Sunset of February 13 to January 25 Tu B'shevat in Judaism
Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder
February 2018
The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognises special faith and culture days of our communities. February 2018 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember:
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February - Buxwlaks and Bear Moon in Aboriginal Spirituality
Buxwlaks is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in Northwest British Columbia. It is the season of blowing needles of the evergreens. The wind shakes loose the foliage from frozen trees and heralds the approach of new growth and the New Year.
The second moon of Creation is called the Bear Moon by the Ojibwe people. This month the stories related to the spirituality and cultures of the Six nations are retold in the communities.
February 1 or 2 - Imbolc in Wicca
Imbolc is the second major Sabbat in Wicca. It celebrates the sun's increasing power that will bring the start of spring. Imbolc is also called Imbolg, Candlemas, Brigantia, the Feast of the Waxing Light, and Oimelc. Originating as one of the Celtic fire festivals, it is celebrated with the lighting of candles. It is a time of reflection about potential and new beginnings.
There are eight Wiccan Sabbats, spaced about 45 days apart during the year. Four of these are minor Sabbats—two equinoxes and two solstices. There are also four major Sabbats, occurring roughly midway between the minor Sabbats.
February 3 - Setsubun-sai in Shinto
This popular family New Year's festival, commonly known as the bean-throwing festival, marks the end of winter and the eve of the first day of spring according to the old lunar calendar. The problems and evils of the winter are chased away as family members participate in a ritual called mame-make—throwing beans into each room of the house, and then through the outer doors with shouts of “Oni wa soto, Fuku wa uchi!” Roughly translated, this means “Go out bad luck, come in good luck.”
On Setsubun, many families hang a hiiragi over their doorway. This is a charm made of a piece of holly and a small dried fish tied together. The celebrants eat toasted soybeans. They eat as many beans as their own age plus one more. The extra bean stands for the start of the New Year.
The next day is considered the first day of spring in Japan.
February 6 to 24 - month of Mulk in Bahá’í
In the Bahá’í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. Mulk, signifying "dominion," is the eighteenth month.
The Bahá’í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.
February 13 – Mahashivaratri in Hinduism
The festival of Mahashivaratri is dedicated to Lord Shiva, who is one of the three most important deities in Hinduism, along with Brahma, the creator, and Vishnu, the preserver. Lord Shiva is the destroyer and reproducer of life.
During Mahashivaratri, adherents fast, chant, meditate, visit the temple and offer group prayers.
February 14 - Ash Wednesday in Christianity
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical year. Lent is a season of spiritual discipline, cleansing and fasting which occurs in the 40 days before Good Friday. The name Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient practice of putting ashes on one's head as a symbol of mourning and penitence.
February 15 - National Flag Day in Canada
This day celebrates the anniversary of the first raising of the Flag of Canada in 1965 at Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The national flag was approved by the House of Commons on Dec. 15, 1964, the Senate on Dec. 17, 1964 and was first flown on Parliament Hill on Feb. 15, 1965.
February 16 - Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bodhisattva’s Birthday in Buddhism
Followers of Mahayana Buddhist tradition from Tibet, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and other parts of the world celebrate their New Year after the new (dark) moon for the year 4716 - the Year of the Brown Earth Dog. They visit the local temple or monastery in the morning. In the afternoon, they distribute food to the poor. The day will conclude with evening chanting of the Buddha's teachings and meditation.
New Year's celebrations vary throughout East Asia:
· New Year is one of the traditional and most important Chinese holidays. It is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which is usually the day on which the second new moon after the winter solstice occurs. The Chinese New Year is celebrated over 15 days. The Chinese greeting is "Kung Hei Fat Choi," meaning "Congratulations and be prosperous." Traditionally, red packets ('hong bao' 'lai see' ) are passed out on New Year's Eve, and the New Year is celebrated with firecrackers, as well as dragon and lion dances.
· The Vietnamese New Year is celebrated for seven days. The greeting is "Tet Giap Than," meaning "Best Wishes." A special ceremony called Le Tru Tich is held at midnight (Giao Thua) on New Year's Eve. The ritual involves firecrackers and gongs and other festive items that make loud noises to usher out the old and welcome the new. Family members exchange gifts and pay homage to the Kitchen God. They also visit local temples to pray for prosperity and good health.
· Vietnamese families plant a New Year's tree called Cay Neu in front of their homes. A bamboo pole is often used as a Cay Neu.
· The Korean New Year's greeting is "Say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh," meaning "Many New Year's blessings to you!"
· Tibetan Buddhists celebrate Losar, or New Year's Day for the year 2144 in the Tibetan calendar. The last two days of the old year are called Gutor and are spent preparing for the New Year. The custom that day is to make special noodles called guthuk. Everyone exchanges the traditional greeting, "Tashi delek."
February 19 - Clean Monday (J) in Christianity
Clean Monday also known as the Great Fast or Pure or Ash Monday is the first day of Lent for adherents of the orthodox faith.
February 19 - Family Day in Ontario
The third Monday of February is recognized as Family Day in Ontario. This statutory holiday was established by Premier Dalton McGuinty on October 11, 2007. On this holiday, families are encouraged to spend time together.
February 25 to March 1 - Intercalary Days in Bahá'í
For Bahá'í s, the Intercalary Days are days of feasting, hospitality, rejoicing, charity and giving of presents, as well as ministering to the poor and ill, as they prepare for the annual Fast. The Intercalary Days are also used to complete the 365 days solar year as the 19 month Bahá'í calendar falls short.
Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school
If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed religions:
- make sure the dates are included on your school calendar
- have your principal announce the day over the PA system
- hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days
- include a mention of these days in your school newsletter
- include information on your school website
- display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these days
- invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this day with students
- have class discussions about these days
- ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on how they celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this celebration with the other students.
- have parents offer a cultural session
Questions?:
If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call 905-890-1010, ext. 2809