September 2004
National Hispanic Heritage Month, (Mexico)
In 1968 the observation was limited to a week, however, in 1988 the period was expanded to 31 days. This included the days between September 15 and October 15. National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the independence of the Hispanic Countries of Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Chile.
September 6
Labor Day occurs on the first Monday in September and was first celebrated in the United States on September 5, 1882. Congress believed that American workers should be honored for their hard work. People throughout the U.S. celebrate the day by parades and speeches.
September 16
Rosh Hashanah is a solemn celebration of the beginning of the Jewish year. The new year begins at sunset before the first day of Tishri in the Hebrew calendar and lasts for two days. However, Reform Jews usually celebrate Rosh Hashanah for one day.
Rosh Hashanah is a time of introspection when Jews examine their relationship with God. During this period, prayers are said for God’s forgiveness, a good year, and a long life. The Ten Days of Penitence begin on Tosh Hashanah (the Day of Judgment) and end on Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement). During these days, God decides who will die and who will live in the coming year.
September 21
Autumnal Equinox is either of the two times during the year that the sun crosses the celestial equator, and imaginary line through the sky, and appears directly above the equator, the imaginary line that divides the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. When this occurs, the length of the day and the night are approximately equal at every place on earth. While the earth orbits around the sun, the position of the sun changes in relation to the equator. Between the March or vernal, equinox and the September, or autumnal, equinox, the sun appears north of the equator. It appears south of the equator in the time between the September equinox and the March equinox.
credit: kumc.edu/diversity
