Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

Arab American Heritage Month – April 2024

Arab American Heritage Month is an annual observance that takes place in April to celebrate Arab American heritage and culture. It honors the contributions of Arab Americans and Arabic-speaking Americans to the wider American community. The Arab American Institute reported that about 15,000 Middle Eastern immigrants from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq migrated to the U.S. yearly in the 1960s. The celebration of the holiday has previously been observed sporadically in various states and at different times of the year since the 1990s until 2017 when Arab America began a national initiative to coordinate all states under National Arab American Heritage Month.

History of Arab American Heritage Month

The origin of Arab American Heritage Month celebration goes back to the ‘90s when it was sporadically observed — mostly in schools across the country, due to the long presence of people of middle eastern descent in the U.S.

Arab Americans and Americans of Middle Eastern heritage have a long history in the United States that started when people of Middle Eastern descent first began to enter America in large numbers in the 1800s. Historians noted these immigrants were the first wave of Middle Eastern people to immigrate to the U.S. circa 1875.

According to the U.S. government portal, the second wave of immigrants arrived in the 1940s followed by thousands of yearly Middle Eastern immigrants migrating to the country from Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq in the 1960s during the heydays of the vicious Lebanese civil war.

Today it is reported that over four million Arab Americans live in the United States with many holding positions in the military, entertainment, politics, and every other aspect of social life. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Lebanese Americans constitute the largest group of Arabs in the U.S. followed by Egyptians, Syrians, Palestinians, Jordanians, Moroccans, and Iraqis. About half of the Arab Americans profiled by the Census Bureau in a survey conducted in the year 2000 were born in the U.S. with men constituting the largest percentage of the Arab American population and most living in households as married couples.

Arab American Heritage Month timeline

1990s
Arab American Heritage First Celebration

Arab American heritage is celebrated sporadically in various states at different times of the year in 1990.

2017
Arab America Becomes a National Initiative

Arab American organizations begin a national initiative to coordinate all states under National Arab American Heritage Month.

2019
First Official Move to Recognize the Day

A congressional resolution to proclaim National Arab American Heritage Month is introduced to the house of representatives in April 2019.

2021
First Official Federal Recognition of the Month

2021 marks the first official federal recognition of April as the National Arab American Heritage Month.

Arab American Heritage Month FAQs

What is considered Arab American?

Arab Americans are Americans of Arab descent. Although the holiday is called Arab American Heritage Month, in reality, it is not just celebrating Arabians but the entire group of migrants from the middle east.

When was the first Arab American Heritage Month?

1990. Arab American Heritage Month was sporadically celebrated around the U.S. in the ‘90s before Arab America officially started the move to align celebrations of the holiday.

How can I celebrate Arab American Heritage Month?

To celebrate Arab American Heritage Month learn about famous Arab Americans making impacts in the government and corporate spheres.

Arab American Heritage Month Activities

  1. Read about the migration history

    Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by learning about the history of the migration that led to the explosion of people of Middle Eastern descent in the U.S. in the 1940s, 1960s, and 1990s. While Arab Americans are sometimes stereotyped as foreigners in the United States, they continue to make significant contributions to American society. Learn about them during Arab American Heritage Month as a way to celebrate and honor them.

  2. Support Arab American Heritage friendly initiatives

    Arab America — the national media organization founded to promote an accurate image of the Arab American community and the Arab world, kick-started a national initiative that prompted Congresswoman Debbie Dingell to issue a congressional resolution to officially proclaim April as National Arab American Heritage Month. Support it!

  3. Share your thoughts on social media

    With close to four million Arab Americans in the U.S. and an even wider pool of people with close friends who are of middle eastern descent, there’s more than enough — to generate attention on social platforms that lead to a broader awareness of the holiday. To celebrate the day, share opinions on important issues affecting Arab American communities, or simply showcase the culture.

5 Important Facts About Arab American Heritage Month

  1. ‘MENA’ and not ‘Arab’ heritage month

    Many groups are pushing for April to be recognized as ‘MENA’ (Middle Eastern, North African) and not ‘Arab’ heritage month.

  2. The Department of State supports it

    The United States Department of State recognizes and affirms April as the National Arab American Heritage Month.

  3. President Biden

    President Joe Biden is the first sitting president in U.S. history to recognize the holiday

  4. Home to millions of Arab Americans

    Over 3.5 million Arab Americans call the United States their home.

  5. One of the most educated demographics

    Arab Americans are among the most educated groups of people in the U.S., with more than 40% having a four-year degree and 17% having a postgraduate degree.

Why We Love Arab American Heritage Month

  1. It celebrates Arab American contributions

    Arab American Heritage Month’s celebration is focused on honoring the contributions of people of middle eastern descent. Its goal is to highlight the achievements of the estimated four million Arab Americans working in positions and jobs that are vital to the functioning of every American life.

