*Spirituality and culture: religious festivals, holidays and events*

Spirituality, mindfulness and gratitude- a Thanksgiving reflection

Mindfulness is a form of gratitude. What is mindfulness? It is focused attention, contemplation, concentration, and stilling the rapid fire succession of fleeting, random thoughts  to directed study. It is being conscious in the moment of now; an intentional thought-moment . . . . Until we lose the ability or become ill or injured we often don't even appreciate the ability to blink, swallow, think, taste, smell, touch, walk, sleep, relieve ourselves normally, experience freedom from pain and feed ourselves.

Here are Ten Gratitude Rituals and Spirit-Building Holiday Ideas
 

Spirituality, religion and Veteran's Day

Why do we celebrate Veteran’s Day? The day is set aside so that Americans may honor those who serve and defend the United States. It was originally known as Armistice Day which commemorated the end of World War 1. . . . But think about why people war, and in interfaith spirituality, all the veterans of religious war and persecution.

Spirituality and the Reformation 101

The Reformation actually started October 31st, 1517, commemorating the date Martin Luther, an Augustinian monk, theologian and seminary professor nailed his 95 theses on the door of the church at Wittenberg in Germany. He objected sharply to the religious-political-social-economic situation that had developed under the medieval papacy . . . For a fee, ‘sinners’ could purchase redemption from penalty in the hereafter . . .

Spirituality and the  Celtic and Wiccan Roots of Halloween                 Halloween or All Hallows eve comes on the night before All Saints Day, November 1st, a day in the Catholic and many Protestant churches when we remember those faithful who have died. All Souls Day the 2nd of November remembers those departed who have not yet 'come into the light'.  In Mexico the celebration is known as 'Day of the Dead' and picks up many Aztec and Indian traditions to honor the ancestors.

Spirituality and the Indian/Asian Festival of Light: Diwali

It is a five day festival on a new moon day ending one month and beginning another, starting in darkness and ending in light at the end of the harvest season.  Like the Christmas season for Christians, Diwali (also called Deepawali/Deepavali) is known as the festival of lights.. . . This holiday is celebrated by Buddhists, Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs in different locations, on different days, for differing reasons and in different ways. It’s a major festival that is considered an official national holiday in India. 

Spirituality and World Communion Day

This day is to commemorate and remind Christians that they are all one in the Spirit and one in the Body of Christ with goal of spreading the gospel or good news proclaimed by Jesus of the in-breaking reign (kingdom) of God. . . .It means that all are to work together to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, house the homeless, heal the sick, bring hope to the downtrodden, and be peace-makers in homes, communities and among nations. The day acknowledges Christian unity in this mission.

Spirituality and what  the Jewish holiday Sukkoth is about  

The Jewish holiday, Sukkot, is the Festival of Tabernacles (or Booths)- beginning at sundown and continuing for 7 days when it is followed by Shemini Atzeret on the 9th. Simchat Torah follows- or rejoicing over having finished the annual reading of the entire Torah. . . .Think of Sukkot as a Hebrew harvest festival (not unlike Thanksgiving).

Typically, temporary outdoor dwellings (booths or huts called sukkah) are constructed for outdoor dining which reminds Jews of the biblical time in the wilderness, when God provided for them as they emerged to start anew.

Interfaith Groups Mark Historic Mutual Understanding

Spirituality and What is the Dashara your Hindu neighbors celebrate?

Spirituality and what is the Jewish Yom Kippur about?

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement, or, At-One-Ment as some authors have suggested. Yom Kippur ends the ten days of repentance which began with Rosh ha-Shanah. This day is seen as a time when we ask God to be merciful with us and help us begin anew with a clean slate.  On this beautiful, windy Fall Day in Columbus, we view the quality of our lives in stark relief against our hopes, goals and actual behavior. This day is much more serious than the secular New Year.

Spirituality and Calling: Labor Day

Finding work or the right work is a life-long discovery process for many that sometimes doesn’t even become clear except in hindsight, as one elderly patient told me as he pieced his story together, facing the end.

Spirituality and the Parliament of World Religions

The Parliament meets every 5 years in a major international City.  There will be 80 countries represented and all the major  faith traditionsThe purpose for the parliament is to encourage dialogue across religions and cultures on important issues of our time to promote justice, peace and harmony. With global appeal, conference attendees address social concerns and engage religions to seek solutions to the world’s problems. This year’s conference is called, ‘Healing the Earth with Care and Concern’ and discusses approaches for dealing with climate change and its effects.

Spirituality and What is Ramadan? Islam 101

Ramadan is a Muslim period of fasting which takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic year. Ramadan begins at dawn and continues to sunset. This commemorates the first revelation of the Quran to the prophet Muhammad, around 610 AD, peace be upon him. The 27th night of the month is known as the Night of Power when the first verses of the Quran were revealed.

Spirituality in Columbus, Ohio

In a city with festivals marking food, dance, the arts and differing cultural expression one could literally eat one's way through the Asian festival, Hispanic festival, Italian festival, African American homecoming, German October Fest, Irish festival, assorted native American events, and a Viking festival. There is no shortage of celebration. With the Greek festival coming up Labor Day weekend there appears to be no end in sight. . . . A great local resource is Religion in Ohio Profiles of Faith Communities edited by Tarunjit Singh Butalia and Dianne P. Small and published in 2004.