Pike at a Glance

One of The Pike School’s founding values is “respect for others.” We believe that understanding leads to respect, and to that end we offer this explanation of religious and cultural festival and holy days celebrated by families who are members of the Pike community. This work is an ongoing process, and we would appreciate your contacting kmundra@pikeschool.org with your feedback, concerns, and questions.

Advent is the beginning of the Church Year for most churches in the Western tradition. It begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas Day, and ends on Christmas Eve (Dec 24). Advent is one of the few Christian festivals that can be observed in the home as well as at church. In its association with Christmas, Advent is a natural time to involve children in activities at home that directly connect with worship at church. In the home an Advent wreath is often placed on the dining table and the candles lighted at meals, with Scripture readings preceding the lighting of the candles, especially on Sunday. A new candle is lighted each Sunday during the four weeks, and then the same candles are lighted each meal during the week. In this context, it provides the opportunity for family devotion and prayer together, and helps teach the Faith to children, especially if they are involved in reading the daily Scriptures.

For more information:  http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html

In the Western Christian calendar, Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent and occurs forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays). It falls on a different date each year, because it is dependent on the date of Easter; it can occur as early as February 4 or as late as March 10. The day gets its name from the practice of placing ashes on the foreheads of the faithful as a sign of repentance. The ashes used are gathered after the Palm Crosses from the previous year's Palm Sunday are burned. In the liturgical practice of some churches, the ashes are mixed with oil. This paste is used by the clergyman who presides at the service to make the sign of the cross, first upon his own forehead and then on each of those present who kneel before him at the altar rail. As he does so, he recites the words: "Remember (O man) that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ash_Wednesday

'Ashura is a religious observance marked every year by Muslims. The word 'ashura literally means "10th," as it is on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year. 'Ashura is an ancient observance that is now recognized for different reasons and in different ways among Sunni and Shi'a Muslims.

Sunni Islam: During the time of the Prophet Muhammad, local Jews observed a day of fasting at this time -- their Day of Atonement. The Prophet Muhammad learned of this tradition, and stated that the Muslims should also fast. He himself fasted for 2 days, and recommended that others do so as well. This fast is not required, simply recommended.

Shi'a Islam: In the year 680 A.D., Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally murdered during a battle against the ruling Caliph -- on the 10th day of Muharram ('Ashura). Shi'a Muslims observe the day in mourning for Hussein and in remembrance of his martyrdom. Reenactments and plays are performed, attempting to relive the tragedy and keep the lessons of this event alive. Some Shi'a Muslims beat and flog themselves in parades on this day, to express their grief and to reenact the pain that Hussein suffered.

For more information:  http://islam.about.com/od/otherdays/a/ashura.htm

Cambodian New Year lasts three days. It is called Chaul Chnam Thmey  which means Entering the New Year. Houses and home altars are cleaned to welcome the New Angel (Guardian of the New Year). Homes are decorated with flowers, balloons, gold, silver, red, white, or green streamers. Altars hold five candles, five incense holders, perfumed water to wash the Buddha, fruit, flowers, and rolled banana leaves. There is a religious service New Year’s morning and the monks are fed by the people afterwards. People douse each other with water as a blessing. Water can be colored red, pink, or yellow to symbolize a colorful future. Curried chicken is eaten with rice. Dessert cakes made of sticky rice with banana are made to honor the Hindu god Shiva. A sticky rice cake with sweet ground beans honors Shiva’s wife Uma. New Clothing is worn. Children give money to their parents, aunts, uncles as a sign of respect. They may also give food or fruit in addition.

For more information:  http://www.tartanplace.com/newyear/newyrcustom/cambodia.html

Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits.

