DECEMBER 2008 FESTIVALS
We will be updating the details about each festival, click the links in this paragraph to learn about each festival Eid-al-Adha, Hanukkah, Khushali, Pancha Ganapati, Winter Solstice, Christmas and Kwanza will be updated shortly.  Please mark your calendars for the upcoming II Annual Reflections on Holocaust and Genocides

Date	Faith	Event	If a festival is missing here, it is because you did not send  the material. Please feel free to send the essences of festival in 100 words or less.
12/08/08 Monday	ISLAM	Eid-al-Adha	Hajj / Bakrid / Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that must be performed by every Muslim man and woman at least once in their lifetime. "Festival of the Sacrifice," a commemoration of Abraham (begins at sunset of the previous day).
12/08/08 -Monday	BUDDHISM	Maha Bodhi Day	Buddha's Enlightenment - Commemoration of the Buddha's enlightenment; a time of intense meditation.
12/08/08 -Monday	CATHOLIC	Immaculate Conception	Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Commemoration of Mary's conception by Joachim and Anna. Catholic teaching holds that, from the moment of her conception, Mary was sinless (never tainted by Original Sin). Catholic Holiday
12/13/08 - Saturday	ISLAM	Khushali	Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims around the world celebrate  Yom- E - Wiladat ( Birth day) of their spiritual leader Maulana Hazar Imam - Aga Khan born on Dec. 13, 1936
12/20/08 - Saturday	WICCA	Mother Night	Mother Night - Eve of Winter Solstice and the holiest night of the year; marks the beginning of the twelve days of Yule.
12/21/08 - Sunday	HINDUISM	Pancha Ganapati	Five-day festival honoring Ganesh; a family celebration enjoyed by children and adults
12/20/08- Saturday	PAGAN	Winter Solstice	Pagan observance of the longest night of the year, celebrating the rebirth of the sun god. The first of twelve days of Yule celebrating the Holy Tide of Heathen ancestral ways, community, gift giving, and the rebirth of longer days.
12/22/08 - Monday	JUDAISM	Hanukkah	Eight-day festival of lights beginning on the 25th of Kislev commemorating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by Syrian King Antiochus in 165 BCE (begins at sundown the night before).
12/25/08 - Thursday	CHRISTENDOM	Christmas	Celebration of Jesus' birth.
12/26/08 - Friday	ZOROASTRIANISM	Zarthosht Diso	Commemoration of the death of the Prophet Zarthustra; a solemn occasion devoted to special prayers and discourse concerning the life and works of Zarthustra.
12/26/08 - Friday		Kwanza	Seven-day African-American and Pan-African holiday celebrating family, community, and culture.
12/31/08 - Wednesday		New Years Eve

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