National Religious Freedom Day- January 16

Religions and religious organizations are responsible for a great many good things done in the world, from founding charities all over the world that care about simple people and inspiring them to be better and better on a daily basis, to caring for people in the community who are in distress. Unfortunately, religious organizations often show loyalty only to their members and try to get others to convert or strengthen their faith and change their secular lifestyle.

The consequences can be severe. In ancient times there were persecutions of the Christians by the Romans, in Spain there was the infamous Inquisition, and in Puritan America the witch hunt took place. Today there is the Islamic Jihad that is responsible for terrorist attacks around the world and in Israel there are endless disputes between religious and secular, between Jews and Muslims and more.

Freedom of religion is the right of everyone to live according to his religion and to have equal protection and rights. Freedom of religion is among the universal human rights recognized in liberal and humanist thought and in the hands of the United Nations.

The history of Freedom of Religious Day

On January 16, 1786, shortly after the founding of the United States of America, the General Assembly of Virginia adopted the Virginia Constitution of the Thomas Jefferson Religious Constitution. This law became the basis for what we know today as the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of religion to all persons residing in the United States. On that day, the President of the United States issued an official declaration that this day is now freedom of religion.

How to celebrate Religious Freedom Day?

A good way to celebrate Freedom Day is to do some research on what life was like before freedom of religion was enshrined in law. This can be done by reading books or watching movies. "Name Downloaded", the book and film is a great example of describing life during the Inquisition, and about how much the Inquisitors were willing to go looking for and punish people suspected of witchcraft.

Movies and books on the subject of the Holocaust, such as "The Diary of Anne Frank," also point to the Nazi persecution of Jews in Europe.

Salman Rushdie's works are very interesting insights, as the author has received death threats for years, following the publication of his famous book "Satan's Verses", in which he wrote a critique of Islam.

Another idea to celebrate Freedom Day is to meet with friends from other religions and talk about the topic and discuss how freedom of religion allows you to live together in peace without persecuting each other.

Freedom of religion is a wonderful and not a matter of course. For many years it did not exist and should be maintained even today. He deserves a day of appreciation and appreciation.

 

January 16 is also Nothing Day and Appreciate A Dragon Day

Ramadan - the ninth month of the Islamic calendar

The month of Ramadan (Arabic: رمضان) is a month in the Muslim year in which one fasts during the day, at dawn, and celebrates during the night, from sunset. On Ramadan nights the atmosphere is of a holiday and a festival. Great family meals are held, relatives visit and lots of gifts are bought for each other. During Ramadan fasting (forbidden to eat and drink) and also forbidden to smoke and have sex. No marriages are held during the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year. The month lasts for 29 or 30 days (depending on the lunar new moon at the end of the month) and towards the end of it falls the Laylat al-Qadr (Fateful Night), when according to Muslim tradition, the angel Jibril (Gabriel) was revealed to Muhammad for the first time. :  Sūrat al-ʿAlaq. This night occurs on one of the odd days from the 21st of the month until the end, in most places on the 27th night. There is a belief that this night is "better than a thousand months" and that this night there is always a clear cloud and pleasant weather, and temporary peace prevails all over the world. It is also believed that a wish expressed on this night will come true and one can ask God for forgiveness on this night as well.

At the end of the month,  Eid al-Fitr, the Muslim holiday that falls on the first three days of the month of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Muslim calendar.

Because the Muslim calendar depends on receiving evidence regarding the sighting of the lunar new moon, it is not possible to determine exactly when the Islamic holidays will apply in advance, and there can be a shift of one or two days between the expected date and the actual date. In different geographical places Ramadan can begin and end with a slight difference of a day or two, so determining the beginning and end of the month of Ramadan depends on an Islamic court that relies on eyewitness evidence of the lunar new moon.

Every adult Muslim (aged 11-13) must fast during Ramadan, women and men alike. Those who are exempt from fasting are patients, the elderly, travelers, pregnant and breasfeeding women and women in period, and these must complete the days of fasting they missed at a later date or donate to charity if they cannot fast at all.

To meet the fast of Ramadan, many Muslims get up very early, before sunrise, to eat the predawn meal, the  suhur- the last meal before the start of the fast. There is also a tradition of 'musaharati', a person with a special role who walks the streets and wakes the sleeping ones to the intermittent meal.

Before the sun goes down, the whole family gathers to eat the Iftar, the meal that ends the fast. At this meal it is customary to start eating a date, following the custom of Muhammad quoted in the Qur’an.

Muslims treat the month of Ramadan as a month of introspection, closeness to God, worship, modesty and restraint, atonement for sins, doing acts of kindness and empathy with hunger and difficulty which is the lot of the poor and needy. It is customary to adhere strictly to the laws of Islam that are not specific to Ramadan such as prayer, avoidance of gossip, hypocrisy and other moral sins.

Greetings for Ramadan

Ramadan is considered by Muslims to be a month of holiness, brotherhood and joy and the accepted blessings are the blessing of Ramadan Karim (رمضان كريم - meaning generous Ramadan), Ramadan Mubarak (رمضان مبارك - Blessed Ramadan), and kl eam wa'antuma bakhyar! (كل عام وانتم بخير - meaning Best wishes for a happy year).

 Ramadan kareem - رمضان كريم

Ramadan mubarak - رمضان مبارك

World Religion Day - the third Sunday in January

In our world there are hundreds of countries with thousands of cultures whose traditions began in very ancient times in history and they have adopted many religions that have risen to greatness. Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Shinto and many other currents within the religions themselves are all part of the cultural fabric of our world and World Religion Day is an opportunity to share cultures with each other and learn about others.

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The history of World Religion Day

World Religion Day was first celebrated in Portland, Maine, USA, under the title "World Peace through World Religion." Social leaders, educators and philosophers talk about the importance of religions in the world.

Sri Lanka issued a postage stamp dedicated to World Religion Day, followed by the Republic of Congo. The focus of this holiday is to spread awareness and knowledge about the religions that exist in the world today, and to share tolerance and understanding between people of all religions.

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How to celebrate World Religion Day?

World Religion Day is recommended to be celebrated by learning and observing other religions, with an open mind. The goal of this day is not for people to convert, but to learn about other religions and the impact of this difference on our world.

السنة الجديدة - Islamic New Year

السنة الجديدة - The Hijri New Year, or the Islamic New Year falls on the first month of the Muslim calendar (Muḥarram). This year is celebrated on October 14. 

According to the Islamic calendar this is the year 1437 Hijra. 

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This day is considered as non official holiday in Islam, but in many Muslim countries it is a customary to note it on celebrations and holiday. On this day we're greeting-  سنة جديدة سعيدة -   Cull Aam W'antom Bh'ir  - Have a good year, a year of peace, safety and friendship! 

Here are some cards for the new Hijri Islamic year:

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Greeting cards for the Hijri -new Islamic year 

When is the first day of the new year coming out in the coming years:

2020- August 20