Life at Bio-Rad

Bio-Rad Multicultural Calendar, January 2025

January 1, 2025

As part of our Diversity and Inclusion Program here at Bio-Rad, we publish a monthly Multicultural Calendar of events that are commonly celebrated in the United States. Starting in 2025, we will begin including events from some of our other countries as our program continues to expand globally. Our goal is to feature a variety of events that help bring cultural awareness to various groups' histories, traditions, and accomplishments while also highlighting events important to us both as a company and a community.

Three Kings Day: January 6 (Mexico)

On the twelfth day of Christmas, January 6, Three Kings Day is celebrated predominantly in Europe, Spain, and Latin America. ‘El Dia de los Reyes’, as it’s called in Spanish, marks the glorification of baby Jesus by the Three Wise Men. To learn more, click here. 

Martin Luther King Day: January 20

Martin Luther King was an influential civil rights leader — best known for fighting for racial equality and ending racial segregation in the United States. His life and achievements are remembered and celebrated each year on this day. To learn more, click here. 

St. Sebastian's Day: January 20 (Brazil)

The residents of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil are very devoted to the patron of the city—Saint Sebastian and annually celebrate his holiday on the 20th of January with big festive processions. Interestingly, the holiday is observed not only by Catholics but also by followers of the Candomblé and Umbanda religions, where Saint Sebastian is revered as Oxóssi. To learn more, click here. 

Robbie Burns Day: January 25 (Canada) 

Robbie Burns Day celebrates the national poet of Scotland, Robert Burns, who was born on January 25, 1759. It’s commemorated in Vancouver with Scottish music, food, and festivities. To learn more, click here. 

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: January 27 

During the Holocaust, from 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany murdered roughly two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population. Since 2005, each year on January 27 International Holocaust Remembrance Day is held to honor the vitcims and remember the Nazi’s act of genocide so that no one else will suffer like that again. To learn more, click here. 

Lunar New Year: January 29 

The Lunar New Year in 2025 welcomes the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrated by millions around the world, this is a time for cultural traditions, family reunions, and hopes for good fortune in the coming year. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates (January 29 is the start of the 16-day festival based on the Chinese lunar calendar). Lunar calendars follow the lunar phase while lunisolar calendars follow both the lunar phase and the time of the solar year.

To learn more, click here. 

To learn more about our D&I Program at Bio-Rad, please visit our Diversity and Inclusion page.