FRIDAY, DECEMBER 31: Animal lovers, listen up: Today begins the 4-day Zoroastrian festival of Ghambar Maidyarem, a time to celebrate the creation of animals! For centuries, Zoroastrians have shared food with family and friends for this mid-winter event.

Traditionally, Zoroastrians have six ghambars, or seasonal festivals, throughout the year. (Learn more about ghambars at Heritage Institute.) Zoroastrians view humans as God’s helpers, and they believe that if humans make positive choices, we can eliminate evil from the Earth. Thus, Zoroastrians take pride in caring for nature’s plants and animals.

In addition to giving thanks for the creation of animals, Zoroastrians use today to practice the equitable sharing of food. You, too, can practice goodwill today by giving food to those who have less—or by inviting friends into your home to partake in a feast. Check out AllRecipe’s list of 20 top vegetarian recipes for a true feast that gives thanks for animals!

Interested in more stories about spirituality and animals? We just published a 6-part series on important books and other spiritual resources highlighting nature and our animal companions.

A Zoroastrian graveyardSATURDAY, DECEMBER 26: Many Zoroastrians in Iran will mark Zarathust-no-diso today, a commemoration of the death of the prophet Zoroaster. According to Zoroastrian tradition, Zoroaster—who was born in ancient Persia—founded the religion and his teachings are recorded in the holy Avesta. Although the exact birth and death dates of this prophet are unknown, it’s recorded that Zoroastrianism ruled the Persian Empire for hundreds of years and was an influential religion at the time of Jesus. Today, Iranian Zoroastrians mourn the death of their founder with prayers and study. (Wikipedia has more.)

Zoroaster taught some of the world’s first major monotheistic principles, and it’s widely regarded that his teachings of one god, heaven, hell and a final judgment influenced Judaism and Christianity. Although all theories suggest that Zoroaster passed on at an elderly age, disagreements remain on exactly how he died.

SAVING THE FAITH FROM EXTINCTION?

In just a few days, Houston will host hundreds of scholars and professionals from around the world for a North American Zoroastrian gathering. (Details are at MSN News.) Due to strict guidelines concerning Zoroastrian converts, the ancient religion has recently been faced with extinction—and this meeting hopes to change the future of the religion. (The official program site has more information.) On Dec. 29, the three-day North American Zarathushti Congress conference will address the theme: “Preserve the past, protect the present, and perfect the future.”

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 12: It’s a day for celebrating the creation of plants for many Zoroastrians today, on Ghambar Ayathrem. In Zoroastrianism, six seasonal festivals—known as ghambars, or gahanbars—illustrate six important times of year. Today, Ghambar Ayathrem honors plants, the sowing of winter crops and the return of herds from pasture. There may be fewer herds living near most of us these days, but that doesn’t mean we can’t recognize today’s inspiration by taking a walk in the autumn woods or sipping herbal tea!

The millennia-old Zoroastrian religion recognizes ghambars as occasions to gather a community, resolve conflicts and share meals. (More is at the Heritage Institute.) Each of the six ghambars lasts for five days, and it’s generally agreed that ghambars were begun by the religion’s founder, Zarathustra.

Controversy Over Attempts to Open Zoroastrian Membership

In this new millennium, the Zoroastrian religion is struggling to avoid extinction, partly because of its own internal rules about exclusivity. Zoroastrianism had not allowed the acceptance of converts until recently, when the UK-based World Zoroastrian Organization lifted the rule and allowed anyone who wished to convert to become a member. (Times of India has the full story.) Rifts are already beginning, however, as WZO’s India wing cut ties because its members disagree with the inclusive ruling. News reports turned up a gang of Mexican drug smugglers and a group of pedophiles claiming to be Zoroastrians—and such embarrassing developments prompted the Parsi-Irani Anjumans to draw a line. Representatives claim that the new members had abused rituals, misrepresented the peaceful religion and could begin labeling acts of terror as acts in the name of Zoroastrianism.

Zoroastrian Interfaith News

Not all Zoroastrian news is quite so controversial, this October. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams just made a formal visit to a Zoroastrian center in the UK to learn and to build more cordial relationships. Here’s one news report on the October 1 visit by Williams.

The entrance of a building used in ancient Zoroastrian death ceremonies is pictured; Zoroastrians are receiving environmental attention as of recent for their “green” burial rites TUESDAY, AUGUST 24: It’s a prophet’s birthday today for Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar, and devotees will pay tribute to Zoroaster today. While most predominant in India, Zoroastrianism is seen throughout the world – and the Diaspora, too, will say prayers and partake in feasts today. (In fact, according to Wikipedia, the United States houses the largest Zoroastrian population after India.) While not a New Year’s celebration, many Zoroastrians will take time on Khordad Sal to reflect on the past year and work to improve themselves in the coming year. To symbolize the fresh start, many of the faithful will clean their homes and wear new clothes today.

