Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
The Birth of Baháʼu’lláh is one of nine holy days in the Bahá’i calendar that is celebrated by Bahá’is and during which work is suspended. The holy day celebrates the birth of Bahá’u’lláh the founder of the Baháʼí Faith. Bahá’u’lláh was born on 12 November 1817 in Tehran, Iran and this holy day was instituted … Continue reading “Birth of Bahá’u’lláh 18-19 October”
Navratri (meaning ‘nine nights’) is a Hindu festival celebrated every autumn. It is usually held at the end of September or the beginning of October, at harvest time. Navratri lasts for nine days and celebrates good triumphing over evil. During the festival, three goddesses are worshipped: Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. The first three nights are … Continue reading “Navratri 17-25 October”
Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah 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 of year … Continue reading “Simchat Torah 10-11 October”
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year’s theme is ‘Mental Health for All’. ‘Tea and talk’ https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/get-involved/tea-and-talk is a great way to come together, especially during these difficult times. Have a virtual cuppa with friends, family and colleagues and raise awareness for the Mental … Continue reading “World Mental Health Day 10 October”
Giovanni Battista (or Giambattista) Piranesi, also known as simply Piranesi, was an Italian artist famous for his etchings of Rome and of fictitious and atmospheric “prisons” – Le Carceri d’Invenzione. His father was a stonemason. Giovanni was apprenticed under his uncle, Matteo Lucchesi, who was a leading architect in Magistrato delle Acque, the state organization responsible for engineering and restoring historical buildings. In … Continue reading “300th anniversary of the birth of Italian artist Giovanni Battista Piranesi”
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”
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”
Festa della Repubblica is celebrated on 2 June each year and the day commemorates the institutional referendum held in 1946, in which the Italian people were called to the polls to decide on the form of government, following the end of the Second World War and the fall of Fascism. The referendum of 1946 resulted … Continue reading “Festa della Repubblica celebrations”
Hello. I hope everyone is coping well with the current situation. First of all, Eid Mubarak to my fellow Muslims. Today, I will tell you how I celebrated Eid this Sunday!!! This year’s celebration was different than usual, the reason being Covid-19. When I was living in Germany, on Eid my family and I would … Continue reading “LCAHM UG Haby Cisse tells us how she celebrated Eid under lockdown”
