What are the most important holidays for each major religion?
What are the most important holidays for each major religion?
I just saw a discussion among corporate event planners where one person was upset that event organizers don't give proper consideration to scheduling over top of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
I can appreciate the annoyance, when I was still a practicing Christian I would never think to schedule a work thing over Easter or Christmas. We should treat others with consideration, and should be mindful of what others view as important days. But I also don't know what each religion considers to be major, non negotiable holidays. Do you?
Another question, does it matter where the event is? (for example, in the US should less consideration be given to holidays of religions that have fewer adherents?)
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As a secular American, I can tell you my favorite holidays.
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Independence Day - Hot Dogs, Outdoors, Beer, Fireworks
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Thanksgiving - Food, Wine, Family
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Halloween - Costumes, Candy, Booze
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New Year's Eve - Party, Champagne, usually a charcuterie board
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St. Paddy's Day - Beer, Corned Beef
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Memorial Day/Labor Day - Backyard BBQs, Beer
Maybe my religion is alcohol.
St Patrick's day and Halloween are Christian 😎
And Christmas is pagan (Yule/Saturnalia) 😎
So is Halloween (Samhain).
Samhain most likely didn't have any religious significance. The word likely just means "summer's end" and it wouldn't have fallen on the 31st of October as the Celts used a lunar-solar calendar
The date of Yule was adjusted to coincide with Christmas and Saturnalia was between the 17th and 23rd of December
I understand that the roots of these holidays are religious. Even Christmas. However, I argue that the meaning and traditions of these holidays have been heavily high jacked by American culture and mean more to American culture than they do religion at this point. St. Patrick's Day? The most people can tell you about St. Patrick's day is that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. And by snakes, they meant Pagans. Who knows what the fuck Halloween means to religious people these days? Hell, without looking it up, what are its roots? I even argue that for a higher percentage of Americans, Christmas is more about presents and Santa than it is Jesus birthday.
I agree with you. St Patrick's day is basically loved because it was a Holy Day during Lent - meaning people were able to break their fast. For me - a Protestant living in Northern Ireland - it always means a somewhat special Church service. I remember I was in Poland once on Halloween and a bunch of Churches were holding special masses. Halloween is the Eve of All Saint's Day in Western Christianity. Ever since I chose to follow Christianity more, I have always viewed Christmas with the religious aspect, going to carol services, lighting candles at midnight, etc. But same cannot be said about society. St Valentine's day is also Christian in origin, although I've never seen it that way. I guess it's just the effect of a Christian society secularising. I believe a similar thing is actually happening on Eid in countries like Turkiye as well. Also with similar stuff in Japan.
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