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Cultural & religious observances header image. A photo in the upper left hand corner is a stained glass image of Mary holding Jesus. The photo in the upper right hand corner is a woman wearing a burqua standing near a fence. The image on the bottom left corner is a monk, and the image on the bottom right corner is a mandala sand painting.

Cultural and religious observances – January 31-February 6, 2022

January 28, 2022 by Diversity and Inclusion

African American Heritage Month

Head-and-shoulders portraits of Blanche Kelso Bruce, Frederick Douglass, and Hiram Rhoades Revels surrounded by scenes of African American life and portraits of Jno. R. Lynch, Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Joseph H. Rainey, Charles E. Nash, John Brown, and Robert Smalls.
Blanche Kelso Bruce, Frederick Douglass, and Hiram Rhoades Revels. Image credit: Library of Congress

Culture/religion: National observance
Date: February

African American History Month, also known as Black History Month, evolved out of “Negro History Week,” which was first celebrated in 1926, sponsored by the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History* (ASNLH). The ASHLH chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

For decades after the first celebration, mayors around the nation began issuing yearly proclamations recognizing Negro History Week. In the late 1960s, many college campuses began recognizing Black History Month, in part to the civil rights movement and a growing awareness of Black identity.

In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized February as Black History Month. Every president since has done the same.

*Now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH).

Sources:

History.com

AfricanAmericanHistoryMonth.gov

African American History Month, Library of Congress


Lunar New Year

Chinese New Year celebrations with lanterns in Singapore
Image credit: Dileep Kaluaratchie, Wikimedia.org.

Culture/religion: Chinese heritage
Date: February 1

2022 is the Year of the Tiger.

With a history of over 3,000 years, Chinese New Year, also known as Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is the most important celebration for families.

Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. It is the start of a new year on the lunar calendar and represents the desire for a new life.

The main activities of Chinese New Year include putting up decoration, reuniting with family for a reunion dinner on New Year’s Eve, firecrackers and fireworks and giving red envelopes and other gifts. Public celebrations also include dragon dances, lion dances and imperial performances like an emperor’s wedding.

Sources:

Chinese New Year (Dates, Traditions, Animal Signs), China Highlights


Imbolc

People holding lit torches standing in a circle around a figure made of straw at an Imbolc festival
Imbolc festival. Photo credit: Steven Earnshaw, Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: February 2

Imbolc is a Gaelic traditional festival, about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, signifying the beginning of spring. Imbolc is typically celebrated around February 1.

Imbolc was a festival of hearth and home, and a celebration of the lengthening of the days and the early signs of spring. The lighting of candles and fires represent the return of warmth and the increasing power of the sun.

Imbolc is one of four Gaelic seasonal festivals during the year: Samhain, Beltane and Lughnasadh.

Sources:

Imbolc, Wikipedia


Vasant Panchami

Goddess Saraswati
Goddess Saraswati. Image credit: Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Hindu
Date: February 5

Vasant Panchami is a festival marking the arrival of the spring season in India and is celebrated on the fifth day of the Hindu month of Magha. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati – the Goddess of knowledge, music, learning and arts – who is the wife of Brahma, who created the universe.

It is believed that without Saraswati the world would be shrouded in ignorance, as she is the one who represents enlightenment. Vasant Panchami is the time when people start giving the first lessons on education to their children.

Yellow is said to be the Goddesses favorite color, so people wear yellow clothes and eat foods that are yellow.

Alternate names: Basant Panchami

Sources:

Basant Panchami 2020: History, significance, puja date and time, Hindustantimes.com

Vasant Panchami, Wikipedia

 

Filed Under: Cultural and Religious Observances Tagged With: African American History Month, Chinese heritage, Chinese New Year, Hindu, Imbolc, Lunar New Year, national observance, Pagan/Wiccan, Vasant Panchami

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