Ramadan Begins
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community.
The eight candles of the Hanukkah Menorah symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed; the ninth, the shamash, is a helper candle used to light the others. Families light one candle on the first day, two on the second (and so on) after sundown during the eight days of Hanukkah, while reciting …
Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it’s a cultural one. Because of this, people from all different religious backgrounds — including African spiritual traditions — celebrate the holiday.Kwanzaa celebrates the seven principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba. These seven principles are all Swahili words, and together comprise the Kawaida or “common” philosophy. Each of the …
Three Kings Day or the Feast of Epiphany is the final celebration with which the 12 days of Christmas end on January 6. It is believed that on this day, the three wise men — Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar — presented baby Jesus with symbolic gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrhh
Calling all Excelsior alumni, students, faculty, and staff in the DMV area! Join us for a fantastic opportunity to network, find mentorships, and make professional connections. Indulge in delicious (and hearty!) appetizers from The Center Club’s award-winning restaurant and enjoy complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks. Don’t miss this chance to connect with Excelsior alumni, …
The day honors all officers who dedicate their lives to serving and protecting their communities
For Buddhists, the new year is a time for meditation and self-reflection. The goal is to find ways to improve and learn from past mistakes. Buddhists also believe that buying new items, cleaning and redecorating the home, and giving gifts can bring good luck. They also celebrate with feasts that are filled with sweets, and …
Join us for an engaging conversation with the January mentor in residence, Douglas Perry, BS ’78, 2nd vice president of the Alumni Leadership Council. Perry’s inspiring career as a scientist, professor, and senior academic administrator has taken him from teaching at a small private college to becoming a tenured professor at a major public research …
Martin Luther King Day commemorates the civil rights activist and leader assassinated in 1968. Dr. Martin Luther King was a scholar and a minister who led the non-violent civil rights movement. Through activism and inspirational speeches, King played an instrumental role in ending the legal segregation of African American citizens in the United States, as …
Lailat al Miraj celebrates the Prophet Muhammad’s nighttime journey from Mecca to Jerusalem, where he then ascended to heaven.
This day was chosen to commemorate the date when the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Red Army in 1945. The day remembers the killing of six millions Jews, two thirds of the Europe’s Jewish population, and millions of others by the Nazi regime and its collaborators.
National Freedom Day is a United States observance on February 1 honoring the signing by President Abraham Lincoln of a joint House and Senate resolution that later was ratified as the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. President Lincoln signed the Amendment abolishing slavery on February 1, 1865, although it was not ratified by the …
Vasant Panchami, also called Saraswati Puja in honor of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated in Indian religions in different ways depending on the region.
