Google Calendar drops Black History Month, Pride Month, and more – What this means for users

Google Calendar has made a major change by removing various holidays and cultural observances from its default settings. Users will now need to manually add events like Black History Month, Pride Month, and Indigenous Peoples' Day to their personal calendars. This update, which took effect in early 2024, aims to simplify calendar management but has raised concerns among users.

Why did Google remove these holidays?

Google stated that maintaining a broad set of cultural and regional observances became difficult due to variations across different countries and communities. According to Google, the decision to limit the calendar to national holidays was based on feedback from users who found inconsistencies in the events displayed.

Instead of manually curating a list of global events, Google Calendar will now primarily source its holiday listings from timeanddate.com, ensuring that only official national holidays appear by default. This shift is intended to provide a more consistent experience across regions.


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What holidays and events are affected?

Several cultural and awareness events have been removed from Google Calendar’s default view. These include:

Black History Month (February)

Pride Month (June)

Women's History Month (March)

Indigenous Peoples' Day (October)

Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27)

Users who wish to continue seeing these events will need to add them manually.

How can users add events to Google Calendar?

For those who want to keep track of these observances, Google provides an option to manually add events. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Google Calendar on your desktop or mobile app.

Click on ‘Settings’ (gear icon in the top-right corner).

Go to ‘Holidays’ and ‘Other Calendars’ in the left-hand menu.

Manually search and add events by subscribing to public event calendars or creating personal entries.

Google has also published guidelines on how to customize your calendar settings through their support page.

User reactions and concerns

Many users have expressed disappointment over the removal of these events, citing the importance of visibility for cultural and historical observances. Critics argue that removing events like Black History Month and Pride Month could lead to a decline in awareness and recognition of these important moments.

On the other hand, some users appreciate the streamlined approach, as it allows them to personalize their calendars without unnecessary clutter.

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Broader changes at Google

This update is part of a broader shift in Google’s approach to event listings and policy changes. In recent months, the company has also:

Updated Google Maps to reflect new geopolitical naming conventions.

Scaled back some Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in response to changing regulations.

Enhanced customization options in various Google services, allowing users more control over their personal data.

FAQs:

Why did Google remove cultural events from Calendar?
Google removed these events to ensure consistency, relying on timeanddate.com for national holidays.

Can I still see Black History Month or Pride Month on Google Calendar?
Yes, users can manually add these events by adjusting their calendar settings.