2008 Middle-Eastern & African Holidays:
Zoroastrian, Ancient
Egyptian, Santeria
* 12/31 to 1/4: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Vohu Manah (Good Intent), creator and protector of animals. Vohu Manah is one of seven male and female divine emanations of Deity Ahura Mazda. [a/k/a Maidhyairya, Mid-Winter] [Fasli calendar]
* 1/1: Day to meditate for peace throughout the world. [World Peace Day; Universal Hour of Peace: 7:00-8:00 a.m. EST.]
* 1/1: Day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect freeing Confederate slaves (1863); day to mourn African victims of slavery and racism (past and present), make peace, and celebrate empowerment of African Americans. [President Abraham Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation on 9/22/1862.] [Text of Emancipation Proclamation]
* 1/4: Day ethnic discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1969); day to mourn all manifestations of racism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination: signed/adopted 3/7/1966; entered into force 1/4/1969.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Anti Racism Information Service website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 1/15: Feast of the Black Christ. [Originated in Guatemala and celebrated by Catholics in Central America and the Caribbean and immigrants and African-Americans in the U.S. Pilgrims travel to the Church of the Black Christ of Esquipulas annually during the week leading up to the feast.] [a/k/a Feast of Christ of Esquipulas, Fiesta Del Senor de Esquipulas]
* 1/15 (Obs. 1/21): Birthday of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929), Baptist preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 4/4/1968]
* 1/15 to 1/17 (A 2/25 to 2/27): Raising Heaven--Old Egyptian Festival honoring the unseen Neteru Amen and Amenet. Egyptians perceived the many Gods and Goddesses (Neteru) to be aspects of the one God-Goddess Neter-Neteret. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 2/25 to 2/27 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehwer day 30 to Rekehnedjes day 2]
* 1/16 (A 2/26): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Rekehnedjes/Phamenoth. Priests and priestesses made offerings of incense, holy water, and perfumed oils to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses). [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 2/26 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehnedjes day 1]
* 1/16 (A 2/26): Old Egyptian feast of Neter Ptah, God who inspires creativity and the arts. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 2/26 (leap year)] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehnedjes day 1]
* 1/17: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Ogun, Orisha of Strength, Endurance, and Perseverance. Yorubas/Santeros believe the Orishas are emanations and messengers of the one Deity, Olodumare.
* 1/20: World Religions Day--Day to contemplate all religions as different paths to the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 2/1: Day President Abraham Lincoln approved the Constitution's 13th Amendment, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [a/k/a National Freedom Day] [Text of amendment]
* 2/1 to 2/29: Ethnic Equality Month--Time to honor all peoples and their positive traditions; time to meditate on the equality of all peoples, on the respect due to them, and on God-Goddess manifesting as African, Asian, Oceanic, Middle Eastern, European, Hispanic, and Native American. [Expands idea of African-American History Month a/k/a Black History Month.]
* 2/2: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oya, Orisha of Death and Rebirth.
* 2/6: Day to mourn all the women and children who have been subjected to female genital mutilation. [Female Genital mutilation is also known as "FGM" and "female circumcision". FGM results in severe pain, bleeding, disfigurement, urine retention, recurrent infections, painful menstruation, sexual dysfunction, infertility, and complications in childbirth.] [International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation and Cutting established on 2/6/2003 by the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC).] [Islamic fatwa ruling that female circumcision is not a prescribed ritual of Islam (8/28/2002)] [Islamic fatwa prohibiting the removal of the clitoris as part of female circumcision (2/7/2004)] [For more information about FGM, see Amnesty International website; Female Genital and Sexual Mutilation - Bibliography.
