WIGILIA: A Polish Village Christmas Eve

It is Christmas Eve. The night is cold and snow drifts across the fields. Children sit by the windows eagerly waiting for the appearance of the first star. “There it is!” cries Janek (Johnny). “Yes, we see it!” they all chorus. “Wigilia can begin!”

Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights

Glowing candles, the spinning of a top, the smell of foods frying, these are the signs that Hanukkah is here. Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It is a celebration of a miracle that lasts eight nights.

The Man Behind Santa Claus

Before there was a Santa Claus, there was a Saint Nicholas. Nicholas is a Christian saint known for his generosity. Born in the village of…

Eid al-Adha “Festival of Sacrifice”

On November 27, Muslims around the world are observing Eid al-Adha. Eid al-Adha is different then the Eid after Ramadan(Eid al Fitr). The Eid after Ramadan is in celebration of keeping fast for 30 days from sunrise to sunset.

World Religions Spotlight: Durga Purga, A Hindu Holiday

Durga Puja also referred to as Durgotsab is an annual Hindu festival that is held in many cities of India and is one of the largest celebrated festivals in the whole world. For 5 days (Sept. 24-28th) the people of the Hindu faith enjoy the celebration and pray before the goddess Durga to bestow on them wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge and other gifts

World Religions Spotlight: Yom Kippur, A Jewish Holiday

Today it is Yom Kippur, the holiest day for Jewish people around the
world. The Jewish religion is almost an indistinguishable component of
the people that observe it and it would be inexcusable for us to ignore
its cultural implications.

World Religions Spotlight: Rosh Hashanah, A Jewish Holiday

Today is the last day of the Jewish High Holiday, Rosh Hashanah. For the Jewish people it is the start of the civil year in the Hebrew calendar.

My Mom and I on Ramadan

Dong! Dong! Dong! “Wake up everyone, wake up, it is time to wake up, it is Sehri time” (the meal consumed early morning before fasting), a loud drumming of some sort along with a man’s yelling the people to wake up, like an alarm going off. Moments later he is gone, and all the people in their homes are turning on their lights, and the quiet deep hours of the night in ghali (a small road w/ homes on either side), is lit up and you can feel the vim and vigor replace the silence and stillness of the night, and the smell of all kinds of food fill the air. It is about 3:00am in Karachi, Pakistan.