Our Religious Education lessons will continue to be based upon our “Love to Celebrate” projects. Basing the “Love to Celebrate” projects around festivals, gives a real-life context to the children’s learning and a structure to the projects. However, the celebration itself is only a small part of each “Love to Celebrate” project. Each set of projects covers all major aspects of each religion including worship, belief, leadership and belonging.
Please view our “World festivals and Celebrations Calendar”.
Term 1: Buddhism – Kathina
Kathina is a celebration held in October or November after Vassa, the Rains Retreat, which is sometimes known as the Buddhists Lent. Buddhist monks stay in a vihara or monastery during the rainy season in Asian countries and spend time studying the Dharma (Buddha’s teaching) and meditating.
For the key words and vocabulary associated with this topic, please view our “Kathina Glossary”.
Term 2: Hinduism – Janmashtami
The festival of Janmashtami celebrates the birthday of Lord Krishna and falls in August or September. Krishna is one of the Hindu faith’s most popular gods.
The festival lasts for two days. Worshippers may sing songs, tell stories of Krishna’s life, dance, rock his cradle and wait for midnight to arrive to mark his birth. Some Hindus fast during the day of Janmashtami and only eat after midnight.
For the key words and vocabulary associated with this topic, please view our “Janmashtami Glossary”.