* 2/7: Birthday of Frederick Douglass (1817), non-violent advocate for the rights of African Americans. [Death day 2/20/1895]
* 2/15 (A 3/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Paenrenenutet/Pharmouthi, dedicated to Neteret Renenutet and Neter Nepri. Priests and priestesses read hymns of praise to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses). [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 3/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenrenenutet day 1]
* 2/15: Birthday of Susan B. Anthony (1820), non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Death day 3/13/1906] [a/k/a Susan B. Anthony Day]
* 2/18 to 2/19 (A 3/30 to 3/31): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who fosters domestic harmony. Her image was transported outside the temple on a bark. [Kemetic calendar (leap year)] [Alexandrian calendar 3/30 to 3/31] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenrenenutet days 4-5]
* 3/1 to 3/31: Gender Equality Month--Time to honor both genders; time to meditate on the equality of women and men, on the respect due to both women and men, and on Goddess-God manifesting as woman and man. [Expands idea of Women's History Month.]
* 3/8: International Women's Day--Day to mourn victims of gender-based oppression and misogyny (past and present), make peace, and celebrate women's empowerment. [For information on International Women's Day, see United Nations website; A history of International Women's Day.]
* 3/9: Day slavery was outlawed world-wide (1927); day to mourn its continued existence. [Convention to Suppress the Slave Trade and Slavery: signed/adopted 9/25/1926; entered into force 3/9/1927.] [Text of Convention] See also the Protocol Amending the Slavery Convention. [Text of Protocol]
* 3/10: Death day of Harriet Tubman (1913), who risked her life to guide slaves to freedom. [Birthday unknown]
* 3/10 to 3/16 (A 4/20 to 4/26): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Renenutet (Goddess of the Harvest) and Neter Nepri (God of Grain). A harvest offering was made. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 4/20 to 4/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenrenenutet day 25 to Paenkhons day 1]
* 3/16 (A 4/26): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Paenkhons/Pakhon. Priests and priestesses made offerings of food and drink to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that all people had abundant food and drink. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 4/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Paenkhons day 1]
* 3/16 to 3/20: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Mainyu (Holy Spirit), creator and protector of humans. [a/k/a Hamaspathmaedaya, All Souls, Parsi Muktad, Irani Farvadigan] [Fasli calendar]
* 3/19: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Osanyin, Orisha of Deciduous Vegetation.
* 3/20 to 3/21: Old Sumerian festival celebrating the return of Dumuzi (God of Life and Death) from the Underworld to be with Inanna (Goddess of Life) for the verdant part of the year.
* 3/21: Naw Ruz--Zoroastrian New Year and celebration of Divine Spirit Asha Vahishta (Righteousness), creator and protector of fire. Zoroastrians worship by making offerings to a sacred fire. [a/k/a No Ruz, Nawroz, Feast of Ahura Mazda, Spring Equinox] [Fasli calendar]
* 3/25: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Passion and Fertility.
* 3/26: Day commemorating the birth of Zoroastrian Prophet Zarathustra (628 BCE). [628-551 BCE: exact dates unknown]
* 3/30: Day the Constitution's 15th Amendment went into effect, recognizing the right of all ethnic peoples to vote (1870). [The 15th Amendment was approved by Congress on 2/26/1869 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 3/30/1870.] [Text of amendment]
* 4/6: Day the Hutus began genocidal massacres of Tutsis in Rwanda (1994); vigil for true peace, justice, and respect for the human rights of all in Africa. [Over 800,000 were killed.] [For more information, see BBC report; Human Rights Watch report: Rwanda.]
* 4/7: World Health Day--Day to pray for healing of all those chronically and seriously ill; day to advocate for adequate health care for all. [Day the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) was founded in 1948.] [For information on World Health Day, see World Health Organization website; UN Dag Hammarskjold Library website.] [For information on the World Health Organization, see World Health Organization website.]
* 4/15 (A 5/26): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Khentkhety/Paoni. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be good health and long life for all. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 5/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Khentkhety day 1]
* 4/22: Earth Day--Day to honor the Earth and to meditate on Deity manifesting as Mother Earth. [a/k/a International Earth Day, National Earth Day] [For information about Earth Day activities, see Earthday Network website; Envirolink website; U.S. government website for Earth Day; U.S. E.P.A. website for Earth Day.]
