Holiday season: Interfaith predominates

Abdu'l Baha (Public Domain)

Many Westerners think of the "holiday season" as extending from the end of November to the beginning of January.  Christians often think of it as the "Christmas season," and Jews as the "Hanukkah season."

However, this time of year is fraught with other religious holidays, as well.  Interfaith Calendar 2012 lists these November ones: November 24 - Ashura (Islamic day of mourning for the martyrdom of Muhammad's eldest grandson, Hussein ibn Ali ); November 24 – Guru Tegh Bahadur Martyrdom (Sikh day of honoring the Ninth Guru); November 26 - Day of the Covenant (Bahai celebration of the appointment of Abdu'l-Baha as the Centre of Baha'u'llah's Covenant); November 28 – Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha (Bahai commemoration of the passing of Abdu'l-Baha, the eldest son and successor of Baha'u'llah); and November 28 – Guru Nanak Dev Sahib Birthday (a celebration of Sikhism's First Guru and founder).

The following are some of Interfaith Calendar 2012's December holidays:  December 8 – Bodhi Day (Buddhism's commemoration of Buddha's enlightenment); December 21 – Yule/Litha (Wicca/Pagan, Northern/Southern Hemisphere, midwinter/midsummer solstice celebrations); December 26 - Zarathosht Diso (Zoroastrian commemoration of the death of Prophet Zarathushtra); and December 26 to January 1- Kwanzaa (Pan-African and African American holiday honoring seven life virtues).       

Resource

http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/2012.htm

Copyright December 8, 2012 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved