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 February's dates. 😊 

A belated happy new year to you all, I hope you all had a wonderful break. As we start 2022, let’s find out what wonderful festivals the world has to offer as we begin the year.

 

1st February - Chinese New Year 

Chinese New Year 2022 will fall on Tuesday, February 1st, 2022, starting a year of the Tiger. Celebrations of Chinese New Year traditionally last for 16 days. There are twelve Chinese Zodiac animals, each of which is linked to certain characteristics and elements, and they rotate each year. The order of the years of zodiac signs is thought to be based on a folk tale known as the Great Race. The story goes that the animals raced each other to be the first to reach the Jade Emperor, so the years are named in the order in which they finished the race. The Rat is thought to have won by hitching a ride on the Ox’s back and jumping off at the last minute.

 

4^th February  – Saraswati Puja– Hindu Goddess of Knowledge 

Widely celebrated in North India during the onset of spring when fields are blooming with yellow flowers of the mustard crop.  For Hindus, it is usually linked with Sarasvati, the Hindu goddess of learning and the arts. Mata (Mother) Sarasvati represents singularity, independence, and defiant thought through the rigour of intellect and all things arts, crafts and science. Many of those celebrating will dress in yellow as it is her associated colour and represents new beginnings.

 

15^th February – Teng Chieh - Lantern Festival 

This super cool festival marks the end of the Chinese New Year, The lantern is a traditional symbol of the lengthening days of spring. Incredible lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in streets, outside temples and around homes. In some cases, lantern owners write riddles on a piece of paper and post them on the lanterns where small prizes are given for the correct answers. Commonly, to celebrate people eat yuan xiao, or rice dumplings, on this day. They are small balls made of glutinous rice flour filled with a variety of fillings such as sugar, rose petals, sesame, bean paste, walnut meat, dried fruit… sounds yummy!

 

 

28^th February  – Mahashivratri – The Great Shiva Night 

 

Mahashivratri is one of the most important of celebrations in the Hindu calendar. Many will fast throughout the day on fruits and yoghurt and prayers are usually opened up in the evenings which focus on Shiva and his shrines and statues. Milk is usually poured on his symbol the lingam as an offering. This is followed by a jagrata (all night hymns). This night is to honour the night that Shiva is said to have performed the ‘cosmic dance’, leading from creation to destruction of life. One of the most common stories is when the Gods and demons churned the ocean together to obtain ambrosia that lay in its depths, a pot of poison emerged. Lord Shiva consumed this poison, saving both the Gods and mankind. The poison lodged in the Lord’s throat, turning him blue. Mahashivratri is to honour the saviour of the world.

 

Other things to look forward to (a lotta love)…

• 13^th February… Galentines Day for my singles out there!!

• 14^th February… It’s Valentines Day! For the loved up couples (lots more chocs and prezzies)

 

Neither of those tickling your fancy? How about…

• 3^rd February – Harry Potter Book Night (Yes please!)

• 5^th February – World Nutella Day (definitely a yes please!!)

• 17^th February – Random Acts of Kindness Day 😊

 

See you in March folks!