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AIM: What do the following holidays celebrate? Topic: History of select holidaysHanukkah“The eight-day Jewish celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt. Hanukkah, which means “dedication” in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional foods, games and gifts.” ()Eid al-Fitr “(Arabic: “Festival of Breaking Fast”)also spelled???d al-Fi?r, also called?al-??d al-?aghīr, Turkish?Ramazan Bayrami (“Ramadan Festival”), first of two?canonical?festivals of?Islam. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of?Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of?fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the?Islamic calendar?(though the Muslim use of a?lunar calendar means that it may fall in any season of the year). As in Islam’s other holy?festival,?Eid al-Adha, it is distinguished by the performance of communal prayer (?alāt) at daybreak on its first day. Eid al-Fitr is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited.” ()? Ramadan, “In?Islam, the ninth?month?of the?Muslim calendar?and the holy month of?fasting. It begins and ends with the appearance of the new moon. Islamic tradition states that on the night of 27 Ramadan—the “Night of Power” (Laylat al-Qadr)—God revealed to the Prophet?Muhammad?the?Qur?ān, Islam’s holy book, “as a guidance for the people.” For Muslims Ramadan is a?period?of introspection, communal?prayer?(?alāt) in the?mosque, and reading of the?Qur?ān. God forgives the past sins of those who observe the holy month with fasting, prayer, and faithful intention.” (Britannica)Chinese New Year “Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China. In 2018, Chinese New Year begins on February 16 and marks the beginning of the Year of the Dog. Tied to the Chinese lunar calendar, the holiday was traditionally a time to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring family together for feasting. With the popular adoption of the Western calendar in 1912, the Chinese joined in celebrating January 1 as New Year’s Day.”? ()Kwanzaa“Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African-Americans together as a community. He founded US, a cultural organization, and started to research African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa.” ()Diwali“Diwali, also spelled?Divali, one of the major religious festivals in?Hinduism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of Karttika. (The corresponding dates in the?Gregorian calendar?usually fall in late October and November.) The name is derived from the Sanskrit term?dipavali, meaning “row of lights,” which are lit on the new-moon night to invite the presence of?Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Bengal, however, the goddess?Kali?is worshipped, and in north India the?festival?also celebrates the return of?Rama,?Sita, Lakshmana, and?Hanuman?to the city of?Ayodhya, where Rama’s rule of righteousness would commence.” (Britannica)Yom Kippur“Yom Kippur—the Day of Atonement—is considered the most important holiday in the Jewish faith. Falling in the month of Tishrei (September or October in the Gregorian calendar), it marks the culmination of the 10 Days of Awe, a period of introspection and repentance that follows Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. According to tradition, it is on Yom Kippur that God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. The holiday is observed with a 25-hour fast and a special religious service.” () Christmas“Christmas, a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus, has evolved into a worldwide religious and secular celebration, incorporating many pre-Christian and pagan traditions into the festivities.” ()Video: History Channel’s, “The Real Story of Christmas” Minute - 7:15-38:00/Why Dec. 25th? ................
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