Spring Festivals

© Roxana Muise April 2006

This is the time of the Solar year when we see links between most religious faiths and spiritual disciplines. They all relate to the rebirth of the light, and the attainment of enlightenment.

March 28 and April 15 are two of the Buddhist devotional celebrations of Quan Yin, goddess of mercy, wisdom, healing and compassion. She was a holy woman who gave up her Buddhic state to help bring enlightenment to all of humanity. In Japan she is known as Kwannon. In China, Kuan Yin is usually shown in a white flowing robe, and usually wearing necklaces of Indian/Chinese royalty. In the right hand is a water jar containing pure water, and in the left, a willow branch. The crown usually depicts the image of Amitabha Buddha, Kuan Yin's spiritual teacher before she became a Bodhisattva (beings who have attained a high degree of enlightenment).

On April 8 the Hana Matsuri (Kambutsu-e), or Festival of Flowers, is annually observed in Japan’s Buddhist temples as a nativity celebration of the Buddha's birth. Buddha was born in the garden of Lumbini in what is now southern Napal, and he immediately took seven steps, and pointed up with one hand and down with the other, and stated: "I am alone in heaven and on Earth". Immediately, nine dragons came down from heaven and baptized him with pure water. Part of the annual ritual observance includes decorating a temple garden or hall (hanamido) with flowers, and serving a sweet tea (amacha) from dried and boiled hydrangea leaves. The tea is sprinkled on the head of a statue of the baby Buddha who points heavenward and earthward (also symbolic of the I Ching), symbolizing the legendary birth of the Buddha. After the ceremony, festival visitors take the magical amacha home to share with family members. They also use the tea to create a spell to keep the home safe from snakes, and unwanted insects and animals. The Buddha’s birth, illumination, death and transcendence are venerated in a month-long festival culminating at the Wesak full Moon in May.

Palm Sunday (April 9) is the Sunday before Easter. Palm Sunday commemorates the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Current ceremonies include the blessing of the palms, the ashes of which are used on Good Friday to symbolize the passion and sacrifice of the Crucifixion.

The birthday of the prophet, Muhammed in 2006 is April 10. Mohammed’s ascension is celebrated on August 21, 2006. These are Solar calendar equivalents of the dates in the Islamic Lunar calendar.

Passover (Pesach) is the eight day celebration (beginning on 4/13) of the Jews liberation from Egyptian bondage. Pesach also means "the hobbling," which also refers to the ancient ceremonial spring dance of the partridge, which is based upon the spiral dance of the maze of the Minotar. The inner theme of April is to call upon your inner values and strength to help overcome obstacles and restrictions to your life path.

Easter (this year, April 16) is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the first Sunday after the full Moon following the spring equinox. Easter celebrates Jesus overcoming death, and taking on a glorified body before arising into heaven. The Resurrection of The Christ symbolizes the eternal nature of the soul, and the triumph over the death of the body. It is symbolized in the ancient nature celebrations by the blossoming of the land after the struggle of winter. In the Wiccan religion it is called Ostara, named after Oestra, goddess of spring. It is symbolic of life returning to the Earth in rebirth.

As the Sun moves into the earth sign, Taurus (April 19), Loving values may more easily emphasized in our outer activities, including the significance of our shared responsibility for the environment.

Earth Day, April 22 a contemporary holiday, dedicated to Mother Earth, is a celebration of the home that we all share, and the Earth goddess, Gaia. The first Earth Day was organized and first celebrated in 1970 to support recycling, tree planting, and community commitment to the future. It continues to encourage respect for life on earth, and encourages methods to ensure quality of the soil, air, and water. Earth Day is now observed in more than 140 nations.

St. Mark's Day, April 24/25 coincides with the old Roman festival of the Robigalia. They share the purpose of asking for heaven’s blessing for the growing of crops. St Mark’s day heralds the return of migratory birds from the south to nest and raise families.

 

Our search for meaning knows no end. We find significance in the simplest of ideas or concepts. Those ideas have their expression in symbolism and symbols. The same basic symbols pop up in many places and in many different philosophies and religions. If we search with an open mind, we often find places where our meanings agree, often in what was previously perceived as rivalry. I wish all of you a happy and holy season of renewal – Happy Easter!