International Observance: More Than Flowers For Mom

May 2, 2010 by

SUNDAY, MAY 9: No matter what the language, people around the world are united in expressing: “Thank you, Mom!” In the United States and many countries, it’s Mother’s Day. Historical origins are diverse, but the modern Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in the early 20th century. Jarvis was inspired by both her own mother and a sermon she heard that paid tribute to mothers. It is recorded, however, that she was very specific about the location of her apostrophe. “Mother’s Day” was to be singular possessive, meaning that each family would do something to honor each individual mother as opposed to lifting up all moms in a general way. (Kids can find craft ideas, poems and more at Kaboose.)

Nearly every country and culture in the world honors moms in some way during the year, often linking those observances to faith traditions. But the second weekend in May is the most popular time and is honored in nearly 80 countries from Australia to Zambia. (Wikipedia has more.)

In Europe, Mothering Sunday was a day for devotees to visit their “mother church,” or the primary church of the area. (Mothering Sunday still exists, although its observance has evolved over time, and this year was marked in March.) In Hindu tradition, the new moon day in the month of Baisakh—which usually falls in April or May in the Gregorian calendar—is celebrated as Mata Tirtha Aunshi, or “Mother Pilgrimage fortnight.” Legends surrounding Mata Tirtha Aunshi involve Lord Krishna and his mother. In Greece, Mother’s Day occurs on the Eastern Orthodox feast day of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, since the Theotokos—Virgin Mary—brought Jesus to the Temple; and in Panama, a day for mothers falls on the day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

If you feel that, here in the U.S., Mother’s Day seems more like a Hallmark Holiday than one of religious significance—well, you’re not alone. Even by the time Anna Jarvis died in 1948, it’s recorded that she regretted how commercialized her holiday had become. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is the most popular day of the year for eating in a restaurant! Flower sales, greeting card sales and candy sales aren’t far behind.

If you’d like to make Mother’s Day a little more personal, try your hand at a brunch or dinner recipe, courtesy of Kaboose. If your mom loves movies, both Virgin Media and Kaboose have a list of their Top 10 Mother’s Day movies! Just a note: We recommend Virgin Media for moms with older kids, and Kaboose for moms with younger kids. If you need to feel inspired for that personalized greeting card, check out 50 Inspirational Quotes from Aristotle, Abraham Lincoln and Ralph Waldo Emerson, on the site for the Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India. If you’re looking for inspiration, too, because your mother has passed away, MSNBC offers an article on transforming Mother’s Day from a time of grieving to a time of healing.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

International Observance: Celebrate Mexico on Cinco

April 30, 2010 by

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5 (or earlier in some places): Dip into some fresh salsa and sip a cool margarita (find recipes here)—for Cinco de Mayo! In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday, observed mainly in the state of Puebla to celebrate the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 (discover more about Mexico from The History Channel). But in the U.S., Americans are known for celebrating with vigor! (Read more at Wikipedia.) Festivities often are associated with Mexican food, music and culture. (Kids can participate, too, with fun ideas from Kaboose.) Some American schools mark Cinco de Mayo to teach students about Mexican history, and cultural festivals are held across the country.

Religion has been a significant aspect of Mexican history, and today, almost 90 percent of the country’s population is Catholic. Before Christianity came to Mexico after 1492, religious traditions were a mixture of Mayan, Toltec and Aztec cultures. Ancient Mexicans studied astronomy and mathematics as part of their religion, to predict events and dates. When the Spanish came to Mexico, Catholicism came, too, and some of Mexico’s modern-day belief systems are comprised of a mixture of ancient beliefs and Catholic concepts.

According to recent surveys, Mexico has the world’s largest number of Catholics, after Brazil. Our Lady of Guadalupe, a popular pilgrimage site in Mexico, is housed in what is now Mexico City. Devotees hold that, in 1531 CE, the Virgin Mary appeared and left her image on a piece of woven fabric. Since many believe that the Virgin Mary announced that she was also the goddess of the ancient Mexican religion, this fabric represents the unique blending of Mexico’s ancestral religion and Catholicism. (For more about Guadalupe, plus helpful links to explore even further, see this column from December.)

And, here’s an important note if you want to attend celebrations! Check local listings in your part of the U.S. Because May 5 is a Wednesday this year, organizers are looking at the weekends before and after the 5th. The biggest celebration in the American Southwest is the Phoenix Cinco de Mayo festival that draws more than 200,000 people, according to the Arizona Republic newspaper. That sprawling festival takes place May 1 and 2 this year!

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

International Observance: Protect The Right To Know

April 30, 2010 by

MONDAY, MAY 3: Traditional media outlets may be dwindling quickly in the 21st century, but today people around the world celebrate press freedom and remember the many journalists who have lost their lives in the name of freedom of the press. Journalists are among the heroes around the world who dare to expose corrupt governments and break news about deep-seeded crimes and injustice. World Press Freedom Day recalls that, without the investigative work of some courageous, determined reporters, we would still be unaware of some of the world’s most pressing issues. (Read inteviews, editorials and more from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers.)

This year, an international conference—held in Australia—will focus on the theme, “Freedom of Information: The Right to Know.” Each year, journalists hear from colleagues who have faced dire consequences for their work, share safety tips with each other and learn about organizations such as Maison des Journalistes, a group that shelters journalists who have been forced to flee their country because of threats to their lives. (Check out the fascinating story of the Chilean journalist who was awarded the 2010 World Press Freedom Prize.) Today, UNESCO—the only UN agency with a mandate to defend freedom of expression and press freedom—organizes the day’s events to promote awareness, honor press freedom and remember those who have died. Even students are encouraged to get involved by publishing press freedom materials in their school newspapers! The World School Paper Prize for Press Freedom is awarded to the best entry each year.

