DEI holidays to celebrate in March

Get ready to celebrate! 

Electives is excited to provide your organization with the necessary resources to honor the holidays that are important to your diverse workforce, helping you create an inclusive, high-performance culture. March is packed with meaningful holidays, and we’ve compiled a list of them below. Let's make this month one to remember!

This blog post was updated on May 28, 2024 and now features dates for March 2025.

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Month-long celebrations in March

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

March is an opportunity to recognize the positive contributions people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) make in society every day. Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month also serves to raise awareness about the challenges facing those with IDD, to foster understanding and to encourage inclusivity.

Gender Equality Month

Gender Equality Month aims to raise awareness against gender bias in society. It’s also a month dedicated to celebrating the social, academic, political and cultural contributions of women.
(Here are some ways to celebrate.)

Women’s History Month

Women’s History Month commemorates the vital role women have played in American history. From science to politics, March gives us a chance to reflect on the trailblazing women who led the way for change.

Irish-American Heritage Month

First celebrated in 1991, Irish-American Heritage Month honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants living in the U.S.

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Additional March DEI holidays

March 1

Zero Discrimination Day

Zero Discrimination Day is helping to create a global movement to end all forms of discrimination. It’s a day to celebrate the right of every human to live a full and productive life with dignity, free from discrimination.

International Women of Color Day

International Women of Color Day brings intentional recognition to honor women of color and recognizes those working for justice, equality, reparations and a sustainable world ending the discrimination that women of color/indigenous women have endured.

Ramadan*

This month-long holy month is a time for reflection, contemplation and celebration. Fasting is a key part of this observance – from dawn to dusk. Ramadan begins the evening of February 28 and ends the evening of March 30, 2025.

Wondering how to greet someone during Ramadan? Try "Ramadan mubarak!" (Have a blessed Ramadan!) or "Ramadan kareem!" (May Ramadan be generous to you!)

March 4

Mardi Gras

This isn’t just a party in New Orleans. Mardi Gras – or “Fat Tuesday” – is the last night of eating rich foods before the Christian season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Lent is a season of penitence and fasting that commemorates the four days Jesus spent fasting in the desert.

March 5

Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday – officially known as the Day of Ashes – is a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God. Ash Wednesday marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, when Christians believe Jesus was resurrected. Remember that individuals on your team may need some flexibility on Ash Wednesday so they can visit church to get their ashes.

Women's Equal Pay Day

According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, the date of Women’s Equal Pay Day “symbolizes how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year.” On average, women 83 cents for every dollar earned by a man in the U.S. For women of color, this gap widens significantly to 55-63% of what men in the U.S. earn.

March 7

Employee Appreciation Day

The first Friday of March is Employee Appreciation Day. While this should by no means be limited to one day a year, Employee Appreciation Day is an opportunity to intentionally show your team that you appreciate them.

Global Day of Unplugging

Is your phone glued to your hand at all times? Do hear your Slack or Teams notifications going off, even when you’re not near your computer? Could be time to take a step back and do a short digital detox. The Global Day of Unplugging is a 24-hour period to intentionally spend time disconnecting from technology and reconnecting with yourself and others. Encourage your team to take time away from their email, phones, laptops (and AI agents!) today to be truly present.

National Salesperson Day

National Salesperson Day is all about celebrating the awesome people who are masters at understanding client needs, navigating sales processes and knowing every detail about their products or services. It's a day to recognize the hard work and dedication they put into driving business success. At work, you can show your appreciation with small tokens, a special shout-out or just some heartfelt recognition during a team meeting to highlight how much they mean to the company.
(Go here for more ideas.)

March 8

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a global celebration of the social, cultural, political and economic achievements of women. The 2024 theme is DigitALL — an opportunity to explore how technology and education can help empower women and girls worldwide.

March 9

Daylight Savings Time

Sadly, the Sunshine Protection Act has yet to pass. This means many Americans will lose an hour of sleep at 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 9. Not every state observes the time change, but there’s a chance many of your team members may still be groggy come Monday.

March 12

National Working Moms Day

National Working Moms Day honors all the incredible moms balancing their careers and family roles, from teachers and doctors to cashiers and homemakers. Inspired by the Working Moms of Milwaukee organization, this day recognizes their tireless efforts and the many hats they wear.

