Chaplaincy Holy Days, Celebrations and Observances of February 2020
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Chaplaincy Holy Days, Celebrations and Observances of February 2020 HOLY DAYS WITH NO FIXED DATE KWAIKIUTL MIDWINTER FESTIVAL Long before the dawn of man, the Kwakiutl tribes inhabited the coastal region and believed the world was ruled by supernatural beings that took the shape of different animals. These bears, wolves, seals, ravens, bees, owls, and whales were the em- bodiment of nature and possessed supreme supernatural prowess. The Kwakiutl tribe believes these beings endowed the first members of their tribe with a fragment of their power. Their descendants are the modern-day Kwakiutl and continue this tradition by engaging in ceremonies that connect them to the power of nature and these spirits of ancient lore. The Kwakiutl Midwinter Ceremony is a time in the middle of winter when the tribes join together and reaffirm their belief in the supernatural elements of this world, strengthening the power that dwells within. Some aspects of the ceremony consist of traditional dances, masks of the animal spir- its, and a great feast of salmon, berries, crabapples, and more. The dancing rituals or “Ha- matsa dances” are used to entice these ever-present spirits to visit the people of the tribe yet again. It’s understood that rigorous training is required to perform these dances and the tribesman that perform them are blessed with great power and wisdom for their efforts. Two of the most significant figures in this ceremony are the Raven and the Salmon spir- its. According to their beliefs, the Raven was responsible for bringing the sun, moon, and stars into the sky above. The raven is also seen a trickster spirit, taking the form of different animals and people as it sees fit but still highly regarded by the Kwakiutl. The Salmon is an important figure because salmon were the main staple of the tribe’s diet, as their land stretched from northern California to Alaska. The Kwakiutl also believed that the salmon had a society similar to their own beneath the sea. Their ancestors were taught different ceremonies by these salmon. The Kwakiutl Midwinter Ceremony celebration is a wonderful time to embrace all things supernatural and to once again take in the mystic elements of nature and myth back into your life. READ MORE: https://www.assignmentpoint.com/arts/sociology/assignment-on-kwakiutl.html ChildrensNational.org/ChaplaincyServices HOLY DAYS WITH FIXED DATE February 2 Candlemas/Presentation of Christ Christian Candlemas is a Christian holiday celebrated annually on February 2. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief: the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches). Many Christians consider Jesus as the “light of the world” so it is fitting that candles are blessed on this day and that a candle-lit procession precedes the mass. It is traditional to eat crepes on Candlemas in some parts of Europe, such as France. Each family member prepares and cooks a crepe while holding a coin in hand. This is believed to assure wealth and happiness until the next Candlemas celebration. Candlemas is also known as Candelaria in Spanish speaking countries. Whoever finds baby figures hidden inside the Rosca de Reyes (Kings Cake) on Epiphany on January 6 is obliged to bring food to a gathering held on February 2. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate this event by bringing beeswax candles to their local church and requesting for these candles to be blessed to be used in the church or at home. Some Christians observe the practice of leaving Christmas decorations up until Candlemas. Candlemas primarily focuses on Jesus’ early life. Many Christians believe that Jesus’ mother Mary presented him to God at the Temple in Jerusalem after observing the traditional 40-day period of purification (of mothers) following his birth. According to a New Testament gospel, a Jewish man named Simeon held the baby in his arms and said that he would be a light for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). It is for this reason that this event is called Candlemas. According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. Other sources say that Candlemas was observed by blessing candles since the 11th century. An early writing dating back to around 380 CE mentioned that a feast of the Presentation occurred in a church in Jerusalem. It was observed on February 14. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25. Candlemas is known as the “Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple” in many eastern churches. Other traditional names in the western churches include the “Feast for the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary” as well as the “Meeting of the Lord”. Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom early in the year, even before Candlemas. Some varieties bloom all winter (in the northern hemisphere). According to folklore, an angel helped these Candlemas bells to bloom and pointed them as a sign of hope to Eve, who wept in repentance and in despair over the cold and death that entered the world. Many Christians see the flower as a symbol of Jesus Christ being this hope for the world. Candles that are lit during Candlemas also symbolize Jesus as the “light of the world”. February 2 Imbolc Wicca/Pagan Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1 through sundown February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland. The holiday is celebrated by Wiccans and other practitioners of neopagan or pagan-influenced religions. Imbolc is just one of several pre-Christian holidays highlighting some aspect of winter and sunlight, and heralding the change of seasons. The earliest mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature date back to the 10th century. Poetry from that time relates the holiday to ewe’s milk, with the implication of purification. It’s been speculated that this stems from the breeding cycle of sheep and the beginning of lactation. The holiday was traditionally aligned with the first day of spring and the idea of rebirth. Imbolc celebrations took the form of a festival in honor of the pagan goddess Brigid, who was evoked in fertility rites and oversaw poetry, crafts and prophecy. Brigid was worshipped by the Filid, a class of poets and historians among the Celts of ancient Ireland and Britain. Brigid was considered one of the most powerful Celtic gods, the daughter of the Dagda, the oldest god in the Celtic pantheon Tuatha du Danann. She had two sisters also named Brigid (though it’s speculated that these sisters are meant to symbolize different aspects of the same goddess.) Brigid appears in the saga Cath Maige Tuired and the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a purported history of Ireland collected from various poems and texts in the 10th century. Myths about Brigid’s birth say she was born with a flame in her head and drank the milk of a mystical cow from the spirit world. Brigid is credited with the very first keening, a traditional wailing for the dead practiced at funerals by Irish and Scottish women. In pre-Christian times, Imbolc observance began the night before February 1. Celebrants prepared for a visit from Brigid into their homes by crafting an effigy of the goddess from bundles of oats and rushes. The effigy was placed in a dress and put in a basket overnight. The day of Imbolc was celebrated by burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to Brigid. Over the centuries, Brigid was adopted into Christianity as St. Brigid. One of Ireland’s three patron saints, the Catholic Church claims St. Brigid was a historical person, with accounts of her life written by monks dating back to the 8th century. Brigid (or Bridget) is the patron saint of Irish nuns, newborns, midwives, dairy maids and cattle. Whether or not she existed, these stories contain aspects in common with the details of the pagan goddess and illustrate the transition from pagan to Christian worship. Like the goddess Brigid, St. Brigid is associated with milk and fire. Born in Ireland around 453 A.D., St. Brigid was the daughter of a slave and a chieftain who was celebrated at an early age for her agricultural knowledge. She was renowned for her charity to the poor and stories abound about her healing powers. St. Brigid was a friend of St. Patrick, whose preaching set her on a course at an early age, and she became Ireland’s first nun. The celebration of St. Brigid’s Day on February 1 was put in place by the church to replace Imbolc. On her feast day, an effigy of St. Brigid of Kildare is traditionally washed in the ocean and surrounded by candles to dry, and stalks of wheat are transformed into cross talismans known as Brigid crosses. The modern celebration of Imbolc is considered a low-key, loose and sometimes private affair concerned with reconnecting with nature. February 2 Four Chaplains’ Sunday Interfaith It was Feb. 3, 1943, and the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester was one of three ships in a convoy, moving across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to an American base in Greenland. A converted luxury liner, the Dorchester was crowded to capacity, carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers. It was only 150 miles from its destination when shortly after midnight, an officer aboard the German submarine U2 spotted it.