July 2018

Welcome to the July Equality and Diversity newsletter from the Trust. This newsletter aims to raise awareness of the some of the events taking place during July 2018. We want this newsletter to be as interactive as possible and would like to include your stories and your photos. Please contact the author if you have anything you would like to share for the year 2018. What’s happening - July 2018?

July 2018 5th 9th 11th 15th 21/22 Birthday of Guru Martydom of the Saint Benedict St Vladimir the  Tisha B’Av – Judaism Hargobind - Bab - – Baha’i Day - Christian Great Day -  Feast Day of Saint Mary Sikhism Christian Magdalene - Christian

23rd 24th 25 th 27th  Birthday of Guru  –  Saint James the ( Day) - Buddhist Har Krishan - Mormon Great Day - Sikhism Christian Christian  Birthday of Emperor Haile Selassie – Rastafari

School Diversity Week. 2nd – 6th July 2018 School Diversity Week is the national celebration of LGBT+ equality in education.

Just Like Us is the LGBT+ charity for young people, founded for a simple reason: growing up LGBT+ is still one of the most challenging experiences young people can face. The organisation train LGBT+ university students as relatable role models who visit schools to share their personal stories; tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying; bust stereotypes and champion LGBT+ equality. Their ambassadors have worked directly with more than 15,000 schoolchildren the last academic year. School Diversity Week is their initiative to empower school students and teachers to take ownership of celebrating LGBT+ equality in their own schools and colleges.

Further Resources - http://www.justlikeus.org/sdw

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5th July - Birthday of Guru Hargobind

Sikhs celebrate the Birthday of with readings from Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh’s Holy Scriptures. Gurdwaras, Sikh places of worship, are decorated with colorful flowers, images and flags. Communities of Sikhs join together to pray, sing and eat together. It is day to remember the peaceful mind and endeavors of Guru Har Rai, and a day for forgiveness as the Guru taught his disciples to forgive all those who would venture against them. Sikhs celebrate the remembrance of their Gurus in a very similar way, only changing the hymns and some passages that are read from the Guru Granth Sahib.

The celebration of the Birthdays of Sikhs Gurus lasts for 3 days, and on the birth anniversary there is the singing of the Asa di Var, morning hymns followed by the Katha, exposition of the scripture, there are lectures and poems are recited in praise of the Guru. The day ends with Rehras, evening prayers, and sometimes it is followed by a poetic symposium, a Kavi Darbar, where poets can praise the Guru with their own words.

Further Resources- http://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Guru_Har_Gobind

9th July -Martyrdom of the Bab - – Baha’i

This major holy day is celebrated on the 9th July at noon and commemorates the events surrounding the death of the Báb in 1850. The Báb (a title meaning 'the Gate') had many followers but his beliefs did not meet with approval from the leaders of the state religion in Persia, and they decided he should be taken from prison and put to death.

One of his young followers begged to be allowed to share his fate, and this wish was granted. An Armenian firing squad lined up and shot at the Báb and his follower, but when the smoke cleared, the young follower remained there unharmed and the Báb had gone.

The Báb was found back in his cell, and the soldiers were so shaken by the 'miracle' that they refused to try to kill him again so a new regiment had to be called for. This time, when the squad opened fire the Báb and the follower died, and their bodies were thrown into a moat outside the town.

The Báb's followers rescued the bodies, and years later, the remains were buried on Mount Carmel in Israel, in a shrine that is now a place of pilgrimage for Bahá'ís worldwide. To commemorate this day, Bahá'ís read special prayers at noon, which is the time the execution was scheduled for.

This is also a day of rest, when Bahá'ís should not work.

Further Resources - http://bahaiteachings.org/shocking-martyrdom-the-bab

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24th July - Pioneer Day – Mormon Christian

Pioneer Day is an official holiday celebrated on July 24. It commemorates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847 where the Latter-day Saints settled after being driven from Nauvoo, Illinois and other locations in the eastern United States. Celebrations take place in the form of parades, fireworks, rodeos, and other festivities help commemorate the event. Similar to July 4, many local and all state-run government offices and many businesses are closed on Pioneer Day. In addition to being an official holiday in Utah, Pioneer Day is considered a special occasion by many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

On Pioneer Day, some Latter-day Saints walk portions of the Mormon Trail or reenact entering the Salt Lake Valley by handcart. Latter-day Saints throughout the United States and around the world may celebrate July 24 in remembrance of the LDS Church's pioneer era, with songs, dances, potlucks, and pioneer related activities.

Further Resources - www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/holydays/holydays

27th July - Asalha Puja (Dharma Day) – Buddhist

Asalha Puja (known as Asanha Bucha in ,) is a Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the sixth lunar month (the full moon of Cancer). It is celebrated in , Thailand, , , and in countries with Theravada Buddhist populations. Asalha Puja, also known as Dhamma Day, is one of Theravada ’s most important festivals, celebrating as it does the Buddha’s first sermon in which he set out to his five former associates the doctrine that had come to him following his enlightenment. This first pivotal sermon, often referred to as “setting into motion the wheel of dhamma,” is the teaching which is encapsulated for Buddhists in the : there is suffering (dukkha); suffering is caused by craving (tanha); there is a state (nibbana) beyond suffering and craving; and finally, the way to is via the eightfold path. All the various schools and traditions of Buddhism revolve around the central doctrine of the four noble truths

This first sermon is not only the first structured discourse given by the Buddha after his enlightenment; it also contains the essence of all his subsequent teaching. At the end of the talk, one of the five participants recounted his understanding of what had been said and asked to be received as a disciple, a request the Buddha granted, thus establishing the first order of monks.

The day is observed by donating offerings to temples and listening to sermons. The following day is known in Thailand as Wan Khao Phansa; it is the first day of , the Theravada rains retreat.

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Further Res

Looking Ahead – August 2018

1st Lammas Christian Fast in honour of Holy Mother of Orthodox Christian Lord Jesus Lughnassadh - Imbolc Wicca/Pagan Northern and Southern Hemispheres World Breastfeeding Week 6th Transfiguration of the Lord Orthodox Christian Transfiguration Sunday Christian 9th International day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples 15th Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Catholic Christian Mary 20th Waqf al Arafa Islam 22nd Queenship of Mary Catholic Christian 21st- Eid al Adha Islam 25th 25th Hungry Ghost Festival Chinese Holiday 26th Raksha Bandhan Hindu 29th Beheading of Saint John the Baptist Christian

We are all different, we are all unique, let’s share and celebrate our differences. Let us know how you celebrate or commemorate - contact Hayley Aplin at [email protected] or on 01793 605426 if you would like to contribute to the June edition.

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