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 […]
Quick Facts Summary: A Modern Global Celebration of the New Year. Date: December 31st – January 1st. Celebrated: Globally. Linked Holidays: Various New Years celebrations at different times in the yearly cycle. Background and Theological Significance New Year’s celebrations come at different times; East Asia will celebrate the Lunar New Year in January; Many parts […]
Quick Facts Summary: an eight-day Jewish festival that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple 2018 Date: 2nd – 10th December (sunset to sunset) Celebrated by: Jews, the State of Israel Linked Holidays: Purim, Diwali. Background and Theological Significance Hanukkah (in Hebrew, חֲנוּכָּה, literally meaning ‘dedication’, also translated as Chanukah) is a Jewish festival celebrating […]
by Joy Allen As a Christmas baby, the smell of pine needles and the sight of fairy lights elicit memories both good and bad for me. Memories of carols sung and stockings hung, words read and poems said, but also of the onslaught of the dreaded ‘Christmas cold’ and stress headaches exuding from every pore. […]
Quick Facts Summary: a Christian season of preparation before the celebration of Christmas 2019 Date: 1st – 24th December (Western Christianity), 28th November – 6th January (Eastern Christianity) Celebrated by: Christians, Westerners Linked Holidays: Christmas, Lent, Martinmas (Christianity) Background and Theological Significance Advent is a liturgical season of preparation within the Christian Church which is […]
by Mike Lewis As the old song goes: “I ain’t gonna study war no more”. I have always abhorred conflict. When stories of war, terrorism, violence or abuse, physical or mental, in any shape or form are shown in the media, be they real or fictional I simply turn off. It is not part of […]
