Assessment: Comprehension Festivals of Light
There are many different religions around the world, most of which hold festivals to celebrate their history or stories. In several religions, light is an important symbol of goodness and so festivals of light are common. During these festivals, religious followers light lamps and candles to celebrate.
Diwali
Diwali is also known as ‘the festival of lights’, as the word ‘Diwali’ means ‘a row of lights’. Diwali is a Hindu festival that is celebrated in October or November. The festival lasts for five days. Hindus clean their homes and decorate them with colourful rangoli patterns and little clay lamps called diyas. The festival celebrates the return of Rama and Sita and the lamps are placed in windows to guide their way home. Hindus also believe that the goddess Lakshmi will enter a beautiful, clean home and bless those who live there with wealth and happiness for the year to come. Hindus light fireworks, dress up in new clothes, visit relatives and exchange cards and gifts.
Diya Hanukkah Menorah
Hanukkah is the Jewish festival of light, which takes place in November or December. It celebrates the defeat of the Greeks who destroyed a temple in Jerusalem. After the temple was repaired, an oil lamp was lit. The oil should only have lasted for one day, but lasted for eight. This was known as the Miracle of the Oil. Hanukkah is a time for celebrating with family. The most important ritual of the festival is the lighting of one candle on a menorah (a
special nine-branched candlestick) each night for eight nights. Children play a game with a spinning top called a dreidel, and latkes, potato pancakes fried in oil, are eaten.
Christmas Christmas candles
Christmas is a Christian celebration. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, advent candles are lit to mark the countdown to Christmas. On Christmas Eve, December 24th, some people place candles in their window to guide Joseph and Mary while they look for a place for Mary to give birth to the baby Jesus. Many Christians decorate trees with lights and some place a star on top. This commemorates the star that helped the Three Wise Men to find their way to Jesus after his birth. A big meal is eaten on Christmas Day and gifts are exchanged to remember the gifts that the Three Wise Men brought to Jesus.
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Unit 8 | Revision and Assessment
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