October Events & Holidays in RTMSD

In 2023, a dedicated group of parents, teachers, students and administrators met monthly to review and discuss the many cultural holidays and other events that occur throughout the school year. This group collaborated and created the list of holidays and events that we will recognize, instruct or celebrate in our schools. The holidays and events you will see each month in this newsletter were chosen by our community. Please email Ralph Harrison if you have any suggestions or ideas about our monthly events and holidays. We honor DIGNITY by taking the time to learn about the cultures of all of our community members.

Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, recognizes the diverse histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans with ancestors from Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. It was established to honor these rich legacies and contributions to American society, stemming from a movement in the 1960s to acknowledge the roles of minority populations. The date range is significant because it coincides with the independence days of several Latin American countries.

Why It Is Celebrated

• To Honor Contributions: The month serves to celebrate the achievements and positive influences of Hispanic Americans in various fields, including science, culture, and service.

• To Acknowledge History: It acknowledges the rich histories, vibrant cultures, and invaluable contributions of people of Hispanic descent to the United States.

• To Promote Understanding: By learning about different traditions, people can foster respect, curiosity, and a greater sense of belonging within diverse communities.

Origin and Expansion

• Hispanic Heritage Week: The observance began as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

• Expansion to a Month: In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the observance to its current 30-day period, making it law. This extension aimed to allow for more extensive and coordinated activities and events to celebrate Hispanic culture and achievement.

Navratri is a major Hindu festival celebrated over nine nights and days to honor the Divine Feminine and the triumph of good over evil. The term "Navratri" translates to "nine nights" in Sanskrit. During this time, devotees worship Goddess Durga and her various forms, engage in fasting and prayers, and celebrate with devotional music, dances like Garba and Dandiya, and feasts. The festival culminates in Vijayadashami, also known as Dussehra, which marks the final victory over evil.

What it celebrates:

• The Divine Feminine: The festival is primarily dedicated to Goddess Durga, who is revered as a powerful symbol of empowerment.

• Victory Over Evil: A central theme is the triumph of righteous forces over demonic ones, with the story of Durga battling the demon Mahishasura being a prominent narrative.

• Spiritual Renewal: It's a period for inner rest and rejuvenation, allowing devotees to reconnect with their inner selves and find peace and creativity.

How it's celebrated:

• Worship: Devotees worship nine different forms of the Goddess, often wearing a specific color associated with each day.

• Fasting and Prayers: Many celebrate by observing fasts, primarily eating vegetarian food, and engaging in prayers and chanting.

• Folk Dances: In states like Gujarat, vibrant dances such as Garba and Dandiya Raas are performed in concentric circles, often accompanied by music and wooden sticks.

• Feasts and Offerings: Vegetarian dishes are prepared and offered as sacred food (bhog) to the deities, symbolizing a bridge between the devotee and the divine.

• Regional Variations: Celebrations vary across India, from the artistic idols and processions of Durga Puja in West Bengal to the Golu doll displays in South India.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in the Jewish faith, also known as the Day of Atonement, marked by a 25-hour fast, prayer, and reflection. It's the culmination of the High Holy Days, a period of introspection that follows Rosh Hashanah, during which God determines the fate for the upcoming year. Observances include abstaining from food and drink, bathing, anointing, and wearing leather shoes, with many Jews wearing white to symbolize purity as they pray for forgiveness in the synagogue.

Significance

• Atonement: The day focuses on making amends and seeking forgiveness for sins committed during the past year.

• Judgment: According to tradition, it's the day God seals the fate of all individuals in the "Book of Life" for the year ahead.

• Repentance: It is a time for deep self-reflection and an effort to start the new year with a "clean slate".

Diwali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism. In a multicultural and diverse country like India, everyone has their own way of celebrating this festival. Even though their belief in it may be different, the enthusiasm, vivaciousness and joy it brings to people's lives is what binds everyone together.

Diwali is celebrated as the festival of lights, during which homes are decorated with candles. Diwali projects the rich and glorious past and teaches its observers to uphold the true values of life.

For the Hindus, the holiday symbolizes the return of Prince Rama of Ayodhya with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshman, from a 14-year-long exile and a war in which Prince Rama stood victorious. People of Ayodhya lit lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness.

To the Jains, it has a whole different meaning. For them, Diwali is the day when the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavira, attained nirvana, also known as complete knowledge and enlightenment. Lord Mahavira established the dharma followed by the Jains worldwide.

For the Sikhs, Diwali is a story of the struggle for freedom. It celebrates the victory of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, from the designs of Emperor Jahangir, who had imprisoned him and 52 other princes with him, in 1619. Guru Hargobind refused to leave the prison for freedom until he was able to bring all of the princes with him.

Diwali is celebrated with worship, sharing sweets, fireworks and lights. While the story varies from region to region, its essence remains the same. People learn to rejoice in the inner light and the underlying reality of things.

Red Ribbon Week is an annual, nationwide drug prevention campaign observed in schools and communities across the United States from October 23–31. It promotes a drug-free lifestyle and raises awareness about the dangers of substance abuse, including prescription drug misuse.

History

The campaign began in 1985 in response to the murder of U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena while he was working undercover in Mexico. Angered citizens in his hometown of Calexico, California, wore red ribbons to symbolize their commitment to raising awareness about the destruction caused by drugs. This movement grew, and the National Family Partnership began sponsoring the annual campaign in 1988.

Importance and goals

Red Ribbon Week provides an opportunity for schools, families, and communities to reinforce important drug-free messages, with specific goals including:

• Raising awareness: Educating young people and the public about the dangers of drugs.
• Promoting healthy lifestyles: Encouraging students to make smart, healthy choices that positively impact their future.
• Empowering students: Providing students with refusal skills and the confidence to resist negative peer pressure.
• Fostering dialogue: Creating an opportunity for open conversations between students, parents, and teachers about substance abuse prevention.

Halloween is a holiday celebrated each year on October 31. The tradition originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated November 1 as a time to honor all saints. Soon, All Saints Day incorporated some of the traditions of Samhain. The evening before was known as All Hallows Eve, and later Halloween. Over time, Halloween evolved into a day of activities like trick-or-treating, carving jack-o-lanterns, festive gatherings, donning costumes and eating treats.