For more information:  http://www.infoplease.com/spot/chinesenewyear1.html

Christmas is an annual holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The date of the celebration is traditional, and is not considered to be Jesus' actual date of birth. Christmas festivities often combine the observation of the Nativity with various cultural customs, many of which have been influenced by earlier winter festivals. Although nominally a Christian holiday, it is also observed as a cultural holiday by many non-Christians. Modern traditions have come to include the display of Nativity scenes, holly and Christmas trees, the exchange of gifts and cards, and the arrival of Father Christmas or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Popular Christmas themes include the promotion of goodwill and peace.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

After New Year's Day, Mexican families still have a very special date to commemorate and enjoy.  On January 6, most of the Hispanic world celebrates El Dia de Reyes, the Epiphany, remembering the day when the Three Wise Men following the star to Bethlehem, arrived bearing their treasured gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Baby Jesus. 

For more information:  www.inside-mexico.com/ReyesMagos.htm

Diwali, or Deepavali is a major Indian and Nepalese festival, and a significant festival in Hinduism, Sikhisim and Jainism. Many legends are associated with Diwali. Today Hindus, Jains and Sikhs celebrate it across the globe as the "Festival of Light," where the lights or lamps signify victory of good over the evil within every human being. The festival is also celebrated by Buddhists of Nepal, particularly the Newar Buddhist. According to one theory Diwali may have originated as a harvest festival, marking the last harvest of the year before winter. In an agrarian society this results in businessmen closing accounts, and beginning a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, goddess Lakshmi is therefore thanked on this day and everyone prays for a good year ahead. This is the common factor in Diwali celebrations all over the Indian subcontinent.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali

Dussehra is a festival celebrated across Nepal and India. It is celebrated on the tenth day of the bright half of the Hindu month of Ashwayuja or Ashwin, and is the grand culmination of the 10-day annual festival of Navratri. The legend underlying the celebration, as also its mode of conduct, vary vastly by region; however, all festivities celebrate the victory of the forces of Good over Evil. It is also considered to be an auspicious day to begin new things in life. It is the largest festival and celebrated by Hindu and non-Hindu as well.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vijayadashami

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year. Christians celebrate this day in observance of their belief that Jesus Christ rose from the dead two days after his crucifixion (Easter Sunday, commonly referred to as the "third day" including the day of crucifixion), now estimated to have taken place between the years AD 26 and AD 36. Many non-religious cultural elements have become part of the holiday, and those aspects are often celebrated by many Christians and non-Christians alike.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter

Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice, commemorates the prophet Abraham’s willingness to obey Allah by sacrificing his son Ishmael. According to the Qúran just before Abraham sacrificed his son, Allah replaced Ishmael with a ram, thus sparing his life. One of the two most important Islamic festivals, Eid al-Adha begins on the 10 day of Dhu'l-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic Calendar. Lasting for three days, it occurs at the conclusion of the annual Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims all over the world celebrate, not simply those undertaking the hajj, which for most Muslims is a once-a-lifetime occurrence. The festival is celebrated by sacrificing a lamb or other animal and distributing the meat to relatives, friends, and the poor. The sacrifice symbolizes obedience to Allah and its distribution to others is an expression of generosity, one of the five pillars of Islam.

For more information:  http://www.infoplease.com/spot/islamicholidays.html

Ramadan ends with the festival of Eid al-Fitr. Literally the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” Eid al-Fitr is one of the two most important Islamic celebrations (the other occurs after the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca). At Eid al-Fitr people dress in their finest clothes, adorn their homes with lights and decorations, give treats to children, and enjoy visits with friends and family. A sense of generosity and gratitude colors these festivities. Although charity and good deeds are always important in Islam, they have special significance at the end of Ramadan. As the month draws to a close, Muslims are obligated to share their blessings by feeding the poor and making contributions to mosques.

For more information:  http://www.infoplease.com/spot/ramadan1.html

Good Friday is the Friday within Holy Week, and is traditionally a time of fasting and penance, commemorating the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion and death. For Christians, Good Friday commemorates not just a historical event, but the sacrificial death of Christ, which with the resurrection, comprises the heart of the Christian faith.

