1.2.6

Festivals

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Buddhist Festivals and Retreats

Festivals and retreats play a very important role in Buddhism.

Wesak

Wesak

  • Wesak Day is the celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha, in a variety of ways.
  • Believers arrive at their temple before sunrise in order to raise the Buddhist flag and sing hymns to the Three Refuges.
  • Flowers, candles and incense are given as an offering.
  • People avoid killing anything so eat vegetarian food.
  • Some concentrate on the Noble Eightfold Path by staying in the temple all day and wearing white clothes.
  • Monks recite verses by the Buddha for peace and happiness for all.
Vassa

Vassa

  • Vassa is an annual three-month retreat (usually from July to October) of the Theravada tradition.
  • Monks stay in monasteries/the grounds of a temple.
  • Giving up meat or smoking is another way of observing Vassa.
Kathina

Kathina

  • Kathina is what ends Vassa.
  • In Thailand, there are parades and ceremonies for offerings.
  • The offerings can take place up to one month at the end of the Vassa period.
  • The monks are offered new, saffron robes and people often give the monks basic items and food.
  • Villages sometimes collect donations which are then hung on the money tree, which is typically then paraded to the temple.

Other festivals

There are many festivals in the Buddhist tradition.

Uposatha days

Uposatha days

  • Uposatha days are days of observance in Theravada Buddhism.
  • Buddha said that these days were to cleanse the 'defiled mind'.
  • Effort is made to keep the five precepts, people attend the temple to make offerings, meditate and listen to talks given on the Dhamma.
  • Uposatha happens typically once a week in Theravada countries, aligned with the quarters of the moon.
Hanamatsuri and Obon

Hanamatsuri and Obon

  • Hanamatsuri is a Japanese festival which celebrates the birth of Buddha.
  • People bathe the Buddha by pouring a tea made from hydrangea on small Buddha statues. There is also the tradition of 'lion dancing'.
  • Obon is a festival lasting 3 days which honours the spirits of the ancestors.
  • Many return to the graves of their family members and use it as a time to reunite.
Parinibbana Day

Parinibbana Day

  • Parinibbana Day is celebrated in Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia, on either the 8th or 15th of February.
  • This day marks the point at which Buddha achieved Parinibbana, complete Nibbana.
  • Passages from the Nibbana Sutra are read in temples and monasteries which people visit.
Lama Tsong Khapa Day

Lama Tsong Khapa Day

  • Lama Tsong Khapa Day in Tibet celebrates the anniversary of Lama Tsong Khapa's parinibbana.
  • It happens on the 25th day of the 10th month in the Tibetan calendar.
  • Offerings are made typically of lights, flowers, incense, food and water.
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1

Buddhism

1.1

Key Beliefs

1.1.1The Dhamma1.1.2The Five Skandhas1.1.3Aspects of Human Life1.1.4The Buddha1.1.5The Ascetic & Enlightened Life1.1.6Dhukka1.1.7Samudaya1.1.8Nirodha1.1.9Magga1.1.10The Wheel of Life1.1.11End of Topic Test - Buddhism Key Beliefs
1.2

Practices

1.2.1Places of Worship1.2.2Objects of Worship1.2.3Puja1.2.4Meditation1.2.5Death1.2.6Festivals1.2.7End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices
1.3

Ethics

1.3.1Kamma1.3.2Five Moral Precepts1.3.3End of Topic Test - Buddhism Ethics
2

Christianity

2.1

Key Beliefs

2.1.1The Nature of God2.1.2The Problem of Evil2.1.3Monotheism2.1.4Creation2.1.5Bible Accounts of Creation2.1.6The Trinity and Creation2.1.7Afterlife2.1.8Heaven and Hell2.1.9The Influence of Afterlife on Life2.1.10End of Topic Test - Christianity Key Beliefs2.1.11Exam-Style Questions - Christian Beliefs
2.2