* 4/22: Day the world's nations guaranteed asylum to those persecuted in their homelands on account of their ethnicity, religion, or political opinion (1954). [Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees: signed 7/28/1951; entered into force 4/22/1954.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 4/23: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Ogun, Orisha of Self-reliance and Industrious Labor.
* 4/30 to 5/4: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Khshathra Vairya (Power), creator and protector of the Sky. Zoroastrians worship the one transcendent and immanent Deity Ahura Mazda, who is symbolized by a sacred fire. [a/k/a Maidhyoizaremaya, Mid-Spring] [Fasli calendar]
* 5/1: National Day of Prayer--Day to pray for freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government throughout the world. [Freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and separation of religion and government is guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment. For text and information on the First Amendment, see Cornell University's Legal Information Institute website; First Amendment Online website and 1st Amendment.com website. For domestic organizations that advocate for freedom of religion, see Americans United for Separation of Church and State website and American Civil Liberty Union website. For information on religious freedom in countries around the world, see U.S. State Department's International Religious Freedom Report; Human Rights Watch website; and Oslo Coalition on Freedom of Religion or Belief website.]
* 5/10: Death day of Theodore Parker (1860), Unitarian slavery abolitionist and social justice activist. [Birthday 8/24/1810]
* 5/15 (A 6/25): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Ipet-hemet/Epip. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be love and happiness for all. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 6/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Ipet-hemet day 1]
* 5/15: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Ochossi, Orisha of Animals. Yorubas/Santeros celebrate with drumming, ecstatic dancing, and possession trance.
* 5/17: Day the Supreme Court concluded that ethnic-based segregation of schools violates the U.S. Constitution (1954). [Brown v. Board of Education, 347 U.S. 483 (1954)] [Text of case]
* 5/29 (A 7/9): Old Egyptian festival of Neteru Amen (God of transcendent powers) and Hapi (God of the Nile River); offerings were made to ensure the needed flooding of the Nile River. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 7/9] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Ipet-hemet day 15]
* 6/13 (A 7/24): Old Egyptian feast of Neteret Hathor, Goddess of Love and Fertility. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 7/24] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Ipet-hemet day 30]
* 6/14 (A 7/25): Beginning of Old Egyptian Shomu/Harvest month of Mesut-Ra/Mesori, dedicated to Neteru Ra and Rait. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be security and protection for all. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 7/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Mesut-Ra day 1]
* 6/21: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Guardian of the Disabled.
* 6/29 to 7/3: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Haurvatat (Wholeness), creator and protector of water. [a/k/a Maidhyoishema, Mid-Summer] [Fasli calendar]
* 6/29: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Eleggua, Intercessor and Ruler of Destinies. Yorubas/Santeros communicate with the Orishas through divination.
* 6/30: Vigil for peace, democracy, religious freedom, ethnic equality, and the end of slavery and genocide in Sudan. [About the Darfur crisis] [For more information, see CNN website; Global Security website; Human Rights Watch report: Sudan; U.S. State Department International Religious Freedom Report for 2007: Sudan.]
* 7/1: Day endangered species became internationally protected (1975); day to celebrate all the world's creatures. [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora: signed/adopted 3/3/1973; entered into force 7/1/1975.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see U.N. Environmental Programme CITES website; World Wildlife Fund website; EarthJustice website.]
* 7/2: Day discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, gender, and religion was prohibited in public accommodations and employment (1964). [The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 88-352, 78 Stat. 241, 42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.] [Text of statute] [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in employment.] [Text of statute] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on gender, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on ethnicity, see U.S. E.E.O.C. website.] [For more information on fighting discrimination in employment based on religion, see the U.S. E.E.O.C. website.]
