Category: Culture Articles

Tu B’Shvat or Tu Bishvat is a Jewish holiday. Though, it is not very relevant as there are no restrictions on working. However, it is one of the four Rosh Hashanahs (New Years) mentioned in the Mishnah- the basis of the Talmud, the sacred book of Jews. Tu Bishvat also signifies the Rosh HaShanah La’Ilanot “new year of the trees”.

Tu Bishvat owes its name to the date of the holyday that is the 15th day of Shevat. Shevat is actually the month of Hebrew calendar, read as “Tu, , this is how the number 15 is represented in Hebrew numerals using the Hebrew alphabet. You can understand this more clearly, as Haredi Jews identify the day by its original full name, Hamishah Asar BeShevat meaning “The Fifteenth of Shevat”.

Origin of Tu B’Shvat

You would come across a number of opinions regarding the origin of Tu B’Shvat. According to the school of Hillel, Tu Bishvat was originally the day when the fruits that grew from that day onwards were counted up till the following year regarding tithes. On the contrary, the school of Shammai believes that day is the first day of Shevat.

It was observed that during the Middle Ages or perhaps a little before that, this day was celebrated as a minor ceremony by eating fruits as this day was regarded as “Rosh Hashanah” (“New Year”) in the Mishnah. Later on it was understood as being a appropriate time for celebration.

Today, Tu B’Shvat has grown popular with many Jews. It is now celebrated with much fervor in Jewish synagogues, schools, and communities. The main activity people perform on this day, is planting trees in open spaces in Israel.

This tradition of planting trees began way back in 1890, when Zeev Yabetz the famous teacher and writer went out with his students in a school in Zichron Yaakov for a celebratory planting. In 1908, this initiative was popularized by the Israeli Teachers trade union and later on by the Land Development Authority.

The Tu Bishvat Seder

The kabbalistic way of celebrating Tu Bishvat seder s holiday is quite unique. They usually invite some friends to their house, and make various symbolic offerings. Then they enjoy wine and fruit and hold discussions on the four main aspects of this holiday- physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual and try to relate the four themes of the seder namely- social, cosmic, national, ecological. The Seder host chooses one aspect of one theme at a time to concentrate on.

Customary celebrations on Tu B’Shvat

There is a custom to have different types of fruit on this holiday and recite the apposite blessings. Traditionally, the Seven Species associated with the Land of Israel mentioned in the Torah: Wheat, Barley, Pomegranates, Grapes, Figs, Olives and Dates are taken on this day. Someone who eats sufficient amount of these fruits, he recites the special after blessing prayers of Al Ha’aretz ve’al HaPeorot.

Many Jews eat fruits such as oranges, bananas, walnuts, pistachios, dates, apricots, olives and persimmons. Many of them prefer to eat all kinds of dried fruits like raisins and nuts.
It is also a custom for many to have candied etrog or carob.

Kabbalistic tradition preaches that eating these fruits creates an association with the abstract Tree of Life that God placed in the Garden of Eden as mentioned in the Book of Genesis.

Every Jew should make an attempt to eat at least one fruit on Tu B Shvat, which he has not eaten for the entire season, and would require the blessing of Shehecheyanu. While having such a fruit, the Shehecheyanu should be said before reciting the blessing of “Haetz .

Tu B’Shvat is a great day for celebrations. This is the day for performing the customs and the blessings of Almighty. Tu B Shvat is an occasion for Jews to relate the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual thoughts of humanity.

Yom Kippur is a holyday among the Jews. It is also known as the Day Of Atonement . Yom Kippur marks the culmination of the Days Of Repentance , also known as the High Holidays . Jews believe that, on the day of Yom Kippur, they would get the last opportunity to obtain release and forgiveness from their previous sins.

Yom Kippur is observed at the tenth day of the Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah . On the tenth day of the New Year, they seek forgiveness for the sins committed in the previous year. It is another way of celebrating the long waited New Year as well.

The Jewish also believe that on this holyday, god passes His judgment on every person on earth. On the Yom Kippur day they seek God s blessings and forgiveness through utter devotion and spiritual commitment. They do so, because they want to start the New Year with a clean conscience, regretting his previous misdeeds.

