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November 2007
Event Calendar

Native American Heritage Month
A program of events may be downloaded from the Student Life Calendar.
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Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead
All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) / All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2)

While this festival’s dates coincide with Catholic the holy days of All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), this celebration of the cycle of life originates from Mexican indigenous traditions and not Christian religious rites (although aspects of it have since become influenced by religion).  The main symbol of the day, the calavera (skull or skeleton), symbolizes life rather than a sinister image of death and appears in everything from pan de muerto (sweet bread baked especially for the festivities) to sugar molds to dioramas of skeletons performing daily activities.  Traditionally children who have died are honored on the first day (“Dia de los Angelitos”) and adults are honored the second day.
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 Hindu - Diwali (Deepavali)

is perhaps the most popular Hindu festival. Known as the Festival of Lights, it is dedicated to the Goddess Kali in Bengal and to Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth, in the rest of India. As with several festivals, Diwali is associated with one of the stories about the destruction of evil by Vishnu in one of his many manifestations.

Sikh - Bandi Chhor Divas means "the day of the prisoner's release." It commemorates the return of the sixth Guru, Sri Hargobind Ji, to the holy city of Amritsar after his release from detention. Since he was released on the day of Diwali, the "Festival of Lights," Sikhs in Amritsar illuminate the city.

Jain - Mahavira (6th century BCE), the 24th Tirthankara, attained nirvana and release from the cycle of rebirth (moksha).
11
 Veterans Day – to be observed Monday, Nov. 12th (campus closed)

First declared in 1919 as “Armistice Day” to honor the end of World War I, the holiday was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to honor American veterans of all wars.
 
12
 Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í)

Born to a Persian family of some nobility, Mirza Husayn-Ali was a follower and later spokesperson for the Báb.  It was later revealed that he himself was the Prophet foretold by the Báb, and he assumed the name Bahá’u’lláh, meaning “glory of God.” The faithful restrict work on this day.
15
 Nativity Fast begins, continuing through Dec. 24 (Orthodox Christian).

The New Eastern calendar starts the Advent period on the 15th, while the Old calendar began it on the 28th. Advent is a four week period during which Christians prepare for Christmas. 

Jnana Panchmi - Jain
Some Jains celebrate Jnana Panchmi, transcendent wisdom, by fasting for 36 hours. Others perform rituals and pray for right knowledge.
22
 Thanksgiving Day (national public holiday)

Celebrated annually since the arrival of English settlers in 1619, this American holiday was not established officially until 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln designated the last Thursday of November for giving thanks.  It became a legal federal holiday in 1942.
24
 Lokashah Jayanti  (Jainism)

The full moon of the calendar's first month is a time to celebrate the births of revered and scholarly persons. The most famous of these is the 15th century reformer Lonka Saha whose opposition to temple worship and the use of images led to the founding of the Sthanakavasi sect, which emphasizes scholarship.

Guru Nanak's Birthday (Sikh)

The first of ten gurus, Nanak was born in 1469 CE.
Nanak, founder of the Sikh religion, was raised in a Hindu household but lived in an environment bearing both Hindu and Muslim influences.  He both combined and rejected elements of these religious traditions, preaching faith in one God while maintaining belief in reincarnation.  Ironically, Nanak and his early followers advocated pacifism while later gurus galvanized believers against other religions and changed Sikhism to an oftentimes militant socio-political sect.  Many of the faithful refrain from work on this day.

Sikh – The Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
This day commemorates the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji (1621-1675), the ninth of the Ten Sikh Gurus. He is remembered not only for his defense of the Sikh faith, but also of Hinduism and religious liberty.
25
 Christ the King (Christian)

Celebrates Jesus as the eternal King.
26 
Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í - begins at sundown, Nov. 25)

Commemoration of Bahá’u’lláh’s designation of his son, Àbdu’l-Bahá to be his successor and sole interpreter of his teachings. The Covenant made by Bahá’u’lláh not only addresses this succession but also asserts the Bahá’í goals for world unity and the oneness of humankind.  This is among the minor Bahá’í holidays and requires no restrictions.
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 Ascension of 'Abdul- Bahá (Bahá’í)

Commemorates the death of Abdul Baha and the rising of his spirit to heaven.  After years of serving his father and safeguarding the unity of the faith, Abdu’l-Bahá passed away in Haifa, Israel in 1921.
30 St. Andrew’s Day (Christian)

Andrew was one of Jesus's original disciples, a fisherman and Peter’s brother.  After Jesus's crucifixion, Andrew traveled Greece and Asia Minor, making converts to the new Christian religion. Eventually, the Roman authorities crucified him on a diagonal cross in southern Greece.  He is the patron saint of Scotland.  

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