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Festivals and customs from various religions

Hindu, Islamic and Jewish festivals and customs

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Hindu, Islamic and Jewish festivals and customs

People around the country celebrates their customs and festivals in different ways:

Hindu: Diwali

Diwali is an important Hindu festival. It means “row of lights”.
Hindu’s will have lamps lit in their homes and temples.
The light is meant to symbolize light driving out darkness.
During the time of Diwali, Hindu’s will try to fix their friendships with someone they had an argument with

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC

Islam: Ramadan and Eid

During the month of Ramadan, adult Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. This is called fasting.
Muslims will try not to do anything bad during this month and will offer special prayers every night of the month.
When the month is over, Muslims celebrates the end of Ramadan on the very last day of the month of Ramadan. This day is called Eid-ul-Fitr.

Judaism: Circumcision and bar mitsvah

The fist religious custom of a Jewish male is his circumcision. Eight days after he is born, the baby boy will be circumcised at a religious ceremony. He will then be given a Jewish name that will be used at his bar mitsvah, his wedding and on his gravestone.

The second Jewish religious custom is the boy’s bar mitsvah. When the boy turns thirteen years old, he becomes bar mitsvah. Bar mitsvah means ‘son of the commandments’.
The Saturday (Sabbath) after his birthday, he will have to read from the Torah (the Jewish holy book) in front of everyone in the synagogue (a Jewish church). Afterwards, there is usually a party with friends and family.
When a girl turns twelve years old, she is called bat mitsvah – meaning ‘daughter of the commandments’. There is usually a party on the day of her birthday.