Holidays Archives - Renaissance Granddad

Nowruz – A New Day, A New Year!

Nowruz – The Beginning of a New Year in the Persian Calender! As I look out my window this morning, I am hopefully looking at the last gasp of winter! Three to five inches of snow is supposed to fall today, and be gone tomorrow, when temperatures climb into the 50s! I read this morning that today Iranians and other countries in areas surrounding Iran are celebrating Nowruz. Since I had no idea what Nowruz was I needed to find out! What I found out was that Nowruz in Persian means “The New Day” and is the name of the Iranian’Persian New Year! From Wikipedia: Nowruz marks the first day of spring or Equinox” and the beginning of the year in the Persian calendar. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical Northward equinox, which usually occurs on March 21 or the previous/following day depending on where it is observed. The moment the sun crosses the celestial equator and equalizes night and day is calculated exactly every year and families gather together to observe the rituals. Nowruz is celebrated by people from diverse ethnic communities and religious backgrounds for thousands of years. It is a secular holiday for most celebrants that is enjoyed by people of several different faiths, but remains a holy day for Zoroastrians. It originated in Persia in one of the capitals of the Achaemenid empire in Persis (Fars) in Iran and is also celebrated by the cultural region that came under Iranian influence or…

Imbolc – Let’s Celebrate the Arrival of Spring!!

Imbolc – Gaelic Festival Marking the Arrival of Spring (February 1 – 3) Back in 1968, Phil Ochs wrote these words about the Vietnam War, in what may be his most popular song “The War is Over” …… Silent soldiers on a silver screen Framed in fantasies and dragged in dream Unpaid actors of the mystery The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free And what’s this got to do with me I declare the war is over It’s over, it’s over (Complete song lyrics here – Video) Now we all know that the Vietnam War did not end in 1968 but rather went on tragically for another seven years before ending in 1975. I thought about these lyrics when I read before the latter part of the 20th century when many of its customs died the Gaelic Festival – Imbolc or Imbolg was celebrated on February 1st (or about halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. Imbolc marked the beginning of spring! From Wikipedia :…..Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain[3]—and corresponds to the Welsh Gŵyl Fair y Canhwyllau. Christians observe it as the feast day of Saint Brigid, especially in Ireland. …..Historically, it was widely observed throughout Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man. It is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals—along with Beltane, Lughnasadh and Samhain[3]—and corresponds to the Welsh Gŵyl…