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Dragon
Boat Festival, Chinese: Dragon Boats are raced and dumplings
are eaten. The ceremonies mark the boat race by Chinese peasants
to save the body of the poet Qu Yuan (who drowned himself
in protest against official corruption). The peasants fed
dumplings to the fish to stop them eating the poet’s body.
Pentecost/Whitsuntide,
Christian: Marks the day when Jesus’s disciples were touched
by the Holy Spirit (in the form of tongues of flame). The disciples
then began to spread the word of Jesus throughout the world. A traditional
time for baptism into the Christian faith. Some people decorate
their homes with paper doves to symbolise the Holy Spirit touching
Jesus at his own baptism.
Milad-un
Nabi (birthday of The Prophet), Islam: Speeches are made about
The Prophet’s life and teachings. Celebrations are muted because
this is also the anniversary of his death.
Birthday
of Emperor Haile Selassie 1, Rastafarian: July 23rd. Rastafarians
celebrate this holy day with drumming, hymns and prayer.
Leicester Caribbean Carnival:
What began in 1985 as an event to keep the cultural traditions of
the Caribbean alive has now become a multicultural event portraying
the varied diversities represented in Leicester. Now in its 17th
year - the carnival was colourful and vibrant in 2001. BBC Leicester webcast the carnival procession and featured a picture gallery
- see below.
Procession clip
one and clip
two
Tishah
B’av, Jewish: Commemoration of the destruction of the
first and second temples with a day of fasting and mourning.
Raksha
Bandhan, Hindu: When sisters tie rakhi (twisted red and
gold threads) around their brothers’ wrists. The brothers
give a gift, often money, in return. Rakhi can also be given
to close friends.
Janamashtami,
Hindu: To celebrate the birth of Lord Krisha. Often Hindus
fast until midnight before welcoming an image of Krishna (generally
in his cradle with a cobra above him) into their homes.
Paryushana
Paryushana is the festival of eight days. Pari + ushan means
chare baju thi atma taraf valvu (this means everything is
coming towards to the soul from four sides). It is a festival
of forgiveness and fasting. Both help to shed or burn the
bad karmas and cleanse the atma.
 
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