Chaplaincy Holy Days, Celebrations and Observances of February 2020 - Children's National
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Chaplaincy
Holy Days, Celebrations
and Observances of
February 2020
HOLY DAYS WITH NO FIXED DATE
KWAIKIUTL MIDWINTER FESTIVAL Long before the dawn of man, the Kwakiutl tribes inhabited
the coastal region and believed the world was ruled by supernatural beings that took the
shape of
different animals. These bears, wolves, seals, ravens, bees, owls, and whales were the em-
bodiment of nature and possessed supreme supernatural prowess.
The Kwakiutl tribe believes these beings endowed the first members of their tribe with a
fragment of their power. Their descendants are the modern-day Kwakiutl and continue this
tradition by engaging in ceremonies that connect them to the power of nature and these
spirits of ancient lore.
The Kwakiutl Midwinter Ceremony is a time in the middle of winter when the tribes join
together and reaffirm their belief in the supernatural elements of this world, strengthening the
power that dwells within.
Some aspects of the ceremony consist of traditional dances, masks of the animal spir-
its, and a great feast of salmon, berries, crabapples, and more. The dancing rituals or “Ha-
matsa dances” are used to entice these ever-present spirits to visit the people of the tribe
yet again. It’s understood that rigorous training is required to perform these dances and the
tribesman that perform them are
blessed with great power and wisdom for their efforts.
Two of the most significant figures in this ceremony are the Raven and the Salmon spir-
its.
According to their beliefs, the Raven was responsible for bringing the sun, moon, and stars
into the
sky above. The raven is also seen a trickster spirit, taking the form of different animals and
people as it sees fit but still highly regarded by the Kwakiutl.
The Salmon is an important figure because salmon were the main staple of the tribe’s
diet, as their land stretched from northern California to Alaska. The Kwakiutl also believed
that the salmon had a society similar to their own beneath the sea. Their ancestors were
taught different ceremonies by these salmon.
The Kwakiutl Midwinter Ceremony celebration is a wonderful time to
embrace all things supernatural and to once again take in the mystic
elements of nature and myth back into your life.
READ MORE:
https://www.assignmentpoint.com/arts/sociology/assignment-on-kwakiutl.html
ChildrensNational.org/ChaplaincyServicesHOLY DAYS WITH FIXED DATE
February 2 Candlemas/Presentation of Christ Christian Candlemas is a Christian holiday
celebrated annually on February 2. It celebrates three occasions according to Christian belief:
the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and it celebrates the Virgin
Mary’s purification (mainly in Catholic churches).
Many Christians consider Jesus as the “light of the world” so it is fitting that candles are
blessed on this day and that a candle-lit procession precedes the mass. It is traditional to eat
crepes on Candlemas in some parts of Europe, such as France. Each family member prepares
and cooks a crepe while holding a coin in hand. This is believed to assure wealth and happiness
until the next Candlemas celebration.
Candlemas is also known as Candelaria in Spanish speaking countries. Whoever finds baby
figures hidden inside the Rosca de Reyes (Kings Cake) on Epiphany on January 6 is obliged to
bring food to a gathering held on February 2. Many Orthodox Christians celebrate this event by
bringing beeswax candles to their local church and requesting for these candles to be blessed
to be used in the church or at home. Some Christians observe the practice of leaving Christmas
decorations up until Candlemas.
Candlemas primarily focuses on Jesus’ early life. Many Christians believe that Jesus’
mother Mary presented him to God at the Temple in Jerusalem after observing the traditional
40-day period of purification (of mothers) following his birth. According to a New Testament
gospel, a Jewish man named Simeon held the baby in his arms and said that he would be a light
for the Gentiles (Luke 2:32). It is for this reason that this event is called Candlemas.
According to some sources, Christians began Candlemas in Jerusalem as early as the
fourth century and the lighting of candles began in the fifth century. Other sources say that
Candlemas was observed by blessing candles since the 11th century. An early writing dating
back to around 380 CE mentioned that a feast of the Presentation occurred in a church in
Jerusalem. It was observed on February 14. The feast was observed on February 2 in regions
where Christ’s birth was celebrated on December 25.
Candlemas is known as the “Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple” in many
eastern churches. Other traditional names in the western churches include the “Feast for the
Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary” as well as the “Meeting of the Lord”.
