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All Saints' Day
: is a Christian holy day observed by many Western
churches on November 1 and by Eastern churches on the first Sunday after
Pentecost. Roman Catholics are required to attend Mass and to "refrain from
unnecessary servile work"¹ on this day.
All Souls' Day
: is a Roman Catholic day commemorating the
faithful departed or those baptized Christians believed to be in
purgatory. It is
celebrated on November 2 unless this date falls on a Sunday. When this
happens, All Souls' Day is celebrated on November 3.
Ash Wednesday : marks the first day of
Lent in the Western
Christian liturgical year. On Ash Wednesday, a priest or pastor marks a
cross on the forehead of parishoners. The ashes are obtained from the burned
palms used in the previous year's Palm Sunday celebration.
Autumnal Equinox : Equinox is either of the two times during the year
that the sun crosses the celestial equator, an imaginary line through the
sky, and appears directly above the equator, the imaginary line that divides
the earth into the northern and southern hemispheres. When this occurs, the
length of the day and the night are approximately equal at every place on
earth. Between the March, or vernal, equinox and the September, or autumnal,
equinox, the sun appears north of the equator.
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Beltane : It is a Celtic festival which signals the
beginning of the bright half of the year. Beltane may be translated
as "fires of Bel" or "brilliant fire" and is name after the god Belenus. The
festival begins on Beltane Eve with two bonfires started from nine different
woods. Domestic animals and people pass between the bonfires to eliminate
disease and misfortune.
Black
History Month : is the successor to Negro History Week which was
initiated on February 12, 1926 by
Carter G. Woodson, a pre-eminent historian and founder of the
Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Woodson was concerned
that the contributions of Black Americans were overlooked or misrepresented
and he began lobbying for Negro History Week as early as 1915. He selected
February because it included the birthdays of
Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and
Frederick Douglass
(February 14) whom he believed had dramatically impacted the lives of Black
Americans. |
Cinco de May
: commemorates the May 5, 1862 Battle of
Puebla (Batalla de Puebla) in which General Ignacio Zaragoza's
Mexican troops defeated Napolean III's French forces. Many people confuse
Cinco de Mayo with Mexican
Independence Day (September 16, 1810). Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more
in the United States than in Mexico and many people of Mexican descent
celebrate with parades, music, and dancing.
Christmas : is celebrated in many different ways around the
world. In the United States and other countries, many churches and homes
display a créche, or Nativity scene. These scenes include figurines of
Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus in the stable. They are usually
surrounded by the shepherds, angels, the Magi, and animals. |
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Diwali : is a five day
Hindu
festival which occurs on the fifteenth day of Kartika. Diwali means "rows of
lighted lamps" and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of
Lights. During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are
opened to welcome
Lakshmi,
goddess of wealth. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Lakshmi. Gifts
are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Diwali. The celebration
means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians. |
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Easter :
celebrates the
resurrection of Jesus, the most joyous occasion in Christianity. It
also marks the end of
Lent.
The date of
Easter varies each year but always falls between March 22 and April
25. The date is set by determining the Sunday following the full moon on
or after the vernal equinox. The exchange of eggs in the springtime is a
custom that was centuries old when Easter was first celebrated by
Christians. Easter eggs were first decorated in the late 13th century C.
E. but the most famous eggs were created by
Carl
Faberge.
Epiphany : Epiphany is derived from the Greek epiphaneia and means manifestation or to appear. It is celebrated by
most Christians on January 6 to commemorate the presentation of the infant
Jesus to the Magi, or three wise men. Roman Catholics celebrate Epiphany on
the Sunday which falls between January 2 and January 8.
Eid - Al - Adha
: Eid al-Adha or Feast of Sacrifice is the most important
feast of the Muslim calendar. It concludes the Pilgrimmage to Mecca. It
lasts for three days and commemorates Ibraham's (Abraham) willingness to
obey God by sacrificing his son. |
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Good Friday
: In the days of the early Christian church, only Easter Sunday was
celebrated as a holy day. To most Christians, Good Friday is really a
misnomer in that it was a "bad" Friday—the crucifixion day of Jesus. Some
believe the term "Good" evolved from "God" or God's Friday. Others believe
"good" represents the good gift of salvation brought forth by the martyrdom.
Some congregations hold a three hour service on Friday representing the
three hours He hanged on the cross. A typical service includes seven
distinct elements representative of Christ's seven utterances while on the
cross. |
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Imbolc : IM-bulk" is an ancient festival also known as Candlemas, Brighid
("breed"), and Oimelc ("EE-mulk") which means ewe's milk. The
celebration signals the middle of the season of long nights and anticipates
the upcoming season of light. |
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Kwanzaa : is an African-American cultural festival beginning on December
26 and ending on January 1. The festival was created in 1966 by
Dr.
