This is an experiment that I think might be worth trying. Whether it will take off, I don't know, but let's try it and see.
On an ongoing basis, I'm going to try to compile a list of religious festivals, celebrations and holidays for the upcoming week. Hopefully this will give people an excuse to ask people here in those religions about them and what they mean to them, their community, and their faith... and in the process gain a bit of understanding of other people, religions and cultures.
Here goes... if I miss an event in your religion (or if my description is incorrect or inadequate), feel free to post here as well.
June 15 to 21, 2008
June 15 - Pentecost (Christian - Orthodox)
In most forms of Christianity, Pentecost is traditionally considered to be the date on which the Holy Spirit descended into the Christian Church. The celebration is closely tied to the Jewish holiday Shavuot (both historically and symbolically). The date of Pentecost is dependent on the date of Easter.
June 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh)
According to Wiki (I have to admit that my knowledge of the Sikh religion isn't what it should be), Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the eleven Gurus of Sikhism. He was leader of the religion for a quarter century, and in that time, introduced fixed rules of religious and moral conduct. He was tortured to death in 1606.
June 20 - Solstice (Wicca/Neo-Pagan)
This date marks the winter solstice (Yule) in the southern hemisphere and the summer solstice (Litha/Midsummer) in the northern hemisphere, both major festivals in Wicca and other Pagan/Neo-Pagan religions.
June 21 - St. Aloysius Gonzanga (Christian - Roman Catholic)
This is the memorial day of St. Aloysius Gonzanga, considered to be the patron saint of plague victims (and unofficially of AIDS sufferers as well, according to some). He lived in Rome in the 16th Century, where he cared for plague sufferers and eventually contracted and died of the plague himself.
On an ongoing basis, I'm going to try to compile a list of religious festivals, celebrations and holidays for the upcoming week. Hopefully this will give people an excuse to ask people here in those religions about them and what they mean to them, their community, and their faith... and in the process gain a bit of understanding of other people, religions and cultures.
Here goes... if I miss an event in your religion (or if my description is incorrect or inadequate), feel free to post here as well.
June 15 to 21, 2008
June 15 - Pentecost (Christian - Orthodox)
In most forms of Christianity, Pentecost is traditionally considered to be the date on which the Holy Spirit descended into the Christian Church. The celebration is closely tied to the Jewish holiday Shavuot (both historically and symbolically). The date of Pentecost is dependent on the date of Easter.
June 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev (Sikh)
According to Wiki (I have to admit that my knowledge of the Sikh religion isn't what it should be), Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth of the eleven Gurus of Sikhism. He was leader of the religion for a quarter century, and in that time, introduced fixed rules of religious and moral conduct. He was tortured to death in 1606.
June 20 - Solstice (Wicca/Neo-Pagan)
This date marks the winter solstice (Yule) in the southern hemisphere and the summer solstice (Litha/Midsummer) in the northern hemisphere, both major festivals in Wicca and other Pagan/Neo-Pagan religions.
June 21 - St. Aloysius Gonzanga (Christian - Roman Catholic)
This is the memorial day of St. Aloysius Gonzanga, considered to be the patron saint of plague victims (and unofficially of AIDS sufferers as well, according to some). He lived in Rome in the 16th Century, where he cared for plague sufferers and eventually contracted and died of the plague himself.
