Selected Religious Holidays

Selected Religious Holidays

Ramadan, Islam, Begins January, 21: The fourth of the five pillars of Islam is to keep the fast of Ramadan, which celebrates Muhammad’s reception of the divine revelations recorded in the Koran. During the month-long fast, Muslims (except soldiers and the sick) may not eat between sunrise and sunset.

Ash Wednesday, Christian, February, 21: The start of Lent, a fast that begins 40 days before Easter. The ashes that are smudged of the foreheads of the faithful symbolize penitence.

Purim, Jewish, March 5: Named for the lots, or “pur,” that the Persian king’s adviser Haman cast to determine when the Jews should be killed. But the king’s wife, Esther, who was Jewish, uncovered his murderous plot and Haman was killed instead. During Purim, Jews dress in costumes and act out the story of Esther, and in synagogue, children with noisemakers try to drown out Haman’s name whenever it is read.

Passover, Jewish, April 4: The eight-day holiday reminds Jews that Moses led the Israelites from Egypt, where they had been slaves under the Pharaoh. At special dinners called seders, everyone takes part in reading the Israelites’ story and tasting foods that symbolize aspects of their journey.

Easter, Christian: The Christian religion’s most important holiday, Easter, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the last day of Holy Week, which included Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday, and it marks the end of Lent. The traditional Easter eggs are thought to represent new life and immortality.

Church enlightened. Photo by Elena

Baisakhi, Hindu, April: Hindu bathe in the Ganges or in other holy waters during the celebration of their new year. Charitable acts performed throughout the following month are considered especially good, so people give generously to the poor.

Rosh Hashanah, Jewish, September 14: The start of the Jewish new year if the first of the 10 High Holy days, during which Jews reflect on their sins of the past year and seek forgiveness for them. A hollowedout ram’s horn, called the shofar, is sounded in synagogue to remind people of the trumpets of Judgement Day.

Yom Kippur, Jewish, September: The Day of Atonement ends the 10 High Holy Days that begin on Rosh Hashanah and is the most important part of the Jewish year. It is a day of fasting and prayer, repentance and forgiveness.

Sukkoth, Jewish, September: The “feast of tabernacles” commemorates the Israelites’ wanderings after fleeing Egypt. In homes and synagogues, Jews build “sukkahs,” replicas of the small shelter in which the Israleites lived during their journey. It is also a celebration of harvest.

Dewali, Hindu, Late October/yearly November: The five-day festival of lights celebrates the human desire to move toward truth and light from ignorance and darkness. The streets are strewn with festive lamps and homes are decorated with flowers and colored paper. Festivities include fireworks, parties, and gift-giving.

Hanukkah: Jewish led by Judah Maccabee recaptured a temple in Jerusalem that had been seized by Syrian-Greeks, they had enough oil to light the temple’s lamp for a day. But the lamp burned for eight days, and Jews celebrate this miracle and Maccabees’ victory by lighting candles in the menorah (a special candelabra), adding one each night until all eight candles are lit.

Christmas Day, Christian, December 25: Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on this day (through his birth date is a matter of much debate among theologians and historians alike), but many familiar Christmas traditions actually stem from pagan beliefs. The ancient Druids, for example, worshiped holly and mistletoe, and Norsemen burned yule logs in the winter to scare off demons.