Special Holidays and their Significance
Holidays represent opportunities for ritual, family and community cohesiveness, and fun! Most holidays signify some key element of the religious or cultural doctrine of those who are celebrating. It would be impossible to include all groups and holidays in this brief article, but I will try to touch on some that you may want to know about
Christianity
Lent (Late Winter/Early Spring) - A period of fasting and repentance, beginning with Ash Wednesday
Palm Sunday (Sunday before Easter)
Easter (Spring) – A celebration of Christ having risen from death
Christmas (December 25) – A celebration of the birth of Christ
Judaism
Purim (March) – Celebrating the bravery of Queen Esther in saving the Jews of Persia
Passover (April) – Remembering the exodus from Egypt after years of slavery, celebrated at a Seder (dinner)
Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur (September/October) – Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur is the day of atonement. These two holidays are considered the “high holy days”
Chanukah (December/January) - Commemorating the Jewish victory over the Syrians and the miracle of the rededication of the Temple, when oil meant to last for one day burned for eight. Celebrated by lighting candles, eating latkes, playing with dreidels, and giving money or gifts.
Islam
Hajj (February) – The pilgrimage to Mecca
Islamic New Year (March)
Ramadan (November/December) – The month of fasting
Buddhism
Buddha’s Enlightenment Day (January) - celebrates the three days that Siddhartha Gautama sat under the bodhi tree in India and attained enlightenment, or awakening.
Parinirvana Day (March) - Celebrates Buddha’s passing into Nirvana
Buddha’s Birthday (May)
Ullambana Day (August) – Memorial Day for the deceased