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October Holy Days
Holy Days for October.
Date: 9/16/2005 7:01:47 AM ( 19 y ) ... viewed 1189 times Annotated Calendar of Religious Holy Days
October 2005
http://www.csee.info/calendar06.html
4
St. Francis Day
(Christianity)
Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of animals.. He was known for his life of simplicity and the poverty he chose to live in, and for his love of nature and animals. A number of Christian churches celebrate St. Francis Day by having people bring their animals to church to be blessed. As animals are blessed, their owners are able to reflect on the fact that we are simple creatures of God, and they are reminded of the importance of kindness to all of creation.
4
Ramadan begins
(Islam)
It was during the holy month of Ramadan that Prophet Muhammad, meditating in a cave on Mount Hira, received the first of his many Revelations from God. The Revelations were transmitted by the Angel Gabriel.
[The Angel Gabriel
The Angel Gabriel}
The Qur'an calls Ramadan the “blessed month.” Muslims are supposed to fast from sunrise until sunset, and generally use the month as a time of purification and reflection. Many Muslims make retreats during the last ten days of the month. Ramadan ends with one of the most important feast days in the Muslim calendar, Eid al Fitr.
4-5
Rosh Hashanah
(Judaism)
Rosh Hashanah commences a Cycle of Festivals known as the High Holy Days. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah literally means the “head of the year,” or New Year. Prayers from a prayer book known as a Mahzor are read, and many Jews sound a shofar, usually a ram's horn, a total of 100 blasts. The scripture reading is from the Akeda, or the binding of Isaac found in Genesis 22.
12
Birthday of Confucius
(Most Chinese religions)
Confucius is not a religious figure per se, but his teachings have been so influential in China that in many cases what we know as "Chinese religions" are imbued with his teachings. One of these entails the practice of moderating our emotions, so that we can attain a state of psychic harmony. Confucius is the Latin form of Kung Fu Tzu (meaning Master Kung); he was born in the 6th century BCE. His best known work in the west is called The Analects
12
Dassera,
or Dussehra
(Hinduism)
This important holiday in Hinduism celebrates Rama's going to the divine mother Durga with his brother Lakshman to ask for her blessings. Rama planned to attack the demon Ravan, who had abducted his wife. The battle lasted for ten days. People put on their best clothing for the celebration because it is said that wearing good clothing on the day will insure getting ten new outfits during the coming year. They display paintings of Rama's life, and place effigies of Ravan, stuffed with explosive materials, in public places. Flaming arrows are shot, and the demon is destroyed. In performing these actions, people are supposed to reflect on their own lives, and burn up whatever evil there might be within tehm, so that they can live virtuous lives thereafter.
12
Navaratra Dashara
(Hinduism) This is the Hindu Festival honoring Durga, who is considered the “divine mother,” the wife of Shiva. The festival lasts nine nights. People seek Durga's blessings as they honor her. The Hindu god Lord Krishna is also honored during this time.
13
Yom Kippur
(Judaism)
This “Day of Atonement,” falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah. Observant Jews fast for 24 hours on Yom Kippur. The holiday begins with the chanting of the Kol Nidre, or “All Vows” prayer, in which Jews seek absolution for unfulfilled vows. Adherents atone for sins each year on Yom Kippur.
18
Sukkot
(Judaism)
Sukkot, or the “Feast of Booths” celebrates the conclusion of the harvest year. Events last for eight days, with a 9th day being celebrated by some modern Jews. The holiday recalls the forty years of wandering prior to entry into the Promised Land, as described in the Book of Numbers. The name recalls the temporary shelters, sukkah (plural form = sukkot) or booth, constructed by the Israelites, during the wilderness wandering. It is sometimes also celebrated by waving four different species of plants (willow, palm, myrtle, and citron) in the synagogue and chanting psalms.
