Holidays and Holy Days Archives - Page 2 of 2

This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious and spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.

March 2-20th, 2013 is the Nineteen-Day Fast of the Bahá’í faith.

Context

The Nineteen-Day Fast is one of the most important components of the Bahá’í practice for individuals aged 15-70. The fast lasts from sunrise to sunset and is meant to bring Bahá’í’s closer to God through a physical and spiritual reinvigoration. Bahá’u’lláh, founder of the Bahá’í faith, established the guidelines of the fast to occur during the last month of the Bahá’í 19 month calendar. The fast is an individual obligation with exceptions for the ill, travelers, those outside of the age range of 15-70, pregnant or nursing women, and women who are menstruating (who are required to observe the practice in another way).

Significance

Shoghi Effendi, the Guardian of the Bahá’í faith, explains that “It is essentially a period of meditation and prayer, of spiritual recuperation, during which the believer must strive to make the necessary readjustments in his inner life, and to refresh and reinvigorate the spiritual forces latent in his soul. Its significance and purpose are, therefore, fundamentally spiritual in character. Fasting is symbolic, and a reminder of abstinence from selfish and carnal desires.”

Rituals/Traditions

The period of fasting begins with the end of the Intercalary Days and ends with the festival of Naw-Ruz (the Bahá’í new year)
Fasting includes abstinence from food, drink and smoking from sunrise to sunset
Bahá’í’s rise early to eat protein, complex carbs, and caffeine to sustain them throughout the day
If someone accidentally eats during fasting hours, it is not considered breaking fast as it is an accident
In regions of high latitude, the times of the fast are fixed by the clock rather than by the sun schedule
Many Bahá’í’s take this time to appreciate the simple things

Additional Resources

Rainn Wilson offers his perspective on his Bahá’í Fasting practice – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rainn-wilson/bahai-fast-slowly_b_2811057.html

Facts about the 19 Day Fast – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nineteen_Day_Fast

A daily fasting blog – http://nineteendays.wordpress.com/

Brief summary of the fast – http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/bahai/customs/fasting.shtml

This blogpost series is called Holidays and Holy Days to inform our OSU community about significant religious or spiritual observances. If you know of a significant holiday or holy day coming up, please communicate the information to Hannah Pynn hannah.pynn@oregonstate.edu in the Dean of Student Life office.

February 23rd-24th, 2013 is Purim, a Jewish holiday beginning at sundown.

Context

Purim celebrates the Jews’ salvation from Genocide in ancient Persia, as told in the book of Esther. The holiday is also called “Feast of Lots” reflecting when, according to the story, the prime minister Haman cast lots to determine the date for the genocide of the Jewish people. Haman hated Jews because after being chosen as prime minister by King Ahasuerus, he wanted everyone to bow to him when passing through the city and a man named Mordecai refused. Mordecai was the uncle to the newly crowned Queen Esther, who had not yet revealed her Jewish identity to the king. After Haman had told the king that the Jewish people were a threat and needed to be eliminated, Esther bravely confronted the king and convinced him to free her people. Purim is more of a national holiday than a religious holiday.

Significance

The name of God is not mentioned throughout the entire book of Esther. Part of the significance of this holiday is celebrating God’s presence and action at all times, even when it is not obvious. Also, God saving His people through the actions of an orphaned woman, who is the second wife of the king, and who is not a native to the kingdom, demonstrates God’s use of unlikely, insignificant characters.

Rituals/Traditions

Reading the story of Esther together
Festive meal
Giving gifts and food to neighbors and friends
Giving to the poor
Baking 3-cornered pastries called “Haman’s ears” or “Haman’s pockets”
Satirical skits (sometimes illustrating the story of Esther)
Dressing up in costumes (sometimes dressing as the characters in the story or other awesome costumes)

Additional Resources

Pictures of awesome Purim celebrations – http://photos.newhavenregister.com/2013/02/22/photos-purim-holiday-celebrations-in-israel/#name here

Facts about the holiday – http://www.religionfacts.com/judaism/holidays/purim.htm

Wiki – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim#Greetings

Esther as a story of feminism in ancient Persia – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deborah-rosenbloom/purim-a-tale-of-womens-empowerment_b_2741397.html

Being Jewish means lots of holiday parties – http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eitan-press/purim-how-to-get-drunk-on-god_b_2734923.html#slide=2135012

February 13th is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent.

Context

Ash Wednesday occurs 46 days before Easter, and the day marks the beginning of Lent which is a 40-day period (excluding 6 Sundays) of prayer and fasting in anticipation of the Easter holiday. The practice of placing ashes on foreheads in the shape of a cross serves as a reminder of human mortality and a call to repentance during Lent. This practice of forehead ash is common in Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist, and some Baptist denominations.

