World Religion Day

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Producer and theater visionary Neil Goldberg along with co-author and award-winning immersive experience creator Niko Nickolaou release their next adventure series picture book this month. Holidays All Year with Pomp, Snow and Cirqueumstance illustrates celebrations throughout the year including: New Year’s, Lunar New Year, St. Patrick’s Day, Carnival/Mardi Gras, Passover, Easter, Ramadan, Fourth of July, Halloween and Diwali! “The Pomp, Snow and Cirqueumstance experience was like following the Yellow Brick Road into a Wonka Factory at Hogwarts.” —Florida Sun Times “Its inspirational messages and enchanting illustrations lifted the spirits of our patients, families and staff, spreading joy when they need it most.” —Caitlin Stella, CEO, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Holidays All Year is set to release hot on…

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — There was no green beer, no pickup trucks towing parade floats or throngs of tourists in gaudy green outfits. Instead, just a few dozen of Savannah’s early Irish immigrants marched a half-mile from a hotel near the riverfront to attend a special service at what then was the city’s only Roman Catholic church. That modest procession on March 17, 1824, launched one of the most beloved — and profitable — traditions in Savannah. On Saturday, Georgia’s oldest city will celebrate the 200th anniversary of its St. Patrick’s Day parade, which has grown over time into one of America’s largest. Thousands of revelers are expected to cram sidewalks and squares along the parade route through Savannah’s downtown…

ATK New Delhi [India], February 13: Are you thinking of taking an international vacation with your family? In that case, you should plan a trip to Singapore. Whether you are a nature lover or a wildlife enthusiast, you will find a lot of popular tourist spots in this city-state. Moreover, Singapore is considered one of the most safe and clean countries in the world, ensuring you have an unforgettable holiday. However, before flying off to the country, make sure to buy international travel insurance to keep you secure from any unforeseen circumstances. Keep reading the list of reasons that we have curated for you on why you should choose Singapore for your next foreign trip. Top 5 Reasons to Take…

In China, people celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, but there are at least three holidays and cultural traditions centered on romantic love. A figure that ties together these other holidays is the Old Man Under the Moon – Yuexia Laoren in Mandarin, or Yuelao for short – who is believed to be a divine matchmaker. In many cultures across the world, including China, parents traditionally arranged their children’s marriages, and love was not necessarily their main concern. In pre-modern China, daughters had little say over their marriage partners. Moreover, they were seen as belonging more to their future husbands’ families than to their birth families. Under these conditions, unmarried girls would pray to the Old Man Under the Moon…

In China, people celebrate Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14, but there are at least three holidays and cultural traditions centered on romantic love. A figure that ties together these other holidays is the Old Man Under the Moon – Yuexia Laoren in Mandarin, or Yuelao for short – who is believed to be a divine matchmaker. In many cultures across the world, including China, parents traditionally arranged their children’s marriages, and love was not necessarily their main concern. In pre-modern China, daughters had little say over their marriage partners. Moreover, they were seen as belonging more to their future husbands’ families than to their birth families. Under these conditions, unmarried girls would pray to the Old Man Under the Moon…

CLEVELAND, Ohio – This week, some folks will be pulled in opposite directions: The solemn observance of Ash Wednesday occurs on the same day as the fun and light-hearted Valentine’s Day. That might put some folks in a slight moral quandary. The Rev. James Bretzke, who teaches moral theology at John Carroll University, offers a fun approach. “Usually on Valentine’s Day I will give the kids a little chocolate heart – not overly expensive – but I’m not doing that on Wednesday, because the Catholics are supposed to be fasting on Ash Wednesday,” he said. So he planned to give it to them Monday. This way, church rules are maintained, you can still fast, and no one is packing their…

Ayodhya Ram Mandir FAQs: After an anticipated period of nearly 500 years, the historic inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya took place on January 22, 2024. The government has changed the beauty of Ayodhya to ensure the grand celebration of this momentous event. As stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the entire nation will celebrate Diwali on the day of the Ram Mandir inauguration to create a festive atmosphere. The inauguration of the Ram Mandir is set for January 22, 2024. From the guest list to Ram Mandir cost, take a look at FAQs or frequently asked questions on Ayodhya Ram Mandir: Ayodhya Ram Mandir FAQs: From Cost Of Ram Temple To Guest List, All You Need To Know…

Ayodhya Ram Mandir: The “Ayodhya Temple Inauguration,” formally known as the ‘Pran Pratishtha’, promises to be a monumental event in India’s history. Scheduled for January 22, 2024, it marks the installation of the revered idol of Lord Ram Lalla in the sanctum sanctorum of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya. This event holds immense significance for Hindus worldwide, symbolising the culmination of a long and complex journey fueled by faith and devotion. The Pran Pratishtha is not just a religious ceremony; it’s a national celebration uniting people from all walks of life. The event transcends religious boundaries, showcasing India’s rich cultural tapestry and the unifying power of faith. Ayodhya Temple Inauguration: What is ‘Pran Pratistha’? All You Need To Know…