Yom Kippur To Different Jew Sects

Yom Kippur does not have any particular historical background. According to Jewish mythology, this observance has a relation with the Ten Commandments . Yom Kippur is celebrated differently in different Jewish communities. The Sephardic Jews call the day the day of the White Fast . On this day they wear white clothes in order to present them as white or pure . Ashkenazic Jews celebrate this Holyday as the day of Rejoicing . They pass the day with a somber and grave feeling in mind.

The Diversity In Observing Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur is associated with the idea of purification or cleansing the mind. The Jews fast from the evening of the Holyday till the following night. The whole day is passed with unusual prayers. On this particular day, Jews do not take food. But people who have problems with fasting do take food. Some other things are also prohibited, such as, washing, putting cosmetics and so on.

The Jews visit the synagogues on this sacred day. In Israel, people strictly observe the day of Yom Kippur. The schools, colleges and business organizations remain closed. Most interestingly, on that day, not a single plane takes off from the airport. On the day of Yom Kippur, the Jews love to ride bi-cycles. This practice is popular among the non-Jew communities too. Thus, it is called the Festival Of Bi-Cycles too.

The Prayer Services

On the occasion of Yom Kippur, men and women wear a white garment, called Kittle . The observation starts with a prayer named Kol Nidre , which must be recited before sunset. Besides, the Book Of Jonah is also recited during the afternoon prayers. There are Jews who prefer to continue prayers right from the morning to the night, but some definitely take breaks in between.

Services In The Temples Of Jerusalem

In Jerusalem the Kohen Gadol (The High Priest) performs all the rituals. He also sacrifices some object in the name of Yom Kippur. Before the start of the rituals, the priest needs to purify himself through five Holy baths and changing clothes for four times.

Yom Kippur is thus a unique celebration, where men and women seek God s Divine blessing to decontaminate their conscience through devoted prayers and rituals.

Purim is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the liberation of all the Jews from the authority of Persian Empire and the extermination of Haman. The purpose of this article is to teach Purim for kids to understand easily. This miraculous deliverance was accomplished through Queen Esther. Purim is observed annually on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar. Like all other Jewish holidays, Purim begins at sundown on the previous secular day. In this holy day, the holy book of Esther is publicly recited, mutual gifts of food and drink are given, and charity is given to poor. The occasion is celebrated with a festive meal, alcohol and by wearing masks and costumes. Wearing masks and costumes makes Purim for kids especially fun.

Different Purims

Shushan Purim

The Jews in Jerusalem and Shushan (Iran) celebrate Purim on the 15th day of Adar known as Shushan Purim. The Book of Esther explains that after Persia conquered Babylonia, the Jews in the un-walled cities fought their enemies on the 13th of Adar and rested on the 14th. But the Jews in the walled capital of Shushan fought their enemies on 13th and 14th and rested on the 15th.

Purim Katan

Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar in the leap years of the Hebrew calendar. Purim Katan or Little Purim is the 14th of the first Adar, which is characterized by all the rituals of proper Purim except the reading of Megillah, charity to poor and fasting on the 13th of the month.

Other Purims
Many Jewish communities across the world celebrate local Purims to commemorate the freedom from a particular anti-semitic rule. Vintz is the most popular Purim, traditionally celebrated one week after the regular Purim in Frankfurt am Main.

Many Jewish families observe family Purims at home to celebrate escape from accidents, persecutions or any disasters.

The events of Purim were recorded in the Book of Esther. Judaism has always held the holiday of Purim in high esteem. The saying goes like even when all the prophetical and hagiographical works are forgotten; the Book of Esther will still be remembered along with the feast of Purim (Jerusalem Talmud, Megillah 1/5a; Maimonides, Yad, Megillah).

The Four Chief Mitzvoth Of Purim Are

• Listening to the reading of the Book of Esther in the evening and in the following morning in the synagogue
• Giving food gifts to friends
• Charity to poor
• A celebratory meal

The Rituals Of Purim

The celebration of Purim starts with the reading of the book of Esther (the Megillah) in the synagogue. This is a regulation ascribed to the Men of Great Assembly in the Talmud. Talmud is a later work, which prescribed three benedictions before the reading and one benediction after the reading. According to the Jewish law, the Megillah can be read in any language intelligible to the audience.

Rowdiness in Purim is permitted within the walls of the synagogue. For example, when the reader of Megillah mentions Haman in a public congregation then there are noisy hissing, stamping and rattling.

