the feed @ blackchicken

Tag: Holidays

  • St. Patrick’s Day: History & Myths [VIDEO]

    Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Every year, on March 17th, people around the world participate in a tradition of donning green clothing, parading in the streets, and partaking in eats and beverages inspired by the Emerald Isle.  Considering the pious origins of St. Paddy’s Day, the celebrations are rather bodacious. Like other holidays, St. Patrick’s Day…

  • New Year; New Nest

    Happy New Year!  I had hoped to return to the nest sooner, but I spent the better part of the last two weeks cursing myself for not getting a flu shot. Yeah, it was unpleasant.  The only thing that made this holiday bearable was the fact that hubby and I were finally home.  It was…

  • Holy Daze: World Religion Day (January 20th, 2013) – Bahá’í Faith, Interfaith

    In 1949, The National Spiritual Assembly (a governing body of the Bahá’í Faith in the United States) proclaimed that every year on the third Sunday of January, the Bahá’í community would observe World Religion Day.  Despite this observance being originally founded by the Bahá’í community, it is intended to be celebrated by all the world’s…

  • Saying Good-bye to 2012

    I’m finally emerging from my self-induced holiday coma.  The holidays were splendidly relaxing.  Good thing too, because I always feel like I need to recharge as the end of the year approaches and a new one beckons on the horizon. Since I’m still feeling the effects of the holidaze, I haven’t been up to the task of…

  • Holy Daze: Guru Nanak Gurpurab (November 28th, 2012) – Sikhism

    Guru Nanak was the first Sikh Guru, and is considered the founder of the religion.  Sikhs celebrate the anniversary of the births or martyrdoms of the ten Gurus during remembrance days known as Gurpurabs. The festival celebrating Guru Nanak’s birthday falls on the full moon in the month of Kartik. In preparation for the festivities,…

  • Holy Daze: Diwali (November 13th, 2012) – Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism

    Diwali, popularly known as the “Festival of Lights” is an important festival in Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.  All three traditions share this sacred day, however, the significance and meaning of the day differs.  I think many of you will also note some striking similarities around the spiritual metaphors between this revered Eastern holiday with one…

  • Holy Daze: Samhain (October 31st, 2012) – Wiccan/Neopagan

    For many, October 31st marks Halloween, a day for dressing up in scary (and not-so-scary) costumes and going door-to-door trick or treating.  For others though, this day is the most sacred day of the year. Wiccans and Neopagans celebrate this day as the New Year and end of the harvest.  It is a day when…

  • Holy Daze: Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4th, 2012) – Catholic Christian

    St. Francis of Assisi was an Italian Catholic friar and preacher born in the 12th century.  Despite being born into wealth, he dedicated his life to living in poverty and prayer.   He was known to wander and minister to lepers.  St. Francis was also known for his love of animals.  He is often depicted surrounded…

  • Holy Daze: Sukkot (September 30th, 2012 – October 7th, 2012) – Judaism

    Sukkot is an annual week-long harvest festival that follows the solemn holiday of Yom Kippur.  It is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Booths.  Historically, it commemorates the years that the Israelites wandered the desert following the revelation at Mount Sinai.  Sukkahs, or huts, are traditionally built during this holiday to represent the temporary…

  • Holy Daze: Meskel (September 27th, 2012) – Ethiopian Orthodox Christian

    Meskel is an annual religious festival celebrated in Ethiopian Orthodox and Eritrean Orthodox Churches to commemorate Saint Helena (mother of Constantine the Great) finding the True Cross (the cross upon which Jesus was crucified).  Typical celebrations include dancing, colourful processions, feasting and the lighting of a giant bonfire known as a Demera.  The lighting of…