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: Judaism – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish New Year, and it begins with the sound of a shofar (ram’s horn). Sweet foods are eaten in the hope of a sweet New Year and the ritual of Tashlich is performed. The Days of Repentance follow, when Jews think back over the past year and make amends for their sins.
Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, is known as the Day of Atonement. It is celebrated 10 days after Rosh Hashanah and ends when a shofar is heard. These high holy days are a time to right wrongs, reflect upon the previous year, fast and visit the synagogue. The key themes we will consider and examine are: Exploring forgiveness; New Year;repentance; and forgiveness. For the key words and vocabulary associated with this topic, please view our “Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Glossary”.
Term 2 Sikhism – Bandi Chhor Divas
The Sikh celebration of Bandi Chhor Divas coincides with the Hindu festival of Diwali. During the festival, Sikhs celebrate Guru Hargobind, who released 52 Hindu princes from Gwalior Fort in 1619. The main themes of the festival are religious freedom and helping others who are weaker or in need. During the celebrations, Gurdwaras are lit with electric lights and candles as a reminder that the Golden Temple in Amritsar was lit to welcome Guru Hargobind home after he left for Gwalior Fort. There may also be a Nagar Kirtan, a parade of the Guru Granth Sahib and gatka martial arts displays as well as Akhand Path, a continuous reading of the whole Guru Granth Sahib, which takes two days and nights. Many Gurdwaras also hold a firework display in the evening. The use of lights during Bandi Chhor Divas seems similar to the Hindu festival of Diwali but the stories celebrated during the two festivals are different. The key themes we will consider and examine are: Thinking about defence; Guru Hargobind; Leadership; Freedom; and Defence. For the key words and vocabulary associated with this topic, please view our “Bandi Chhor Divas Glossary”.