Culham Institute: Calendar of Festivals

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February 2012
2 February		The Presentation of the Lord (Roman Catholic) / The Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Anglican) The presentation of Jesus in the Temple at a few weeks old, as recorded in Luke's gospel, is celebrated today. The day is often known as Candlemas from the tradition of congregations holding lighted candles during the celebration in church. Woodlands Junior School: Candlemas Day.
5 February		The Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Birthday / Mawlid an-Nabi The Prophet Muhammad's (pbuh) Birthday is celebrated on the 12th of Rabi al-Awwal, the third month of the Muslim calendar. In the UK Muslims celebrate at the mosque. Processions are held in some cities in the Muslim world, and in some countries the celebration starts with readings from the Qur'an, followed by poetry and songs in praise of the Prophet. Mawlid Al Nabi or Ma'uled Al-Nabi.
8 February		Parinirvana Mahayanists mark the final passing away from this world of Gotama Buddha at Kushinagara, India, at the age of 80. Pure Land Buddhists refer to it as Nirvana Day. BuddhaNet: Kusinara - place of the Great Passing Away.
8 February		Tu B'Shevat Tu B'Shevat is a minor Jewish festival celebrating the New Year for trees. Jewish tradition marks the 15th of Shevat as the day when the sap in the trees begins to rise heralding the beginning of Spring. It is customary to plant trees and eat fruit from Israel. Chabad.org - Tu B'Shevat.
20 February		Mahashivratri (Great Shiva Night) Every night of the new moon is dedicated to Shiva but this one is particularly important, being the night on which Shiva is said to perform the cosmic dance from creation to destruction. Many Hindus will fast and prayers are focused on Shiva and his shrines and statues. BBC Religions - Hinduism: Mahashivratri.
21 February		Shrove Tuesday Commonly known as Pancake Day, this is the day before the start of Lent. Traditionally, it is a day for repentance and absolution in preparation for Lent ('shrive' means to receive or make confession). Pancakes were originally made to use up all the rich foods, such as butter and eggs, before Lent. In some parts of the world people celebrate Mardi Gras by holding carnivals. Woodlands Junior School: Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day).
22 February		Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent, the forty days (not counting Sundays) that lead up to Easter. On Ash Wednesday some churches hold special services where Christian believers are marked with a cross of ash to show their desire to correct the wrongs in their lives. BBC Religions - Christianity: Ash Wednesday.
22 February - 7 April		Lent Lent is a time of fasting and discipline in preparation for Easter. As early as the second century CE many Christians were to be found spending time fasting before Easter, and over the next few centuries the time spent fasting increased; this was probably connected to remembering the forty days Jesus spent fasting at the start of his ministry. The word comes from an Old English word for Spring. It is also related to the word 'lengthen'. Culham Institute: Journey Through Lent.
23 February		Birthday of Sri Ramakrishna Sri Ramakrishna, Hindu teacher and mystic was born in 1833, and founded the Ramakrishna Mission and the Ramakrishna Vedanta movement. Swami Vivekananda, his disciple, formalised his teachings into a philosophical structure. Sri Ramakrishna Biography.
27 February - 14 April		First Day of Lent / The Great Fast (Orthodox) Eastern Churches start Lent on the Monday before the first Sunday of Lent, and as many Eastern Orthodox Churches still use the Julian rather than the Gregorian calendar the dates of the whole Lenten period can differ from the Western Churches. The Lenten fast involves abstinence from meat, fish and dairy products until Easter. Orthodox Church in America: Great Lent.