Islam: Religion, Culture and Changing Societies
Write a description of a lesson
Write a description of how you tell students about various traditions and holidays in Islam. Use a comparison, for example, of different European Christmas traditions. Analyze what is related to national and cultural aspects in European and Islamic countries during these holidays and what is connected to religion.
Estonia differs from Germany, and Germany is different from Scandinavia. Many differences emerge when we look at how holidays, such as Christmas, are celebrated in different countries and cultures. For example, Nicholas Day is celebrated in Germany on December 6, when St. Nicholas brings gifts to children. Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden, where women wear candles, and Lucia’s songs are sung. These Christmas-related rituals are not observed in Estonia. The Islamic world is also very colorful. There are holidays that are celebrated in various ways in different countries, such as Ashura in Iran and Hosyn in Trinidad.
Chrismas is a Christian holiday. Estonians go to church on Christmas Eve. The graves of loved ones are visited, and Christmas trees are brought to the homes. The children are visited by Santa Claus, who brings gifts. Delicious traditional dishes are prepared, such as blood sausage, sauerkraut, and pork steak. Visiting loved ones and donating to charity are practiced. Various aid organizations make Christmas presents for children and families in need. The elderly are remembered and visited.
New Year’s celebration begins on the 31 December. It is customary to predict prosperity and happiness for the new year through tin casting and eating fish with scales. The celebrations are held with friends and a wider circle of family.
Easter is a Christian holiday. Eggs are cooked and painted at breakfast and exchanged with friends. An egg-laying game is organized for children, and homes are decorated with rabbits, chicks, and willow peat. Various dishes are made from eggs, such as Easter pasha.
The Midsummer day is related to the summer solstice; the night between June 23 and June 24 is the shortest night of the year. We dance and sing around the Midsummer fire and visit saunas. Young people are looking for a fern. In addition, the anniversary of the Battle of Võnnu is celebrated in Estonia on June 23.
Mardipäev and Kadripäev (St Martin’s Day and St Catherine’s Day) are holidays related to the end of the agricultural year and the beginning of the winter period and indoor activities. Celebrating Mardipäev and Kadripäev includes disguising, visiting neighbors and friends, asking for alms, and wishing the families good fortune. There are various traditional songs, dances, and games that are performed during the visits. Previously, the related food included various dishes, such as Martin’s goose (poultry meat), groat porridge, and beer.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the fast of Ramadan. The festivities begin on the last day of the fasting month at sunset. There are early morning prayer gatherings on the next day. Food is distributed in mosques and homes. Children receive sweets, gifts, and money, which is why in many places, including Turkey and Indonesia, these celebrations are also called “sugar holidays”. Gifts are given to family members, friends, and those in need. The celebrations last up to three days.
Ashura in Iran and Hosyn in Trinidad.
The holiday of Ashura takes place on the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram. Today, this holiday has different meanings in various Islamic branches. In Shiite Islam, the battle of Kerbala (680 in Iraq) and the death of Imam Husain ibn Ali are commemorated. Ashura’s rituals include stories, mourning processions in mourning clothes, and self-flogging. The martyrdom of Husain ibn Ali is performed.
The Alevis observe Ashura with 12 days of fasting to commemorate the sufferings of the holy family and the martyrdom of Imam Husain ibn Ali. However, these events are not commemorated in the mourning processions.
For the Sunnis, Ashura is a voluntary day of fasting associated with Moses’ salvation by God during the escape from Egypt. It is a holiday of joy and gratitude.
In Trinidad, Ashura is known as Hosay, which is also celebrated as a memorial day for the martyrdom of Husain ibn Ali, with drumming processions and the construction of symbolic tombstones in memory of Husain ibn Ali.
Mawlid al-Nabi is a special day associated with the birth of Islam’s founder Prophet Muhammad. Many Muslims honor the birth of Muhammad by reading poems and singing songs praising the Prophet. Special meals are eaten, mosques are visited, and special presentations are organized in mosques about the life and example of the Prophet. There are processions and large celebrations with fairs and carousels (eg in Indonesia). Muhammad’s birthday celebrations are not common in Arab countries. Egyptian families often celebrate this day by praying quietly at home and offering gifts to the poor and friends. However, children are given candy dolls and melted sugar poured into special molds.
The celebration of the New Year takes place in the first month of the Islamic Year, Muharram, which is associated with the beginning of the Muslim era, that started with the journey of the Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina. For the Shiites and Alevis, the new year starts with the mourning and fasting in the memory of Imam Husain ibn Ali. For the Sunnis, the beginning of the new year is a time of reflection, repentance, and gratitude. On this day, the Sunnis distribute sweets and alms to those in need and recall the stories of the Prophet Muhammad.
The Feast of Sacrifice (Eid al-Adha) is related to the story of the Prophet Abraham described in the Bible and the Qur’an. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Ishmael (cf. Isaac’s sacrifice) to prove his faithfulness to God. Muslims, like Abraham, sacrifice animals (usually lambs, goats, etc.) and thank God for saving Ishmael’s life. The festivities begin with prayers and last for four days. The sacrificial animal’s meat is divided equally between the family, its poor relatives, and those in need.
