In July we focus on Chokor (also Cho Kor Du Chen)
Chokhor means “Prayer Wheel” or “Dharma Wheel”, the common religious objects in Tibet, and Duchen means “great occasion”; in Tibetan. Hand held wheels are hollow wooden or metal cylinders attached to a handle which when turned are believed to spread spiritual blessing.
In June we focus on World Humanist Day.
World Humanist Day is celebrated every year on 21 June and we’ve been celebrating it since the 1980s. It’s an opportunity for humanists all around the world to publicise the positive values of humanism and to share the global concerns of the humanist movement.
In May we focus on Eid – the end of Ramadan.
In April we focus on Easter and St. George’s Day.
Easter is one of the principal holidays, or feasts, of Christianity. It marks the Resurrection of Jesus three days after his death by crucifixion. For many Christian churches, Easter is the joyful end to the Lenten season of fasting and penitence.
Take a close look at the English flag. That red cross over a white background has meaning. It’s actually St. George’s Cross — a symbol so closely intertwined with English national identity that St. George has his own national holiday.
The legend of Saint George and the Dragon describes the saint taming and slaying a dragon that demanded human sacrifices. We celebrate St. George’s Day on April 23 — the anniversary of his death in 303 AD.
In March the focus is St. David’s Day.
St David was the greatest figure in the 6th century Welsh Age of Saints, founder of scores of religious communities, and the only native-born patron saint of the countries of Britain and Ireland. St David died on 1 March – St David’s Day – in 589. He was canonised by Pope Callixtus in the 12th century, and we have celebrated St David’s Day ever since.
Usually, St David’s Day is a day of parades, concerts and eisteddfodau (festivals of music, language and culture). Flags are flown. The Welsh national anthem is sung with extra fervour. Children go to school in traditional Welsh dress, and people proudly pin a daffodil or leek to their lapel.
In February the focus is Sarasvati Puja.
Sarasvati Puja, also called Vasant Panchami, is a festival that marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. For Hindus it is usually linked with Saraswati, the goddess of learning and the arts. Yellow is her associated colour.
In January the focus is World Religion Day.
The aim of World Religion Day, held on the third Sunday in January every year, is to promote inter-faith understanding and harmony. Through a variety of events held around the globe, followers of every religion are encouraged to acknowledge the similarities that different faiths have.
In December the focus is Christmas.
In November the focus is St Andrews Day.
St Andrew’s Day is the feast day of Andrew the Apostle and is celebrated every year on the 30 November. In 1320, St Andrew officially became the patron saint of Scotland when the country’s independence was declared with the signing of The Declaration of Arbroath. People use the day to celebrate the patron saint, who is believed to have been born far away from Scotland in Galilee, now in Israel. He became Jesus’ first disciple and was known as ‘Protokletos’, which means ‘first called.’
In October the focus is the festival of light Diwali.
Diwali is the five-day Festival of Lights, celebrated by millions of Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the world. Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
In September, the focus was Harvest Festival.
Pupils donated various food items to support our local foodbank. A huge thank you to all who donated.