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Cultural and Religious Observances title with an image of a man smiling, a religious stained glass window, a woman wearing a hijab and colorful Indian art made with sand and flower petals

Cultural and religious observances – February 22-28, 2021

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Lantern Festival

Culture/religion: Chinese heritage
Date: February 26

Photo of lanterns at night at Lantern Festival in Tiawan
Lantern Festival in Taiwan. Photo credit: Wikimedia.org

Lantern Festival is celebrated in China annually and marks the end of the Chinese New Year. It dates back about 2,000 years and is celebrated on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The Lantern Festival is on the first full moon night of the Chinese calendar, marking the return of spring and symbolizing the reunion of family.

Celebrations include lighting lanterns, fireworks, guessing riddles written on lanterns, lion dances and dragon dances.

Greetings: Happy Lantern Festival! Yuánxiāojiè kuàilè! /ywen-sshyaoww-jyeah kwhy-luh/

Sources:

China’s Lantern Festival 2020: Traditions, Activities, Places to Go, China Highlights

Purim

Culture/religion: Judaism
Date: February 26

Photo of the Book of Esther with pointer
Megillat Esther (“The Scroll of Esther”). Photo credit: Wikimedia.org

Purim is a Jewish festival celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. The celebration commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian empire from Haman’s plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day,” as told in the Megillah (book of Esther). It’s also a celebration of God’s intimate involvement in every aspect of this world.

Observances on Purim include: Reading the Megillah (book of Esther), which recounts the story of Purim; giving money to at least two poor people; sending gifts of food to at least one person and a festive feast. It is also customary for children to dress up in costumes.

Pronunciation:  PAWR-im / poo-REEM / PUH-rim / PEE-rim

Greetings: “Happy Purim;” in Hebrew – “chag Purim samayach” (pronounced KHAG poo-REEM sah-MAY-ach)

Sources:

What is Purim?, Chabad.org

Glossary of Jewish Terminology, Judaism 101, jewfaq.org