Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Christian Festival marking the beginning of Lent, a period of penitence leading to Easter. 2020 Date: February 26th Celebrated by: Christians, especially Western Christians. Linked Holidays: Easter, Lent, Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Carnival, Palm Sunday, Ramadan Background and Theological Significance One of the most enduring symbolic practices of Ash Wednesday […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: A Festival dedicated to the god Shiva. 2020 Date: 21st February Celebrated by: Hindus Linked Holidays: Ram Navami, Janmashtami, Raksha Bandhan. Background and Theological Significance Maha-Shivaratri, ‘The Great Night of Shiva’ is the most important night of the year for the worshippers of Shiva. The day before each month’s New […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Festival marking the death of Buddha, his achievement of Parinirvana, final enlightenment. 2020 Date: 15th February Celebrated by: Buddhists, particularly Mahayana Buddhists Linked Holidays: Vesak Background and Theological Significance Nirvana is the ultimate aim for a Buddhist. Buddha himself is seen as the first to have achieved it, at around […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Christian Festival celebrating the presentation of Jesus to the Temple and the purification of Mary, Jesus’ mother. 2020 Date: February 2nd Celebrated by: Christians Linked Holidays: Epiphany, Imbolc, Groundhog Day Background and Theological Significance It was traditional, forty days after giving birth, for Jewish parents to bring their newborn baby […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Gaelic Festival celebrating the beginning of Spring 2020 Date: 1st February Celebrated by: Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Gaelic, Pagans Linked Holidays: Beltane, Samhain, Candlemass, Maghi, Lohri. Background and Theological Significance Imbolc’s history stretches back back for perhaps thousands of years. But at its core it has always been motivated by the […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Winter Solstice Festival commemorating the deaths of forty Sikh Martyrs 2020 Date: 15th January Celebrated by: Sikhs Linked Holidays: Lohri, Winter Solstice Background and Theological Significance Maghi has its origins in the wars fought between the Sikh community, the Khalsa, and the Mughal Empire in the 1600s and 1700s. It […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Winter Solstice Punjabi Folk Festival 2020 Date: 13th January Celebrated by: Punjabi People, Hindus, Sikhs. Linked Holidays: Makar Sankranti, Winter Solstice, Yule Background and Theological Significance In the Punjab region that straddles the border between India and Pakistan, Lohri ties together multiple significant strands. It takes place at the time […]
Quick Facts and Stats Summary: Christian Feast celebrating the revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. 2020 Date: January 6th, or The first Sunday of the New Year Celebrated by: Christians Linked Holidays: Christmas, Feast of the Baptism, Transfiguration. Background and Theological Significance The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God […]