For more information:  http://www.churchyear.net/goodfriday.html

Easter time, from the carnivals that come before the Lenten fast through Holy Week and the celebrations of Easter, is a special season in Greece. Since the date of the Greek Orthodox Easter is based on a modified Julian calendar and the Western world uses the Gregorian calendar, the festivities do not usually occur at the same time as other Christian Easter celebrations. Greek foods and traditions mark the season as uniquely Hellenic. The history of Greece traces back far past the beginnings of Christianity, but from the very earliest days of the Christian faith the Islands of Greece and the Greek people have embraced these beliefs and made them part of the Greek heritage. Of all the Christian feast days, Easter is the greatest time for foods, feasting and celebration to people in the Greek Orthodox faith.

For more information:  http://www.chiff.com/a/easter-greece.htm

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, ghost tours, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses", carving Jack-o'-lanterns, reading scary stories and watching horror movies. The modern holiday of Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain. The festival of Samhain is a celebration of the end of the harvest season in Gaelic culture, and is sometimes regarded as the "Celtic New Year". Traditionally, the festival was a time used by the ancient pagans to take stock of supplies and slaughter livestock for winter stores. The ancient Gaels believed that on October 31, the boundary between the alive and the deceased dissolved, and the dead become dangerous for the living by causing problems such as sickness or damaged crops. The festivals would frequently involve bonfires, where the bones of slaughtered livestock were thrown. Costumes and masks were also worn at the festivals in an attempt to mimic the evil spirits or placate them

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish holiday starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, and may occur from late November to late December on the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a special candelabrum, the Menorah or Hanukiah, one light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. An extra light called a Shamash, (Hebrew: "guard" or "servant") is also lit each night, and is given a distinct location, usually higher or lower than the others. The purpose of the extra light is to adhere to the prohibition, specified in the Talmud (Tracate Shabbat 21b-23a), against using the Hanukkah lights for anything other than publicizing and meditating on the Hanukkah story. (The Shamash is used to light the other lights.)

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

Al-Hijra, the Islamic New Year, is celebrated on the first day of Muharram, the month in which Muhammad emigrated from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE (the Hijra). The holiday is also known simply as Muharram. Islamic years are calculated from 1 Muharram, 622 CE. They are followed by the suffix AH, which stands for "After Hijira." Unlike the important holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, there are few rituals associated with Islamic New Year. There are no prescribed religious observances. Most Muslims regard the day as a time for reflection on the Hijira and on the year to come. In modern times, some Muslims exchange greeting cards to celebrate the holiday.

For more information:  http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/holidays/hijra.htm

Holi - the festival of colors - is undoubtedly the most fun-filled Hindu festival. Every year it is celebrated on the day after the full moon in early March and glorifies good harvest and fertility of the land. On the eve people celebrate by lighting huge bonfires as part of the community celebration and gather near the fire to fill the air with folk songs and dances. During Holi, squirting colored water on passers-by, dunking friends in mud pools amidst teasing and laughter, getting intoxicated on bhaang and reveling with companions is perfectly acceptable. In fact, on the days of Holi, you can get away with almost anything by saying, "Don't mind, it's Holi!" Draped in white, people throng the streets in large numbers and smear each other with bright hued powders and squirt colored water on one another, irrespective of caste, color, race, sex, or social status; all these petty differences are temporarily relegated to the background and people give into an unalloyed colorful rebellion. There is exchange of greetings, the elders distribute sweets and money, and all join in frenzied dance to the rhythm of the drums.

For more information:  http://hinduism.about.com/od/holifestivalofcolors/a/holybasics.htm

Kwanzaa is a weeklong festival celebrated primarily in the United States, honoring African-American heritage. It is observed from December 26th to January 1st each year. Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities such as candle lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a feast and gift giving. Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households with objects of art, colorful African cloth, especially the wearing of the Uwole by women, and fresh fruits that represent African idealism. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to ancestors. Non-Africans also celebrate Kwanzaa. The holiday greeting is "joyous Kwanzaa". A Kwanzaa ceremony may include drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of the "African Pledge" and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history, a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally, a feast (Karamu).

