Celebrated during the third week of February, Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week is a holiday that encourages people of different faiths to come together and not only recognize how everyone is the same but also celebrate the differences between people of various faiths.

If each of us were more tolerant of one another’s beliefs, even if they significantly diverge from our own, then we could move closer to harmony. It’s only after we recognize one another as our brothers and sisters that we can come together in a loving way. This holiday week has been observed every year for the past 88+ years and is still going strong today.

The History of Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week

This week can be traced back to the 1930s when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Brotherhood Week. Over time, it evolved into Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week. The President of the U.S. proclaimed this week a holiday in response to the National Conference of Christians and Jews, who had been lobbying heavily during the 1920s.

This organization had hoped that one week out of each year would be set aside to encourage people of all religious backgrounds to come together to reaffirm their brotherhood and discuss their differences respectfully. Roosevelt made that dream a reality in 1934.

Observing Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week

All across the United States, events are organized by various church groups. In this digital age, there are also online webinars that deal with the subject of diversity and foster community among people of different religious backgrounds. As can be seen, there are plenty of activities happening during this week.

This week is also an opportunity for people to give back, perhaps by hosting a food drive to give to a local food pantry, or by inviting a family of a different religion to dinner or a party. People can also use the hashtag #BrotherhoodSisterhoodWeek on social media to spread the love online.