Diversity Blog

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 – May 16-22, 2022

by

Vesak Festival

Vesak celebration with monks praying before a statue of Buddha
Vesak celebration with monks praying before a statue of Buddha. Photo credit: PWBaker, wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Buddhist
Date: May 16

Vesak, also known as Buddha Day, is one of the most important of the Theravada Buddhist festivals, which commemorates three milestones in the life of Gautama Buddha: his birth, his enlightenment and his death.

Vesak is recognized on the day of the full moon of the sixth lunar month (May).

The observance of Vesak includes Buddhists attending temple before dawn for the ceremonial raising of the Buddhist flag, and singing hymns in praise of the holy triple gem: the Buddha, the Dharma (his teachings) and the Sangha (his disciples). Offerings of flowers, candles and joss-sticks are laid at the feet of their teacher to remind followers that as flowers wither away and candles and joss-sticks burn out, life is also subject to decay and destruction.

Alternate spellings: Wesak

Sources:

Wesak Buddhist Festival, Encyclopedia Britannica

Vesak Day, United Nations; Vesak, Wikipedia

Lag BaOmer

Lag BaOmer parade in front of Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, 1987
Lag BaOmer parade in front of Chabad headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, 1987. Photo credit: Mordecai Baron, Wikimedia.org

Culture/religion: Judaism
Date: May 19

Lag BaOmer (“33rd day in the Omer) is a festive Jewish holiday that falls on the 33rd day of the Omer – the seven-week period between Passover and Shavuot.

Lag BaOmer provides a break from the semi-mourning restrictions (no parties or events with music, no weddings, no haircuts) that are typically in place for some Jewish communities during the Omer. Many people choose this day to get married or get a haircut.

The Omer has agricultural and spiritual significance – it marks the spring cycle of planting and harvest, and the Israelites’ journey out of slavery in Egypt (Passover) and toward receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai (Shavuot).

In observance of the holiday, bonfires are lit, traditional songs are sung around bonfires and at weddings, Jewish unity and pride is demonstrated through parades and children get their first haircuts, among other ways of celebration.

Alternate names: Lag LaOmer (“33rd day of the Omer”)

Alternate spellings: Lag b’Omer

Pronunciation: LAHG BOH-mayr

Sources:

Lag BaOmer, ReformJudaism.org

Glossary of Jewish Terminology, Judaism 101, jewfaq.org

Ongoing observances

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Jewish American Heritage Month