Significance

Ashes were used in ancient times to express mourning or a symbol of expressing sorrow for one’s sins and faults. Ash Wednesday is used as a ritual to remind Christians of how God created them, and how Christians depend upon the death of Jesus for reconciliation with God. The ashes are traditionally blessed by a priest or minister and mixed with holy water or olive oil to form a paste. The tradition of the ashes is not only a reminder of the value of reflection, penance, and prayer, but they also serve as a ritualistic connection with centuries of Christians who have participated in the practice.

In some cases, congregations gather and are given small cards with the option of writing the sins they have committed and sins committed against them on the card as a sign of their sorrow. The cards are then collected and burned on the alter as a symbol of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice, taking the punishment and burden of sins.

Rituals/Traditions

Attending church services
Fasting
Abstinence from meat (on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and every Friday during Lent)
Confession/repentance of sins
Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) the day before Ash Wednesday

Additional Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday

http://www.ashwednesday2013.com/

http://ashwednesdayprayer.com/ash-wednesday-kid-games-ash-wednesday-for-kids-catholic-icing-the-icing-on-your.html

http://www.ulc.org/training-education/guide-to-divinity/24-religious-holidays/207-ash-wednesday/

February 10th begins the celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Context

Lunar or Chinese New Year is celebrated in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese cultures. It changes dates from year to year because of the difference between the lunar calendar and the Gregorian calendar used in the United States.

Significance

The most significant of the Chinese holidays, the Lunar New Year is also the beginning of a two week celebration called “Spring Festival.” Spring Festival originated as the product of an agrarian Chinese society, symbolizing the living cycle of the planting season. The Chinese New Year also marks a time to honor deities and ancestorsEach Chinese New Year is represented by 12 creatures of the Chinese Zodiac, 2013 being the Year of the Snake. Countries that celebrate this holiday include Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Philippines, and also in Chinatowns all over the world.

Each day of the Spring Festival (15 days) includes specific celebrations and traditions that vary from celebrating deities, lucky family gatherings, hope for the future, the Jade Emperor, and love.

The last day of the Spring Festival is the Lantern Festival that occurs on the first full moon of the Lunar New Year (February 24, 2013 this year). This festival celebrates positive relationships between people, families, nature, and the higher beings, acknowledging that all of these things bring light to the year. Thousands of colored lanterns decorate homes, businesses, and streets. The lighted lanterns bring good fortune and families celebrate by eating glutinous rice balls and spending time together.

Rituals/Traditions

Red envelopes full of money bring luck (for children, this is the most exciting part of the holiday)
Gift exchanges among family and friends
Fireworks (this tradition began as early as the Wei Dynasty (220-265 BC)
Mandarin oranges – the most popular and abundant fruit during Chinese New Year – symbolizing luck or fortune
Food eaten during celebrations carry symbolism – noodles (long life), sweets (colored red or black), taro cakes, bakkwa (salty-sweet dried meat), turnip cakes, dumplings (prosperity), leek (calculating), fish, Buddha’s delight (prosperity), melon seed (brings fertility)
Open air markets and fairs sell flowers, toys, clothing for new years gifts and decorations
Shou Sui is the New Year’s Eve family dinner when people stay up until midnight to celebrate the tradition of scaring the mythical beast called “Year” which is afraid of red color, fire, and loud sound.

Red decorations symbolize the luck of the new year!

Additional Resources

http://chinesefood.about.com/od/foodandchineseculture/tp/Chinese-New-Year-Calendar-2013.htm

http://www.chinesenewyears.info/chinese-new-year-activities.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year#Festivities

December 8, 2012 celebrates the Buddhist holiday of Bodhi Day.

Context

The Buddhist holiday Bodhi day celebrates the day that the historic Buddha, Siddartha Gautauma, achieved enlightenment through meditation. Bodhi is the word for enlightenment in Sanskrit.

Significance

Traditions vary in describing the events of how and when Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment, but it is general belief that he went through this process while sitting under a Bodhi tree and became the “Awakened One.” Buddha’s enlightenment has been the central article of the Buddhist faith for 2,500 years. Around the year 596 BCE, Siddhartha Gautama abandoned his privileged, royal life to search for Dharma (the truth). For six years, Siddartha Gautama realized that meditation was the way to achieve truth. After 49 days of unbroken meditation, he discovered the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, which are the basic elements of all Buddhist practices.

The Bodhi Tree still grows near the banks of the Falgu River and has been surrounded by a temple for over 2,200 years. This site is the most sacred site of pilgrimage for Buddhists.