BEIJING, Dec 25 (Reuters): Giant Christmas trees adorned with lights, tinsel and gift boxes greet shoppers at glittering malls in big Chinese cities like Shanghai and Chongqing, but in many parts of China, extending season’s greetings is out of the question. In southwest Yunnan province, a property management company issued a notice to shopping mall tenants urging them not to sell Christmas cards and presents and to even refrain from hanging decorations, saying foreign traditions should not be “blindly” followed, and one should be confident in one’s own culture. Schools in some cities from Dongguan in the south to Harbin in the northeast similarly called on students and parents not to follow foreign traditions and culture without thinking. In Gansu…

DHAKA, Dec 24, 2023 (BSS) – Tomorrow is Christmas Day, the birthday of Jesus Christ, Jewish preacher and religious leader of the first-century. The Christians of different groups in Bangladesh and elsewhere across the world will celebrate the day amid festivity and religious fervor. They will celebrate the day by offering special prayers, illuminating churches and installing makeshift Christmas trees at homes and places of worship as well as missions across the country. Elderly people of the community, attired in the outfit of Santa Claus, usually have fun with children and distribute gifts among kids as part of a universal Christian practice. The day is a public holiday. In separate messages, President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina greeted…

MONCTON, N.B. — The mayor of Moncton, N.B., apologized Monday, following a council decision to end its menorah display outside city hall during Hanukkah. A statement from Dawn Arnold said there was a “strong reaction” to the city’s decision not to install the menorah, as well as a Christian nativity scene, at the municipal building. The mayor said in an emailed statement that the “repositioning” of the faith symbols was part of an effort to be inclusive of all religions. “Despite our best intentions to do the right thing, we acted too quickly,” she said, acknowledging there was “a lack of reflection and understanding” of the decision’s impact. “We apologize if our actions showed a lack of support toward any…

MEXICO CITY (AP) – It´s the fortnight before Christmas and all through the world´s Catholic convents, nuns and monks are extra busy preparing the traditional delicacies they sell to a loyal fan base even in rapidly secularizing countries. For many monastic communities, especially those devoted to contemplative life and with vows of poverty, producing cookies, fruitcakes, even beer for sale is the only means to keep the lights on. But it´s also an enticing way to strengthen their ties with lay people who flock to their doors – and in some cases their websites – in the holiday season. “Our kitchen is a witness to God´s love to those outside,” said Sister Abigail, one of the 10 cloistered nuns of…

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Top Polish leaders joined members of the Jewish community for a Hanukkah celebration in parliament Thursday after a far-right lawmaker used a fire extinguisher to put out burning candles on a menorah earlier this week. The attendance of the president, speaker of parliament and other top legislative officials sent the message that there is no tolerance in Poland for the kind of antisemitic behavior that erupted in parliament halls Tuesday, shocking the country and drawing widespread condemnation across the political spectrum. A woman was injured in the incident and was still in a hospital two days later. Rabbi Shalom Ber Stambler of the Chabad community, who has organized the Hanukkah event in parliament for the 17th…

MILAN (AP) — Italian melodrama’s official recognition as a global cultural treasure was celebrated Thursday with La Scala’s season premiere of Verdi’s “Don Carlo,” an opera that hits hot-button topics of power and oppression. In keeping with a La Scala tradition of off-stage melodrama, the issue of who would occupy the royal box at the Milan opera house on opening night spawned a pre-performance kerfuffle. La Scala’s unions protested the institutional seat of honor going to Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa in the absence of Italy’s president and premier. La Russa, a far-right politician whom the unions claim has not condemned Italy’s fascist past, sat in the front row of the adorned royal box with Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala, a…

MILAN (AP) – Italian melodrama’s official recognition as a global cultural treasure is getting trumpeted Thursday with La Scala´s season premiere of Verdi´s “Don Carlo,” an opera that hits hot-button topics of power and oppression. In keeping with a La Scala tradition of off-stage melodrama, the issue of who would occupy the royal box at the Milan opera house on opening night spawned a pre-performance kerfuffle. La Scala’s unions protested the institutional seat of honor going to Senate Speaker Ignazio La Russa in the absence of Italy´s president and premier. La Russa, a far-right politician whom the unions claim has not condemned Italy´s fascist past, will sit in the front row of the adorned royal box with Milan Mayor Giuseppe…

CANTON – Billions of the world’s Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists this month are celebrating Diwali, a five-day Festival of Lights. A joyous holiday, Diwali, is India’s biggest and most important spiritual holiday of the year, commemorating the triumph of spiritual light over darkness. It’s marked by gift-giving, feasting and lighting fireworks, lamps and other lights. Diwali comes from the Sanskrit word “dipavali,” meaning “row of lights.” Celebrants place the lights outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness. Locally, more than 300 people dressed in their best holiday finery attended this year’s Diwali festival hosted by the India Association of Greater Canton at McKinley High School’s Timken Career Center. The event showcased Indian music,…