Snowdrops (galanthas nivalis) are known as Candlemas Bells because they often bloom
early in the year, even before Candlemas. Some varieties bloom all winter (in the northern
hemisphere).
According to folklore, an angel helped these Candlemas bells to bloom and pointed them
as a sign of hope to Eve, who wept in repentance and in despair over the cold and death that
entered the world. Many Christians see the flower as a symbol of Jesus Christ being this hope for
the world. Candles that are lit during Candlemas also symbolize Jesus as the “light of the world”.February 2 Imbolc Wicca/Pagan Imbolc is a pagan holiday celebrated from February 1
through sundown February 2. Based on a Celtic tradition, Imbolc was meant to mark the halfway
point between winter solstice and the spring equinox in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland. The
holiday is celebrated by Wiccans and other practitioners of neopagan or pagan-influenced
religions. Imbolc is just one of several pre-Christian holidays highlighting some aspect of winter and
sunlight, and heralding the change of seasons.
The earliest mentions of Imbolc in Irish literature date back to the 10th century. Poetry from
that time relates the holiday to ewe’s milk, with the implication of purification. It’s been
speculated that this stems from the breeding cycle of sheep and the beginning of lactation. The
holiday was traditionally aligned with the first day of spring and the idea of rebirth.
Imbolc celebrations took the form of a festival in honor of the pagan goddess Brigid, who
was evoked in fertility rites and oversaw poetry, crafts and prophecy. Brigid was worshipped by
the Filid, a class of poets and historians among the Celts of ancient Ireland and Britain.
Brigid was considered one of the most powerful Celtic gods, the daughter of the Dagda,
the oldest god in the Celtic pantheon Tuatha du Danann. She had two sisters also named Brigid
(though it’s speculated that these sisters are meant to symbolize different aspects of the same
goddess.)
Brigid appears in the saga Cath Maige Tuired and the Lebor Gabála Érenn, a purported
history of Ireland collected from various poems and texts in the 10th century. Myths about Brigid’s
birth say she was born with a flame in her head and drank the milk of a mystical cow from the
spirit world. Brigid is credited with the very first keening, a traditional wailing for the dead
practiced at funerals by Irish and Scottish women.
In pre-Christian times, Imbolc observance began the night before February 1. Celebrants
prepared for a visit from Brigid into their homes by crafting an effigy of the goddess from bundles
of oats and rushes. The effigy was placed in a dress and put in a basket overnight. The day of
Imbolc was celebrated by burning lamps and lighting bonfires in tribute to Brigid.
Over the centuries, Brigid was adopted into Christianity as St. Brigid. One of Ireland’s three
patron saints, the Catholic Church claims St. Brigid was a historical person, with accounts of her
life written by monks dating back to the 8th century. Brigid (or Bridget) is the patron saint of Irish
nuns, newborns, midwives, dairy maids and cattle.
Whether or not she existed, these stories contain aspects in common with the details of the
pagan goddess and illustrate the transition from pagan to Christian worship.
Like the goddess Brigid, St. Brigid is associated with milk and fire. Born in Ireland around 453
A.D., St. Brigid was the daughter of a slave and a chieftain who was celebrated at an early age
for her agricultural knowledge. She was renowned for her charity to the poor and stories abound
about her healing powers. St. Brigid was a friend of St. Patrick, whose preaching set her on a
course at an early age, and she became Ireland’s first nun.
The celebration of St. Brigid’s Day on February 1 was
put in place by the church to replace Imbolc. On her feast
day, an effigy of St. Brigid of Kildare is traditionally washed in
the ocean and surrounded by candles to dry, and stalks of
wheat are transformed into cross talismans known as Brigid
crosses. The modern celebration of Imbolc is considered a
low-key, loose and sometimes private affair concerned with
reconnecting with nature.February 2 Four Chaplains’ Sunday Interfaith It was Feb. 3, 1943, and the U.S. Army Transport
Dorchester was one of three ships in a convoy, moving across the Atlantic from Newfoundland
to an American base in Greenland. A converted luxury liner, the Dorchester was crowded to
capacity, carrying 902 servicemen, merchant seamen and civilian workers.
It was only 150 miles from its destination when shortly after midnight, an officer aboard the
German submarine U2 spotted it. After identifying and targeting the ship, he gave orders to fire.
