Celebrations Tips

Halloween

Many people think of Halloween as a witchs' holiday, but the word itself, "Halloween," actually has its origins in the Catholic Church as "All Hallows Eve". This is the eve of All Saints' Day observed by Catholic and Orthodox Christians. The church absorbed this Druidic holiday when Pope Gregory moved All Saints' Day from February to November 1 in 835 CE.

While we know Halloween originated with the Druids, much of the historical information in circulation today is not reliable. The Druids associated this time with the completed harvest and souls of the dead entering this world. Some Neopagans including Wiccians base their celebration of this holiday on old Druid/Celtic practices.

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The Chinese Moon Festival

The Chinese Moon (or Mid-Autumn) Festival is a time for family reunion, gazing at the moon, eating commemorative mooncakes, and telling moon legends. One of the legends says that Chang E, the Emperor's beautiful daughter, stole her husband's immortality pill and remorsefully escaped to the moon. If you look towards the moon, some say you can still see her today. In 2002, the Moon Festival will fall on September 21. The Moon Festival does not fall on the same day each year, because Chinese holidays are based on a lunar calendar.

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Christmas

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Christians around the world celebrate this holiday many different ways, but popular festivities include gift giving, children's letters to Santa, families coming together, and special feasts.

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Japanese New Year

The New Year is the most important holiday in Japan. On New Year's Eve, big bells are rung 108 times in temples and shrines to drive away the 108 evil thoughts in Buddhism. New Year's Day is the busiest postal day in Japan, delivering numerous New Year's postcards. The New Year should be started fresh with past grudges forgiven. This is a time of visiting family, friends, business associates, and also going to temples or shrines to pray.

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Easter

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Christians around the world celebrate this holiday many different ways, but popular activities include going to church in nice (and often new) dress clothes, decorating eggs, egg hunts, and time with family. Some countries celebrate with the Easter Bunny, some with dances, parades, or fireworks, but they all have fun!

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How is Purim Pronounced?

The most common way to pronouce Purim is pur-im, with the ur sound being similar to the ur sound in the words purr or fur.

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What is Purim About?

Esther, a Jewish orphan girl, was chosen by the king of Persia to be his wife. Esther hid her Jewish identity until she learned of the king's prime minister's plans to kill all the Jews in the kingdom. She chose to risk her life to save her people, and told the king of her identity and the terrible plan. The king spared her people and sentenced his prime minister to death.

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When is the Chinese New Year?

Chinese holidays are based on the Lunar Calendar rather than the Western (Gregorian) calendar. Because of this, the Chinese New Year is not on the same date each year, but does occur sometime between January 21st and February 19th. The next Chinese New Year will be the Year of the Sheep in the Chinese astrology, and will fall on February 1, 2003 (or the Chinese year 4701).

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Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. Based on Taoist belief, the New Year is an important time to honor ancestors, gods, and living elders. The three-week long festivities include lavish feasts, new clothes, firecrackers, and the famous dragon and lion dances. It is also a time of visiting family and friends, good wishes, and reconciliation.

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