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Index
Cover
Title Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1 - Western Christian Ceremonies
What Christians Believe
Sacred Writings
Branches of Christianity
Place of Worship
Inside an Anglican Church
Inside a Catholic Church
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Christian Calendar
The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Advent
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Epiphany
Candlemas
Shrovetide
Lent
Ash Wednesday
Mothering Sunday
Passion Sunday
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Easter Sunday
Ascension
Pentecost
Trinity Sunday
The Feast of Corpus Christi
The Solemnity of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
The Feast of the Assumption
Harvest Festival
The Feast of the Dedication of Saint Michael, the Archangel
The Feast of the Guardian Angels
All Hallows’ Eve
All Saints’ Day
All Souls’ Day
Remembrance Sunday
The Feast of Christ the King
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
First Communion
Confirmation
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Chapter 2 - Orthodox Christian Ceremonies
What Orthodox Christians Believe
The Orthodox Church Structure
Sacred Writings
Branches of Orthodoxy
Place of Worship
The Orthodox Cross
Holy Icons
Inside an Orthodox Church
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Orthodox Christian Calendar
Nativity of the Theotokos
The Elevation of the Holy Cross
Presentation of the Theotokos
The Christmas Fast
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Holy Theophany, or the Feast of Epiphany
Presentation of Christ in the Temple
Cheesefare Week
Forgiveness Sunday
The Great Fast of Lent
The Celebration of the Annunciation
Palm Sunday
Holy Thursday
Holy Friday
Holy Saturday
Pascha (Easter Day)
Bright Week
Ascension Day
Pentecost
The Fast of the Apostles
The Feast of Saint Peter and Saint Paul
The Feast of the Transfiguration
The Fast of the Repose of the Virgin Mary
Dormition of the Virgin
The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
Baptism and Chrismation
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Chapter 3 - Jewish Ceremonies
What Jews Believe
Sacred Writings
Branches of Judaism
Place of Worship
Inside a Synagogue
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Jewish Calendar
Rosh Chodesh (‘Head of the Month’)
Ta’anit B’khorim/B’khorot (‘Fast of the Firstborn’)
Pesach, or Passover
Sefirat Ha’Omer (‘Counting the Omer’)
Lag Ba-Omer
Shavuot
Shiv’ah Asar B’Tammuz
Tisha B’Av
The Month of Elul
Rosh Hashanah (‘Head of the Year’)
Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement
Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths
Shemini Atzeret (The Assembly of the Eighth Day)
Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Torah)
Chanukkah, or Hanukkah
Asara B’Tevet
Tu B’Shevat (The New Year for Trees)
Ta’anit Esther (The Fast of Esther)
Purim
Rituals and Ceremonies
Shabbat
Birth
Coming of Age
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Chapter 4 - Muslim Ceremonies
What Muslims Believe
Sacred Writings
Sharia
Branches of Islam
Place of Worship
Inside a Mosque
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Islamic Calendar
Al-Hijra
Yaum Ashura
Milad-un Nabi (Birth of the Prophet)
Lailat-un Miraj, or Miraj-un Nabi (The Night of Ascent)
Lailat-ul Bara’t (The Night of Forgiveness)
Ramadan
Eid ul-Fitr
Hajj
Eid ul-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice)
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Chapter 5 - Hindu Ceremonies
What Hindus Believe
Samsara, Karma, Dharma, Moksha
‘Deities’
Sacred Writings
Caste
Schools of Yoga
Place of Worship
Inside a Mandir
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Hindu Calendar
Navaratri
Ramnavami
Raksha Bandan, Rakhi Bandan
Krishna Janmashtami
Ganesh Chaturthi
Navaratri
Dusera, Dhussera
Diwali, Deepawali, Dival
Maha Shivaratri
Holi, Dhuleti
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
Coming of Age
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Chapter 6 - Sikh Ceremonies
What Sikhs Believe
The Teachings of Guru Nanak
Development under the Ten Gurus
Sacred Writings
Branches of Sikhism
Place of Worship
Inside a Gurdwara
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Sikh Calendar
Hola Mahalla, or Hola Mohalla
Vaisakhi, or Baisakhi
Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev
Birth of Guru Nanak
Diwali, or Bandi Chhorh Divas
Martyrdom of Tegh Bahadur
Birth of Guru Gobind Singh
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
Coming of Age
Marriage
Death and Mourning
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Chapter 7 - Buddhist Ceremonies
What Buddhists Believe
Sacred Writings
Branches of Buddhism
Place of Worship
Inside a Temple
Services
Festivals and Holy Days
The Buddhist Calendar
Losar (Tibetan Buddhist New Year)
Parinibbana (Nirvana Day)
Magha Puja
The New Year
Wesak, Vesak, Vesakha (Buddha Day)
Hanamatsuri (Flower Festival)
Asalha Puja, or Dhammacakka (Dharma Day)
Vassa (the ‘Rains Retreat’)
Padmasambhava Day
Pavarana (‘Admonishment’)
Kathina Day
Sangha Day (Full Moon Day)
Rituals and Ceremonies
Birth
Coming of Age
Marriage
Death
Some Useful Words and Phrases
Further Reading
Photographic Acknowledgements
Copyright
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