The hit was decisive, striking the ship, far below the water line. The initial blast killed scores of men
and seriously wounded many more.
Others, stunned by the explosion were groping in the darkness. Panic and chaos quickly
set in! Men were screaming, others crying or franticly trying to get lifeboats off the ship.
Through the pandemonium, four men spread out among the Soldiers, calming the
frightened, tending the wounded and guiding the disoriented toward safety. They were four
Army chaplains, Lt. George Fox, a Methodist; Lt. Alexander Goode, a Jewish Rabbi; Lt. John
Washington, a Roman Catholic Priest; and Lt. Clark Poling, a Dutch Reformed minister.
Quickly and quietly the four chaplains worked to bring calm to the men. As soldiers
began to find their way to the deck of the ship, many were still in their underwear, where they
were confronted by the cold winds blowing down from the arctic.
Once topside, the chaplains opened a storage locker and began distributing life jackets.
It was then that Engineer Grady Clark witnessed an astonishing sight. When there were no more
life jackets in the storage room, the chaplains simultaneously removed theirs and gave them to
four frightened young men. When giving their life jackets, Rabbi Goode did not call out for a
Jew; Father Washington did not call out for a Catholic; nor did Fox
or Poling call out for a
Protestant. They simply gave their life jackets to the next man in
line. One survivor would later call it “It was the finest thing I have
seen or hope to see this side of heaven.”
As the ship went down, survivors in nearby rafts could see
the four chaplains -- arms linked and braced against the slanting
deck. Their voices could also be heard offering prayers and
singing hymns.Of the 902 men aboard the U.S.A.T. Dorchester,
only 230 survived.
Although the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart
were later awarded posthumously Congress wished to confer the
Medal of Honor but was blocked by the stringent requirements
which required heroism performed under fire. So a posthumous Special Medal for Heroism, The
Four Chaplains’ Medal, was authorized by Congress and awarded by the President on January
18, 1961. It was never given before and will never be given again.
February 3 St. Blaise Christian Early Christian bishop and martyr, one of the most popular
medieval saints, Blaise is venerated as the patron saint of sufferers from throat diseases and of
wool combers and as one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
According to tradition, Blaise was of noble birth and, after being educated in the Christian
faith, was made bishop of Sebastia. Although Christianity had been adopted about 300 CE as
the state religion in Armenia, the Roman emperor Licinius began a persecution of the Christians,
and Blaise was discovered and apprehended. While imprisoned, he miraculously cured a boy
from fatally choking. After being torn with wool combers’ irons, Blaise was beheaded.Subsequent legends, notably the apocryphal Acts of St. Blaise, claim that, before Blaise was
made bishop, he was a physician possessed of wonderful healing power. Numerous miracles
were attributed to him, including the cure of diseased beasts during his refuge, thus accounting
for his also being the patron saint of wild animals. He was venerated as the patron of sufferers
from throat diseases in the East by the 6th century and in the West by the 9th century. Blaise’s cult
spread throughout Christendom from the 8th century, and many churches, such as that in
Dubrovnik (a city of which he is the patron saint), Croatia, are dedicated to him.
Begun in the 16th century, the blessing of St. Blaise is a ceremony still practiced and
celebrated on his feast day in many places. Two candles are consecrated and crossed
before the congregation; or a wick, consecrated in oil, is touched to the throats of the faithful.
This blessing may be administered by a priest, a deacon, or a lay minister. Blaise’s emblems are
wax, taper, iron combs (the supposed instru ments of his passion), or two crossed candles; in art
he is sometimes represented in a cave with animals.
February 3 Setsubun Shinto The festival of Setsubun—when people throw soybeans at
demons—follows closely on the heels of New Year’s. The word setsubun means “changing of the
seasons,” so there are actually four setsubun a year on the day before each new season begins.
But because of the importance of the New Year in the Japanese calendar, the setsubun directly
before the start of spring was by far the most important and is currently the only one widely
celebrated in Japan. When seasons change, people are at their most vulnerable to influenza,
colds, or other ailments. The rituals for the festival of Setsubun are meant to purge ones house
and surroundings of all bad things and to keep disease and misfortune at bay.