Burning Of Haman s Effigy

This custom dates back to Talmudic period. In the 5th century and in 9th and 10th century burning of Haman s effigy was a custom. However, this burning custom is no longer practiced.

The Purim Meal

On the day of Purim, the evening is the time for a festive meal, Seudat Purim along with alcohol is held.

Masquerading In Purim

This is another prominent and amusing feature of the Jewish festival of Purim. Kids dress up like the protagonists of the Book Of Esther, like Queen Esther and Mordechai. Masking also centers on Biblical personas like King David and the Kohen Gadol or the High Priest. Today modern costume and dresses ranging from policemen to flower girls are also worn.

Thus ends the joyous festivities of Purim for kids and adults alike.

The history of the Jewish Passover is a highly celebrated festival among the Jews. The Jewish Passover is celebrated during the last week of March or early April. This festival has an interesting story about the emigration of the Israelites. According to the ancient myth, God asked the contemporary Pharaoh to let his people free. Since the Pharaoh disobeyed Him, God inflicted Israel with ten deadly plagues. The plagues were blood , frog , lice , beasts , cattle disease , boils , hails , locusts , first born and slaying of the first born . In order to evade the danger, the Israelites rushed from there. They cooked their meal and baked their bread in the sunlight.

At the final phase of their journey they witnessed the Red sea waves getting parted in order to let them pass, and were again closed as the king s army reached there. Thus, the Israelites were saved, symbolizing the Holy start of the Passover.

The history of the Jewish Passover festival also narrates the story of the early lives of the Jewish people and their struggle to evade slavery in Egypt. The festival inspires subjugated people, and motivates them to fight for freedom.

The Jewish Passover has also been an inspiration to the enslaved South American citizens. Songs of victory are sung, and the tribulation of slavery is cast aside.

Modes Of Celebration

The Jewish Passover is a festival of food and drink. This celebrity meal is taken during the first two Passover nights. Before the dinner, the Jewish people go through the Exodus . The Jewish people take a special dish named Seder . A Seder plate contains five items. Every plate is covered with specially made covers, so that the purity is retained.

On this Holy occasion, the Jews take out processions, and pray to God for the betterment of the diseased families and their ancestors. Each ritual and custom may have more than a single significance, and they are highly venerable to the Jews.

The Significance Of Wine

Throughout the Passover week, the Jews take Bread or Matzo . Adults take four big glasses of wine, symbolizing the four books of Exodus: Freedom , Deliverance , Redemption and Release .

The Dictum Behind the Festival

The motto of Jewish Passover is to enhance ones insight and enlighten his knowledge against every evil. The rituals related to it have universal significance, and can be related to the ancient as well as the contemporary age. The festival teaches that each day brings with it new gifts, which are valuable possessions of humanity. Through this knowledge, you can do good to yourself and to the greater humanity as well.

The history of the Jewish Passover thus denotes the victory over slavery and subjugation. On the concerned day, death could not affect the chosen ones, since they were the Blessed creatures. Thus, the festival still brings to mind the sense of victory and accomplishment, stirring the minds across the world.

Sukkot is a Jewish festival and is the third festival in the Hebrew month of Tishrei. This holiday comes on the fifth day following Yom Kippur. This festival celebrates the forty years of exile the Jews had after their exodus from Israel.

Sukkot is also known by several names, Day of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles or The Days of our Rejoicing.

The History Of Sukkot

The festival of Sukkot combines religious and agricultural elements beautifully. Sukkot is one of the three pilgrimage Jewish festivals. In the day of Sukkot, in ancient times the Jews came to Jerusalem to the Holy Temple to offer animal and grain sacrifices.

After their exodus from Egypt the Israelites lived in the desert in booths. This booth is known as sukka . The Jew people built sukka as a temporary dwelling place consisting wooden or cloth walls on at least three sides of its four sides with a roof above made of tree branches through which they could see the sky. Traditionally the roof was made of palm fronds.

The festival of Sukkot is also the Harvest Festival. It is celebrated in the autumn after summer harvest is complete and before the start of winter harvest. The farmers pray for rain for the ensuing year and thank God for the year s harvest.

The Time Of Sukkot

Sukkot is a 7-day festival occurring from 15th to the 21st of the month of Tishrei. According to the Gregorian calendar it falls usually in the middle of October. The first day of Sukkot is a holyday and no productive work is done and most businesses remain closed. The last day of Sukkot is also a gala celebration. The days in-between are like week days. From the eighth day a separate festival starts, which is called Shemini Atseret.

