrepublic.

• VasantPanchami(Feb.4th)• GuruRavidasJayanti(Feb.14th)• ShivajiJayanti(Feb.19th)• Vaisakhi(April14th)aharvestcelebration

whichisanoccasionofdancing,singing,music,wearingoffestivegarmentsandreligiouspraise.ThefestivalmarksthestartoftheNewYearintheNanakshahisolarcalendarandrecognizestheSikhreligiousfaith.

• LaborDay/MayDay(May1st)• BuddhaPurnima/BuddhaJayanti(May14th)a

BuddhistfestivalthatmarksGautamaBuddha’sbirth,enlightenmentanddeath.

• IndependenceDay(August15th)• MahatmaGandhiJayanti/MahatmaGandhi’s

birthday(Oct.2nd)• Dussehra(Oct.3rd)aHindufestivalthatcelebrates

thevictoryofgoodoverevil.• Diwali(Oct.23rd)afestivaloflightsobserved

byfollowersofBuddhism,Hinduism,JainismandSikhism.

Judaism• TuBishvat(Jan.16th)marksthebeginningofa

“newyear”fortrees.• Ta’anitEsther/FatherofEsther(March13th)• Purim/DeliveranceoftheJews(March16th)

celebratesthedeliveranceoftheJewishpeoplefromthewickedHamaninthedaysofQueenEstherofPersia.

• ShusanPurim(March17th)• Pesach/Passover(April15th–21st)celebrates

thedeliveranceoftheJewishpeoplefromslaveryinEgypt.

• YomHaShoah–HolocaustMemorialDay(April27th)

• LagB’Omer(May18th)• YomYerushalayim/JerusalemDay(May28th)• Shavuot/Pentecost(June4th)marksthegivingof

theTorahonMt.Sinai• RoshHashana(Sept.25th)JewishNewYear• YomKippur(Oct.4th)adaytoatoneforthesins

committedinthepastyearbetweenmanandYahweh.

• Sukkot(Oct.9th–14th)commemoratestheforty-yearperiodduringwhichthechildrenofIsraelwerewanderinginthedesert,andisalsoaharvestfestival.

• Hanukkah(Dec.17th–24th)commemoratesthe

rededicationoftheTempleinJerusalemafteragroupofJewishwarriorsdefeatedtheoccupyingSeleucidarmies.

Islam• MiladunNabi/BirthdayoftheProphet

Muhammad.IntheMuslimworld,themajorityofIslamicscholarsareinfavorofMawlid.TheyconsiderobservingMawlidnecessaryorpermissibleinIslam,andseeitasapraiseworthyevent.(SunniMuslimscelebrateonJanuary13th,ShiaMuslimsonJanuary18th).

• Ramadan(June28–July28)amonthoffasting,regardedasoneoftheFivePillarsofIslam.Ramadanisatimeofspiritualreflection,improvementandincreaseddevotionandworship.MuslimsareexpectedtoputmoreeffortintofollowingtheteachingsofIslam.

• Eid-Ul-Fitr(July28th)celebrationthatmarkstheendofRamadan.

• Eid-Ul-Adha(Oct.4th)• Al-Hijira/IslamicNewYear(Oct.15th)• Ashura(Nov.3rd)thisdayiswell-knownbecause

ofmourningforthemartyrdomofHusaynibnAli,thegrandsonofMuhammadthethirdShiaImam,alongwithmembersofhisfamilyandclosefriendsattheBattleofKarbalaintheyear680AD.

Buddhism• ParinirvanaorNirvanaDay(Mahyanna)(February

8,or15th),Buddhistscommemoratethedeathof BuddhaandhisentranceintoNirvanaandreflect

onallBuddhistteachings.Practicesofthisholidayincludeexchanginggiftsofmoneyandhouseholdgoodsaswellasmeditationretreats.

• MaghaPaja(February14thMaghaPaja),anUposathaObservanceDayandalsoknownas“MakhaBucha”isadaycommemoratingwhen1,250monksfromalldifferentplacescametopayhomagetothehistoricalBuddha.

• Losar(March2nd)celebratoryholidayinwhichmonkstakepartindeityritualstocleananddecoratemonasteries,ceremonies,dances,andrecitationsofBuddhistteachings.

• MonlamChenmo(GelugpaTibetan)(March5-12),theGreatPrayerFestival.

• ChungaChoepa(March16th),aButterLampFestival.

• Hanamatsuri(April8),celebrationofBuddha’sBirthday,Japan.

• BunPiMai,Sonkran;April13-16),celebratedinSoutheastAsia.

• SeokgaTansinil(May6th),celebrationofBuddha’sBirthday,SouthKorea

• SagaDawa(May29-June27),istheentirefourthmonthoftheTibetanlunarcalendar.TheseventhdayofSagaDawaisthedayofthehistoricalBuddha’sbirthforTibetans.Buddha’sbirth,enlightenmentandentryintoNirvanaathisdeathareobservedtogetheronthe15thday.

Task Force on New Americans

Marcos A. Crespo, Chair

Task Force on New Americans