Holidays, Celebrations, and Festivals Galore
How would you feel if every holiday and celebration were the exact same, well there not. Thank goodness the generations before us had already thought of that problem. There is a major diversity in holidays, festivals, and celebrations in Christianity, Judaism, and Hinduism. They celebrate for different reasons, and at different times. Holidays celebrate birthdays, celebration, and festivals. They resemble a major or important event in history. They have specific dates that they start on and end on. Some holidays have special clothes they have to wear, and even different rituals. A majority of the holidays were planned according to the moon and its phases (World Religion, n.p). The Messiah Jesus
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“What's the best holiday? Hanukkah, of course. You don't go to heder for eight days in a row; you eat pancakes every day, spin your dreidel to your heart's content and from all sides’ money comes pouring in. What holiday can be better?”- Sholem Aleichem (Drucker, 36). Festival of Lights and Hanukah is another name for Hanukkah. Hanukkah lasts for eight days. Each day a candle is lit. A candle is light on the first night. Then on the second night another candle is light. Then so on till all the candles are all lit. Once all eight candles are lit they add an extra candle, so the candle has nine candles instead of eight (Religion of The World, 34). The candlestick holders that they light are called menorah (Britannica School, …show more content…
Moses wanted Pharaoh to release the Hebrew's, but Pharaoh refused to do so. God sent down 10 plagues, they were all awful. As each plague went on the affect got bigger and bigger and bigger. The last plague was the angel of death sent to kill the first-born Hebrew boy in every household, but God command mosses to tell the Israelites to mark their door with lamb’s blood so that the angel of death would pass over their house and spare their child. Eventually the Pharaoh set the Israelites free (World Religion, Passover, n.p). Passover takes place for a week in either March or April. It is a tradition for the family to have a special meal called a Sedar. They also read the story of Passover. (Britannica School, n.p). During Passover they have games played. One game the youngest child has to ask four questions about Passover. The oldest family member answers the four questions. The questions revolve around their history and background information. (Britannica School, n.p). Holi is the second most celebrated holiday. It happens on a full moon in the month of February through March. During Holi color is thrown around at other people. Holi is celebrated all over India. It is now an official holiday (World Religion, Holi, n.p). Before the Holi fest officially begins they have a bonfire, which symbolizes the demon Holika. She tried to kill her sister's son, Prahlada (Britannica Encyclopedia, n.p). During the Holi fest the
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Christmas is a holiday celebrated by most of the world. Christianity is very popular in the US and Hispanic cultures. In the US, Christmas is celebrated with going to Church on Christmas Eve, spending time with their families, and many other things. People also reenact the nativity scene, sing Christmas carols, and do
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Different religions, different ways, and one aim of maintaining religious identity. Hinduism and Judaism, two of the world’s biggest religions, are seemingly completely unalike. With differences such as their views of afterlife, death and birth Hindus believing in rebirth and “oneness” with Brahman, and Jews believing in a world to come, focusing more on God’s image, never really mentioning what happens after death. Yet when you take a closer look into both religions you find some similarities. Both religions’ rituals focus on the same things, they may be celebrated differently but the meaning behind the celebrations and the meaning behind some of their symbols are the same, and their purposes help people maintain their identity and keep the traditions of their cultures strong.
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