Congregation: Easter in Bulgaria At midnight on the Saturday before Easter Sunday, people in Bulgaria gather at church, with red painted eggs and bread. The priest proclaims three times “Christos Voskrese” (Christ has risen) and the congregation replies “Vo istina voskrese” (Indeed he has risen). One of the Easter breads is specially decorated with one or more (but an odd …
Read More »What is Ram Navami History?
What is Ram Navami History? Annually observed in the Hindu month of Chaitra, Ram Navami is one of the holiest Hindu festivals that is observed in nearly every part of the world inhabited by even the least number of Hindus. Every year, the month of March-April witnesses a flurry of activities in the pilgrimages and religious spots around India teeming …
Read More »What is Significance Of Ram Navami?
What is Significance Of Ram Navami? Salutations to Lord Rama, an Incarnation of Lord Vishnu, who is measureless, who is of the nature of pure Consciousness and bliss, who is the consort of Sita, Master of Sri Hanuman, and the Lord of the three worlds, who took His birth at His own will in order to establish righteousness, destroy the …
Read More »Who Is St. Patrick and Why Do We Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
Every March 17th, thousands of people don their greenest garb, march in Irish pride parades, eat green clover-shaped cookies, and quaff frosty mugs of green beer in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. But do you really know who St. Patrick was and why he is celebrated? Who is St. Patrick? Patrick was born in AD 387 just south of Hadrian’s …
Read More »Which day is the Maghi Day?
The day following Lohri is called ‘Maghi’, signifying the beginning of the month of Magh. According to Hindu beliefs, this is an auspicious day to take a holy dip in the river and give away charity. Sweet dishes (usually kheer) are prepared with sugar cane juice to mark the day. Lohri is more than just a festival, especially for the …
Read More »When was the first New Year celebrated?
The celebration of the new year is actually the oldest of all holidays, but it hasn’t always been observed on January 1. Babylonians first celebrated the beginning of the new year about 4000 years ago around 2000 BC. Unlike our holiday today, the Babylonians marked the beginning of the year on what is now March 23 since that is when …
Read More »What are some New Year’s traditions?
Every culture has its own way to celebrate New Year’s Day. In the U.S., many people throw parties, and crowds gather in New York’s Times Square and at Chicago’s State Street on New Year‘s Eve. In the American South, people eat black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. In Spain and some of South America, people get good …
Read More »What is the History of Christmas Carols?
What is the History of Christmas Carols? Carols were first sung in Europe thousands of years ago, but these were not Christmas Carols. They were pagan songs, sung at the Winter Solstice celebrations as people danced round stone circles. The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, usually taking place around the 22nd December. The word Carol actually …
Read More »What is the meaning of Christmas?
Jesus “Christ” is known as the founder or central figure of “Christianity.” Christmas is a Christian holiday on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. Ancient Romans also commemorated Jesus’ birth by marking a division of the calendar still in use today. The years before Jesus’ birth are marked as B.C. (Before Christ), and the years after Jesus’ birth …
Read More »What is Dreidel? Hanukkah Children’s game
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. It is used during Hanukkah to play a popular children’s game that involves spinning the dreidel and betting on which Hebrew letter will be showing when the dreidel stops spinning. Children usually play for a pot of gelt, which are chocolate coins covered in gold colored …
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