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

Noruz is the traditional Iranian festival of spring, which starts at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, commencing the start of the spring. It is considered as the start of the New Year among Iranians. The name comes from Avestan meaning "new day/daylight". Noruz is celebrated March 20/21 each year, at the time the sun enters Aries. Also, many people do a significant amount of "Spring Cleaning" prior to Noruz to rid the house of last year's dirt and germs in preparation for a good new year. Typically, on the first day of Noruz, family members gather around the table, with the Haft Seen on the table or set next to it, and await the exact moment of the arrival of the spring. At that time gifts are exchanged. Later in the day, on the very first day, the first house visits are paid to the most senior family members. Some Noruz celebrants believe that whatever a person does on Noruz will affect the rest of the year. So, if a person is warm and kind to their relatives, friends and neighbors on Noruz, then the New Year will be a good one.

For more information:  http://www.crystalinks.com/noruz.html

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala, India. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam. Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian calendar.

For more information:  http://www.onamfestival.org/what-is-onam.html

Oshogatsu is the Japanese New Year. The New Year celebration lasts for five to six days. Everything associated with the New Year is symbolic of "firsts" of the New Year. Thus, the New Year gives a sense of renewal. On New Year's Eve, shortly before midnight, Buddhist temples ring bells 108 times to remember Japan's hardships. The ritual is a way to send out the old year and usher in the new. Like other Asian New Year traditions, adults give money to children on New Year's Day. It is called "otoshi-dama" or the "new year treasure." There are many "good luck" charms associated with the New Year. Cranes and turtles are symbols of longevity and happiness. Houses are decorated with origami cranes to bring peace and happiness to the New Year.

For more information:  http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/japanese_new_year.htm

Passover is a holiday celebrated in the Jewish religion. It begins in March or April, on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Nisan. Passover recalls the exodus of the Jews from slavery in ancient Egypt. It also celebrates springtime, a time of renewal and rebirth. Passover lasts seven to eight days, depending on where you live and how religious you are. The emphasis is on the first two days. Celebrations differ slightly depending on national and family customs. In general, all Jewish families follow the pattern in the Haggadah. The Haggadah is a book or program for the Passover ceremony, which tells the history of the Passover through prayers, stories, and songs. Passover is celebrated as a reminder of what the Jewish ancestors went through to obtain freedom. The night before the Passover begins, there is a ceremony for the children. During Passover, people may only eat unleavened bread, to remind them that the Jews in ancient times had to flee from Egypt in such haste that there was not time to allow the bread to rise.

For more information  http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlrecources/units/Byrnes-celebrations/passover.html

Zoroastrians worldwide celebrate Nowruz as the first day of the New Year. Because different Zoroastrian communities in India/Pakistan and Iran have evolved slightly different calendar systems, there is some variance. Adherents of the Fasli variant of the Zoroastrian calendar celebrate Nowruz in March, Other variants of the Zoroastrian calendar celebrate the Nowruz twice: once as Jamshedi Nowruz on March 21st as the start of spring, and a second Nowruz, in July/August as either new year's eve or new year's day. That second Nowruz is celebrated after the last day of the year, known as Pateti, which comes after a Muktad period of days remembering the dead.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz

Purim is a festival that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people of the ancient Persian Empire from Haman's plot to annihilate them, as recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther (Megillat Esther). According to the story, Haman cast lots to determine the day upon which to exterminate the Jews. Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar (Adar II in leap years), the day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies; as with all Jewish holidays, Purim begins at sundown on the previous secular day. In cities that were protected by a surrounding wall at the time of Joshua, including Shushan (Susa) and Jerusalem, Purim is celebrated on the 15th of the month, known as Shushan Purim. Purim is characterized by public recitation of the Book of Esther (keriat ha-megilla), giving mutual gifts of food and drink (mishloach manot), giving charity to the poor (mattanot la-evyonim), and a celebratory meal (se'udat Purim); other customs include drinking wine, wearing of masks and costumes, and public celebration.