Rituals/Traditions

Day-long meditation, prayer and study
30 days, beginning with Bodhi day, Buddhists bring a ficus or sacred fit tree to their house
Decorating with ornaments that represent the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma (the way of truth), and the Sangha (the community of those seeking enlightenment)
Eating a morning meal of milk and rice, which the Buddha ate to end his fast after his Enlightenment
Light candles for 30 days to represent Buddha’s enlightenment
Decorate with fig leaves or origami fig leaves that represent a heart shape

Additional Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautama#Awakening

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lewis-richmond/celebrating-bodhi-day-for-the-21st-century_b_2254289.html

http://davidvictorvector.blogspot.com/2012/12/bodhi-day-2012.html

This Wednesday celebrates the holiday of Guru Nanak Gurpurab.

Context

The Sikh holiday Guru Nanak Gurpurab Diwali (also called Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s Prakash Utsav) celebrates the birth anniversary of the first Sikh Guru, Guru Nanak who was born in 1469 in what is now present day Pakistan. Sikh’s holidays revolve around the anniversaries of the 10 Sikh Gurus and the dates change every year according to the traditional Indian calendar. Guru Nanak Gurpurab begins on 28 November, 2012.

Guru Nanak is regarded as the founder of Sikhism and celebrating his birthday is a time for festivals and prayers among Sikhs.

Significance

Guru Nanak is remembered in the Sikh sacred scriptures and is famous for saying, “There is neither Hindu nor Mussulman (Muslim) so whose path shall I follow? I shall follow God’s path. God is neither Hindu nor Mussulman and the path which I follow is God’s.” This is a fundamental belief of Sikhs, that there is a supreme God that manifests in all major religions.

Guru Nanak’s teaching is understood to be practiced in three ways:

Vaṇḍ Chakkō: Sharing with others, helping those with less who are in need
Kirat Karō: Earning/making a living honestly, without exploitation or fraud
Naam Japna: Chanting the Holy Name and thus remembering God at all times (ceaseless devotion to God)

In 1499, Guru Nanak was moved by seeing suffering in the world and set out to spread a message of peace and compassion. Guru Nanak is famous for his five journeys across Asia, spreading his Divine message.

Rituals/Traditions

Singing hymns
A huge procession, beginning at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, Pakistan, the birthplace of Guru Nanak
Swordsmanship and various martial arts to demonstrate mock battles
Flags and flowers are displayed
Early morning Katha, exposition of Sikh scriptures
A community lunch that welcomes all, regardless of caste
Demonstrations in the spirit of seva (service) and bhakti (devotion)
Sunset prayer sessions that last into the late night until 1:20am, the actual time of Guru Nanak’s birth

Additional Resources

Due to the political unrest in Pakistan, there is some tension about permitting Sikh’s entry to their traditional place of celebration for this holiday.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/police-banned-entry-of-sikhs-to-haridwar-say-devotees/1036817/0

A video of Sikh pilgrims to celebrate in 2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxk-2PWTpBM

http://in.news.yahoo.com/citys-sikhs-prepare-guru-nanak-jayanti-183000129.html

http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-106495.html#.ULWentPjnbk

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-ghouse/sikhs-and-muslims-on-542n_b_1087327.html

This week celebrates the holiday of Diwali.

Context

The Indian festival Diwali (also called Divali and Deepavali) is translated into the Sanskrit definition of “row of lamps” and is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. Diwali, the five-day festival celebrated on one of the darkest night of the year, celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, good over evil, and is one of the most important festivals of the year. An official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore and Fiji, Diwali is celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains around the world. Diwali begins on 13 November.

Diwali marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year, commemorating spiritual peace, familial relationships, and hoping for good things to come in the next year.

Significance

Diwali is celebrated by Hindu’s as the return of the Lord Rama from a 14 year exile. In celebration of his return, people light small lamps to light his way home after he defeated the evil of Ravana and his armies.

Janism observes Diwali as the attainment of nirvana by Lord Mahavira, a spiritual leader who valued meditation, the respect of all living things, and giving up earthly comforts for the sake of spiritual peace.

Sikhs also celebrate Diwali as the mark of Chhorh Divis, when their sixth guru Guru Hargobind Ji, released 52 Hindi kings from prison.

The spiritual significance of Diwali asserts the Hindu philosophy of good over evil, that humans have “the awareness of the inner light” that brings joy and peace.

Rituals/Traditions

Lighting innumerable small lamps, candles, and lights
Visiting family
Fireworks
Wearing new clothes
Exchanging special sweets with neighbors
Going to the temples as a family
Decorating homes with flowers, colored sand, and lots of lights

Additional Resources

President Obama is the first president to officially observe the holiday of Diwali. Take a look at his Presidential address wishing people a Happy Diwali. Presidential Happy Diwali

This is a short animated video that illustrates the story of Lord Rama and his victory of light over darkness. Lord Rama – Defeat of good over evil

National Geographic shows footage of beautiful sights in India during Diwali celebrations.

National Geographic Diwali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/diwali-2012-festival-of-lights-photos_n_2115208.html

http://www.diwali2012.in/