Sorry I missed April! Even though the month is over, I hope that won't put anyone off reading for a few of the challenges. April is generally known for having one of the two trickster days in the calendar, and was home to Easter, Passover and the start of Ramadan this year.
April first is the internationally recognised day to kid around. Although, it's not an official holiday in any country except a part of Ukraine, it is recognised in most Western nations. There are accounts of April Fools jokes and hoaxes in most European nations dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Sadly, the current pandemic has not only forced many of us to stay at home this month but has also sucked much of the fun out of life. Joking in the time of coronavirus might seem crass. Besides, who are we going to play jokes on whilst self isolating and social distancing. I have a feeling April Fools 2021 is going to be epic. Though I think nearly all celebrations after this is over, including all the holidays we missed, will be epic.
This year April was host to three of the most significant observances within the three biggest religions in the world. Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection and therefore the fulfilment of God's new covenant, was on April 12. About every three years Easter rocks up in March, but April is usually the month associated with Easter. In fact April will host the holiday for the next three years, making this one of the longest stretches of Easter occurring continuously in April from 2016 to 2023. It also falls on different days in the Julian calendar with the dates lining up to the Gregorian calendar about every three years. As Easter is a moveable feast the dates change. Determining it is a very complicated calculation that early Christians were keen to establish independent of the Jewish calendar, so that it didn't always coincide with Passover. For a few hundred years it caused issues until it was finally decided that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the paschal full moon, or the first full moon after the vernal equinox, according to the ecclesiastical lunar calendar. What's brilliant is that it's based on the paschal full moon, paschal is derived from Pascha meaning Passover in Aramaic. The word for Easter in most Christian non-English speaking countries is a derivation of Pascha, in Italian it's Pasqua, French Pâques, Dutch Pasen. German and English seem to be the exceptions to the Passover association. Arguably the most significant day in the Christian calendar is still inextricably linked with one of the most important in the Jewish calendar even after all the calendar fiddling.
Passover is the celebration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. In the Book of Exodus, God sends down ten plagues upon Egypt with the last one being the slaughter of the first born son. The Israelites were instructed to mark their doors with lamb's blood so that the avenging spirit would pass over their houses. This final plague forced Pharaoh to free the Israelites and evidenced them as the chosen people. Passover began on April 8th and finished in the evening of the 16th. During this week long period Jews are to abstain from eating or even owning leavening. This abstention is representative of the haste required to flee Egypt, there wasn't even time for their bread to rise before they had to make their way. Matzah, unleavened bread, is therefore consumed during this period and is central to the celebration. During the first and/or second night seder (meal) matzah is symbolic of the paschal lamb that was historically slaughtered as a sacrifice as prescribed in Leviticus.
Ramadan began on the of 23rd of April and will conclude at sundown on the 23rd of May. Like Easter and Passover it is based on a lunar calendar. It occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar at the first sighting of the new moon, otherwise known as the crescent moon, and ends at the first sighting of the next new moon. Ramadan is a period of prayer, purity and reflection to commemorate the first revelation of Muhammad. The angel Gabriel came to Muhammad in a cave near Mecca to give him the first instruction from Allah and the beginnings of what would later become the Quran. Like Muhammad who initially went to the cave for contemplation, before he was then chosen by God to recite his teachings, Muslims are required to fast not just from food but from tobacco, sex and sinful behaviour as well. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is believed to bring clarity and purity.
May is also a month of celebration. There are so many that it's hard to narrow it down. So I've chosen two that are close to me. The first is May Day celebrated on either the first or the first Monday of May. In my adopted home country of England, May Day is a public holiday that's celebrated on the first Monday of the month. It has its roots in pagan history and is a celebration of spring in many European heritages. Here in England the tradition goes back to the 14th century. Aspects of the revelry included crowning a maiden the May Queen, dancing around a maypole and wrapping it in ribbon, and Morris dancing. Though Christianity did try to take over May Day and turn it into a day about Mary, it didn't really stick. This is the one and only truly pagan holiday of the year here in the UK. It has zero connection to religion and, the most wonderful aspect of the festivities, in my opinion, is that no one really knows why they're celebrating.
Growing up in Austin, Texas we celebrated a few Mexican holidays but Cinco de Mayo is the main one. May fifth commemorates the Battle of Puebla, where Mexico defeated the forces of Napoléon in 1862. I honestly have no idea why we celebrated it. Puebla is interior Mexico, even further south than Mexico City, so it's not like it was even geographically close to Texas. But music, food and parties were had for as long as I can remember and are still being held. Though Austin is keen on a party and will look for any excuse to celebrate.
For April read a book or books from one of the categories below: ▪️Read a book with a genre tag of humour or that makes you laugh ▪️Read a book set in the Ukraine ▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Christianity or with a date or part of a date in the title ▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Judaism or with a lamb/sheep on the cover ▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Islam or with a crescent moon on the cover
For May read a book or books from one of the categories below: ▪️Read a book with pagan element ▪️Read a book set in the UK ▪️Read a book where a battle takes place ▪️Read a book set in Texas
Sorry I missed April! Even though the month is over, I hope that won't put anyone off reading for a few of the challenges. April is generally known for having one of the two trickster days in the calendar, and was home to Easter, Passover and the start of Ramadan this year.
