May Day

The month of May announces the onset of summer in the northern hemisphere. Since it marks the beginning of the farming season in this region it is celebrated with unparallel grandeur. May Day celebration on 1^st May is an ancient spring time event observed to welcome spring time.

It is a popular celebration in many cultures and normally a public holiday in the countries where it is celebrated.

Origination of the May Day Celebration

May Day has its origin in the early Celtic festivals and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night. It also has its roots attached to the pagan and neopagan festivals of Europe like Samhain. In paganism it is also celebrated as cross-quarter day as the day falls exactly half a year from 1^st November.

Arrival of May means the end of the harsh winter and beginning of the welcoming summer. The ancient Romans used to celebrate the day with the festival of Flora, who was the Roman Goddess of flower. In the Pagan culture, February 1 was usually celebrated as the beginning of spring and May was the beginning of summer and hence, was the time for the traditional summer holiday. May Day was a time of festivity and people used to celebrate by dancing and singing around the maypole and crowing the Queen of the May.

When Christianity became the primary religion of Europe many of these pagan festivals were abandoned or were replaced by Christian holidays like Christmas, Easter, All Saint’s Day, Lent, Ash Wednesday etc. It wasn’t since twentieth century that many neopagan groups started the movement to recreate and reconstruct their old traditions. They took the initiatives to revive and popularize the May Day celebration.

In the Roman Catholic religion the month is dedicated to Mary and is celebrated as Mary’s month. Often during this celebration the head of the Blessed Virgin Mary is decorated with headgears made with flowers called the May crown.

May Day is a popular event in the countries like:

• England
• Ireland
• France
• Germany
• Finland
• Sweden
• USA

May Day: International Workers' Day

In many parts of the world 1^st May is celebrated as the International Workers' Day to recognize the success of international labor movements and left-wing movements.

In the history of trade union movements 1^st May holds great importance as it is on this day the eight hour workday rights of the labors was established. As a result, it is recognized worldwide as a day that freed the labor class from the oppression of the privileged section of the society. May Day remains a public holiday in more than eighty countries and workers and trade unions celebrate the day demonstrating and organizing parades for labor rights. 

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Arbor Day

Planting more trees and turning the earth green is the message celebrated on the Arbor Day. Arbor in Latin means tree and hence, is the name. Every year the day is celebrated across the world to show love and caring for the mother earth. In 2012, the Arbor Day will be celebrated in the US on 27^th April.

History of Arbor Day

The concept of Arbor Day originated during 1872, when J. Sterling Morton, a journalist and a nature lover, started observing the day on 10^th April in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States. The day was later officially proclaimed on March 12, 1874 by the Governor of Nebraska and the birthday of Morton, April 22^nd was selected as the date of observance. It was declared as a legal holiday in Nebraska. During the 1870s the other states also adopted the idea of celebrating the Arbor Day and the tradition of celebrating it in schools began in 1882.

Birdsey Northrop of Connecticut made Arbor Day a worldwide celebrated event when he traveled to Japan in 1883 to spread the message of Arbor Day and Village Improvement. He is also responsible for introducing the Arbor Day celebration in Australia, Canada and Europe. When he was appointed as the Chairman of the campaign in the same year by the American Forestry Association he took it on him to popularize Arbor Day celebration across the US. Today in many states of USA the Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April - it being the most suitable time of the year to plant trees.

In many countries across the globe similar observances occur at different dates depending upon the climate of that country.

Arbor Day Celebrations

Arbor Day celebrations take place in schools where programs and special classes are organized to educate students about the objective and benefits of the celebration. Group activities and beautification projects are organized involving school children. Poster drawing, poetry writing, tree trivia contests are held along with Arbor Day processions and parades.

In many neighborhoods volunteers gather to celebrate the day by planting new trees. Classes are organized on gardening and farming to educate people on how to care for trees.

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Earth Day

The environment of this earth is gradually deteriorating and its natural resources depleting every day. To create awareness to protect the mother earth April 22^nd has been assigned as the Earth Day.

The idea was first proposed by John McConnell in the 1969 conference of UNESCO in San Francisco. The first Earth day, however, was observed in San Francisco and few other cities on March 21, 1970. The day was selected because it was the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. During the same time a separate day was celebrated by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson on April 22^nd as environmental teach-in. The idea of creating awareness against environmental pollution occurred to him after witnessing the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California. He took advantage of the increasing awareness in general Americans against air and water pollution in celebrating Earth’s Day. Around 20 million people took part in Earth Day rallies that year.

Till 1990 Earth Day was celebrated only in the US but Denis Hayes gave it international recognition by coordinating it across 141 nations in the same year.

In 2009, the United Nations sanctioned April 22^nd as International Mother Earth Day. They have plans to celebrate the day every year till 2015. The Earth Day Network is responsible for conducting the event worldwide. Earth Day is now celebrated by more than 175 countries.

