Annually, the United States and Illinois recognize a variety of commemorative dates and awareness celebrations. There are specially designated months and days every year to foster greater understanding and appreciation of important individuals, unique heritages, distinct health conditions and issues and other unique holidays. Below is a list detailing some of these important events and awareness celebrations for your convenience. Please take the time to learn about some of these special commemorative dates and join Sen. Mattie Hunter and the 3rd Legislative District in honoring these celebrations.

Heritage Months, Holidays and Awareness Days per the U.S. National Archives

January
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Jan. 15 of every year

February
• African American History Month: every February
• President’s Day: third Monday of every February
• Abraham Lincoln’s birthday: every Feb. 12 (observed as a state holiday in some states)
• George Washington’s birthday: every Feb. 22

March
• Greek American Heritage Month: every March
• Irish American Heritage Month: every March
• Women’s History Month: every March
• International Women’s Day: every March 8
• César Chávez Day: every March 31 (observed as a state holiday in some states)

April
• Earth Day: every April 22 

May
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: every May
• Jewish American Heritage Month: every May
• Memorial Day: every last Monday in May
June
• Caribbean American Heritage Month: every June
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month: every June
• Flag Day: every June 14

July
• Independence Day: every July 4

August
• Back to School Month: every August

September
• Hispanic Heritage Month: every Sept. 15-Oct. 15
• Labor Day: first Monday of September
• Constitution Day: second Monday of September

October
• German American Heritage Month: every October
• Italian American Heritage Month: every October
• Polish American Heritage Month: every October
• Disability Employment Awareness Month: every October
• Columbus Day: every second Monday of October
• Halloween: every Oct. 31

November
• American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month: every November 
• Election Day: every first Tuesday of November
• Veterans’ Day: every Nov.11
• Thanksgiving: every fourth Thursday of November

December
• Bill of Rights Day: every Dec. 15

Commemorative Dates and Health Awareness Celebrations according to National Health Observances

January

Recognized Months:
• Cervical Health Awareness Month
• National Birth Defects Prevention Month
• National Glaucoma Awareness Month
• National Radon Action Month
• National Stalking Awareness Month
• National Winter Sports TBI Awareness Month
• Thyroid Awareness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Jan. 6 – 12: National Folic Acid Awareness Week
• Jan. 28 – Feb. 3: National Drug Facts Week

February
Recognized Months:
• AMD/Low Vision Awareness Month
• American Heart Month
• International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month
• National Children’s Dental Health Month
• Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
• Many also recognize February as Turner Syndrome Awareness Month

Recognized Weeks:
• Feb. 1 -7: African Heritage & Health Week
• Feb. 7-14: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Recognized Days:
• Feb. 1 - Give Kids A Smile Day
• Feb. 1 - National Wear Red Day
• Feb. 7 - National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• Feb. 14 -National Donor Day

March
Recognized Months:
• National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
• National Endometriosis Awareness Month
• National Kidney Month
• National Nutrition Month
• Save Your Vision Month
• Trisomy Awareness Month
• Workplace Eye Wellness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• March  3 –9: National Problem Gambling Awareness Week
• March 3 – 9: Patient Safety Awareness Week
• March 3 – 10: National Sleep Awareness Week
• March 4 – 8: National School Breakfast Week
• March 11 –17: Brain Awareness Week
• March 17 –23: National Poison Prevention Week
• March 18 – 22: Flood Safety Awareness Week
• March 18 – 22: National Youth Violence Prevention Week
• March 24 – 31: National Tsunami Preparedness Week 
Recognized Days:
• March 1 - World Kidney Day
• March 10 - National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• March 20 - National Native American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• March 24 - World Tuberculosis Day
• March 26 - American Diabetes Alert Day