Jesus Christ & Salvation

2.2.1The Incarnation2.2.2Jesus - Divine & Human2.2.3The Crucifixion2.2.4Jesus' Betrayal2.2.5Resurrection & Ascension2.2.6Sin2.2.7Original Sin2.2.8Punishment2.2.9The Means of Salvation2.2.10Achieving Salvation2.2.11Disagreements About Salvation2.2.12The Role of Christ in Salvation2.2.13Theories of Salvation2.2.14End of Topic Test - Jesus Christ & Salvation
2.3

Worship & Festivals

2.3.1Different Forms of Worship2.3.2Prayer2.3.3Sacrament2.3.4Baptism2.3.5Other Sacraments2.3.6Eucharist2.3.7Pilgrimage & Celebrations2.3.8Christmas & Easter2.3.9End of Topic Test - Worship and Festivals
2.4

Community

2.4.1Local Community2.4.2Mission, Evangelism & Church Growth2.4.3Worldwide Church2.4.4Reconciliation2.4.5Persecution2.4.6Caring for Those in Need2.4.7End of Topic Test - Community2.4.8Exam-Style Questions - Christian Practices
3

Catholicism (Christianity)

3.1

Key Beliefs

3.1.1The Trinity3.1.2Creation3.1.3Incarnation3.1.4Redemption3.1.5Life After Death3.1.6Heaven and Hell3.1.7End of Topic Test - Catholic Key Beliefs
3.2

The Seven Sacraments

3.2.1Meaning & Significance3.2.2Baptism3.2.3Confirmation3.2.4Reconciliation3.2.5Anointing of the Sick3.2.6Marriage3.2.7Holy Orders3.2.8The Eucharist3.2.9End of Topic Test - The Seven Sacraments
3.3

Practices

3.3.1Prayer3.3.2Popular Piety3.3.3Pilgrimage3.3.4Pilgrimages HyperLearning3.3.5Funeral Rites3.3.6The Duty to Love Our Neighbour3.3.7Catholic Agencies3.3.8Catholic Social Teaching3.3.9Justice3.3.10War3.3.11Mission & Evangelism3.3.12End of Topic Test - Catholic Practices
4

Islam

4.1

Key Beliefs

4.1.1Oneness of God4.1.2Six Articles of Faith4.1.3Five Roots of Usul4.1.4The Nature of God4.1.5Angels4.1.6Freedom4.1.7Life After Death4.1.8Human Responsibility4.1.9End of Topic Test - Muslim Key Beliefs
4.2

Authority

4.2.1Prophethood4.2.2The Holy Books4.2.3The Imamate4.2.4End of Topic Test - Muslim Authority
4.3

Practices

4.3.1Worship4.3.2Ten Obligatory Acts4.3.3Shahadah4.3.4Salah & Its Significance4.3.5Mosques4.3.6Rak'ahs4.3.7Sawm4.3.8Zakah4.3.9Hajj4.3.10Jihad4.3.11Festivals & Commemorations4.3.12End of Topic Test - Muslim Practices4.3.13Exam-Style Questions - Muslim Practices
5

Judaism

5.1

Key Beliefs

5.1.1The Nature of God5.1.2God as One5.1.3God's Name5.1.4God as Creator5.1.5Free Will5.1.6God as Law Giver and Judge5.1.7The Divine Presence & Beliefs5.1.8Role of the Messiah5.1.9End of Topic Test - Jewish Key Beliefs5.1.10Exam-Style Questions - Jewish Beliefs
5.2

Covenant & The Mitzvot

5.2.1The Promised Land5.2.2Abraham5.2.3The Covenant5.2.4The Covenant at Sinai5.2.5The Covenant at Sinai 25.2.6Key Moral Principles5.2.7End of Topic Test - Covenant & The Mitzvot
5.3

The Synagogue & Worship

5.3.1The Synagogue & Its Importance5.3.2Public Acts of Worship5.3.3Shabbat5.3.4Worship & Law5.3.5End of Topic Test - Synagogue & Worship

Practice questions on Festivals

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  1. 1
    Wesak:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    How long is the Vassa retreat?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    What are the days of observance called in the Theravada tradition?Multiple choice
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Death

End of Topic Test - Buddhism Practices