In many countries earth week and even months are observed starting from April 22^nd. Conferences, seminars, workshops, rallies, discussions are organized over the impending issues of global warming, overall deterioration of environmental condition and creating awareness among people to protect the planet.

Earth Day Network

Earth Day Network is the responsible body for coordinating Earth Day celebration across 175 nations. The founding members of this organization were Denis Hayes and Pam Lippe, one of the first Earth Day organizers. The network is responsible for coordinating and organizing year-round activities for protecting the earth and raising different environmental issues. The Earth Day Network is a conglomeration of both government and non government organizations. The different members of the network are:

• Local government offices

• Quasi government organization

• Non-profit organizations

• Environmental activists

The network focuses on:

• Conducting environmental educational programs

• Focusing and discussing on local, national, and global policies

• Conducting public environmental campaigns

• Organizing Earth Day events both at national and international levels

• Promote activism

• Creating awareness about different environmental issues

Currently it has over 19,000 members representing 192 countries. At the domestic level they have got over 10,000 groups and 100 thousand educators conducting over a million environmental development programs.

Earth Day Canada

The first Earth Day was observed by a graduate student of Physics and Solar Engineering at Queen's University, Paul D. Tinari, in the year 1980. He observed the day on 11^th September. Later, Flora MacDonald, the then MP for Kingston and the Islands and Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs officially declared Earth Day Canada Week on September 6^th 1980. The day was formally observed by planting sapling for a greener world.

The first Earth Day Canada was spent by volunteers planting new trees, replacing trees that died of Dutch Elm disease, cleaning public parks, and picking litters from highways.

Earth Day Canada (EDC), a charity organization founded in the year 1990, is responsible for offering Canadians the practical knowledge and tools that will help them curb the impact of environmental pollution. They conduct year long educational programs and workshops to aware people of the environmental issues. Their programs have earned them the recognition of the leading environmental educational organization in North America in 2004. EDC runs the following environmental educational programs:

• Ecokids

• EcoMentors,

• EcoAction Teams,

• Community Environment Fund

• Hometown Heroes

• The Toyota Earth Day Scholarship Program

The Ecology Flag

The ecology flag created by cartoonist Ron Cobb was first displayed on 7^th November 1969 in Los Angeles Free Press. The logo of the flag was created by combining E and O which represent ‘Environment’ and ‘Organism’ respectively. The green and white stripes of the flag are inspired by the US national flag. Its canton contains a yellow theta on the green background. This associated the theta to the Earth Day.

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Easter

Christians all over the world eagerly wait for the day of Easter. They celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and thus of faith on this day. Easter marks the end of the forty-day long fasting of Lent.

The week that precedes Easter is called the Holy Week, during which the Christians observe Maundy Thursday commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus. The day after Maundy Thursday is Good Friday or the day of death of Jesus by crucifixion. The fifty day period that follows Easter is called Eastertide or Easter Season and it ends on Pentecost Sunday.

Easter is known as moveable feast since it doesn’t fall on a set date every year. The first Council of Nicaea determined the day of Easter on the first Sunday after the full moon cycle (Paschal Full Moon) that followed the Vernal Equinox. Based on that calculation the date of Easter varied between March 22^nd and April 25^th.

Easter is also celebrated on different dates in eastern and western hemisphere depending on the calendar they use.

In the Eastern hemisphere the calculation is based on the Julian calendar, which varies by three days from the Gregorian calendar in every four centuries. According to that, Easter is celebrated a week or two after the celebration in the western hemisphere, which follows the Gregorian calendar. So, the date of Easter varies between 4^th of April and 8^th of May. Dates of various Christian festivities are also determined based on the date for Easter.

Origin of Easter

During the early time of Christianity only the Easter Sunday was celebrated as an auspicious day. It was believed that on this day Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to the heaven. Some Christian scholars are of the opinion that the word Good Friday was actually derived from “God’s Friday” and it commemorates the sacrifices made by Jesus to show us the way of salvation. It was during the 4^th century when the church started celebrating even the week before Easter, including the days of Good Friday and Maundy Thursday.

Various theories are available regarding the origination of the word Easter. A 7^th century historian and Anglo-Saxon cleric, Venerable Bede, opined that the word Easter came from Eastre or Eostre, who was a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility. Ancient Romans used to offer their first produce of the season to the Goddess of spring.

Another version relates Easter to the Latin phrase hebdomada alba, which means ‘white week’. The term refers to the Holy Week preceding Easter. According to ancient references, during this period people who were baptized used to don white clothes and from that the name originated. Later the word appeared as ‘esostarum’ in Old High German and hence, later as Easter in English.

Some versions also relate Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover. In fact, in Spain and France Esater is known as Pascua and Paques respectively, which is derived from the Latin word for Passover, Pascha.