Maulana Ron Karenga. Dr. Karenga's goal was to establish a holiday that
would facilitate African-American goals of building a strong family,
learning about African-American history, and developing unity. |
Lammas : is one of the four major pagan festivals
originally celebrated in Britain and now celebrated in other countries,
including the United States. During medieval times, loaves were baked from
the first grains of the harvest and blessed in a church ceremony known as
the "loaf mass".
Las Posadas : (Spanish for "the inn") is a traditional
Mexican festival which re-enacts Joseph's search for room at the inn. Each
Christmas season, a processional carrying a doll representing the Christ
Child and images of Joseph and Mary riding a burro walks through the
community streets.
Lughnasadh (LOO-nah-sah) : marks the beginning of the last
quarter of the Celtic year. The festival is associated with the Irish
god Lugh, or Samildanach, which means "he of many gifts". |
Mardi Gras
:
It is also known as fat Tuesday and is a boisterous celebration
held annually on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the season of Lent begins in
the Western Christian liturgical calendar.
Malcolm X Day : The third Sunday in May marks the celebration of
Malcolm X Day. Born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925,
Malcolm X
became one of the most outspoken and popular leaders of the black
nationalist movement in the 1960s.
Malcolm X was a
fervent supporter of black separatism and spoke eloquently and bitterly
against white people. A trip to Mecca in 1964 caused him to modify these
views and he announced that he now embraced world unity. |
Nativity of Jesus Christ
: Christmas celebration of those Orthodox
Christians who follow the Julian calendar.
Naw Ruz : (NouRooz, NowRuz) : It is a Persian national
festival which celebrates the Iranian New Year. The festival lasts for
thirteen days and is a time of renewal and joy. |
Purim
: is a joyous Jewish
celebration which occurs on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar in the
Hebrew calendar beginning at sunset. During Purim, the Book of Esther is
read aloud in the synagogue. When Haman's name is mentioned, the listeners
stamp their feet, boo and hiss and make noise with
graggers.
Pioneer Day
:
This Utah State Holiday is the observance of the arrival of members of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), led by Brigham Young,
at the site of Salt Lake City, Utah on July 24, 1847. |
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Ramadan
: is
the most sacred holiday of the Muslim year and is mandated by the Qur'an
(2:183). It occurs in the ninth month of the
Islamic
calendar and is the holy month of fasting. Fasting is considered to be
the third pillar or religious obligation of Islam and provides many benefits
including learning self-control. Muslims dress in holiday apparel and attend
a community prayer in the morning. |
Saint David's Day
: St. David, or "Dewi Sant", as he is known in the
Welsh language, is the patron saint of Wales. He was one of the many early
saints who helped to spread Christianity among the pagan Celtic tribes of
western Britain. He is also known as 'Dewi Ddyfrwr' (David the Water
Drinker).
Simhat Torah (Tishri 23)
: literally means "rejoicing in the Torah"
and represents the culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. It is a joyous
celebration which concludes the annual cycle of the reading of the
Torah, the
first five books of the Bible.
St.
Patrick's Day : is celebrated annually on March 17 in honor of Ireland's
patron saint. St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the United States are
secular and date back as far as 1737 when Boston held its first St.
Patrick's Day parade. The day is celebrated with green beer, the wearing of
green clothing, and parades. However, in Ireland, the day is primarily a
religious occasion. |
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The Organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter
- Day Saints : The "Church of Jesus Christ" is
officially organized in the home of Peter Whitmer, Sr., in Fayette, N. Y.
Although about thirty people are present, only six—Joseph, Oliver, Hyrum
Smith, Peter Whitmer, Jr., Samuel H. Smith, and David Whitmer—become the
first legal members of the Church. After prayer, they sustain Joseph and
Oliver, who ordain each other to the office of elder in the Church. The
sacrament of bread and wine is passed. They lay their hands on each member
of the Church for the gift of the Holy Ghost and confirmation as a member of
the Church. Some prophesy and all praise the Lord and rejoice exceedingly. |
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Yom Kippur : Beginning at sunset on Tishri 9 and lasting
until three stars appear after Tishri 10,
Yom Kippur is the
holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Jews attend services at a synagogue or
temple on the eve and day of Yom Kippur. The Kol Nidre, a prayer which asks
forgiveness of sins, is recited on the eve. On Yom Kippur, Jews perform no
work and abstain from food, drink, and sex. |
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