The Festival Customs Of Sukkot

The Jews build sukka according to the strict Jewish law. They build sukka under the open sky; it cannot be built under a roof or a tree. The sukka is decorated with lovely pictures, fruits and paper cut outs. The Jews build sukkas in their yards or balconies. According to Jewish custom it is obligatory to eat and sleep in the sukka during the seven day festival.

Four species of plants are used in ceremonial blessings. The lulav (palm frond), hadass (myrtle), aravah (willow branch) and etrog (citron) are the four species symbolizing different characteristics among men. It is mandatory for the men and boys over the age bar of mitzvah to wave lulav and etrog each day of Sukkot.

During the first six days of the festival, the followers make a complete circuit of the synagogue in a procession with the lulavs.

In the seventh day of Sukkot known as Hoshana Rabbah the worshippers make seven circuits around the sanctuary.

Sukkot is also the time for rebinding family ties, feasts and enjoyment.

Passover, also known as Pesach, is one of the most important Jewish holidays, along with the holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Passover celebrates the protection that God offered to the Jews during the time when they were enslaved in Egypt. Moses, an important figure in Jewish history, had asked the Egyptian pharaoh repeatedly to free the Jews from their servitude, and the pharaoh had refused. Because of the Pharaoh’s refusal to free the Jews, God brought ten plagues down upon Egypt: water was turned to blood, frogs proliferated, gnats swarmed, flies grew to great numbers, disease eradicated much of the livestock, people broke out in boils, fiery hail fell from the sky, locusts appeared and ate all the crops, and the land was covered in darkness. These plagues fell upon the Egyptians, but did not affect the Jews.

However, the final plague was that every firstborn son would die, whether person or animal. This is where the origin of Passover arises. The Jews were instructed to protect their firstborn children by making a mark on their doors with the blood of a specially slaughtered lamb; this meant that the final plague of the Angel of Death would pass over them, and the firstborn would be safe. After the last plague, the Jews were permitted to leave Egypt, led by Moses, and eventually made their way to the promised land of Israel.

Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions all recognize the plagues of Egypt. Some people theorize that the Last Supper of Christian tradition was a Passover Seder feast and find symbolic resonance in this idea, especially since Easter and Passover are also celebrated around the same time of year.

Passover is celebrated during the Hebrew month of Nisan, starting on the fifteenth day (this is usually at some point in April). Families gather on the first night of Passover to read the story of the Jewish journey out of Egypt. This celebration is called the seder. The story (known as the Haggadah) is told over a feast of symbolic food such as wine, lamb, special herbs, egg, and matzo (unleavened) bread. The unleavened bread is a reminder of the conditions that Jews suffered under the rule of the Egyptians. This reminder is so important that families spend the days before Passover cleaning the house and removing leavened bread of any sort.

During the seder, children are encouraged to answer questions as the story is told, in order to give them a sense of their heritage and the importance of the Passover in Jewish life. A fun and festive part of the Passover seder is the hiding of the afikomen (a piece of unleavened bread which is the last thing to be eaten that night). Children find the afikomen and are usually rewarded with some small token.

Oftentimes, Passover seders are open to the larger community. To truly get a sense of this major Jewish holiday, consider attending one in your local community or at the house of a friend.

Al Hijra is commemorated on the first day of the Muharram and is the Islamic New Year. Muharram is the month in which the journey of Muhammad from Mecca to Medina took place in 622 CE. There are a few rituals associated with the Islamic New Year, compared to the Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

There are no religious observances prescribed for Al-Hijra. It is a time for reflection on the year to come. In the recent times, some Muslims even exchange greeting cards to commemorate this holiday.

The Islamic Calendar

The Islamic Calendar consists 12 lunar months. Each month consists 29.5 days on an average and the year ultimately has 354 days. Each of the months, start with the viewing of the crescent moon or the Hilal with the bare eye. The calendars are printed depending on the astronomical calculations made for the viewing of the moon earlier. The leap years in the Lunar calendar are those years which when divided by the numeral 30, produces a remainder of the numbers 2, 5, 7, 10, 13, 16, 18, 21, 24, 26 and 29.

