Christmas Advent

Christmas advent is observed in several Western Christian churches. The word advent is derived from the Latin adventus, which means ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’, Christians wait for coming of Jesus Christ. It begins on Advent Sunday and is the commencement of the Western liturgical year. The equivalent of Advent in Eastern churches is known as N ativity Fast. But Nativity Fast is different in observances and length. May be the Advent calendar marks the progression of the season. This practice was introduced by German Lutherans. In the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran calendars, Advent begins on the fourth Sunday before 25th December, the Sunday between 27th November and 3rd December inclusive. Advent includes Christmas and Epiphany and continues till Lent season begins.

Advent is not only about waiting for the Christ but also preparing for return of Jesus on the Judgment Day. In fact, the Advent season focuses on threefold coming of Christ- past, present and future. First, the Lord's modest first coming in Bethlehem two thousand years ago. Second, His present and persistent coming to us through Word and Sacrament and finally, looking forward hopefully to His second coming in glory to judge the living and the dead on the Last Day.
The four Sundays of Advent are arranged to ponder on different aspects of Christ's coming. The first Sunday deals with Christ's victorious arrival in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the second Sunday introduces the prophetic message of John the Baptist. The third Sunday emphasizes on the content of John's preaching. The final Sunday of Advent is the bridge to Christmas with its concentration to the miracle of Christ's conception in the womb of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The customary color for the season of Advent is purple. This color was used by kings to signify their royal status. Purple also indicates the repentance of God's people as they await the arrival of their Lord. Recently, some churches have adopted blue as the Advent color. It represents hope, belief and heaven. In art and iconography, blue is also associated to Virgin Mary.
Famous symbol used during Advent season is the Advent Wreath. It consists of a circle of evergreen branches set around four candles. The evergreen circle represents the everlasting life that Christ has won for all believers. The burning candles signify the coming of Christ as the light of the world. Advent candles can vary in colors. Customarily, three purple candles and one rose-colored or pink candle are used. Starting from the first Advent Sunday, each candle is lit on each succeeding Sunday.

During Advent season, the church contemplates the wonder of God’s mercy and love in Jesus Christ. Christians prepare themselves for the coming of the Lord by exercising the Advent disciplines. The seven short evening prayers that are by tradition chanted are Great O Antiphons. They are chanted during Advent worship from the 17th to the 23rd of December. They are a part of the regular devotions of many churches nowadays.

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is primarily celebrated in the United States. Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. On this day, holiday is observed and people express their gratefulness, appreciation and thankfulness to the Almighty, family and friends. They show their gratitude for being blessed with relationships and materialistic possessions. According to the tradition, Thanksgiving Day is the time to be thankful for a bountiful harvest. This day is no more stuck to its roots of religion now.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated on different dates in different nations. In the United States, Thanksgiving Day falls on every fourth Thursday of November whereas in Canada it is celebrated on the second Monday in October. The Netherlands also celebrates Thanksgiving. A different holiday with the same name is celebrated at a parallel time of year in the island of Grenada.

The exact historical origin of the Thanksgiving Day is shrouded in mystery. Even though Americans usually believe that the first Thanksgiving happened in the year1621 at Plymouth Plantation, in Massachusetts. Strong evidence for earlier merriment in the year 1578 in Canada is found, evidence of celebrations by Spanish explorers in the year 1565 in Florida is also found. As impact of the western culture, Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in India also, though in very few parts of the country. However, the major celebrations are observed by Christians in the state of Goa.

Enjoying banquets with family is an essential and most enjoyable part of Thanksgiving Day celebrations. The rich legacy of Thanksgiving has been alive for hundreds of years and is continuing to live. Customs of Thanksgiving comprise of tales of those who believe that everyone must possess the virtue of gratitude. Thanksgiving customs are custom of praying, custom of family dinner, custom of decoration and custom of greeting the near and dear ones.