According to The Committee to Protect Journalists, 580 journalists have lost their lives in the name of journalism between January 1992 and August 2006. (Check out a statement about the UN resolution on free expression and religion here.) How can you make a difference? If you’re in favor of press freedom—and would like to help protect journalists on the job—one thing you can do, today, is contact your local UNESCO office (click here for a list of offices) and express your concern about this issue. Also, to keep a healthy crew of journalists out in the field, subscribe to a newspaper or news magazine today.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

Pagan: Spring, Fire and Maypoles For Beltane

April 26, 2010 by

The modern Beltane Fire Festival begins in Edinburgh, ScotlandSATURDAY, MAY 1: Many Pagans celebrate a derivative of the ancient Beltane festival (or Samhain, in the Southern Hemisphere). Long ago, Bealtaine was a festival in Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man, when the summer season began and livestock was taken out to summer pastures. In Ireland, an enormous fire was traditionally lit, and attendees would either leap over the fire for good luck or pass between the two fires for good fortune. While fires burned throughout the night, ancient pagans would frolic in the forests and sometimes dance around Maypoles, basking in the joy of spring and new life. (Wikipedia has an extensive history.)

Since the mid-1980s, the Beltane Fire Festival has taken place in Edinburgh, Scotland, on the evening of April 30—and this year, approximately 12,000 people were expected to attend. This modern revival is primarily an exhibition of drama and art. Modern Pagan rites vary.

May 1 is also May Day, or International Workers’ Day.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

Anniversary: ‘Reports of His Death’—100 years ago

April 18, 2010 by

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21: it’s the centennial anniversary of the death of American author Mark Twain, who often joked about his own demise. (Learn all about Mark Twain and his works at his official site.) Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens, the author of such works as “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” adopted the pen name Mark Twain. Unlike many great artists and authors of the past who worked in obscurity, Twain was immensely popular in his day—and often enjoyed the income of a modern-day millionaire. We say “often enjoyed” because he also famously ran up huge debts, sometimes! Twain was friends with presidents, European royalty, fellow authors and many people in between. (The Mark Twain House features an extensive biography.) William Faulkner regarded Twain as “the father of American literature.” Due to the assortment of places Twain wrote—in newspapers, books, essays, speeches and more—his writings are still being collected.

Ever the humorist, Twain predicted his own death in 1909, by saying: “I came in with Halley’s Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it. The Almighty has said, no doubt: ‘Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.’” Sure enough, Twain died on April 21, 1910, one day after the Comet’s closest approach to Earth.

Twain was raised a Presbyterian, although he was known for criticizing organized religion. (Wikipedia has more.) Among his many quotes concerning religion is the following, from his biography: “So much blood has been shed by the Church because of an omission from the Gospel: ‘Ye shall be indifferent as to what your neighbor’s religion is.’ Not merely tolerant of it, but indifferent to it.” (If you’d like to read more of his quotes on religion, check out this site.)

In honor of this year’s 100th anniversary—and the 125th anniversary of “Huckleberry Finn”—the Mark Twain House and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri, is calling on fans to donate. In light of the global recession, many tourist towns are feeling the strain. According to Museum Executive Director Cindy Lovell, “The building has been placed on Missouri Preservation’s most endangered buildings list, and it’s critical for us to get it preserved.” (Read the article here.) By the end of 2010, the museum hopes to raise $10 million.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, click the “RTS Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)

Anniversary: The Met is 140 years old!

April 11, 2010 by

TUESDAY, April 13: It’s the 140th anniversary of the founding of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. On April 13, 1870, the “Met” was founded. Today, the Met sits on the eastern edge of Central Park and boasts a permanent collection of more than 2 million pieces of art. The works range from ancient Egyptian pieces to modern American works to Islamic, Oceanic, Byzantine art and more. (Get the Met’s history and more at Wikipedia.) The Met also maintains musical instruments, costumes and antique weapons—from across the globe.

Like most art musuems, the Met displays an array of religious themes. The Met’s impressive collection includes pieces concerning Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Hinduism, Indigenous groups, Islam, Jainism, Judaism and Shintoism! Earlier this year, however, the Met made headlines because of a controversy surrounding a few pieces in its Islamic collection: Muslims objected to images of the Prophet Muhammad, pointing out that their faith prohibits images of Muhammad. In response, the museum removed those images and may not put them back in place when a renovated exhibition area opens in 2011. (The New York Post published an article.) In some past eras of Islamic history, artists visually represented Muhammad in illustrated manuscripts, for example. But, Met officials were concerned about controversies in other parts of the world over images of Muhammad and chose to avoid potential friction.

Religious themes are part of the broad tradition of Western art, as well. Two modern artists have gained popularity for their unique creative approaches. New Zealand painter Colin McCahon has brought biblical scenes into the 20th and 21st centuries by painting them in current New Zealand landscapes. (Check out the official Colin McCahon image library.) McCahon also was known for the use of words and text in his works. (This YouTube video offers explanations and up-close views of one of McCahon’s works.) WiIliam Congdon, an American painter who died in 1998 (his obituary was in the New York Times), fused abstraction and representation in his religious-themed pieces.

(By ReadTheSpirit columnist Stephanie Fenton)

(NOTE: To see more short articles about upcoming holidays, festivals and anniversaries, you can click the “Our Magazines” tab at the top of this page and select “Religious Holidays.”)