A united celiac disease awareness campaign.
May is Celiac/Coeliac Awareness Month, May 8-14 is Coeliac Awareness Week in the UK, and May 16 is internationally recognized as Celiac Awareness Day.
Building off of past joint activities from 2020, ’21 and ’22, celiac disease organizations around the world have come together to support shining a light on the seriousness of this disease in 2023. We’re lighting up landmarks in green to raise awareness of celiac disease, gluten-free food insecurity, the need for more research and so much more!
What is celiac disease?
Celiac disease (sometimes called celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy) is a serious, autoimmune condition triggered by consuming a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley and rye. When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the immune system begins to attack the villi of the intestines. Damaged villi (see photo at left) make it nearly impossible for the body to absorb nutrients, which can lead to malnourishment and a host of other issues including osteoporosis, infertility and the onset of other autoimmune diseases.
Landmarks we’re lighting up for celiac disease in 2023
Brazil
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foz do Iguaçu | Usina de Itaipu | May 16 | Movimento Celíacos do Brasil |
| Rio de Janeiro | Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer statue) | May 16 | Movimento Celíacos do Brasil |
| São Paulo | Centro Cultural FIESP | May 16 | Movimento Celíacos do Brasil |
| São Paulo | Shopping Light | May 16 | Movimento Celíacos do Brasil |
Canada
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airdrie, AB | Airdrie City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Calgary, AB | Calgary Tower | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Calgary, AB | Reconciliation Bridge | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Calgary AB | Telus Spark | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Charlottetown, PEI | Charlottetown City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Dieppe, NB | Dieppe City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Edmonton, AB | Epcor Tower | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Edmonton, AB | Fairmont Hotel | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Edmonton, AB | High Level Bridge | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Edmonton, AB | Legislature Building | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Lethbridge, AB | Lethbridge City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Medicine Hat, AB | Medicine Hat TeePee | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Montreal, QC | Olympic stadium | May 16 | Coeliaque Québec |
| Ottawa, ON | Ottawa Sign at ByWard Market | May 15 | Celiac Canada |
| Port Moody, BC | Port Moody City Hall | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Sainte-Foy, QC | Complexe Jules Dallaire | May 16 | Coeliaque Québec |
| Sherwood Park, AB | Community Centre | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| St. John’s, NL | Government House | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Surry, BC | Civic Plaza | May 15 | Celiac Canada |
| Toronto, ON | Toronto Sign | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| White Rock, BC | Pier | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Winnipeg, MB | Manitoba Legislative Building | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
| Winnipeg, MB | Winnipeg Sign at the Forks | May 16 | Celiac Canada |
Georgia
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
| Tbilisi | Tbilisi TV tower | May 16 | Georgian National Celiac Association |
Lebanon
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beirut | Rawche rock at Ramly el Baydu | May 20th | N. Kmeidd |
United States
| City | Landmark | Date | Courtesy of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | Longfellow Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Boston, MA | Tavern on the Square (120 Beverly St.) | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Boston, MA | Zakim Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Camden, NJ | Benjamin Franklin Bridge | May 16 | Beyond Celiac |
| Houston, TX | Montrose Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Minneapolis, MN | Lowry Ave Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Nashville, TN | Korean Veterans Memorial Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association Tennessee Chapter with Vanderbilt Celiac Center |
| Niagara Falls | Niagara Falls | May 16 at 10:30 pm | Beyond Celiac |
| Orlando, FL | The Wheel at ICON Park | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Philadelphia, PA | Benjamin Franklin Bridge | May 16 | Beyond Celiac |
| Quincy, MA | Fore River Bridge | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
| Sacramento, CA | Bonn Lair Pub and Green’s Beer | May 16 | National Celiac Association |
Other landmarks we’ve previously lit up: Niagara Falls, CN Tower, Olympic Stadium (Montreal), Calgary Tower, and many more.
Get Involved with Shine a Light on Celiac Disease
Visit
one of the landmarks while they’re lit up. Post photos on social media with the hashtag #ShineALightOnCeliac
Share
facts about celiac disease on social media. Remember to use the hashtag #ShineALightOnCeliac
Donate
to your chosen celiac disease foundation. Scroll to the bottom of this page for a list of participating orgs.
Participating celiac organizations
Shine a Light on Celiac 