For the Christian churches Easter is the name of an entire season as opposed to the single day celebration. The season begins with Lent during which Christians maintain fast and spend time in prayer, self reflection and penance. This period represent the time that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness before he started preaching his ideas.

Celebration of Easter

Today Easter is celebrated across the globe. It is one of the major festivals of Christians after Christmas. It is the time for them for merriment and feasting. Easter also happens to announce the advent of spring in northern hemisphere and hence, it calls for a joyous celebration. Although the nature of the festivity varies between countries some features of it like gifting, Easter eggs, Easter bunny and Easter egg hunt remain same throughout.

Masses are organized at churches, which are attended by large number of followers. Easter feasts are organized in many places and families also gather together to enjoy an Easter meal. Gifting is a common feature of the celebration and Easter baskets are exchanged among friends and relatives. Children especially enjoy Easter since it is a time for them to receive Easter gift baskets full of candy, chocolates and other knickknacks. They enthusiastically take part in Easter egg hunts.

Easter Egg Hunt

It is one of the most common features of Easter celebration. During Easter egg hunts, hard boiled eggs or artificial eggs made of chocolate or candy are hidden at different places.

In Christianity, egg represents rebirth and therefore symbolizes with the resurrection of the Lord. The egg hunt is also relateed to the Pagan origin of the celebration. At ancient time it was believed the earth comes to life during the spring and hence, the egg was used to denote the rebirth or renewal.

Children at large numbers take part in Easter egg hunt events. Depending on the age of the participants the degree of concealment varies. As per south German traditions extra degree of difficulties are introduced to make it harder for the participants to collect eggs. Apart from the egg hunt other games are also played involving the Easter egg, such as Egg rolling, Pace Egg play, Egg tapping, Egg dance and Egg and spoon race.

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Ugadi

India is known for its cultural and ethnic diversity, which implies that it is a land of various festivals. Celebrated in Andhra Pradesh, Ugadi is the celebration of New Year.

The day is celebrated on Chaitra Suddha Padhyami. According to Hindu beliefs Lord Brahma, the Hindu pantheon, created the world on this day and therefore it is regarded as auspicious for a new beginning. The date of Ugadi varies between the months of March and April of the Gregorian calendar.

Ugadi declares the onset of spring when the Flame of the Forest (Butea Frondosa) and jasmine blossoms and the air gets filled with the fragrance of green mangoes.

The Celebration

The people of the region are known to be very religious and so, Ugadi is celebrated with strict religious intonation. People living in the north of Vindhya hills observe the day as "Barhaspatyamana" while the community living in south call it "Sauramana" or "Chandramana". They celebrate Ugadi during the full moon cycle of Chaitra. Different rituals are also followed by various sects of Brahmins. Nonetheless, the celebration is marked with its general spirit of fun and merriment.

The preparation for the celebration begins well in advance. People start with cleaning their houses and making rangolis at the entrances. The cleaning ritual is said to signify washing off the grimes of the past and preparing oneself for a new beginning. The rangoli at the entrance is said to ward off the evil and usher good fortune and prosperity to the household. They also hang mango leaves at entrances as a sign of good luck. People also buy new clothes and utensils for Ugadi.

On the day, prayers are offered to Gods at temples to receive their blessings. People take an early shower and gather at the temples to listen to ‘panchangasravanam’ or the yearly predictions made by the priests. People pray for good health, good harvest, prosperity, peace and happiness. "Ugadi pachchadi" a dish made of raw mango, neem buds, salt, green chili, tamarind and jaggery is prepared and eaten. Each item of the preparation represents the different emotions in one’s life such as sadness, happiness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise.

Kavi Sammelanam or poetry recitation meets are very common features of Ugadi celebration. For the young ones the festival stands for new clothes, delicious food and fun. Traditional dishes are prepared and enjoyed with family and friends.

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Gudi Padwa

Maharashtrians normally celebrate their new year on 23^rd March, 2012. According to the Hindu calendar, Gudi Padwa or the Marathi New Year is celebrated on the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada or the first day of the full moon cycle of Chaitra. Marathis pray for a prosperous new year and offer puja to the gudi as it is believed to usher good luck. It is one of the major festivals of this region.

According to the popular belief, the universe was created on the auspicious day of Gudi Padwa by Lord Brahma and therefore is the most appropriate day for making a new start. It is also said to be the date when Lord Rama returned to the people of Ayodhya after freeing the world from the unscrupulous ways of Ravana. So, it is also the date to celebrate the triumph of good over evil.

The Gudi: Protector of the Good

The gudi or the flag plays a very crucial role during the celebration. It is also called the ‘Brahmadhwaj’ or the flag of Lord Brahma. It is believed to be the carrier of joy, happiness, prosperity and success and ward off evil to protect the household. That is why the ‘gudi’ is erected at a place where it can be seen by all.

