The Third Circuit Court Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team’s Mission: "We appreciate our common connection and respect our diverse and unique human experiences. We move forward as an inclusive organization as we provide accessible and equal justice."

The Court’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Team strives to ensure the values of its diverse bench, staff, and court users are acknowledged and reflected in our delivery of service as well as our work environment.

In that spirit, the team creates and shares a monthly list of various holidays and observations along with some celebration suggestions. We invite our work community and the community at large to contribute.

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we all must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” – Maya Angelou

MARCH 2024

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a day for us to join voices with people around the world and shout our message for equal rights loud and clear: “Women’s rights are human rights!”

We celebrate all women, in all their diversities. We embrace their facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, or disability. We celebrate those who came before us, those who stand beside us now, and those who will come after.

Date: March 1, 2024

Sources: https://iwda.org.au/take-action/international-womens-day/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA-bjyBRCcARIsAFboWg3RlOFjwR3n22AnlCsIBQuCb2HZoOETB9dmOZd-bA8bl53BLlm19TQaAgMBEALw_wcB

First Day of Irish American Heritage Month

This annual celebration was started in 1991, and is dedicated to recognizing the contributions of Irish Americans throughout history. This month we recognize not only the overcoming of those obstacles by Irish-Americans but also the incredible breadth and depth of their contributions to American society, from the Union’s edge over the Confederacy in the Civil War to the intellectual contributions that have kept our country on the top tiers of accomplishment.

Date: March 1, 2024

Sources: Irish-American Heritage Month - March 1, 2024 (holidaycalendar.io)

Maha Shivaratri

It is a solemn Hindu festival devoted to introspection and meditation. The day reminds worshippers to work towards overcoming darkness and ignorance. Maha Shivratri is an annual festival honoring Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction. People celebrate by fasting for a whole day and staying awake all night. They also chant hymns and sing devotional songs, called bhajans.

Date: March 8, 2024 

Sources: Maha Shivaratri (timeanddate.com)

Ramadan Starts

Ramadan is a holy month of fasting, introspection and prayer for Muslims, the followers of Islam. It is celebrated as the month during which Muhammad received the initial revelations of the Quran, the holy book for Muslims. Fasting is one of the five fundamental principles of Islam. Each day during Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn to sunset.

Date: March 10, 2024                                                                                                                  

Sources: Ramadan 2024 - Calendar, Fasting, Celebrations - HISTORY

St. Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick's Day, or the Feast of Saint Patrick, is a cultural and religious celebration held on 17 March, the traditional death date of Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the foremost patron saint of Ireland.

The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general.

Date: March 17, 2024  

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick%27s_Day

Holi (Hindu)

Holi is a popular ancient Hindu festival, also known as the "festival of spring", the "festival of colors", and the "festival of love". The festival signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Date: March 25, 2024

Sources: Holi - Wikipedia

Good Friday

Good Friday occurs two days before Easter Sunday in the United States. It is the day when Christians commemorate Jesus Christ's crucifixion, which plays an important part in the Christian faith. Some Christians may attend special church services or prayer vigils. Good Friday is a day of mourning and quiet prayer for many Christians. The candles are often extinguished and statues, paintings and crosses may be draped in black, purple or gray cloth. Some Catholics treat Good Friday as a day of fasting, while others observe a partial fast involving the exclusion of meat.

Date: March 29, 2024                                                                                                                  

Sources: Good Friday 2024 in the United States (timeanddate.com)

Easter

Many Christians celebrate Jesus Christ's resurrection on Easter Sunday. The Easter date depends on the ecclesiastical approximation of the March equinox. Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers and the ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries such as the Philippines and Spain. Many Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year. It is a day of joy and celebration to commemorate that Jesus Christ is risen, according to Christian belief.

Date: March 31, 2024  

Sources: Easter Sunday (timeanddate.com)