September 2022: Important dates and events

September 1 – Knowledge Day in Ukraine

 The school year traditionally begins on September for all educational institutions of Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, russia has completely destroyed over 200 educational institutions and damaged about two thousand. Many Ukrainian children have been forced to switch to distance learning due to the dangers. On this day, we also honor those Ukrainian educators in temporarily-occupied Ukrainian lands who, under threat of imprisonment and punishment, continue teach children according to the Ukrainian curriculum, in secret.

 September 2 – Odesa Day and Sumy Day

 Odesa – Prior to the full-scale invasion of Russia, Odesa was the third most populous city in Ukraine, with home to Ukraine’s largest sea trading port. Famous residents of this Ukrainian city include one of Steven Spielberg’s grandfathers, Leonardo DiCaprio’s great-grandmother and great-grandfather, Sylvester Stallone’s grandmother, as well as singer Bob Dylan’s grandparents, who emigrated to the USA in 1905, and many others.

Sumy – During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Sumy was home to the Kharitonenko dynasty of industrialists and philanthropists, and thus known as the “sugar capital.” Ivan Kharitonenko operated seven factories in Sumy oblast, which supplied sugar as far away as Siberia and East Asia. Today, the city is the capital of one of the regions bordering Russia, and is exposed to constant shelling and strikes, while courageously resists the enemy. 

September 7 – Ukrainian Heritage Day in Canada

Happy Ukrainian Heritage Day to all Ukrainian Canadians! Canada is home to one of the world’s largest Ukrainian diasporas, which nurtures its native culture, language and traditions. Not only do Ukrainians in Canada continue to make a significant contribution to the social, political and economic life of Canada and world, but they also fervently support Ukraine in its fight against its enemy.

September 11 – Patriot Day and National Day of Prayer and Remembrance in the USA

In the United States, September 11 is marked as Patriot Day and the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the Victims of the Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001in New York and Washington. The US Ukrainian community participates in the commemorations.

Sunday, September 2 – Day of Remembrance of Forced Deportations in 1944-1951

In 2019, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine established the second Sunday of September as the official day to commemorate the forced deportations of Ukrainians that occurred between 1944 and 1951. The violent ethnic cleansing of indigenous Ukrainian populations from Lemkivshchyna, Nadsyannia, Kholmshchyna, Southern Pidlyaschy, Lyubachivshchyna, and Western Boykivshchyna in 1944-1951 have since been commemorated on the official state level and by Ukrainians living around the world.

September 10 – Day of Ukrainian Cinema

This date is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of September. On the Day of Ukrainian Cinema, we honor the legends of the silver screen and remember all those involved in the creation of modern Ukrainian cinema, including those who have stood up in Ukraine’s defense, including director Oleh Sentsov, Akhtem Seitablaev, Oleksiy Trytenko. and many others.

September 13 – Opening of 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77)

The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 77) will begin in New York on Tuesday, September 13, 2022. The first day of the high-level General Debate will be Tuesday, 20 September 2022. The session will last until September 27.

September 15 – International Day of Democracy

This Day was established in 2007 to promote and uphold the principles of democracy and review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy belongs to the universal and fundamental human values ​​and principles of the United Nations Organization.

September 21 – International Day of Peace

 Every year on September 21, the International Day of Peace (“Peace Day”) is celebrated around the world. The Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a resolution of the United Nations, as a date when all of people, despite their differences, contribute to building a culture of peace.

September 29 – the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Babyn Yar

The Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Babyn Yar, one of the most horrific symbols of the Holocaust. More than 80 years ago, on September 29-30, 1941, the first mass execution of unarmed civilians by the German military was carried out in Nazi-occupied Kyiv. In early March 2022, the russian occupiers targeted the territory of Babyn Yar with a missile that killed 5 people and desecrated the memory of tens of thousands of Holocaust victims.