The Marathis are very careful about decorating the ‘gudi’. A long bamboo pole is draped with bright colored clothes and then decorated with mango and neem leaves, gathi or sugar crystals, and garlands of red flowers. A kalash is then placed at the top of the pole.

During the three and a half days celebration of Gudi Padwa, the gudi is erected everyday at sunrise and removed before the sunset.

The Celebration of Gudi Padwa

The celebration of Gudi Padwa is a great opportunity for Marathis to showcase their traditions and cultures and they follow all the rituals very strictly. A special puja of neem leaves, tamarind, jaggery, ajwain and gram pulses is offered to the gudi and then eaten by the Marathis. This is said to purify the blood.

The day is considered to be very auspicious for buying new things for the household and loved ones. Marathis normally buy new clothes and utensils for the occasion. Buying silver and gold items is also a very popular tradition.

The event is marked with merriment, fun and abundance. People prepare for the celebration by cleansing their houses, and decorate them with mango leaves and rangolis. They then gather at temples to listen to ‘Panchangasravanam' or the predictions made by the priests for the year.

Elaborate feats are organized and traditional dishes like puran poli, soonth pak, shrikhand, and jalebis are prepared and enjoyed with friends and family.

The Beginning of the Harvest Season

Gudi Padwa initiates the harvest season in the region. It also marks the onset of spring when the seasonal fruits of jackfruit and mango ripen and the air gets filled with their aroma. The word padwa is believed to have come from the Sanskrit word 'Pradurbhu’, which means crop. People on this day pray to the deity for another year of good harvest, health, prosperity and peace for all.

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St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick is regarded as the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish commemorate his death in the fifth century on St. Patrick's Day. For them it is an important religious event. St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17^th of March for more than 1000 years now. The day is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as the Lutheran Church of Ireland.

St. Patricks Day falls during the Christian month of Lent and the celebration is marked by scenes of general jubilation and merry making. People take a break from fasting and Lenten restrictions are not observed for the day.

Who was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick is famous for introducing Christianity in Ireland. His two works, the Confessio, an autobiography, and Epistola are the main sources of information about him. In Epistola he denounced the British monarchy for mistreating and discriminating against the people of Ireland.

He is believed to have been born during the second half of the fourth century. He was mostly famous for driving off snakes from the atolls of Ireland. Some, however, believe that it was only symbolical since he put an end to the pagan practices of the people of Ireland and snakes were often worshipped by the pagans.

He popularized Christianity by converting thousands of the warrior tribes in the ‘Holy Wells’. St. Patrick died on March 17, 460 A.D at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland where his jawbone is still preserve in a silver shrine and is believed to offer protection against evil.

Why wear green on St. Patrick's Day?

The few items that became synonymous with the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day are the colors green and gold, and shamrock which is believed to bring good luck. The Irish wear green clothes on the day.

The original color associated with St. Patrick's Day however wasn’t green but blue. However, over the years green and shamrock became the symbols of the event. It is believed that the saint used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity of The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit to the Irish pagans.

During the 1798 rebellion the national army of Ireland wore green uniform to attract public support and inspire patriotism among people. The famous song "the wearing of the green" is also said to have been derived from the tradition of wearing green attire on March 17 .

Celebration in Ireland and Worldwide

The biggest celebration of the event takes place in Ireland. It is a national holiday in Ireland and all offices and public places, except restaurants and pubs, remain closed during the day. Parades and fun runs are organized in many parts of the country and people gather at the restaurants, houses and pubs to celebrate with songs and dances. As a result of the religious connotation of the event Masses are organized and attended by the Irish people.

The afternoons are reserved for feats and celebrations. The Lenten restrictions of consuming meat and alcohol are done away with for the day and families enjoy elaborate meals of Irish traditional dishes made from bacon and cabbage. Everyone would wear green clothes and shamrock as parts of the traditions.

St. Patrick’s Day is regarded as the day to show respect to the missionaries all over the world. When the Irish community traveled to the other parts of the world they took their practices and customs with them and hence, St. Patrick’s Day is now celebrated in the UK, Canada, the US, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand as well as Japan, Russia and Singapore.

In the US, St Patrick’s Day is a big event in states with high Irish population. The first St. Patrick parade was also organized in the US and not in Ireland.

The St. Patrick’s Day parade organized by the New York Irish Aid societies in 1848 is now regarded as the oldest civilian parade in the world. Today it attracts almost 0.15 million revelers. Almost 3 million people gather at the New York City every year to witness the 1.5-mile parade.

Today the St. Patrick’s Day is one of the major tourist attractions of Ireland. Since 1995 the event has been promoted by the national government to showcase Irish culture and customs to the world. Today, Ireland receives more than 1 million tourists during the event in Dublin.

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