What is Samhain?

Samhain (said “sah-ween”) is a Gaelic word that means “summer’s end.” It marks the end of summer and the beginning of winter. 

Long ago, it was celebrated by Pagans, Druids, Wiccans, and witches in places like Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Northern France, and the Isle of Man. For many Pagans, Samhain is a spiritual new year, sometimes called “The Witches’ New Year.” It’s a time to give thanks for the harvest and to remember loved ones who have died.

From Samhain to Halloween

Samhain and Halloween are connected, but they are not the same. When Christianity spread, Pope Gregory I (in 601 CE) told people to change Pagan festivals into Christian ones instead of banning them. Samhain later became linked with All Saints’ Day (1st November) and All Hallows’ Eve (31st October)- what we now call Halloween.

In the 1840s, many Irish people moved to the USA during a famine and brought their Samhain traditions with them. Over time, these changed into modern Halloween.

What is Vaisakhi?

Vaisakhi is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar. It marks the birthday of the Khalsa, the community of committed Sikhs founded by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699 CE. The festival is celebrated every year on 13th or 14th April and also coincides with the harvest festival in the Punjab region of India.

The Khalsa = The community of those Sikhs who have undergone the initiation ceremony.

The Khalsa members were given the Five Ks, symbols of their faith:

1. Kesh – uncut hair

2. Kara – a steel bracelet

3. Kanga – a wooden comb

4. Kachera – special shorts

Kirpan – a small sword 

How is Vaisaki celebrated?

There are celebrations at the Gurdwara all day. A special service is held in the  morning and food is served in the Langar (dining room) for the visitors. Sikhs  will volunteer to cook and serve the food. 

Readings are given from the Guru Granth Sahib (holy book), and poems are  read to remind people of the very first Vaisakhi.

An important part of Vaisakhi is the changing of Nishan Sahib, the  Sikh flag which flies outside of the Gurdwara. The flag is washed  and put back up. 

There is often a procession through the streets, with floats carrying  the Guru Granth Sahib. People will follow the procession and sing hymns.

Eid ul-Fitr (sometimes written as Eid al-Fitr) is one of the most joyful and important festivals in the Muslim calendar. The name means “Festival of Breaking the Fast.” It marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting, prayer, and self-reflection for Muslims all over the world.

The Meaning of Eid ul-Fitr

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn until sunset each day. This means they do not eat or drink anything during daylight hours. Fasting helps Muslims to focus on God (Allah), practice self-control, and remember those who are less fortunate.

When Ramadan ends, the new moon is sighted, and the next day becomes Eid ul-Fitr, a time of thanksgiving, joy, and community. Muslims thank Allah for giving them strength during Ramadan and celebrate with family and friends.

Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights. The festival of Diwali extends over  five days. Because of the lights, fireworks and sweets involved, it's a  great favourite with children. 

Diwali is known as the 'festival of lights'  because houses, shops and public places are  decorated with small earthenware oil lamps  called diyas. These lamps, which are  traditionally fuelled by mustard oil, are  placed in rows in windows, doors and outside buildings to decorate them. The festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, light over darkness and  knowledge over ignorance, although the actual legends that go with the  festival are different in different parts of India. 

The lamps are lit to help the goddess Lakshmi find her way into people's  homes. They also celebrate one of the Diwali legends, which tells of the  return of Rama and Sita to Rama's kingdom after fourteen years of exile. 

Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. In the western calendar  Hanukkah is celebrated in November or December and lasts for eight days. The  word Hanukkah means rededication and remembers the Jews' struggle for  religious freedom. 

The festival marks the phenomenal victory of a group of Jews called the  Maccabees over the Syrian Greeks, the most powerful army of the ancient  world. At the end of a three-year war, the Maccabees recaptured Jerusalem  and rededicated the temple. 

When the Maccabees rededicated the temple, they discovered a single  bottle of oil with the seal of the High Priest still intact. When they came to light the temple candelabrum they had enough oil to  last only a day. But it stayed alight for eight days. This became known as  the miracle of the oil. It is because of this miracle that candles are lit during Hanukkah. 

Wesak celebrates the Buddha's birthday and, for some Buddhists. It also marks  his enlightenment and death. It is sometimes called Buddha Day. Wesak is the  most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in  May. 

Wesak is a very colourful and happy celebration. Homes may be cleaned and  decorated. In many countries, Buddhists will visit their local temple for services  and teaching. They will give offerings to the monks of food, candles and  flowers. Chanting and praying are an important part of Wesak. 

Christmas, celebrated on 25th December, is a Christian holy day marking the birth of Jesus, the son of God. The story of Jesus’ birth, or the nativity, is described in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. Both accounts explain that Mary, a virgin, became pregnant and was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter.

In Luke, an angel tells Mary she will give birth to God’s son, while Matthew describes an angel visiting Joseph to encourage him to marry Mary. Matthew also tells of wise men following a star to bring gifts, and Luke describes shepherds visiting Jesus after an angel guides them.

Joseph and Mary travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem for a Roman census, a 90-mile journey during which Mary rode a donkey. Finding the inn full, they stayed in a stable, where Jesus was born and laid in a manger.

The Bible does not give a birth date, and Christmas was set on 25th December in the 4th century by Pope Julius I.