Recognizing Our Diverse Community!

• December 8th is Bodhi Day. Bodhi Day is a Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day Siddhartha Gautama, also known as the Buddha, attained enlightenment. According to tradition, Siddhartha had recently forsaken years of extreme ascetic practices and resolved to sit under a peepal tree, also known as a Bodhi tree (Ficus religiosa), and simply meditate until he found the root of suffering, and how to liberate oneself from it. You can learn more about this day HERE.

• Human Rights Day, observed on December 10th, commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. This day celebrates the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled, regardless of their background, and serves as a reminder that these rights require continuous protection. It recognizes that everyone has the right to live with dignity, freedom, and equality and encourages action to protect these rights worldwide. The UDHR is a global blueprint that establishes universal values, such as equality, the right to life, liberty, and personal security, and freedoms of speech and religion. The day is also a call to action, highlighting that despite progress, human rights are still under threat and require ongoing advocacy and support. Learn more about this day HERE.