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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 – March 14-20, 2022

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Purim

Orthodox Jewish men at a Purim tish at Bnei Brak
Orthodox Jewish men at a Purim tish at Bnei Brak. Image credit: Avinoam Faltin Pikiwiki Israel, Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Judaism
Date: March 17

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.

Purim begins at sundown March 16. Work should be avoided.

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

Holi

Hands covered in colored powder for Holi celebration
Image credit: holifestival.org

Culture/religion: Hindu
Date: March 18

Holi, sometimes called “the festival of love” or “the festival of colors,” is one of the most revered and celebrated festivals in India. This is a day when people come together to forget all resentments and bad feelings toward others.

The ritual of Holi begins by lighting a bonfire on the day prior to Holi; a process symbolizing the triumph of good over bad. The main day of Holi celebrations, Dhuleti, people throw brightly colored powder on each other or spray each other with brightly colored water, adding the positivity of color to the celebration.

Sources:

HoliFestival.org

Ostara

Black and white drawing of Ostara, goddess of spring
Ostara, goddess of spring. Image credit: Johannes Gehrts, Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Pagan/Wiccan
Date: March 20

“Ostara” is just one of the names used for the spring equinox celebrated in many different cultures and a variety of ways around the world. For early Pagans in the Germanic countries, this was a time to celebrate planting and the new crop season.

Ostara (Eostre or Eastre) is the Germanic goddess of spring and dawn who was traditionally honored in the month of April with festivals to celebrate fertility, renewal and rebirth.

Sources:

Who is Ostara?, NorthernPaganism.org

Ostara, The Goddess and the Green Man

History of Ostara, The Spring Equinox, Learn Religions

March month-long observances

Irish American Heritage Month

National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Women’s History Month