* 7/14 (A 8/24): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Osiris - partner and true love of Isis, and father of Horus; guide of all husbands, fathers, and judges. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/24] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Epagomenal day 1]
* 7/15 (A 8/25): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Horus the Elder, lover of Neteret Hathor. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Epagomenal day 2]
* 7/16 (A 8/26): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Set, God of the Desert. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Epagomenal day 3]
* 7/17 (A 8/27): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neteret Isis - partner and true love of Osiris, and mother of Horus; guide of all wives, mothers, healers, advocates, and teachers. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Epagomenal day 4]
* 7/18 (A 8/28): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neteret Nepthys, estranged wife of Neter Set. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/28] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Epagomenal day 5]
* 7/18: Day South Africa's apartheid was internationally outlawed (1976); birthday of Nelson Mandela, non-violent anti-apartheid activist. [Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid: signed/adopted 11/30/1973; entered into force 7/18/1976.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see Human Rights Watch report: South Africa; African National Congress website.]
* 7/19 (A 8/29): Old Egyptian birthday feast of Neter Ra and Rait, Deities of the Sun. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/29] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh day 1]
* 7/19 to 8/1 (A 8/29 to 9/11): Old Egyptian festival marking the return to Egypt of Neteret Isis (as the star of Septet/Sirius), Neter Osiris (as the star of Sahu/Orion), and the rains that inundate the Nile River. [Old Egyptian New Year; beginning of Akhet/Inundation month of Tekh/Thout, dedicated to Neter Thoth (God of Time).] [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 8/29 to 9/11] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh days 1-14] [9/11 is also the Coptic New Year.]
* 7/28: Day the Constitution's 14th Amendment went into effect, guaranteeing due process and equal protection of the law to all (1868). [The 14th Amendment was approved by Congress on 6/13/1866 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 7/28/1868.] [Text of amendment]
* 8/2 (A 9/12): Old Egyptian festival of Neteru Amen (God of transcendent powers) and Hapi (God of the Nile River); offerings were made to ensure the needed flooding of the Nile River. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 9/12] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh day 15]
* 8/2: Feast of the Black Madonna. [a/k/a Feast of the Virgin of the Angels]
* 8/5 to 8/6 (A 9/15 to 9/16): Old Egyptian Wag Festival, honoring the dead and Neter Osiris (Lord of Amenta, realm of the dead). Food was brought to the tombs and shared with the dead. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 9/15 to 9/16] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh days 18-19]
* 8/6: Day the Voting Rights Act became law (1965) - register to vote! [The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson.] [Pub. L. 89-110, 79 Stat. 437, 42 U.S.C. 1973 et seq.] [Text of statute]
* 8/6 to 8/7 (A 9/16 to 9/17): Old Egyptian festival of Neter Thoth, God of Knowledge and Wisdom. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 9/16 to 9/17] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh days 19-20]
* 8/9 (A 9/19): Old Egyptian Great Procession of Neter Osiris. The image of Osiris was transported on a bark to the tombs. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 9/19] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Tekh day 22]
* 8/18 (A 9/28): Beginning of Old Egyptian Akhet/Inundation month of Menkhet/Paopi, dedicated to Neteru Amen-Ra-Atem and Amenet-Rait-Mut. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be strength and freedom for all. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 9/28] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Menkhet day 1]
* 8/28: Day of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s peaceful march on Washington, D.C., for recognition of the rights of African Americans (1963). [Rev. King made his inspiring "I have a dream" speech at this rally.]
* 8/28: Opening of the Second World Parliament of Religions (1993), attended by members of all the world's religions. A Global Ethic was adopted that condemns hatred, aggression, oppression, and environmental abuses committed in the name of religion. [Text of Global Ethic] [See also website for the Parliament of the World's Religions.]
* 9/1 to 9/11 (A 10/12 to 10/22): Old Egyptian Opet Festival, honoring Neteru Amen-Ra-Atem and Amenet-Rait-Mut. The pharaoh went to the Luxor Temple at Thebes in order to have his authority to rule recognized. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 10/12 to 10/22] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Menkhet days 15-25]
* 9/3: Day gender discrimination was outlawed world-wide (1981); day to mourn all manifestations of sexism. [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women: adopted by U.N. General Assembly 12/18/1979; signed 3/1/1980; entered into force 9/3/1981.] [Text of Convention] [For more information, see WomenWatch: United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women website; Feminist Majority Foundation website; Human Rights Watch website.]