March 13

Smart and Sexy Day

Smart and Sexy Day is an initiative to empower women by highlighting the importance of intelligence and confidence in personal and professional success.

March 14

Purim*

The joyful Jewish holiday of Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in ancient Persia from Haman's plot to destroy them, as recorded in the Megillah (book of Esther). Purim is all about joy, costumes and community, with traditions including reading the Megillah, giving to the poor, sending food gifts and enjoying a festive feast.

To greet someone on Purim, say "Chag Purim Sameach" in Hebrew or "Ah Freilichen Purim" in Yiddish, both wishing them a happy Purim.

Holi*

This Hindu festival celebrates spring, love and new life. Holi marks the end of winter and beginning of spring. It also celebrates the Hindu god Krishna and the legend of Holika and Prahlad.

Pi Day

Pi Day marks the numerical date 3/14, matching the first three digits of π (3.14). This day was especially memorable in 2015 when the date corresponded with π up to five digits: 3.1415. It's also the birthday of Albert Einstein, adding an extra layer of celebration for math and science enthusiasts.

In the workplace, celebrate Pi Day by hosting a pie-eating contest, sharing fun facts about π, or organizing a math-themed trivia game. Don’t forget to wish your colleagues a "Happy Pi Day!"

Genius Day

Celebrated on Albert Einstein’s birthday, Genius Day honors the geniuses in our lives. While not everyone may be a genius, the right AI training can empower your employees to reach new heights. With AI, their potential knows no boundaries.

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the foremost patron saint of Ireland and the culture of the Irish in general. Parades, festivals and céilithe mark the day. In the U.S., you’ll often see people wearing green or sporting shamrocks.

March 20

International Day of Happiness

In 2011, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which recognized happiness as a “fundamental human goal” and called for “a more inclusive, equitable and balanced approach to economic growth that promotes the happiness and well-being of all peoples.” Then, in 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution decreeing March 20 as the International Day of Happiness. Since then, many organizations and nonprofits use this day to recognize that progress includes increasing human happiness and wellbeing, not just stimulating economies.

March 21

World Down Syndrome Day

World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) is celebrated on March 21st, a date chosen to symbolize the triplication of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. Officially observed by the United Nations since 2012, this global awareness day advocates for the rights, inclusion and wellbeing of people with Down syndrome.

To mark WDSD, you can raise awareness by sharing educational materials, hosting discussions or organizing events to celebrate the contributions of individuals with Down syndrome.

National Single Parent Day

National Single Parent Day honors the contributions and challenges of single parents. Over time, the causes of single parenting have shifted from accidents and epidemics in ancient times to divorce and single-parent adoptions in modern times. Today, single-parent households are increasingly common, with studies showing a significant rise from 10% in 1980 to 30% in 2008.
(Go here to learn more about discussing modern family dynamics in the workplace.)

March 26

Laylatul Qadr (Night of Power)

Laylatul Qadr is a significant night for Muslims, observed on an odd night during the last ten days of Ramadan. In 2025, it is expected to fall on March 26th. Known as the ‘Night of Decree’ or ‘Night of Power,’ it commemorates when Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Quran, and is considered one of the holiest nights of the year, with prayers on this night being especially meritorious.

March 31

Eid al-Fitr*

The first of two canonical festivals of Islam, Eid al-Fitr is the “Festival of Breaking Fast,” marking the end of Ramadan. This holiday is a time to get together with friends, give gifts, wear new clothes and visit the resting places of dead relatives.

To greet someone on Eid, common Eid blessings are: “Eid Mubarak,” (pronounced 'Eed Mu-ba-rack', which means “Have a blessed Eid”) or “Blessed Eid” and “Happy Eid”.

International Transgender Day of Visibility

International Transgender Day of Visibility raises awareness about transgender people, their lives and their contributions to society. It also brings attention to the discrimination, poverty and violence the transgender community faces every day. In fact, more than one in four transgender people report having lost a job due to transphobia and bias.

*Indicates a holiday that begins at sundown the day prior.

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Looking for more holiday calendars? Click the month you want to see:

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December | Full-Year Overview | Downloadable Calendar

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