EmbRACE Update - Worldwide Festivals 🌍

Each month we will be sharing information on the many celebrated Worldwide Festivals. Developed by our very own EmbRACE Working Group Colleague, Mandy Kaur, have a read of the latest update below which includes April's dates. 😊 

Into the second month of Spring with a few sunny days and lots to do! I hope you enjoy April’s Edition.

 

2^nd April 2022  – Ramadan  

 

This month will start with a 4 week fast for many practising Muslims. The timing of Ramadam is largely based on the sighting of the moon's crescent following a new moon therefore the exact date cannot always be predicted with certainty as is likely to change every year. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food and drink during daylight hours as well as what might be considered other vices such as smoking and sexual activity and by doing so it is considered to allow you to clearly reflect on your faith without distraction, to keep your thoughts pure and motivated through prayer and it is important to fulfil as part of the five pillars of Islam which focuses on the complete declaration of faith, the importance of prayer, charity and the Hajj Pilgrimage. The fast begins just before dawn when a light meal called ‘suhoor’ is permitted to be consumed. At sunset, a prayer is known as ‘Adhan’ signifies the end of the fast, where worshippers will then traditionally open their fasts by eating dates with juice, milk or water. With this said, I wish all my Muslim friends and colleagues a very prosperous Ramadan and I ask all our colleagues to be patient and be kind and offer your support this Ramadan. For more information why not read our dedicated story here.

  

5^th April 2022 – Quingming/Chingming Festival – Pure Brightness Day 

 

Qingming (or Chingming) Festival, also called Tomb Sweeping Day or, literally, 'Pure Brightness' Festival in English, is a traditional Chinese festival and an important day for most people to go and sweep tombs and commemorate their ancestors. On this day, tomb-sweeping is one of the most important and popular activities to show respect to ancestors. In Chinese, Qingming means 'clearness' and 'brightness'. The origin of the name was related to climate and nature in this season. There are various activities for Qingming Festival. Other than the upkeep and repair of ancestral tombs, the most popular activities are spring outings, kite flying, and putting willow branches on gates. The festival is also traditionally known as Cold Food Day. On the cold food festival day, people used no fire and only ate cold food. Now people in some places still have the custom of eating cold food at the Qingming Festival. The traditional Qingming festival foods include sweet green rice balls, peach blossom porridge, crispy cakes, Qingming snails, and eggs. These foods are usually cooked one or two days before the arrival of the Qingming Festival so people can eat and recreate them during the holidays.

 

8^th April 2022 - Hanamatsuri– Flower Festival 

In Japan, Buddha’s Birthday is referred to as Hanamatsuri which also means flower festival. To commemorate the celebrations, many Buddhist temples in Japan are decorated with flowers. One particular festive gesture is the pouring of a tea-like beverage known as ama-cha, over the Buddha statues. Some people will also drink and ingest ama-cha, which is made from hydrangea leaves. The original Japanese Flower Festival (hana, ‘flower’, matsuri, ‘festival’) was observed to encourage fruit trees to flower early; at the time, the farming community believed that the longer the blossoming, the more prosperous the harvest. 

 

10^th April 2022 – Rama Navami 

 

Rama Navami is the day on which Lord Rama, the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, has half the definitive qualities of Lord Vishnu. The word “Rama” literally means one who is divinely blissful and who gives joy to others. The festival of Ramnavami is celebrated with great devotion across the nation and every region has its own regional significance the celebration. Some worshippers will fast for a full 9 nine days, eating only certain foods throughout the day such as fruit, yoghurt, milk, tea, coffee and water. Quite often you would refrain from eating meat, eggs, onions, garlic, some spices and wheat products and in the evening after a special ceremony called “aarti”, they will open their fasts with vegetarian dishes. Following the aarti, worshippers may rock the cradle of the baby Rama idol and might sing devotional songs called “bhajans” in his praise. In some parts of India, a huge fair is organized for two days. Ratha yatras or 'chariot processions' of Rama and his wife Sita, brother Lakshmana and devotee Hanuman, are taken out from many temples. 

 

13^th April 2022 – Songkran – Water Festival 

 

This really fun festival is one of Thailand’s most famous festivals. The name Songkran comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘passing’ or ‘approaching’. Water is an important element of Songkran, Containers of water are thrown as a symbol of washing away all that is evil. Fragrant herbs are often placed in the water jug or bucket, especially in more recent times when the throwing of water has become a huge part of the annual celebrations. If you’re visiting Thailand during this period, prepare to get splashed! Crowds of people roam around throwing buckets of water, using water pistols and just generally soaking anyone in the vicinity. Appreciation of family is another important aspect of the festival, with many Thai people making their way to their hometowns to spend time with older relatives. Buddhists also visit temples throughout Songkran where water is poured on Buddha images and on the hands of Buddhist monks as a mark of respect.

 

13^th April 2022 – Vaisakhi  

In 1699, on Vaisakhi, the tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, founded the Order of the Khalsa. Five men (Five Beloved Ones), offered their lives when the Guru asked for volunteers. The ‘Five Ks’, the outward signs of Sikhism, were made obligatory and Sikh men took the name ‘Singh’ (lion) and women ‘Kaur’ (princess). The initiation ceremony, amrit, was introduced which would deem a Sikh fully baptised. Today Vaisakhi involves processions, giving out ‘Langar’ (communal kitchen providing food to all) and has also become widely celebrated as the festival of Harvest where Farmers seek blessings from their agricultural land and begin harvesting their first crop of the season. 

 

16^th – 17^th April 2022 – Hanuman Jayanti 

Hanuman Jayanti is a Hindu festival that recalls the birth of Lord Rama’s supreme devotee, the monkey-headed Hanuman. Hanuman is believed to be the eleventh avatar of Lord Shiva, he is worshipped as a symbol of physical strength, perseverance, and devotion as he devoted himself to Lord Rama. Many devotees celebrate by decorating a Hanuman idol statue either with flowers or garlands. Again, the celebrations will often start after day-long fasting, and once the Hanuman Chalisa, a devotional hymn is read out, this will be followed by devotional singing. Quite often, worshippers will share “parshad” a ceremonial sweet Besan Ladoo, which are sweet balls made of gram flour and are said to be one of Hanuman’s favourite sweets.

 

17^th April 2022 – Easter Sunday 

Easter Sunday or Easter Day is one of the most important days of the year for Christians. It is when they celebrate the days after Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross and rose from the dead, it is also known by some as 'the Resurrection'. Easter traditions and symbols have evolved over time, though some have been around for centuries. According to some sources, the Easter bunny first arrived in America in the 1700s with German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania and transported their folk tale of an egg-laying hare called “Osterhase” or “Oschter Haws.” Their children made nests in which this creature could lay its coloured eggs. Decorating eggs for Easter is a tradition that dates back to at least the 13th century, one explanation for this custom is that eggs were formerly a forbidden food during the season of Lent, so people would paint and decorate them to mark the end of the period of penance and fasting, then eat them on Easter as a celebration. Rabbits are also often seen as a symbol of new life. 

 

Here's a lovely Poem about April:

April

Songbird’s joyful music,

And the early springtime flowers,

Colorful umbrellas,

Opened wide for April showers,

Days are brighter,

Hearts are lighter,

Promise fills the air,

The gift of April brings us,

Special happiness to share 😊

 

If you’re celebrating a wonderful festivity this month, why not send in a picture to be featured in next month's story! Please send to Embraceworkinggroup@midcounties.coop