* 9/8: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oshun, Orisha of Love and Compassion.
* 9/12 to 9/16: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Spenta Armaiti (Devotion), creator and protector of Earth. [a/k/a Paitishahya, Corn-Harvest] [Fasli calendar]
* 9/17 (A 10/28): Beginning of Old Egyptian Akhet/Inundation month of Het-Hert/Athor, dedicated to Neteret Hathor. Priests and priestesses danced and played sistra, tambourines, and menat in honor of the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses). [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 10/28] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Het-Hert day 1]
* 9/21: International Day of Peace--Day to demonstrate for peace with justice throughout the world. [a/k/a U.N. International Day of Peace] [For more information on the International Day of Peace, see International Day of Peace website and International Day of Peace Vigil website.]
* 9/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Obatala, Orisha of Peace and Justice.
* 9/25 (A 11/5): Old Egyptian festival of Neter Amen-Ra-Atem, the Great God, and Neteret Amenet-Rait-Mut, the Great Goddess. Their images were transported on a bark from Karnak to Luxor. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 11/5] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Het-Hert day 9]
* 9/29: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Eleggua, Intercessor and Ruler of Destinies. Yorubas/Santeros are initiated into the service of the Orishas and minister to practitioners.
* 9/30: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Shango, Orisha of Passion and Virility. Yorubas/Santeros worship the One Deity Olodumare and the Orishas (Olodumare's aspects and powers) with food offerings.
* 10/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orunmila, Orisha of Wise Counsel and Protection.
* 10/12 to 10/16: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Ameretat (Immortality), creator and protector of vegetation. [a/k/a Ayathrima, Herds-Homecoming] [Fasli calendar]
* 10/17 (A 11/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Akhet/Inundation month of Nehebkau/Khoiak, dedicated to Neteru Isis and Osiris. Priests and priestesses read hymns of thanksgiving to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses). [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 11/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Nehebkau day 1]
* 10/17 (A 11/27): Old Egyptian feast of Neteret Hathor, Goddess of Fate. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 11/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Nehebkau day 1]
* 10/18: Day the Clean Water Act was enacted (1972); day to give thanks for the water we drink. [Pub. L. 92-500, 86 Stat. 896, 33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]
* 10/24: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Erinle, Healer of the Sick and Injured. Herbs are used for healing.
* 10/28 to 11/15 (A 12/8 to 12/26): Old Egyptian Sokar Festival/Khoiak Ceremonies. It commemorates Neteret Isis seeking out and finding the scattered remains of Neter Osiris. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 12/8 to 12/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Nehebkau days 12-30]
* 10/31 eve to 11/2 eve: Old Sumerian fast recalling the descent of Inanna (Goddess of Life) to the Underworld. Ereshkigal (Goddess of Death and Rebirth) detained Her until She agreed to have Dumuzi (God of Life and Death) remain there each Winter.
* 11/1 to 11/2: Fon/Vodou feast of Ghede, Loa of the Dead; time for honoring ancestral spirits. Fon/Vodouisants believe all Loas (Deities) originate from Co-Creators Goddess-God Mawu-Lisa.
* 11/3: Christian feast of St. Martin of Porres (d. 1639), healer and advocate of social equality and inter-ethnic harmony; guide of healers and human rights activists.
* 11/7: World Community Day--Day for celebrating the unity behind diversity and remembering we are all one people - all children of the one universal Deity of many names and aspects.
* 11/11: Death day of Lucretia Mott (1880), Quaker preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Birthday 1/3/1793]
* 11/16 (A 12/27): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Shefbedet/Tobi. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure that there would be peace and harmony throughout the land. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 12/27] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 1]
* 11/20: Fast for an Abundant World Harvest--Day to fast and commit to action to help prevent deaths from malnourishment world-wide. [a/k/a Fast for a World Harvest] [For more information, see the Oxfam America website.]
