Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
What is Diwali? Diwali is the five-day festival of lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. The festival, which coincides with the Hindu New Year, celebrates new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness which is why Diwali is also known as the festival of lights. People worship Goddess Lakshmi and Lord … Continue reading “Diwali (2-6 November)”
The Day of the Dead is a traditional holiday celebrated in Mexico and is elsewhere associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints’ Day (1 November) and All Souls’ Day (2 November). It is both a remembrance and celebration for the dearly departed. November 1, called Día de Los Inocentes, or Día de Los Angelitos, is the day … Continue reading “El día de los Muertos”
This year Muhammad’s birthday, Mawlid or Eid Milad un Nabi, derived from the Arabic ‘to give birth’, is observed on sundown of 18 October to sundown on 19 October. The date varies each year as it is governed by the lunar calendar. Prophet Muhammad’s birthday is commemorated by Muslims during the month of Rabi’ al-awwal, … Continue reading “Mawlid”
National Poetry Day is a UK-wide celebration of poetry and this year’s theme is Choice. There is a selection of poems here https://nationalpoetryday.co.uk/celebrate-national-poetry-day/ to get you inspired and engaged, plus an online events listing. One of the many poems featured is ‘Instead’ by Brian Moses Instead of an X-boxplease show me a pathway that stretches to the … Continue reading “National Poetry Day (7 October)”
Navaratri (meaning ‘nine nights’) is a Hindu festival [7-17 October] celebrated every autumn. It is usually held at harvest time. Lasting for nine days, Navaratri celebrates good triumphing over evil. During the festival, three goddesses are worshipped: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The first three nights are dedicated to Durga (the mother goddess representing power), the … Continue reading “Navaratri”
The theme for this year’s Black History Month is ‘Proud to Be’. For events in BHM here at the University of Birmingham, please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/events/black-history-month/index.aspx Started in the US as a week-long celebration in 1926 by Carter G Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher, in 1976 it became a month-long celebration … Continue reading “Black History Month 1-31 October”
Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah (28-29 September) is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. The main celebrations of Simchat Torah take place in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In Orthodox, as well as many conservative congregations, this is the only time … Continue reading “Simchat Torah”
Sukkot (20-27 September) commemorates the biblical story of 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. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths, it is a festival for giving thanks for many things, like … Continue reading “Sukkot”
Krishna Janmashtami, also called Gokulashtami, is an annual Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Devotees keep fast on the day of Krishna Janmashtami and offer prayer to the deity for good health and happiness. Hindus believe that on this day, Lord Vishnu, the preserver or sustainer of life, was … Continue reading “Krishna Janmashtami 30 August”
Rakshabandhan (or Rakhi) is a Hindu festival, taking place on the full moon in the month of Sravana, which celebrates brotherhood and love. The word Raksha means protection, whilst Bandhan is the verb to tie. On this day, sisters tie rakhi (a bracelet made of interwoven red and gold threads) on the wrists of their brothers to protect … Continue reading “Rakshabandhan 22 August”