  2. It helps to keep in touch with the culture

    Arab America’s mission with the initiation of the holiday is to keep Arab Americans in touch with their roots through the dissemination of accurate information about countries in the middle east, organizing cultural events, and providing the latest news around cultural events and social services, commerce, and music. We love this!

  3. It reflects on progress

    Arab American Heritage Month’s celebration was envisioned as a day to reflect on the progress of the Arab American community in the country. In recent years, there has been an even more massive acceptance and tolerance for how distinct Arab American culture is in contrast to other minority groups.

Arab American Heritage Month dates

YearDateDay
2024April 1Monday
2025April 1Tuesday
2026April 1Wednesday
2027April 1Thursday
2028April 1Saturday
Be Kind to Spiders Week
Blue Ribbon Week
Golden Rule Week
International Pooper Scooper Week
Laugh at Work Week
Medication Safety Week
National Bake Week
National Cancer Registrars Week
National Public Health Week
National Window Safety Week
Take Your Poet to School Week
Testicular Cancer Awareness Week
April Fools' Day
Assyrian New Year
Boomer Bonus Days
Community Garden Week
Cyprus National Holiday
Dyngus Day
Easter Monday
Edible Book Day
Fossil Fools Day
International Fun at Work Day
International Tatting Day
Library Snap Shot Day
Lupus Alert Day
Martyrdom of Imam Ali
Mathematics and Statistics Awareness Month
Myles Day
National Connor Day
National Fun Day
National Greeting Card Day
National Loyal Day
National One Cent Day
National Sourdough Bread Day
National Trombone Players Day
Nature Day
Nickelodeon Anniversary Celebration Day
Odisha Day
Reading is Funny Day
St. Stupid Day
Take Down Tobacco National Day of Action
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
U.S. Air Force Academy Day
White House Easter Egg Roll
Adopt a Ferret Month
Adopt a Greyhound Month
Arab American Heritage Month
Autism Acceptance Month
Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Brussels Sprouts and Cabbage Month
Cancer Control Month
Canine Fitness Month
Celebrate Diversity Month
Cesarean Awareness Month
Child Abuse Awareness Month
Children and Nature Awareness Month
Counseling Awareness Month
Couple Appreciation Month
Cranberries and Gooseberries Month
Deaf History Month
Defeat Diabetes Month
Distracted Driving Awareness Month
Dog Appreciation Month
Earth Month
Emotional Overeating Awareness Month
Fair Housing Month
Filipino Food Month
Financial Capability Month
Financial Literacy Month
Fresh Florida Tomato Month
Genocide Awareness Month
Global Astronomy Month
Global Child Nutrition Month
Grange Month
Heartworm Awareness Month
IBS Month
Informed Women Month
International Amateur Radio Month
International Customer Loyalty Month
International Guitar Month
Jazz Appreciation Month
Keep America Beautiful Month
Month of the Military Child
Move More Month
Multicultural Communications Month
Multiple Birth Awareness Month
National African-American Women's Fitness Month
National Alcohol Awareness Month
National BLT Sandwich Month
National Car Care Month
National Card and Letter Writing Month
National Decorating Month
National Donate Life Month
National Facial Protection Month
National Food Month
National Foot Health Awareness Month
National Fresh Celery Month
National Frog Month
National Garlic Month
National Grilled Cheese Month
National Humor Month
National Internship Awareness Month
National Kite Month
National Knuckles Down Month
National Literature Month
National Minority Health Month
National Month of Hope
National Pecan Month
National Pest Management Month
National Pet First Aid Awareness Month
National Poetry Month
National Rebuilding Month
National Safe Digging Month
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
National Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Education and Awareness Month
National Sjogren's Syndrome Awareness Month
National Social Security Month
National Soft Pretzel Month
National Soy Foods Month
National Volunteer Month
National Welding Month
National Woodworking Month
National Youth Sports Safety Month
Occupational Therapy Month
Panagyaman Rice Festival
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parkinson's Awareness Month
Parliamentary Law Month
Pharmacists War on Diabetes Month
Physical Wellness Month
Poetic Earth Month
Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs Month
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month
Primary Immunodeficiency Month
Records and Information Management Month
Records and Information Management Month
Rosacea Awareness Month
Sarcoidosis Awareness Month
School Library Month
Scottish-American Heritage Month
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Sports Eye Safety Awareness Month
Step up for 30 For Bowel Cancer Month
STI Awareness Month
Straw Hat Month
Stress Awareness Month
Summer Tire Changeover Month
SunSmart Skin Cancer Prevention
Testicular Cancer Awareness Month
Tomatillo and Asian Pear Month
Women's Eye Health and Safety Month
Workplace Conflict Awareness Month
World Autism Month
World Landscape Architecture Month
Worldwide Bereaved Spouses Awareness Month

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.