20
Birth of the Bab
(Sikhism)
In 1844, when he was 25 years old, Mirza Ali Muhammad called himself “Bab ud-Din,” meaning “doorway to the Faith.” He believed that his mission was to reform Islam, and to prepare the way for a successor who would complete his work of reformation. In this sense, many have compared him to John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Jesus. The Bab's successor identified himself a decade later, in the person of Baha'u'llah, who founded the Bahai religion. The Bab's birth is one of eleven holy days in the Bahai calendar.
20
Installation of the Scriptures as Guru Granth Sahib
(Sikhism)
The Sikhs had a series of ten spiritual masters, called gurus. The nine that followed Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, gathered the sermons and songs he had written, and added other important writings by respected holy men. These writings were called the Adi Granth. The tenth guru, Gobind Singh, installed the totality of Adi Granth as the “final teacher,” the Permanent Guru, calling it the Guru Granth Sahib. It was to be his successor, such that no further guru needed to be chosen. The Holy Sikh Scriptures are said to embody the universal message of Truth, Compassion, Peace, Equality, and Service toward all humankind.
25
Shemini Atzeret
(Judaism)
Shemini Atzeret is celebrated on the eighth day of Sukkot, when a prayer for rain is recited. Rain in Israel is of great importance, since the crops for the coming year depend on it. The holiday thus marks the beginning of the rainy season, after the harvest has taken place. The prayer for rain, called tefilat geshem, is recited. The words Shemini Atzeret mean “the eighth day of assembly.” Celebration of Shemini Atzeret is combined with Simchat Torah outside of Israel, to make a two-day celebration. In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day. No work is permitted.
26
Simchat Torah
(Judaism)
The holiday of Simchat Torah was begun by the Jewish People in exile. The Torah-the first five books of the Hebrew Bible-is divided up so that all of it is read over the course of a year. Simchat Torah is the day the reading is completed, and the day that the next year's “Reading of the Torah” commences. The celebration begins with reading a selection that tells how God revealed Himself to the People on Mt. Sinai. The Ark containing the synagogue's Torah scrolls is opened, and the people carry the scrolls seven times around the synagogue, occasionally singing or dancing. During these processions, as many people as possible are given the chance to bear the scroll. The words Simchat Torah mean “rejoicing in the Law.”
28
Milvian Bridge Day
(Christianity)
On this date in the year 312, the armies of Constantine and Maxentius were engaged in a battle along the Tiber River north of Rome, to decide who would lay claim to the throne. During the fighting, Maxentius drowned crossing the Milvian Bridge, thus ensuring victory for Constantine, who would go on to become the Emperor of the Roman Empire. The new emperor subsequently made Christianity legal in the Empire, and persecution of Christians came to an end. It was first thought that Constantine's decisions regarding religion would be beneficial, although they ultimately led to political problems and other battles with secular powers; struggles between politics and religion continue into modern times. Milvian Bridge Day is not a day of celebration; it was, rather, instituted as a day of reflection on the role of religion in society and its relationship to politics.
30
Laylat al-Qadr
(Islam)
Laylat al-Qadr is considered by Muslims to be the holiest night in the holiest month of the year. It commemorates the night God sent the Qur'an down from heaven and into His Prophet's soul. It was then recited to Muhammad in sections by the angel Gabriel, over a period of more than twenty years. Laylat al-Qadr means “night of power.” Worshiping God during Laylat al-Qadr has as much effect as the same worship performed for a thousand months. Observing this holy night thus entails prayer, and continued purification, with the hope that the good worshiper will one day be ready to receive the very presence of God during this night.
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from the same group:
http://www.csee.info/calendar06.html
Environmental awareness and sustainability
The Environmentally Conscientious School is now here. In support of the United Nations decade for sustainability, and the National Association of Independent Schools, a CSEE team has composed a handbook for schools early in the process of earth stewardship. The team's work was made possible in part through the generous assistance of the Forum on Religion and Ecology, For a PDF version of the manual, click here.
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