April
Recognized Months:
• Alcohol Awareness Month
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month
• National Autism Awareness Month
• National Child Abuse Prevention Month
• National Distracted Driving Awareness Month
• National Donate Life Month
• National Facial Protection Month
• National Minority Health Month
• National Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
• Occupational Therapy Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
• Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
• STI Awareness Month
• Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month
Recognized Weeks:
• April 1 -7: National Public Health Week
• April 20 -Apr. 27: National Infant Immunization Week
• April 21 – Apr. 27: National Infertility Awareness Week
• April 24 – 30: World Immunization Week
• April 29 – May 3: Air Quality Awareness Week
Recognized Days:
• April 2 -Sexual Assault Awareness Month Day of Action
• April 7 -World Health Day
• April 11-National Alcohol Screening Day
• April 24 -World Meningitis Day
May
Recognized Months:
• Arthritis Awareness Month
• Better Hearing and Speech Month
• Global Employee Health and Fitness Month
• Healthy Vision Month
• Hepatitis Awareness Month
• Melanoma Skin Cancer Detection/Prevention Awareness Month
• Mental Health Month
• National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month
• National Celiac Disease Awareness Month
• National High Blood Pressure Education Month
• National Mediterranean Diet Month
• National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month
• National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
• National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month
• National Toxic Encephalopathy and Chemical Injury Awareness Month
• National Youth Traffic Safety Month
• Preeclampsia Awareness Month
• Ultraviolet Awareness Month
• UV Safety Month
Recognized Weeks:
• May 5 –11: Children's Mental Health Awareness Week
• May 5 –11: North American Occupational Safety and Health Week
• May 12 – 18: Food Allergy Awareness Week
• May 13 –19: National Alcohol and Other Drug-Related Birth Defects Awareness Week
• May  13 –19: National Stuttering Awareness Week
• May 13 –17: National Neuropathy Awareness Week
• May 21 –27: Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention Week
• May 26 – June 1: National Hurricane Preparedness Week
Recognized Days:
• May 5 - Hand Hygiene Day
• May 8 - Bike to School Day
• May 11- Cornelia de Lange Syndrome Awareness Day
• May 18 - HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
• May 19 - National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• May 20- World Autoimmune Arthritis Day
• May 24- Heat Safety Awareness Day
• May 29 - National Senior Health and Fitness Day
• May 31- World No Tobacco Day
June
Recognized Months:
• Fireworks Safety Month
• Cataract Awareness Month
• Men's Health Month
• Myasthenia Gravis Awareness Month
• National Aphasia Awareness Month
• National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month
• National Safety Month
• National Scleroderma Awareness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• June 2 –8: National Rip Current Awareness Week
• June 10 –16: Men's Health Week
• June 23 – 29: National Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Recognized Days:
• June 2 -National Cancer Survivors Day
• June 19 -World Sickle Cell Day
• June 27 -National HIV Testing Day

July
Recognized Months:
• Cord Blood Awareness Month
• International Group B Strep Awareness Month
• Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
• National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness & Prevention Month
Recognized Days:
• July 28 -World Hepatitis Day

August
Recognized Months:
• Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
• National Breastfeeding Month
• National Immunization Awareness Month
• Psoriasis Awareness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Aug. 1 –7: World Breastfeeding Week
• Aug. 11 –17: National Health Center Week

September
Recognized Months:
• Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
• Fruit and Veggies—More Matters Month
• Healthy Aging Month
• Infant Mortality Awareness Month
• National Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month
• National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
• National Cholesterol Education Month
• National Food Safety Education Month
• National ITP Awareness Month
• National Pediculosis Prevention Month/Head Lice Prevention Month
• National Preparedness Month
• National Recovery Month
• National Sickle Cell Month
• National Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month
• National Yoga Awareness Month
• Newborn Screening Awareness Month
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
• Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
• Whole Grains Month
• World Alzheimer's Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Sept. 15 –21: National Farm Safety & Health Week
• Sept. 15 – 21: National Rehabilitation Awareness Week Celebration
Recognized Days:
• Sept. 13- National Celiac Disease Awareness Day
• Sept. 18 -Get Ready Day
• Sept. 18 -National School Backpack Awareness Day
• Sept. 25- National Women’s Health and Fitness Day 
• Sept. 27 - National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
• Sept. 27 -RAINN Day
• Sept. 27- Sport Purple For Platelets Day
• Sept. 28- Family Health and Fitness Day USA
• Sept. 28 -World Rabies Day
• Sept. 29- World Heart Day

October
Recognized Months:
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month
• Eye Injury Prevention Month
• Health Literacy Month
• Home Eye Safety Month
• National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• National Bullying Prevention Month
• National Down Syndrome Awareness Month
• National Medical Librarians Month
• National Physical Therapy Month
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Oct. 7 –13 Mental Illness Awareness Week
• Oct. 7 –11 Drive Safely Work Week
• Oct. 12 –20 Bone and Joint Health National Action Week
• Oct. 14 –18 National Health Education Week
• Oct. 23 –31 Red Ribbon Week
• Oct. 20 –26 International Infection Prevention Week
• Oct. 20 –26 Respiratory Care Week
Recognized Days:
• Oct. 9- Walk to School Day
• Oct. 13- Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day
• Oct. 15- National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
• Oct. 16- World Food Day
• Oct. 19 - World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day
• Oct. 22- International Stuttering Awareness Day
• Oct. 29- World Psoriasis Day

November

Recognized Months:
• American Diabetes Month
• COPD Awareness Month
• Diabetic Eye Disease Month
• Lung Cancer Awareness Month
• National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month
• National Family Caregivers Month
• National Healthy Skin Month
• National Hospice Palliative Care Month
• National Stomach Cancer Awareness Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Nov. 11 – 17: Drowsy Driving Prevention Week
• Nov. 24 –30: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Awareness Week

Recognized Days:
• Nov. 21- Great American Smokeout
• Nov. 23-International Survivors of Suicide Day
December
Recognized Months:
• Safe Toys and Gifts Month
Recognized Weeks:
• Dec. 1 –7: National Handwashing Awareness Week
Recognized Days:
• Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day