Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
Sukkot commemorates the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult desert conditions. Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths. Sukkot is celebrated by, first of all, building a sukkah – a temporary little hut … Continue reading “Sukkot 2-9 October”
Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, is the holiest day of the year in Judaism. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a day-long fast and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue services. The purpose of Yom Kippur is to effect individual … Continue reading “Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement”
Thomas Chatterton (20 November 1752 – 24 August 1770) was an English poet whose precocious talents ended in suicide at age 17. He was an influence on Romantic poets of the period including Shelley, Keats and Wordsworth. Although fatherless and raised in poverty, he was an exceptionally studious child, publishing mature work by the age of 11. … Continue reading “Thomas Chatterton anniversary”
Jasmin Kaur Athwal (Joint Honours Ancient History & Archaeology and History) undergraduate offers us five ways to get involved in the inaugural South Asia Heritage Month (SAHM) from the comfort of our own homes and tells us in their blog about forthcoming events, recommended reading and how to volunteer and get directly involved with SAHM. … Continue reading “5 ways to get involved in South Asia Heritage Month (18 July-17 August) – blog by Jasmin Athwal”
Black Country Day takes place on 14 July each year. Originally in March, the day was later moved to 14 July – the anniversary of the invention of the Newcomen steam engine. Black Country Day celebrates the area’s role in the Industrial Revolution. The Black Country dialect is well known by many as the oldest … Continue reading “Black Country Day”
Bastille Day is a holiday celebrating the storming of the Bastille – a military fortress and prison – on July 14, 1789, in a violent uprising that helped usher in the French Revolution. Besides holding gunpowder and other supplies valuable to revolutionaries, the Bastille also symbolized the callous tyranny of the French monarchy, especially King … Continue reading “Le 14 juillet”
For children of the 1950s and 1960s (and I am one of the them! Ed), along with ‘The Woodentops’ and ‘Bill and Ben’, ‘Andy Pandy’ in the ‘Watch with Mother’ series was a must see for those of us young enough not to know any better. The opening titles of ‘Andy Pandy’ were blocks which … Continue reading “70th anniversary of BBC children’s tv show ‘Andy Pandy’ being first broadcast”
Paul Klee (18 December 1879-29 June 1940) First of all, the art of living; then as my ideal profession, poetry and philosophy, and as my real profession, plastic arts; in the last resort, for lack of income, illustrations. — Paul Klee https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/paul-klee-late-klee In his early years, following his parents’ wishes, Klee focused on becoming a musician; … Continue reading “Paul Klee anniversary”
Bridget Blankley, Art History MA student tells us what life in lockdown is like for a writer What do you call a writer who isn’t writing? In my case it’s a research student. After staring at a blank page for too many months I told my publisher that I was taking a break and signed … Continue reading “What do you call a writer who isn’t writing?”
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812–9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world’s best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors’ prison. … Continue reading “Charles Dickens anniversary”