On this day churches organize communal prayers. Prayers are done in homes as well. This practice is going on for several centuries. Prayers are offered at several times while having meals throughout the day. On this the day the whole mankind expresses heart-felt gratitude to God for His abundant blessings. On this day, gratefulness to friends and family is also expressed for their good deeds. People dine with their family and friends. Those who live far away, manage to be with their relatives for this day. Feasts are generally held and enjoyed at home only. People enjoy eating 'Roasted Turkey' with each other. Homes are tastefully decorated with fresh and dried flowers and wreaths. Lamps are lit and tables are set with antique silver and China cutlery sets. People sent affectionate messages to their loved ones.

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated with a lot of festive fervor and euphoria. The universal feeling of being thankful to Lord Almighty for his incessant grace and blessings is conveyed by this occasion.

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Eid- Ul- Adha

One of the major festivals of Muslims is Eid- Ul- Adha. Eid- Ul- Adha is also known by the name of Bakr- Eid. It is the festival of sacrifice. Muslims sacrifice their domestic animals like goat, sheep, cows and camels on this festival. The sacrifice Muslims make on this day symbolizes the sacrifice made by Prophet Abraham. The celebrations of this festival begin after the Hajj. On the tenth day of Duhl-Hijja, the very first day of Eid-Ul-Adha is celebrated. Duhl-Hijja is the last month of the Islamic year. In some areas, Muslims rejoice in the celebrations of Eid-Ul-Adha for many days. This year, Eid- Ul- Adha will be celebrated on 16th November.

Throughout the planet, Eid-Ul-Adha is known by several names such as ‘Sacrifice Feast’ or ‘Kurban Bayrami’. It is known as ‘Hari Raya Haji’ in Singapore and Malaysia. It is known by the name of Tabaski in West Africa. The name ‘Hari Raya Aidiladha’ is famous in South East Asia. In India it is known as Eid- al-Adha or Idu’z Zuha. Eid-ul-Azha or Id al-Adha names are famous in Bangladesh. Though this festival differs in name but the spirit to celebrate it is the same throughout the globe.

Eid-Ul-Adha occurs around seventy days after the end of Ramadan month. This festival is celebrated in the memory of Prophet Abraham to be ready to sacrifice his son to obey God. God instructed Abraham to lift up the foundation of Kaaba which was a sacred place in Mecca. In a dream, God also asked Abraham to forfeit his son. Abraham took his son to sacrifice him and obey God. When Abraham reached the place where he was instructed to sacrifice his son, God has already kept a sheep there to be sacrificed instead of his son. Thereby this festival is said to be a festival of sacrifice. Some people commemorate Eid- ul- Adha because it ends the Hajj for those Muslims who make a trip to Mecca every year.

On Eid- ul- Adha people recite prayers early morning followed by Khutba and then the breakfast of Sheer Korma gives a delicious start to the day. The animal is sacrificed after the breakfast. There are certain age and quality standards for sacrificial animal or else the animal is considered an unacceptable sacrifice. Meat of the slaughtered animal is distributed among friends, family and poor people. It is an assumption that Eid- ul- Adha lasts for three days but according to some Islamic traditions Eid- ul- Adha lasts for four days and it is Eid- ul- Fitr that lasts for three days. People visit their near and dear ones in the evening. Those who visit Muslim places on this day are served lip smacking food and drinks.

On this festive occasion, markets are decorated nicely and the cheerful Muslims do shopping to their heart’s content. Children are very excited to wear new clothes. They enjoy receiving gifts, perks, sweets and new clothes. People also greet their loved ones with Eid- ul- Adha cards or ecards.







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Children’s Day

Children’s Day is celebrated on 14th November every year in India. This date marks the birth anniversary of the celebrated freedom fighter and independent India’s first Prime Minister-Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Children’s Day is celebrated on his birthday in order to give a tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru and his love for children. Children lovingly used to address him as ‘Chacha Nehru’. This day sends a reminder to each and every one of us to once again renew our commitment to the well-being of children and teach them to live by dream and quality of their Chacha Nehru.