* 11/25: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Oya, Orisha of Death and Rebirth.
* 11/26: Death day of Sojourner Truth (1883), Christian preacher and non-violent advocate for the rights of women and African Americans. [Born 1797: exact date unknown]
* 11/27: Thanksgiving Day--Day to give thanks for the abundance of our land and for our food, clothes, shelter, and health.
* 12/1: World AIDS Day--Day to pray for healing of all those suffering with AIDS and HIV. [For information on World AIDS Day, see World AIDS Day website. For information about the global fight against AIDS, see UNAIDS website.] [For information on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, see Human Rights Watch website.]
* 12/4: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Shango, Defender Against Evil.
* 12/10: Day the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, and fundamental rights were recognized world-wide (1948). [The U.N. General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (U.D.H.R.) in Resolution 217 A(III). See Text of Declaration. For more information on the history of the U.D.H.R., see Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt Institute website. The U.D.H.R. is generally recognized as binding customary international law. In 1966, the concepts of the U.D.H.R. were expanded and drafted into two binding international treaties with enforcement mechanisms. The Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Human Rights Committee (see Human Rights Committee website; University of Minnesota Human Rights Library website) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (see Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights website; Human Rights Watch website). The Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (Text of Covenant) is enforced by the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights(see Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights website).] [a/k/a International Human Rights Day]
* 12/14 (A 1/24): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Bastet, Cat Goddess who fosters domestic harmony. Her image was transported on a bark on the Nile River from Karnak to Bubastis. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 1/24] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 29]
* 12/15 (A 1/25): Old Egyptian festival of Neteret Amenet-Rait-Mut, the primordial Great Mother. Her image was transported on a bark on Isheru Lake with other Lion Goddesses. [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 1/25] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Shefbedet day 30]
* 12/15: Day the Bill of Rights became part of the Constitution, guaranteeing fundamental rights to all (1791). [Text of Bill of Rights] [For more information about the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution, see U.S. National Archives & Records Administration website and the Bill of Rights Institute website. For information on organizations that advocate for enforcement of rights and liberties in the Bill of Rights, see Center for Constitutional Rights website; American Civil Liberties Union website.] [a/k/a Bill of Rights Day]
* 12/16 (A 1/26): Beginning of Old Egyptian Proyet/Emergence month of Rekehwer/Mekhir. Priests and priestesses made offerings to the Neteru (Gods and Goddesses) to ensure the continuation of order (maat) and life (ankh). [The Negative Confession reflects the ethics of the ancient Egyptians.] [Kemetic calendar] [Alexandrian calendar 1/26] [Ancient Egyptian calendar: Rekehwer day 1]
* 12/17: Yoruba/Santeria feast of Orisha Babalu Aye, Healer of Deadly Diseases.
* 12/17: Day the Clean Air Act was enacted (1963); day to give thanks for the air we breathe. [Pub. L. 88-206, 77 Stat. 392, 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]
* 12/18: Day the Constitution's 13th Amendment went into effect, outlawing all slavery (1865). [The 13th Amendment was approved by Congress on 1/31/1865 and, after ratification by the states, was proclaimed in effect on 12/18/1865.] [Text of amendment]
* 12/26: Day commemorating the death of Zoroastrian Prophet Zarathustra (551 BCE). [628-551 BCE: exact dates unknown] [Fasli calendar]
* 12/26 to 1/1: Kwanzaa--Festival celebrating positive African traditions; emphasizes unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.
* 12/28: Day the Endangered Species Act was enacted (1973); day to mourn those creatures already extinct. [Pub. L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.] [Text of statute] [See also EarthJustice website.]
* 12/31: Yoruba/Santeria festival of Orisha Yemaya, Mother of the Sun and Moon.