In schools in Japan, students typically make oni masks at this time. The principal of the
school or the teachers might dress up as oni demons, and children will throw roasted soybeans
at them, calling “Oni wa soto! (Out with the demons!) Fuku wa uchi! (In with good fortune!).” This
ceremony might be repeated at home and is also carried out
at various temples throughout Japan. After the bean-throwing
ritual (mamemaki), people count out and eat the number of
roasted soybeans equal to their age plus one more to protect
them in the year ahead. These beans are called fuku-mame
(good fortune beans). For good measure, people might also
decorate the outside of their houses with prickly holly leaves
and sardine heads because oni demons are known to avoid
the sharp thorns of the holly and to detest the smell of sardines.
In the Kansai region (near Osaka and Kyoto), it’s also typical to
eat ehou-maki, an over-sized sushi roll with 7 ingredients (indicating luck). In recent years, eating
this traditional dish has become popular throughout Japan.
February 9 Triodion Begins Orthodox Christian TRIODION – (Greek: three odes or modes). A
Liturgical book containing the hymns, prayers and services of the movable feast before Easter,
beginning ten weeks before Easter with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, until Easter
Sunday. This includes the four weeks proceeding Great Lent, Great Lent, and Holy (Passion)
Week.February 15 Nirvana Day (Buddhist/Jain) Nirvana Day — is observed primarily by
Mahayana Buddhists, most commonly on February 15th. The day commemorates the death
of the historical Buddha and his entry into final or complete Nirvana.
Nirvana Day is a time for contemplation of the Buddha’s teachings. Some monasteries
and temples hold meditation retreats. Others open their doors to laypeople, who bring gifts
of money and household goods to support monks and nuns.
The word Nirvana means “to extinguish,” such as extinguishing the flame of a candle.
It’s important to understand that the people of ancient India considered fire to be a bit of
atmosphere that had become trapped by fuel. This bit of atmosphere burns angrily and
fitfully until it is released to become cool, peaceful air again.
Some schools of Buddhism explain Nirvana as a state of bliss or peace, and this state
may be experienced in life, or it may be entered into at death. The Buddha taught that
Nirvana was beyond human imagination, and so speculation about what Nirvana is like is
foolish.
In many schools of Buddhism, it’s believed realization of enlightenment causes living
people to enter a kind of partial Nirvana, or “Nirvana With Remainders.” The word
parinirvana refers to a complete or final Nirvana realized at death.
The Buddha died at the age of 80 -- possibly of food poisoning -- in the company of his
monks. As recorded in the Parinibbana Sutta of the Pali Sutta-Pitaka, the Buddha knew his
life was at an end, and he assured his monks that he had withheld no spiritual teaching from
them. He urged them to maintain the teachings so that they would continue to help people
through the ages to come.
As might be expected, Nirvana Day observances tend to be solemn. This is a day for
meditation or reading the Parinibanna Sutta. In particular, it is a time to reflect on death and
impermanence. Nirvana Day also is a traditional day for pilgrimage. The Buddha is believed
to have died near a city named Kushinagar, located in the modern-day state of Uttar
Pradesh in India. Kushinagar is a major pilgrimage destination on Nirvana Day.
February 22 Maha Shivaratri Hindu On this day Shiva is said to have saved the world
from destruction on the condition that people worshipped him with great pride and
enthusiasm. Other legends say that Shiva named this specific day when the goddess Parvati
asked. Maha Shivaratri is a major festival within the Hinduism culture because it marks
remembrance of overcomingdarkness and ignorance in the world. During this day, the
culture observes the day be remembering Shiva and changing prayers, fasting, doing yoga,
and meditating. Ethics and virtues of self-restraint, honesty, kindness to others, forgiveness,
and the discovery of Shiva are the primary focuses and
ultimate goals.
Maha Shivaratri is one of the biggest festivals of
Hindus. Devotees offer water, milk, dhatura, bhaang,
akwan flowers to Shiva’s idol or Shivalinga and worship
the Hindu God of destruction. Shiva is considered the
ideal husband and unmarried girls and women pray for a
husband like him.At Maha Shivratri, people fast the whole day and night and attend
temple in the morning. They come to the temple to perform the puja of tradi-
tional Shivalingam and hope to get what they have prayed to the god. They
take bath in the holy water of the Ganga, a symbol of purity, early in the
morning before sunrise and wear clean clothes after the sacred bath.