Universally, Children’s Day is celebrated on 20th November but in India, it is celebrated on 14th November as an accolade of Jawaharlal Nehru’s love for children. It is the day when childhood is celebrated. On this day, a lot of activities for children are organized. There are many cultural programs in several schools that are meant just for students. Throughout the country, many social, cultural and even corporate institutions and organizations conduct various competitions for children. Children's Day brings cheerful times for children to be engaged in fun and frolic. In schools teachers perform songs, dances and other programs for their students. Children's Day is a day set aside to remember Pandit Nehru and his love for children.

This day is marked with plenty of activities for children. But the fact is that only a fragment of children of this country have a chance to celebrate their survival. Students thoroughly enjoy events and activities organized at their schools but there is a huge population of our young citizens that are left unnoticed on this special day. They are the downtrodden street children.
It will be a thoughtful and touching act if we try to bring a difference into the lives of children who are underprivileged. Instead of celebrating it with great jollity in schools, clubs and hotels; celebrations for the downtrodden children will be far more appreciative. We can do this by our effort of changing their lives so that they can also enjoy the carefree lives of childhood.

On Children’s day, we celebrate childhood, so it becomes the duty of mankind to bring a happy change to the lives of such children who don’t even know what is meant by enjoying a childhood. When the fortunate ones take pleasure in their blissful fortune and treasure all that they are endowed with; a huge populace of children is still struggling for food, shelter and clothing.

Children’s Day also gives time to all the adults to give a new lesson to their children or students while celebrating their day. A party can be organized for underprivileged children. By doing this, people will be gifting innumerable smiles and immeasurable happiness to the nation.

We can certainly make a big difference in a child’s life by doing something special for him/her. In fact, in this way we will be fulfilling the dreams of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and giving a real tribute to him.

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Veterans Day - Honor The Veterans

Veterans Day is a day that honors the military veterans every year in Unites States. On this day both a state holiday and a federal holiday in all states is observed. Usually it is celebrated on the 11th of November. This day is memorialized as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of this planet. Veterans Day is celebrated on 11th November because it marks the anniversary of signing of Armistice that put an end to the First World War. The chief hostilities of World War I properly met an end in the year 1918 in 11th month of the year, on 11th day and at the 11th hour. The hostilities were finished with German signing of the Armistice. In advertisements and calendars the holiday is commonly printed as Veterans' Day or Veteran's Day.

An Armistice Day was declared for 12th November, 1919 by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. After some years, 11th November was declared an authorized holiday which was to be observed every year. This day was a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as ‘Armistice Day’.

In 1953, an Emporia, Kansas, shoe store holder named Al King carried a plan to increase Armistice Day to celebrate all veterans, not currently those who provided in World War I. King had been devotedly involved with an American War Dads throughout the Second World War. Then he started a campaign so that the Armistice Day can be turned into ‘All’ Veterans Day.

The Emporia Chamber of Commerce took hold of the cause after deciding that 90% of the Emporia merchants with the Board of Education supported finishing their doors on 11th November in the year 1953, to pay homage to veterans. With the help of then-U.S. Rep. Ed Rees, from Emporia, a bill for holiday was pushed through Congress. The President Dwight Eisenhower marked it into law on 26th May, 1954.

This act was modified by the Congress on 8th November, 1954, replacing ‘Armistice’ with Veterans. It has been known as Veterans Day from that time. Veterans Day was shifted to fourth Monday of October, Even though originally planned to be commemorated on 11th November of each year, opening in 1971 compliant with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. Since the time this change was made, there has been a tendency against being closed on the holiday. It started with businesses (banks are excluded from this holiday) and in current years some schools and local governments are also chosen to remain open.

Celebrations of Veterans Day include Veterans Day flag hoisting, pledge and singing of the National Anthem. Musical programs by school or community musical organizations are conducted. In schools there are essay writing or reading competitions about a great military soldier or an American President. School magazines publish Veterans Day stories. Other organizations and institutions also conduct various programs to give a tribute to all the veterans. Veterans Day pays a heartfelt tribute to the military veterans.