While Khordad Sal is a holiday about life, it is, ironically, Zoroastrian death ceremonies that have been drawing recent attention from environmental enthusiasts. Perhaps the specifics of the burial procedures would be difficult to duplicate today, but they are being studied as Western countries seek “greener” alternatives.  (Green Prophet, an environmental news site, recently devoted an article to this.) According to the Zoroastrian tradition, corpses that are unclean pollute the soil; ancient devotees would wash a corpse, place it in a high tower and expose it to the sun, so that it could properly decompose. Once a corpse was decomposed, Zoroastrians believed it could best reenter the natural environment.

(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.”)

Traditional foods are common at Jamshedi Noruz feastsTHURSDAY, AUGUST 19: The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to laugh, visit and share a meal with friends and family for Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar today. Primarily, Parsi Zoroastrians–who are known for being close-knit–follow the Shenshai calendar and, therefore, jubilate for Jamshedi Noruz today!

Complex astronomical and spiritual symbolism is everywhere in the ancient city of Persepolis in modern-day Iran, and today’s Zoroastrian holiday is named after the city’s noted constructor, mythic hero-king Jamshid. (London Grid For Learning has more.) Jamshid is also credited with inventing the calendar, and Zoroastrians have dedicated their New Year’s title to him. Besides gathering with loved ones, many Zoroastrians will spend time today in a fire temple and some will set up a household altar to honor the spirits of the deceased.

Zoroastrianism–an ancient religion that predates and influenced Judaism and Christianity–could be considered an “endangered” religion, and one example is in a few age-old caves in India. According to AFP News, Zoroastrians in the 14th century fled to caves to hide from a Mughal invasion, and they reportedly kept their sacred fires burning for 12 years inside the caves. Although the caves have since been a popular Parsi pilgrimage site, they are now crumbling with age. Homi Dhalla, founder-president of the World Zarathushti Cultural Foundation, has been urging everyone to sign a petition at www.zoroastrians.net, to save the caves. Dhalla has collected 3,000 signatures already, and pleads for more to sign. The petition will be sent to the Archaeological Survey of India.

(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.”)

SUNDAY, JULY 25: It’s been six days since a New Year’s Noruz for some Zoroastrians, and so today is “Greater Noruz”—also known as Khordad Sal, the celebration of Prophet Zarathustra’s birth. Joyous parties are held, tantalizing community meals are prepared and grateful prayers are offered at fire temples on this, the most auspicious day of the year. (London Grid For Learning gives details of the holiday.) Since the actual date of Zoroaster’s birth is unknown, followers of the ancient Qadimi calendar choose today to reflect on their lives and focus on charity.

Zoroastrian legend has it that Zoroaster’s mother had a nightmare about the ending of the world during her pregnancy, but following this dream, an angel told her that her unborn child would become a great prophet with the power to reverse the destruction. Sometime around 628 BCE, Zoroaster was born into a world of chaos and violence. Legend has it that all of nature was joyous at the birth of the great prophet who would provide mankind with much-needed guidance and knowledge of the Divine Plan. While nature rejoiced, a baby was born whose face had a “golden light;” thus, Zarathustra received his name. Today, light and fire continue to be a central part of the Zoroastrian faith.

(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.”)

TUESDAY, JULY 20: Today, we wish “Happy New Year!” to Zorastrians who follow the ancient Qadimi calendar! And we include Noruz greetings to Iranians from President Obama that he recorded back in March, when the majority of Iranians celebrated Noruz. The video, below, is worth watching to see how deeply religious holidays and festivals connect with global issues.

But first, why is there another Noruz in mid summer? It’s because the Zoroastrian tradition preserves a number of calendars and the ancient Qadimi calendar marks the date today. (Read more at the BBC’s site.) For nearly 3,000 years, this day has raised hopes for new beginnings. The word literally means “New Day” or “New Light.”

No, there aren’t many Zoroastrians in the U.S., but their faith still ranks as one of the world’s most influential. Zoroastrian tradition includes some of the world’s first teachings about heaven, hell and a last judgment. The faith was popular in the ancient world and became a major influence on Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Zoroastrians have distinctive beliefs about the moment of creation, and that moment defines their Noruz. Devotees believe that the world was created in seven stages, and although God existed before His great creation, he was not God; by creating “all that is good,” this being became God. (The London Grid For Learning has details.) Just as God became God when He created the world, Noruz occurred when the world acquired a life cycle. When the sun began to move, day and night came to be, seasons came and went and animals reproduced, the life cycle began. Noruz is the most important date in the Zoroastrian year.

Earlier this year, President Obama extended Noruz wishes to all Iranians, as they and Zoroastrians of the Fasli tradition marked this holiday in March. You should see a video screen below, where you can watch the 4.5-minute film (or you can jump to the official White House site and see the Obama Noruz video there). In the message, Obama not only greets Iranians, but he also points out the need to resolve long-standing problems in light of the new year. He even brings up the tragic shooting of a young woman in the midst of earlier street protests—a highly emotional memory for Iranians seeking greater freedom. The film clip illustrates how leaders can benefit from knowing various religious holidays, showing respect for their longstanding traditions and encouraging positive action. You might find that holiday greetings to colleagues and neighbors are more important than you realized!

(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.”)