For more Information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purim

Raksha Bandhan (the bond of protection in Hindi) is a Hindu festival, which celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters. It is celebrated on the full moon of the month of Shraavana. The festival is marked by the tying of a rakhi, or holy thread by the sister on the wrist of her brother. The brother in return offers a gift to his sister and vows to look after her. The brother and sister traditionally feed each other sweets. It is not necessary that the rakhi can be given only to a brother by birth; any male can be "adopted" as a brother by tying a rakhi on the person, whether they are cousins or a good friend. Indian history is replete with women asking for protection, through rakhi, from men who were neither their brothers, nor Hindus themselves. Rani Karnavati of Chittor sent a rakhi to the Mughal Emperor Humayun when she was threatened by Bahadur Shah of Gujarat. Humayun abandoned an ongoing military campaign to ride to her rescue.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raksha_Bandhan

Ramadan is a Muslim religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar believed to be the month in which the Qurån began to be revealed. The most prominent event of this month is the fasting practiced by most observant Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat the Suhoor meal (the pre dawn meal) and perform their Fajr prayer. They break their fast when the fourth prayer of the day, Mahgrib (sunset), is due.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan

Rosh Hashanah is one of the most important religious holidays for Jews. It remembers the creation of the world. In Hebrew, Rosh Hashanah means the "head of the year." It is also called the Feast of the Trumpets. The blowing of a ram's horn, a shofar, proclaims Rosh Hashanah, and summons Jews to religious services. Jews used the ram's horn as a trumpet in Biblical times to announce the new moon, holidays, and war. Today, a variety of horns are used, including curved antelope horns. Rosh Hashanah is a time for personal introspection and prayer. Jews may also visit graves. It is thought that the prayers or good wishes of the dead can help the living. By wishing each other well and sending cards, people let friends know what happened in the past year and what plans lie ahead. Rosh Hashanah is part of a process of spiritual growth. The Hebrew month preceding it, Elul, is a time for charity, tzedakah. Rosh Hashanah falls on the first and second days of the seventh month, Tishri.

For more information:  http://www.infoplease.com/spot/roshhashanah1.html

Saint Patrick's Day, colloquially St. Paddy's Day, is an annual feast day, which celebrates Saint Patrick, one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17. Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated worldwide by Irish people and increasingly by non-Irish people. Celebrations are generally themed around all things Irish and, by association, the color green. Both Christians and non-Christians celebrate the secular version of the holiday by wearing green or orange, eating Irish food and/or green foods, imbibing Irish drink and attending parades.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Patrick's_Day

The Telugu and the Kannada New Year falls on the first day of the month of Chaitra (March-April). People in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka states in the South of India believe that Lord Brahma began the creation of the universe on this auspicious day of Ugadi. People prepare for the New Year by cleaning and washing their houses and buying new clothes. On the Ugadi day they decorate their houses with mango leaves and rangoli designs, and pray for a prosperous new year, Ugadi is also an auspicious day to embark on any new endeavor.

For more information:  http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindunewyear.htm

Vaisakhi (known as Baisakhi), it is a very important day for Sikhs and one of the most colorful events in the Sikh calendar. It occurs during mid-April every year and traditionally concurs in Punjab with the first harvesting of the crops for the year. So, historically, it has been a very joyous occasion and a time for celebration. However, since 1699, it had marked the very significant religious event of the creation of the Khalsa.

Formore information:  http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php?title=Vaisakhi

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a holiday celebrated on February 14. In the Americas and Europe, it is the traditional day on which lovers express their love for each other by sending Valentine's cards, presenting flowers, or offering confectionery. The holiday is named after two among the numerous Early Christian martyrs named Valentine. The day became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. The day is most closely associated with the mutual exchange of love notes in the form of "valentines." Modern Valentine symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid.

For more information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine's_Day

Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is one of the most serious Jewish holidays. Jews who do not regularly observe other holidays often make an exception for Yom Kippur, which occurs on the tenth day of the Hebrew month of Tishri. Yom Kippur observances can vary. Some non-Orthodox Jews might not follow the following outline exactly. This is judgment day. Many Jews practice repentance, say prayers, and give charity to obtain God's forgiveness for any sins made in the past year. Yom Kippur is the culmination of a process that began a month earlier, during the Hebrew month of Elal. It follows Rosh Hashanah and the New Year's activities.

For more information:  http://www.infoplease.com/spot/yomkippur.html