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What's Special on Diwali...

Decorations of Diwali

Diwali gives a wonderful chance to people to decorate their homes tastefully. As passion of Diwali is not restricted only to India, people adorn their homes worldwide on this festival. Decorating homes with especially Diwali decorative items fills the home with celebratory spirit and glee. People ornament their homes with traditional Diwali decorative items like clay lamps, torans or door hangings, decorative lanterns or lamps, sculptures and idols of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha, rangoli and the like. This ethnic decoration infuses the spirit of fiesta enthusiasm among people.


Rituals of Diwali

Celebrations of Diwali are incomplete without rituals of Diwali. Most importantly they include worshipping of Laxmi-Ganesha before bursting firecrackers and enjoying sweets. The very first step of the commencement of celebrations on a Diwali night is worship of Goddess Laxmi and Lord Ganesha. Other than this, Diwali is a five day festival and celebrations continue for five consecutive days.

Diwali celebrations cast a magical charm which throws away dirt and darkness not only from our homes but from also our hearts. Throughout the year, we are excited for celebrating Diwali. On this day, we forget bitter experiences and feelings and put in our best efforts to enjoy Deepawali celebrations in complete harmony with each other which is the best way to enjoy this festival.

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Five Days of Diwali

Diwali is the festival of lights. Indians celebrate throughout the planet with great zeal and passion. Diwali not only brings a lot of enthusiasm but also five days to celebrate the festive fervor. Firecrackers, sweets, lights and lots of shopping are the features of Diwali that are most awaited and enjoyed. Five days of Diwali are filled with cheerfulness and each day holds a different importance and legend behind it. A list of five day events is given here along with their legends.

Dhanteras-The First Day

Diwali commences with Dhanvantari Trayodashi. According to Hindu calendar, it is the thirteenth lunar day of Krishna Paksha in the month of Kartik. Dhanteras is the famous name of Dhanvantari Trayodashi. Legends say that Lord Dhanwantari came out of the ocean on this day. He was having Ayurvedic ways of treatment for the benefit of mankind. On this day people worship Lord Yamaraj and light a 'Yama-Diya' at night in order to offer prayers to Him. People purchase new utensils on this day. This is also a tradition which is related with Dhanvantari Trayodashi.

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Chhoti Diwali-The Second Day

Narak Chaturdashi falls on the second day of Diwali. According to the legends, on this day Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasur to free mankind from his fear. Massaging body with oil and bath on this day is a tradition. It is said that those who do not bath on this day go to hell.

Badi Diwali or Lakshmi Puja-The Third Day

The third day of Diwali is the most important day of the Diwali celebrations. The divine Goddess Lakshmi is worshipped on this day and people offer prayers to her to receive her blessings for affluence and prosperity. For this day, people make their homes spick and span and adorn their homes with several clay lamps and colorful lights and play with firecrackers.

Gowardhan Puja or Padwa-The Fourth Day

The fourth day of Diwali is dedicated to Govardhan Pooja or worshipping of Govardhan Parvat. Legends say that once Lord Shri Krishna performed the Govardhan Pooja with the citizens of Vraja for their safety from heavy rains. Since that time, it turned into a Hindu tradition to worship Govardhan Parvat in order to respect that first Pooja done on this day.

Bhaidooj or Bhaiya Dooj or Bhratri Dooj-The Fifth Day

Bhaidooj is the fifth day of Diwali. On this day the bond of brother and sister is strengthened and their relation is honored. Legends hold that on this day Lord Yamaraj visited his sister Yamuna and gave a boon that if brothers visit their sisters on this day, they will be freed from all their sins. The tradition of visiting sisters by their brothers is followed since that day. Sisters put tika on foreheads of their brothers and sweeten their mouths with sweets. This day marks the end of the five day long celebrations of Diwali.

Five days of Diwali hold immense pleasure and delight. They give us chance to have celebrations one after another.

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