In Saudi Arabia and Egypt, noting the time of the sunset and the moonset on the 29th day of every month marks the start of the month. The moon setting before the sun will mean the next day is the 30th of the month and the sun setting before the moon will mean the following day is the first day of the following month.

For the Muslims, Al Hijrah was the focal point for considering their chronology. Al Hijra commemorates the epic journey between two cities, which are 300 miles apart. In a deeper sense, Al Hijra marked the beginning of an era, a culture and a history for the entire mankind. Islam made a progress due to the fact that Muslims considered all the aspects and dimensions of Al Hijra to be sacred.

Difference with the Solar Calendar

The Islamic calendar has an average of 354.3670 days, whereas the Solar calendar has an average of 365.2422 days. Thus, the Hijra calendar gains ground in comparison to the Solar calendar at the rate of about 11 days per year.

The Islamic months do not match up with any particular season. Moreover, a lunar month stretches from 29 to 30 days only, while the solar month will have days stretching from 28 to 31 days.

The years of the Islamic Calendar or the Hijra, are calculated from 1 Muharram, 622 CE. The Suffix AH follows them, implying After Hijira .

Mawlid an Nabi or Milad al-Nabi is a special day for the believers of Muslim faith. This day is marked by the celebration of the birthday of the final prophet of Islam, prophet Muhammad. The Muslims celebrate Milad al -Nabi on the 12th day of Rabi al-Awwal, the fifth month of the Islamic Calendar.

The Holy Day Of Celebration

The celebration of this holy day centers round the life and preaching of Prophet Muhammad. Both Shia and Sunni Muslims celebrate Mawlid an Nabi with great devotion. They decorate their homes, hold processions and prepare luscious food and distribute them. Learned people of Islam narrate life stories of Prophet Muhammad and the children recite poems. A special part of the remembrance is about the forgiveness of Muhammad even to his bitter enemies. The believers of Islam sing songs and chant special prayers. The Muslims give charity to poor like other holidays.

The Origin Of Mawlid an Nabi

The holiday of Milad al- Nabi was first celebrated in the 13th century and marked the end of a month of celebration. The holiday, the actual day of Muhhamad s birthday then included a sermon, honoring of religious dignitaries and recitation of litanies. The day was celebrated with pomp and grandeur with huge mass commemoration, special gift giving and a sumptuous feast. Later celebration gradually became more subdued. It is said that Prophet Muhammad had advised his followers not to celebrate his birthday with such lavishness. Believing this directive, many conservative sects like the Wahhabiyah consider the celebration of Mawlid an Nabi as idolatrous.

Life Of Prophet Muhammad

Prophet Muhammad entered this world in about A.D 570 and passed away in A.D 632. He established Islam as an official religion and replaced tribal loyalty with egalitarianism. He received a vision of the angel Gabriel at a crucial point in his life and was called into service as a prophet. He again received a second vision of Gabriel and was told to magnify thy Lord .

Muhammad began to preach publicly in Mecca and many people started to follow him. But many people were opposed to him and pose threat to his life so he fled to Yathrib in A.D 622. This 200 miles journey from Mecca to Yathrib is known as Hegira. The Muslim Calendar starts with Hegira.

Mawlid an Nabi In The Western Calendar

Milad al- Nabi falls on the 12th of the fifth month, Rabi-ul-Awwal in the Islamic Calendar. But this date varies in the Gregorian Calendar from year to year because the Islamic Calendar is a lunar calendar while the Gregorian calendar is a solar calendar. Milad al- Nabi will fall on 5th April in 2007.

Therefore, Mawlid an Nabi is a day of joyous celebration for the followers of Islam.

Laylat el qadr or the Night of Power is observed as one of the last concluding days of the Ramadan. It is celebrated on a day which is odd numbered, like the twenty third, twenty fifth or the twenty seventh.

The night of the Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of the holiest month for the Muslims. It recalls the night when God Himself sent the Quran down from Heaven right into the souls of His Prophets. The Quran was then recited to Prophet Muhammad in extracts by the angel Gabriel for a period of more than twenty years.

Worshipping the Almighty, during Laylat al-Qadr is equal to worshipping for a thousand months. The commemoration of this holy night requires constant purification and prayer, hoping that the good worshipper will one day receive the very presence of God at this night.

How is Laylat al Qadr Observed?

