_edited.png)
As many in North America await Halloween and Christmas, there is a multitude of different festivals, celebrations, and days of significance occurring worldwide in the month of September. It would be impossible to cover them all in a single article, and thus we will be highlighting 7 days of significance from around the world.
Prakash Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - September 4, 2024
A significant event in the Sikh community celebrating the first compilation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the holy scripture of the Sikhs (Dashmesh Darbar, 2024). It was compiled by the fifth Guru, Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji on September 1st, 1604, and was ultimately designated as the 11th and final Guru for the Sikhs. There is a slight variance in dates due to a different calendar for Sikh days of significance.Â
Ganesh Chaturthi - September 6, 2024
A festival in the Hindu community celebrating Lord Ganesh and his birth (Hindu American Foundation, 2022). It is often celebrated by bringing a clay idol of Lord Ganesh to a decorated platform at home, or an elaborate tent known as a Pandal. This is followed by multiple days of ceremonies and formal prayer. On the last day, a prayer is performed to say goodbye to Lord Ganesh and the idol is taken to a body of water in the form of a parade with religious music and dance. This is meant to symbolize the return of Lord Ganesh to his abode.
Mid Autumn Festival - September 17
As one of the largest holidays in China, the Mid-Autumn Festival is often celebrate with great pomp and show. This usually involves music, lion or dragon dances, moongazing, elaborate lantern displays, and eatings lots of traditional foods, including mooncakes. However, these activities are not meant to be done alone, and involve spending lots of time together with family. The origins of this festival can be traced back over 1000 years to the Tang dynasty and the worship of celestial bodies that occurred at that time.Â
One version of a popular legend linked to the Mid-Autumn Festivals talks about a time when there were 10 suns in the sky, and they left the earth dry and parched. To save the people, an archer named Hou Yi shot down 9 on the suns and saved the planet. As a result, he got an Elixir of Immortality as an award, however, he decided to keep it safe instead of drinking it as he preferred the company of his wife to immortality. However, one day one of his own students attempted to steal the elixir and in desperation to keep the elixir out of the hands of the thief, the wife drank it herself. As a result, she floated away to the moon, being stuck there for eternity. When her husband found out what happened and noticed his wife in the sky, he offered her some of her favourite foods, thus beginning the tradition of offering fruit and mooncakes to the moon during this festival.
La Mercè - September 20 - September 24
This 5 day festival in Barcelona, Spain is held in honour of the Patron Saint of the city, Mare de Deu de la Mercè. Some highlights of the festival include the correfoc, or fire run where individuals dressed up as devils perform in the streets with handheld fireworks, interacting with onlookers who join in on the performance by both chasing and being chased. Another fun event includes the Castellers, or human towers built by people standing on one another to form a tower that will allow for a child to climb and stand on top. Some other highlights include the Gigantes, or Giants’ Parade where larger than life paper mache idols are paraded around town alongside a percussion group, and a projection show of lights on the sides of buildings. Lastly, there are also multiple concerts going on throughout the festival featuring various artists sharing their musical talent, providing everyone with something they could enjoy.
Oktoberfest - September 21 - October 6
Known as the largest folk festival in the year, Oktoberfest is celebrated every year in Munich, Germany from late September to early October. Commencing with the opening of a barrel of beer by the mayor, this 16 day festival is full of attractions for people of all ages. It includes a variety of different food, beer, market traders, businesses, and a traditional folk section known as Oide Wiesn. This includes colourful traditional apparel, historic rides, a museum tent and children’s programmes. There is also a tradition tent highlighting Bavarian traditions. Some other attractions of Oktoberfest include locally brewed beers, rides, and booths to play games and try various types of food.Â
Meskel - September 27
The Meskel festival celebrates the event of Queen Helena of the Roman Empire locating the Cross of Jesus Christ. It is said she achieved this feat after being instructed in a dream to light a fire and follow the smoke to the cross. When she did this, it is said the smoke came down and guided her to the exact location where the cross was buried. Since then, this festival is celebrated by lighting a huge bonfire (also known as a Demera) in Meskel square in the capital of Ethiopia, along with parade and prayer in the form of singing. As it would be quite difficult for everyone to make their way to the capital, many individual also light fires on the street in their hometowns and celebrate the momentous occasion with their families, concluding the celebrations with a feast.
Truth & Reconciliation Day/Orange Shirt Day - September 30
Orange Shirt Day is a recent initiative in Canada meant to recognize the detrimental affects of residential schools on Indigenous communities and culture. It is one Canada’s steps towards the commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, giving everyone in the community an opportunity to ask about the orange shirts and learn about Indigenous history. The orange colour stems from the story of a residential school survivor, and how the new orange shirt her grandmother had bought her was taken from her on her first day there. The loss of her orange shirt was not just about a piece of clothing, but represented the attempt at taking away the family, culture, and identity from countless Indigenous children, many of whom did not survive to tell their own story about their equivalent of the orange shirt. As such, this day is very important to raise awareness, and spread the message that Every Child Matters.
Resources:
https://www.sikhnet.com/pages/sikh-gurpurab-calendar
https://dasmeshdarbar.ca/pehla-parkash-diwas-sri-guru-granth-sahib-ji-1-september
https://www.hinduamerican.org/all-about-ganesh-chaturthi
https://www.barcelona.cat/lamerce/en/merce-music
https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/events/la-merce/barcelona-la-merce.html
https://www.odynovotours.com/china/mid-autumn-moon-festival.html
https://www.chinahighlights.com/festivals/mid-autumn-festival-story.htm