April first is the internationally recognised day to kid around. Although, it's not an official holiday in any country except a part of Ukraine, it is recognised in most Western nations. There are accounts of April Fools jokes and hoaxes in most European nations dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries. Sadly, the current pandemic has not only forced many of us to stay at home this month but has also sucked much of the fun out of life. Joking in the time of coronavirus might seem crass. Besides, who are we going to play jokes on whilst self isolating and social distancing. I have a feeling April Fools 2021 is going to be epic. Though I think nearly all celebrations after this is over, including all the holidays we missed, will be epic.
This year April was host to three of the most significant observances within the three biggest religions in the world. Easter, the celebration of Christ's resurrection and therefore the fulfilment of God's new covenant, was on April 12. About every three years Easter rocks up in March, but April is usually the month associated with Easter. In fact April will host the holiday for the next three years, making this one of the longest stretches of Easter occurring continuously in April from 2016 to 2023. It also falls on different days in the Julian calendar with the dates lining up to the Gregorian calendar about every three years. As Easter is a moveable feast the dates change. Determining it is a very complicated calculation that early Christians were keen to establish independent of the Jewish calendar, so that it didn't always coincide with Passover. For a few hundred years it caused issues until it was finally decided that Easter would fall on the first Sunday after the paschal full moon, or the first full moon after the vernal equinox, according to the ecclesiastical lunar calendar. What's brilliant is that it's based on the paschal full moon, paschal is derived from Pascha meaning Passover in Aramaic. The word for Easter in most Christian non-English speaking countries is a derivation of Pascha, in Italian it's Pasqua, French Pâques, Dutch Pasen. German and English seem to be the exceptions to the Passover association. Arguably the most significant day in the Christian calendar is still inextricably linked with one of the most important in the Jewish calendar even after all the calendar fiddling.
Passover is the celebration of the Israelites exodus from Egypt. In the Book of Exodus, God sends down ten plagues upon Egypt with the last one being the slaughter of the first born son. The Israelites were instructed to mark their doors with lamb's blood so that the avenging spirit would pass over their houses. This final plague forced Pharaoh to free the Israelites and evidenced them as the chosen people. Passover began on April 8th and finished in the evening of the 16th. During this week long period Jews are to abstain from eating or even owning leavening. This abstention is representative of the haste required to flee Egypt, there wasn't even time for their bread to rise before they had to make their way. Matzah, unleavened bread, is therefore consumed during this period and is central to the celebration. During the first and/or second night seder (meal) matzah is symbolic of the paschal lamb that was historically slaughtered as a sacrifice as prescribed in Leviticus.
Ramadan began on the of 23rd of April and will conclude at sundown on the 23rd of May. Like Easter and Passover it is based on a lunar calendar. It occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar at the first sighting of the new moon, otherwise known as the crescent moon, and ends at the first sighting of the next new moon. Ramadan is a period of prayer, purity and reflection to commemorate the first revelation of Muhammad. The angel Gabriel came to Muhammad in a cave near Mecca to give him the first instruction from Allah and the beginnings of what would later become the Quran. Like Muhammad who initially went to the cave for contemplation, before he was then chosen by God to recite his teachings, Muslims are required to fast not just from food but from tobacco, sex and sinful behaviour as well. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is believed to bring clarity and purity.
May is also a month of celebration. There are so many that it's hard to narrow it down. So I've chosen two that are close to me. The first is May Day celebrated on either the first or the first Monday of May. In my adopted home country of England, May Day is a public holiday that's celebrated on the first Monday of the month. It has its roots in pagan history and is a celebration of spring in many European heritages. Here in England the tradition goes back to the 14th century. Aspects of the revelry included crowning a maiden the May Queen, dancing around a maypole and wrapping it in ribbon, and Morris dancing. Though Christianity did try to take over May Day and turn it into a day about Mary, it didn't really stick. This is the one and only truly pagan holiday of the year here in the UK. It has zero connection to religion and, the most wonderful aspect of the festivities, in my opinion, is that no one really knows why they're celebrating.
Growing up in Austin, Texas we celebrated a few Mexican holidays but Cinco de Mayo is the main one. May fifth commemorates the Battle of Puebla, where Mexico defeated the forces of Napoléon in 1862. I honestly have no idea why we celebrated it. Puebla is interior Mexico, even further south than Mexico City, so it's not like it was even geographically close to Texas. But music, food and parties were had for as long as I can remember and are still being held. Though Austin is keen on a party and will look for any excuse to celebrate.
For April read a book or books from one of the categories below:
▪️Read a book with a genre tag of humour or that makes you laugh
▪️Read a book set in the Ukraine
▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Christianity or with a date or part of a date in the title
▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Judaism or with a lamb/sheep on the cover
▪️Read a book with a genre tag of Islam or with a crescent moon on the cover
For May read a book or books from one of the categories below:
▪️Read a book with pagan element
▪️Read a book set in the UK
▪️Read a book where a battle takes place
▪️Read a book set in Texas