* 12/31 to 1/4: Zoroastrian celebration of Divine Spirit Vohu Manah (Good Intent), creator and protector of animals. Vohu Manah is one of seven male and female divine emanations of Deity Ahura Mazda. [a/k/a Maidhyairya, Mid-Winter] [Fasli calendar]
[Many religions were practiced in the Middle East and Africa prior to the birth and expansion of Christianity and Islam. They included Judaism and Zoroastrianism, ancient Egyptian, ancient Mesopotamian (including Sumerian), and ancient Arabian, as well as a multitude of indigenous African religions.]
[The Zoroastrian religion (Zoroastrianism) was founded by Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster) in 6th Century BCE Persia (now Iran). It is practiced primarily in Iran and India (where Zoroastrians are called Parsis). The holy scripture of the Zoroastrians is the Avesta. Zoroastrianism is grounded in Nature and its rhythms. Zoroastrians pray 5 times daily in the presence of fire, either at home or in a Fire Temple. There are three Zoroastrian calendars in use today, resulting from different reforms to reconcile the original 360-day Zoroastrian calendar with the solar year. The Zoroastrian Fasli calendar (on which the Zoroastrian holidays in this calendar are based) uses fixed dates for Zoroastrian holidays. The other two calendars use moveable dates. Thus, Zoroastrians following the other calendars will celebrate the holidays on different days than those listed here.]
[The ancient Egyptian religion was practiced throughout East Africa (in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, as well as Egypt). It is still being practiced today by some as Egyptian Spirituality, Egyptian Paganism, Kemetic religion, Kemetic Spirituality, Kemetic Paganism, Kemeticism, and Kemetic faith. Old Egyptian holidays (Kemetic holidays) in this calendar are based on the ancient Egyptian calendar. The ancient Egyptians used 3 calendars: a lunar calendar, a fixed calendar, and a lunisolar calendar. The Old Egyptian New Year is disputed. The Alexandrian calendar (a reform of the ancient Egyptian calendar by Roman Emperor Augustus in 25 BCE that added a 6th leap year day) sets the Old Egyptian New Year at 8/29 (except years encompassing the Gregorian leap year day, when the New Year is on 8/30). The Alexandrian calendar is the same as the Coptic calendar (a Julian-type calendar), but the Alexandrian dates are adjusted to the Gregorian calendar. (The Coptic New Year is on 9/11, except years encompassing the Gregorian leap year day, when the New Year is on 9/12.) The New Year was celebrated in ancient times at the time of the annual life-giving inundation of the Nile River. The annual inundation occurs around 7/19 on the Gregorian calendar. Consequently, the Kemetic calendar sets the Old Egyptian New Year at 7/19. The Copts and the Arabs of Egypt celebrated "The Night of the Drop" on the night of 7/17 into the 19th Century. This first drop presaged the coming inundation. It was believed that the drop was a tear drop that Goddess Isis cried in mourning over the death of God Osiris. Her tears were believed to cause the annual flooding of the Nile. Ancient Egyptian dates are calculated based on the Kemetic calendar, with secondary reference to Alexandrian calendar dates.]
[Santeria is a syncretism of the West African religion of the Yoruba (Nigerian) people (Yoruba religion) with Catholicism. Santeria, like other African Spirituality, is grounded in Nature and its rhythms. The Santeria Orishas reflect the powers of Nature and virtues. Santeria holidays are Yoruba holidays affixed to the feast days of the Catholic saints that the Santeria Orishas are identified with. Consequently, the Santeria calendar is based on the Catholic calendar. Similarly, Vodun (Voodoo) is a syncretism of the West African Fon (Dahoman) religion with Catholicism. Santeria and Vodun are practiced in the Caribbean, Brazil, and the United States, as well as in West Africa.]
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Permission to use and distribute these excerpts is granted for non-commercial purposes, provided the following information is included:
Excerpted from
THE MYSTIC'S WHEEL OF THE YEAR 2008
A Multifaith Calendar Reflecting Eco-Egalitarian Spirituality
© 2007 Marija Miovski
www.WheeloftheYear.com
