Inclusion Infusions – Upcoming Holy Days
Posted on Thursday, April 9th, 2020
We are entering a week of very important religious and cultural celebrations. This week’s blog will cover some of them to raise your awareness and curiosity about others, and focus on the many ways these dates of significance can be celebrated. Lets approach these chronologically with Passover as that started at sundown last evening.
Passover: This is a Jewish holiday that last for eight days, and is commemorating the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. This holiday incorporates themes of springtime, a Jewish homeland, family, remembrance of Jewish history, social justice and freedom — including recognizing those who are still being oppressed today. Every family has its own Passover rituals, but includes the Seder meal is held on the first and second night of Passover. This is a home ritual or religious service set around a dinner table, where the order in which participants eat, pray, drink wine, sing, discuss current social justice issues and tell stories is prescribed by a central book called the Haggadah. The proper greeting for your Jewish colleagues is simply ‘happy Passover’ or if you want to try out some Hebrew, you can say “happy Pesach”. Read this article for more details: https://time.com/5188494/passover-history-traditions/
Easter Sunday: This Christian holiday is the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, and is the primary festival of the Christian faith. All Christian traditions and cultures have their own special emphases for Easter. The Easter sunrise service, for example, is a distinctive Protestant observance in North America. Christians in South Sudan re-enact the scene of Jesus Christ being led to his crucifixion. In Traunstein, Germany, there is a blessing for men and beasts at the St. George church. In Egypt, Coptic Orthodox Christian priests throw holy water during Palm Sunday mass. An aquatic Via Crucis (or procession following the way of the cross) is carried out on boats across the islets of the Cocibolca lake in Granada, Nicaragua. There are many many more traditions to explore, click on this link to see pictures of the many beautiful Easter traditions around the world.
Songkran: For Buddhists in Southeast Asia, April 13th is the start of a three day festival for the New Year. The holiday’s main focus is about moving forward and water plays a major role in the festival. Symbolically it washes away the previous year so people can get ready for the next one. Many families and visit Buddhist temples in the early morning, bring offerings such as food and sprinkle clean or scented water over statues of Buddha to represent purification and good fortune. Younger people also pour water on the hands of elderly relatives and friends to show their respect and ask for blessings in the coming year. (there is also a giant water fight in the streets for fun!)
Baisakhi: April 14th marks the spring harvest festival for Sikhs and Hindus. This marks the Sikh new year and commemorates the formation of Khalsa panth of warriors under Guru Gobind Singh in 1699. It is serves as a reminder to the Sikh community of the creation of the Khalsa order which promotes justice and equality for the creation of a more equal and just society, commits to wearing the five articles of faith and practices daily meditation. Sikhs begin Vaisakhi with a visit to the gurdwara and then a day of celebration begins. People wear bright clothes and the streets are filled with parades. And no celebration is complete without food, and on this day its free thanks to the tradition called langar, where everyone in the community, no matter how rich or poor they are, come together and share a meal. So if you want to celebrate along with the Sikh community, brush up on your Bhangra dance skills! (here’s a video to help)
Whatever you are celebrating, or if you are just enjoying the long weekend, I wish you and your family health and hope.
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