Got an idea for a holiday? Send it to us

Submit Now

Multicultural Communications Month – April 2024

Multicultural Communications Month is observed in April and we cannot conceal our excitement about it. It may amaze you to know that multicultural communications were practiced at Dura Europos — a multicultural society with languages such as Latin, Syriac, and Persian — as early as the first century B.C. Scholars believe ancient Rome began as a federation of tribes, traders, and other groups, indicating that it was also a multicultural civilization. It’s impossible to say the different tribes lived together without interacting, and so, we can say that communication amongst people of different cultures has its roots firmly set even in antiquity.

History of Multicultural Communications Month

In the strive to achieve a harmonious multicultural society, April was singled out to mark Multicultural Communications Month. Although this holiday has no records of being observed more than two years back, it is an integral part of the wider Diversity Month holiday that was first marked in April 2004. Regardless of what name it is given, the purpose of this holiday is to achieve a peaceful society where people of different cultures communicate with one another, without a show of supremacy.

The U.S. is a typical example of modern multicultural society. And rightly so, it is a nation that has achieved greatness through the collective efforts of various cultures residing in it. In the olden days, ancient Rome — like America today — was equally a multicultural society, synchronized in one way or the other, as one. Additionally, languages such as Latin, Greek, Syriac, and Persian were spoken in Dura Europos as far back as the first century. It suffices to say that even though these great, ancient societies are no more today, their greatness could only be brought about through multicultural communications between the many tribes present in them.

The importance of multicultural communication cannot be undermined. The Roman Republic would not have turned into an empire if there were no intercultural communications between Romans and the cultures they conquered. As one report said, “The Roman Empire established a language that solidified its effect on the languages of the world today through the high percentage of interaction between frontier cultures and the culture of the Roman soldiers….” The Greeks for example still spoke their language in the Roman Empire and both inculcated each other’s cultures into theirs. This is seen in the adoption of Greek gods and goddesses by the Romans and vice versa.

Multicultural Communications Month timeline

4000 B.C.
First Cultural Contact

The first cultural contact is recorded in the Sumerian ports of the Persian Gulf.

3500 B.C.
Bilingualism Came to Be

Semitic Akkadians take over Mesopotamia and maintain the use of the Sumerian language for rituals and religion.

1600 B.C.
Indo-Aryans Adopt Foreign Gods

Hittites and Kassites adopt Gods from Anatolia and Mesopotamia.

1970
Special Wing for Intercultural Communication

The International Communication Association establishes a Division of Intercultural Communication.

1998
Academy Founded

The International Academy of Intercultural Relations is established.

Multicultural Communications Month FAQs

What are examples of ‘multicultural communication?’

When related to only verbal interactions, examples may include an American conversing with an African person, people with different beliefs peacefully discussing their religions, a native English speaker conversing in Spanish with a Spanish friend, etc.

What is effective multicultural communication?

For multicultural communication to be effective, participants must understand, respect, value, have sincere intentions to learn, and appreciate each other’s cultures.

What are the different problems in multicultural communication?

The greatest problem that hinders multicultural communication is the feeling of superiority by one culture over another. This is followed by language barriers, stereotypes, social statuses, and trust issues.

Multicultural Communications Month Activities

  1. Reach out to that culturally different neighbor

    Check in on that culturally diverse acquaintance you have and spend some quality time with them. You might be ecstatic to learn how fantastic they are.

  2. Learn to speak a different language

    Is it Arabic, French, Russian, or Spanish? Learn to speak another language and use it to interact with a native speaker.

  3. Be nice to culturally different people

    Even if you think their culture is different from yours, or you have a better social status, start being nice to them. We could all benefit from being nicer.

5 Interesting Facts About Communication

  1. Initiated with speech origin

    Communication in humans was initiated along with the origin of speech.

  2. It began with symbols

    Communication began with the use of symbols.

  3. Cave paintings were the first symbols

    A form of rock art known as ‘cave paintings' was the oldest known communication symbol.

  4. Oldest cave paintings were in France

    The oldest known cave paintings are located within the Chauvet cave in present-day France.

  5. It advanced to pictographs

    Cave paintings that only show events were replaced by drawings that tell stories.

Why We Love Multicultural Communications Month

  1. It fosters unity

    Multicultural communication unites people with different cultures. It gives everyone a sense of belonging.

  2. It keeps us informed

    Reading or learning about another culture keeps you informed about other people. It makes conversations with others more interesting.

  3. It encourages learning

    Multicultural Communication Month pushes us to learn about cultures and people we never thought of knowing anything about. We love this!

Multicultural Communications 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.