A Diversity Message From Neil Meltzer - March 2021

March is National Women's History Month, a time when we recognize the achievements and contributions of women in American history.

The observance first began as Women's History week in 1978 when California's Sonoma school district held a week-long celebration to raise awareness of women's important role in shaping the country. As similar celebrations spread across the country, in 1980, the National Women's History Project formed and successfully lobbied the government to designate Women's History Week to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8. Seven years later, Congress officially declared March as National Women's History Month in perpetuity.

You may see a sea of green if you are out and about on March 17, St. Patrick's Day. The day commemorates the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland and the arrival of Christianity in that country. It is also a global celebration of the Irish culture and coincides with March being Irish-American Heritage Month.

Green will be the color of the day as many will wear green attire, shamrocks and green accessories of all kinds. Other traditions typically include attending church service, watching parades and enjoying feasts of Irish fare.

On March 20 we welcome the first official day of spring, marked by the arrival of the spring equinox. The day is also recognized as the Pagan holiday of Ostara. During this time, the amount of daylight and night are nearly equal. Ostara is one of the four lesser Wiccan holidays and is recognized as a season of balance and renewal.

Passover begins the evening of March 27 and ends the evening of April 4. Lasting seven or eight days (seven in Israel and in Reform Judaism, eight for Orthodox and Conservative Judaism), this Jewish holiday celebrates God liberating the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. According to tradition, when the Pharaoh refused to heed Moses' request to release the Israelites, God inflicted 10 plagues upon the ancient Egyptians, "passing over" the houses of the Israelites before the Pharaoh released his Israelite slaves. To celebrate this gift of freedom, traditionally those of the Jewish faith will share the story of Passover and enjoy a ceremonial meal called a Seder.

Many people of Indian descent will recognize the arrival of spring in a colorful way with the two-day Hindu festival, Holi, which begins on March 28 and ends on March 29. Commonly known as the Festival of Colors, Holi celebrates, not only the beginning of spring and the end of winter, but also fertility, color, love and the triumph of good over evil. The festival begins with Holika Dahan (on March 28) when, traditionally, people perform religious rituals in front of a bonfire that is lit to burn out evil spirits. The next day, on Rangwali Holi (March 29), a boisterous celebration takes place with people throwing handfuls of colored powders at one another while getting drenched in water.

At LifeBridge Health, we embrace diversity, and these monthly Diversity messages are meant to recognize and celebrate the richness of our team members' cultures and that of our country. We celebrate both what makes us diverse and unique, and what makes us the same-our shared purpose of caring for communities together.

Thank you for the commitment you make every day to CARE BRAVELY and live our LifeBridge Health values.