Faith Awareness Opportunities

OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
“To learn more about each others' beliefs in the spirit of community”
~ DECEMBER 2011~

December includes holy days for many area religious traditions.

The main holy days in December 2011 are:

o ADVENT (preparation for the Birth of Jesus Christ) continues through December 25 in most churches (for a small number, it will continue through January 6)

o ST. NICHOLAS DAY is December 6th in Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. This is the saint that Santa Claus is based.

o MUHARRAM (Muslim) beginning November 26 is the beginning of the Muslim year and celebration of the first Islamic community at Medina.

o ASHURA is a Shi’ite holy time for the first ten days of Muharram, with a festival December 5.

o HANUKKAH (Jewish) beginning December 20 ~ A menorah is lit each evening for a week.

o WINTER SOLSTICE is sacred to several traditions including Shinto, Wicca and Native American.

o CHRISTMAS (December 25) marks the birth or NATIVITY of Jesus Christ. Some Orthodox Christians will celebrate this festival on January 7th. Armenians, on January 6th.

o Traditional “Winter” holy days for Hindu, Baha’i, and Sikh fall in November this year. In addition, HAJJ & EID AL-ADHA (for Muslims) fell on November 5 & 6 ~ these are the days of pilgrimage. The Eid (festival) observed even when not on pilgrimage.

In addition to the Interfaith Awareness Week events, here are more opportunities:

SUNDAY
Christian Churches have regular Sunday morning services – check the Worship Directory in most local newspapers. Many other religious groups meet for weekly gatherings on Sundays out of convenience, including Buddhist, Sikh and others.

FRIDAY
Muslims Gather for mid-day Community Prayers at Madison Area Mosques and Campus locations

SATURDAY
Jewish Services begin Friday at Sunset, usually at home, and then gather Saturday at Madison Area Synagogues and Campus locations

Looking forward
THE 15th ANNUAL INTERFAITH AWARENESS WEEK
~ DECEMBER 9-15, 2012 ~
11TH ANNUAL CAPITOL CELEBRATION ~ MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2012
“encouraging citizens to learn more about each others' beliefs in the spirit of community.”