Holiday

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, or one of two days a year when the sun is in the same plane as the equator. It is also the day when both day and night are about the same length. It is becoming more popular to refer to this day as the September Equinox, as it is not autumn in all parts of the world. In the Southern Hemisphere this is actually the spring or Vernal Equinox.

Stating the day and night are the same length during and equinox is not technically true. Day is defined as when the sun's rays are seen hitting the Earth. On the equinox the center of the sun is over the horizon for 12 hours, which means that the disk is over the horizon for more than that. So the day on an equinox is actually about 14 minutes longer than night. The equilux is actually a few days off from the equinox and depends on what latitude you are at.

Today is Yom Kippur (וֹם כִּפּוּר). Yom Kippur is the tenth day of the Ten Days of Repentance (עשרת ימי תשובה) known as the High Holidays, 10 days after Rosh Hashanah. During the 25 hour period of Yom Kippur, one is supposed to fast and pray the entire time. It is also called the day of atonement, and this fasting and prayer is to atone for sins. After Yom Kippur, one is absolved of sins.

Yom Kippur is established in Leviticus 16:29, the third book of Moses, in which God decrees that the 10th day of the 7th month (of the Jewish calendar) will be a sabbath of sabbaths. As well as fasting and lots of prayer, one should also follow these edicts:

1. No eating and drinking
2. No wearing of leather shoes
3. No bathing or washing
4. No anointing oneself with perfumes or lotions
5. No marital relations

Today is the Fast of Gedaliah (צוֹם גְּדַלְיָּה‎). On The third day of the seventh month in 582 BC, the governor Gedaliah was murdered by Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, of the seed royal (2 Kings 25:25). After the fall of the first temple, King Nebuchadnezzar, drove out the conquerors and appointed Gedaliah to rule over the Hebrews which remained in the area. After the death of Gedaliah the people were dispersed across the land. For more on this story, read Jeremiah 40-42.

This fast is “to teach us that the death of a righteous man is like the burning of the house of God”. The people fast from sunrise until the stars appear at night. If the third day of Tishrei falls on Shabbat (Saturday), it is postponed until the fourth (as it was this year) as fasting is not allowed on Shabbat, save the Shabbat of Shabbats, Yom Kippur.

Today is grandparents day in the United States. Thanks to all the grandparents out there and to all the seniors who have not become grandparents too. In 1978 the first Sunday after labor day became a day to celebrate grandparents. The official flower of grandparents day is the Forget Me Not.

Other countries celebrate grandparents on other days. In Canada they celebrate grandparents on the second Sunday in September, which happens to also be today. The UK celebrate grandparents on the first Sunday in October. The French celebrate it on the first Sunday in March.

Today is a special sabbath in Jewish tradition. The only sabbath to occur between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, Shabbos Shuvah or Sabbot of Return is a day to return to the Jewish way of life. One should reflect on the last year in preparation for the day of atonement of Yom Kippur which is coming in a few days.

Today is Rosh Hashanah (ראש השנה) or head of the year. It is often referred to as the Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah falls on the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. In the third book of Moses, Leviticus 23:24 we read "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial proclaimed with the blast of horns, a holy convocation."

Rosh Hashanah is the first day of the 10 days of Repentance (עשרת ימי תשובה), known as the High Holidays and lasts for 2 days. This year Rosh Hashanah starts at sunset on September 8th and ends at nightfall on September 10th. Rosh Hashanah is believed to be the anniversary of the creation of the Earth as described in Genesis. Shofar, or the blowing of ram's horns is mandated by the Torah in Leviticus 23:24 and Numbers 29:1. Other customs include Tashlikh or the symbolic casting off of sins into a river, sea or ocean, eating of symbolic foods, wearing white robes and reciting certain prayers and poems.

Today is the first day of Ramadan. Do you know what Ramadan is? I didn't. I knew that it was a month of fasting, but I didn't know anything more than that, so I took a look. If you celebrate Ramadan and notice something I said that is wrong, please let me know. I don't want to spread miss-information.

Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic Calendar. Like many groups, Islam has its own calendar. This month is considered a month of fasting and Muslims are supposed to refrain from eating while the sun is up. This fasting is used as a way to teach Muslim principals such as patience, modesty and spirituality. Not fasting during Ramadan is considered a crime in some countries with punishment ranging from community service time to up to 4 years in prison.

In addition to fasting, Muslims pray more during the month of Ramadan. This month is a time to become closer to God. Muslims use this time to ask Alla for forgiveness and guidance in keeping away from sin.

The history of Ramadan can be traced back to before Mohamed and the beginnings of the Muslim faith. Ramadan has been the Arabic name for the ninth month since the time of the Old Testament. In the Qu'ran Mohamed wrote "fasting has been written down (as obligatory) upon you, as it was upon those before you." This became the basis for the month of Ramadan, but fasting did not start there.

I don't know Islamic history well, but I do know that much of the early history of Judaism and Islam are closely aligned or shared, with both tracing their history to Abraham. Islam is referenced in the Old Testament. Fasting is a key to growing closer to God in both Old and New Testament books. In Jewish culture one fasts for 25 hours during Yom Kippur. Jesus fasted for long periods. Many Christians fast for periods as a way to grow closer to God. I can guess that fasting was a part of Islamic culture prior to Mohamed and the Qu'ran, as it was for their Jewish cousins.