Every worshiper brings a pot full of holy water to the temple to offer the
Shivalingam. Women pray to God for her well-being of their husbands and sons,
an unmarried woman pray to get their desired husband like Shiva in future; boys
pray to get beautiful wife and successful life in future. The temple full of sound of
bells and people shouts of “Shankerji ki Jai” or “Mahadevji ki Jai”. Devotees take
five rounds of the Shivalingam and pour water on the Shivalingam. Some also
pour cow milk on the Shivalingam.
February 23 Meatfare Sunday Orthodox Christian Eastern Orthodox churches take initial steps
toward their traditional Lenten fast with Meatfare Sunday. After Meatfare Sunday, no meat may
be consumed until Pascha (Easter); in one week, Cheesefare Sunday will discontinue the
partaking of dairy products until Pascha. For Orthodox Christians, Great Lent begins on Clean
Monday
Though commonly referred to as Meatfare Sunday, this day is more formally known as the
Sunday of the Last Judgment. In services, emphasis is placed on the Second Coming and Last
Judgment—a time when Christ, in Matthew, refers to coming in glory with the angels to judge the
living and the dead. While the opportunity exists, the faithful are encouraged to repent. The
parable of the Last Judgment points out that Christ will judge on love: How well one has shared
God’s love, and how deeply one has cared for others.
February 25 Shrove Tuesday Christian Shrove, derived from shrive, refers to the confession of
sins as a preparation for Lent, a usual practice in Europe in the Middle Ages. Although the day is
sometimes still used for self-examination and introspection, Shrove Tuesday eventually acquired
the character of a carnival or festival in many places and is often celebrated with parades. As the
final day before the austerity of the Lenten fast, Shrove Tuesday also has many customs pertaining
to food. Pancakes are traditional in a number of European countries because eggs, sugar, and
fat, commonly forbidden during the Lenten fast, are used up so they will not go to waste; the day
is known as Pancake Day or Pancake Tuesday in Ireland and in many Commonwealth countries.
Similarly rich pre-Lenten treats, sweet pa,czki are traditional in Poland, and king cake is an iconic
part of Mardi Gras.
February 26 Ash Wednesday Christian the first day of Lent, occurring 6 1/2 weeks before
Easter (between February 4 and March 11, depending on the date of Easter). In the early Chris-
tian church, the length of the Lenten celebration varied, but eventually it began 6 weeks (42
days) before Easter. This provided only 36 days of fasting (excluding Sundays). In the 7th century, 4
days were added before the first Sunday in Lent in order to establish 40 fasting days, in imitation of
Jesus Christ’s fast in the desert.
It was the practice in Rome for penitents to begin their period of public penance on the
first day of Lent. They were sprinkled with ashes, dressed in sackcloth, and obliged to remain apart
until they were reconciled with the Christian community on Maundy Thursday, the Thursday before
Easter. When these practices fell into disuse (8th–10th century), the beginning of the penitential
season of Lent was symbolized by placing ashes on the heads of the entire congregation.In the modern Roman Catholic Church, the ashes obtained by burning the palms used on the
previous Palm Sunday are applied in the shape of a cross on the forehead of each worshipper
on Ash Wednesday. Worship services are also held on Ash Wednesday in Anglican, Lutheran, and
some other Protestant churches. Eastern Orthodox churches begin Lent on a Monday and
therefore do not observe Ash Wednesday.
Resources for this newsletter: nativeamericanturquoisejewelry.net, timeanddate.com, history.com,
army.mil, britannica.com, aboutjapan.japansociety.org, learnreligions.com, orthochristian.com,
beliefnet.com, readthespirit.com. All photos are from the subscription service Shutterstock unless
otherwise identified.
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Chaplaincy Staff: Catholic Mass is held Thursday at
Rev. Kathleen Ennis-Durstine, room 4201, x.3321 noon and Saturday at 4 p.m. in the
Rev. Eliezer Oliveira, habla Espanol, room 4115, x 5050 Main Chapel, third floor Main, room
Rev. Matthew Schlageter, room 4115, x 6736 3201.
Rev. Lavender Kelley, room 4115, x 4638
Jummah Prayer is held Friday at 12:15
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