EmbRACE Update - October Worldwide Festivals 🌍

4^th October 2021 – St. Francis of Assisi's Feast Day 

Many churches in the United Kingdom observe the Feast of St Francis of Assisi on October 4 each year. The feast commemorates the life of St Francis, who was born in the 12th century and is the Catholic Church’s patron saint of animals and the environment. St Francis, who founded the Catholic Church’s Franciscan order, lived in Italy during the late 12th and 13th centuries. He is remembered for his generosity to the poor and his willingness to minister to the lepers. The Feast of St Francis of Assisi is a day when special church services are held to bless pets in the United Kingdom. Pets of all kids, including dogs, cats, hamsters, rabbits, and even a 100-year-old tortoise, have been blessed in churches in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland in the past.

6^th - 14^th October 2021 – Navratri  

Navratri translates to Nav meaning nine and ratri meaning nights (9 Nights) and honours the divine Goddess Durga who defeated the demon king Mahishasura in a battle. The Goddess Durga is a very powerful and significant deity in the Hindu religion. Over the course of the 9 nights, Shakti or feminine power is celebrated or worshipped through the 9 incarnations of the Goddess Durga some of which are Goddess Shailputri, the first manifestation of Goddess Durga, Goddess Chandraghanta, a fierce 10-armed goddess with a crescent moon on her forehead and Goddess Katyayani, who is a form of Shakti and also known as the warrior goddess. Each form has a unique story and represents feminine power. Worshippers will often fast on certain foods throughout the day such as fruit and yoghurt or just water. In the evening prayers are read out and some may perform Garba which is a special dance. At some Mandir’s (temples), congregations may join in Jagrata which is an all-night vigil where worshippers will sing hymns and dance. 

15^th October 2021 – Dussehra – Defeat of the 10 headed demon king Ravana  

Dussehra can be celebrated for different reasons. Depending on different beliefs in India, In the Northern part of India, the festival celebrates the defeat of Ravana against Rama. In a few other places, it celebrates the killing of a demon, Mahishasura, some may celebrate the day following the end of Navratri and for prosperity and good luck which comes in the shape of praying to the Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati for wisdom, knowledge and humility. As mentioned, one of the significant celebrations mark the defeat of Ravana against Rama, many pilgrims will have plays or productions replicating the killing of Ravana. A person with an arrow with a burning flame shoots it onto a statue made in the form of Ravana. This replica would be made of fire-crackers and would start bursting once the arrow with flame strikes it, which symbolizes the killing of Ravana. 

7^th October 2021 – Chong Yang Festival – Double Ninth Festival  

In Chinese, nine is regarded as the number of Yang (which means masculine as opposed to Yin which is feminine). The ninth day of the ninth month is the day that has two Yang numbers, and 'chong' in Chinese means double which is how the name Chongyang was created. It is a day for people to eat Chongyang cake, drink chrysanthemum wine, climb mountains and have picnics! It is said that by ascending to a high mountain, diseases could be prevented and Chrysanthemums are regarded as a flower full of antioxidants and can drive the evil away (linked to a legendry folks tale). Now, family, relatives or good friends gather to climb mountains to enjoy the beautiful scenery and share the happiness of the holiday with each other.

19^th October – Anapanasati Day  

The anniversary of Buddha delivering the Anapanasati Sutta (scripture on the Mindfulness of Breathing), an important Sutra about meditation. After a 3 month retreat during the Vassa (rain retreat which takes place during the rainy season), many monks on the final day will observe the day with the ‘Invitation’ Ceremony. This ceremony, the ‘Invitation’, takes when the monks and nuns meet together and invite one another to point out each other’s faults, as they have been observed during the Retreat. Its purpose is to help them in purifying themselves. A monk has to be open to any criticism from colleagues or from lay people he (or she) has met regarding his/her behaviour. The ceremony leads to Kathina robe-offering, which is offered by the monks present to a particular monk, usually an especially deserving or virtuous one, in a thoughtful ceremony conducted by four of his colleagues.

19^th - 24^th October – Mawlid Ul Nadi – The Birthday of the Prophet 

The history of Mawlid goes back to the early days of Islam when people gathered to read poetry and sang verses to honour Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet's life and teachings, as reflected in the Hadith, continue to influence believers. Muslims who observe Mawlid-un-Nabi remember, discuss and celebrate the Prophet's life on Eid Mawlid Un Nabi. People hold night-long prayers and send cards and best wishes to friends and family. Eid Milad Un Nabi Mubarak!

20^th October – Conferring of Guruship to the Guru Granth Sahib 

On the banks of the Indian river Godawari, Guru Gobind Singh designated the Adi Granth (holy scriptures) as his successor, using in his address the words, ‘Guru maneyo Granth’ (consider the Granth to be the Guru), affirming the text of the Granth as sacred and terminating the traditional line of human Gurus, This auspicious day falls on 20 October. Installed now as the ‘Guru Granth Sahib’, it became the central text of Sikhism, and the eternal Guru of all Sikhs. A building becomes a gurdwara (‘house of the Guru’) when the Guru Granth Sahib is kept inside.  The Guru is placed on a raised throne-like platform (takht) with a decorated canopy above it. Every morning the Guru is taken out from its special rest room and carried on the head to the centre of the gurdwara, where it is placed on the throne. Devotees offer gifts as they bow to the Granth, whenever they enter the Gurdwara. 

Spooky Facts about Halloween! 31^st October 2021 🎃:

• Jack O’ Lanterns comes from the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, Jack was sent off into the night after tricking the devil and being turned away from heaven. With only a burning coal to light his path, He placed the coal inside a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the earth ever since.

• According to Guinness World Records, the highest number of lit jack O'lanterns on display is 30,581 by the City of Keene, New Hampshire in 2013

• Many people enjoy embracing the spooky spirit of Halloween, but for some, the fear is not all in good fun. Some people suffer from Samhainophobia, or the fear of Halloween!

• In Hollywood, using Silly String on Halloween can get you a $1,000 fine

• The BBC banned the hit 1962 song from airplay that year because they thought it was “too morbid.”

Hope you enjoy the read and look forward to November’s Edition! 😊