The devotees observe the entire month of Ramadan by fasting, reciting the Quran, praying and divulging in charity. Muslims try harder to seriously worship Allah in the last ten days of the Ramadan as any odd numbered date during that time could be the Laylat al-qadr.

On this holy night, the Muslims make an extra effect to stay awake and pray all the night in order to receive whatever they ask for on this night. Some Muslims may also stay in the mosque for the ultimate ten days of the Ramadan for remembering Allah. During this Retreat or I tikaf, the devotees are provided with food and other essential needs.

The Date of Laylat el Qadr

All the Muslims know that Laylat al qadr occurred during the last third of the month of Ramadan, but they have different conceptions about the accurate date. The Sunnis consider it to fall on the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or the 29th of the month of Ramadan. On the contrary, the Shi as believe it to occur either on the 19th, 21st or the 23rd of the Ramadan, though the 23rd is considered to be the most appropriate date by them. Traditionally, most Sunnis celebrate it on the 27th night. As there is a lot of confusion regarding the date, the Muslims are required to observe all the odd numbered dates of the last ten months.

Muslims believe that when one observes the Laylat al-Qadr, his or her sins will be erased and the person will be reborn. The Muslims believe that their previous sins will be forgiven if they observe this day.

It is a popular Muslim belief that the Lord has not revealed the exact date of Laylat el qadr, as He wanted the Muslims to worship Him sincerely during the whole month of Ramadan.

Though the followers of the satanic innovations believe that the exact date for the Night was known but God caused it to be forgotten, it is found that the true Muslims never doubt their God and believe that God did not omit anything that he knew of from His authentic Hadith.

It is an interesting fact that God mentioned Laylat al Qadr three times in His Hadith, in a phrase that has 9 Arabic letters. The hint was that Laylat el qadr was on the 27th night of the Ramadan, as 9 multiplied by 3 gives 27.

Feast of the Theophany is one of the oldest holy days celebrated by churches throughout the world. This has been celebrated since the second century by orthodox Christians and predates the celebrations of Christmas by over 100 years .It carries a great significance in Christianity for its deep theological implication.

You seem to be feeling very inquisitive to learn what this feast is all about? Well, the word theophany actually is a Greek word meaning showing forth of God or the the manifestation of God . Orthodox Christians celebrate Feast of Theophany as the day of
Jesus Christ’s Baptism and the revelation of God as Trinity (Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; Mt.3: 13-17). This holyday has been named Theophany, as on this day, with the baptism of Christ the Holy Trinity emerged clearly before the mankind for the first time.

Now, you might be engrossed in Trinitarian theology. Well, it is the cornerstone of the Christian faith which rightly defines the True God. He sent his only son for the sake of the restitution of all creations back to its Creator. Therefore, for the early Church, Theophany was the foundational expression of the truth of the Gospel.

Baptism of Jesus

When Jesus was thirty, he went to meet John the Baptist from Galilee to Jordan to get baptized on the banks of the river Jordan, where John tried to deny baptizing him. According to him Jesus should have baptized him instead of him baptizing Jesus. Jesus answered that, it was fitting him for fulfilling all righteousness.

While Jesus was in the water, Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove. Then the holy Father s who appeared as a dove, prophesized from heaven that the Son of God has appeared in the flesh and standing physically in the Jordan.

Celebrations on this holyday

The Christmas Season concludes with the feast of the Theophany, which begins on December 25 and ends on January 6. The services for the feast of Theophany are laid down precisely as those of the Nativity. If you learn historically, that Christmas services were recognized later.

The Feast of Theophany is the day when God and the Savior of the world – Jesus blessed all the waters of the world with his occurrence in the Jordan River. The Churches commemorate the great moment by blessing streams, rivers or lakes nearby each community.

On the eve of the feast, The Royal Hours are read out and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great is served with Vespers. A Vigil is made up of Great Compline and Matins.

For many centuries this event has been piously celebrated with the great blessing of water being performed on this day. The local priests bless the homes of the faithful with holy water.

People present in services on the Feast of the Theophany bring a container in which they take home some of the holy water from the services. The holy water is kept in the home for use throughout the year.

This is especially popular with eastern European tradition to have their home blessed by the parish priest, which is followed by the Feast of the Theophany with the holy water that was blessed during the services on that day.

The Orthodox Theophany hymn suggests that when Jesus was baptized in Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made evident. The Feast of the Theophany is considered as one of the most important events in the history of salvation.