Religious Calendar

[mangalavara]

Many religions involve following a religious or liturgical calendar. It might not even be a liturgical calendar but a cultural one associated with a religion. Is there a calendar that you follow in your religion? If so, do you keep up with it every day of your life, or do you only keep up with significant dates on that calendar?

Example calendars are the Vikrami Calendar, the Tamil Calendar, the Nanakshahi Calendar, the Hebrew/Jewish Calendar, the Revised Julian Calendar, the Islamic Calendar, and the Zoroastrian Calendar. Polytheistic reconstructionists/revivalists might follow the Attic Calendar, the Macedonian Calendar, or the Kemetic/Egyptian/Sopdet Calendar, as examples.

 

[JustGeorge]

I like calendars. I can't say I use any past a point of calculating festivals or fasting points for personal reasons, though in all fairness, I don't do much with the Gregorian calendar past making appointments.

I keep note of festivals I find, and put them on a digital calendar, whether they're 'mine' or not. I just think its interesting. I like being mindful of what goes on in the world.

 

[Viker]

I go by the Wheel of the Year, the four calendar season changes plus their mid points, and the lunar phases calendar. I also observe various personal and otherwise significant dates.

 

[mangalavara]

I like calendars.

That makes two of us.

My interest in calendars began back in the days when I was a Hellenic polytheist. I followed the Macedonian Calendar, which is quite similar to the Jewish Calendar.

though in all fairness, I don't do much with the Gregorian calendar past making appointments.

It’s almost the same in my case. To me, the Gregorian Calendar is work-related and has something to do with a handful of important dates. While calendrical days begin at midnight on the Gregorian, I recognize sunrise as the time when calendrical days begin.

I keep note of festivals I find, and put them on a digital calendar, whether they're 'mine' or not. I just think its interesting. I like being mindful of what goes on in the world.

I like that. The world is a diverse place, and the diversity of cultures and holidays is amazing.

I go by the Wheel of the Year, the four calendar season changes plus their mid points, and the lunar phases calendar.

I am familiar with the Wheel of the Year, but I’m not sure what you mean by ‘the lunar phases calendar.’ Do you mean certain lunar phases that occur during a period of 28-30 days?

 

[JustGeorge]

That makes two of us.

My interest in calendars began back in the days when I was a Hellenic polytheist. I followed the Macedonian Calendar, which is quite similar to the Jewish Calendar.



It’s almost the same in my case. To me, the Gregorian Calendar is work-related and has something to do with a handful of important dates. While calendrical days begin at midnight on the Gregorian, I recognize sunrise as the time when calendrical days begin.



I like that. The world is a diverse place, and the diversity of cultures and holidays is amazing.



I am familiar with the Wheel of the Year, but I’m not sure what you mean by ‘the lunar phases calendar.’ Do you mean certain lunar phases that occur during a period of 28-30 days?

I had wondered what Hellenic polytheists followed!

I tend to recognize a new day at sunrise, too. It makes more sense to me.

I sometimes wonder if energy from certain festivals rub off on people, even if they don't observe them. For example, my kids were really rowdy leading up to spring break, even though they're homeschooled and we don't do spring break.

I also felt really down and out last week. It hit me later that last week was Holy Week for many Christians in my area. I'm not a Christian, but many in my area are, and I wondered if I was picking up some the 'down' energy that I assume would go along with Holy Week(up until Easter).

 

[mangalavara]

I had wondered what Hellenic polytheists followed!

Most of them, at least outside of Hellas, probably follow the Attic/Athenian Calendar.

I tend to recognize a new day at sunrise, too. It makes more sense to me.

When the sun rises, it is like when flowers bloom or when a baby is being born. There are new flowers and a new human being. Similarly, when the sun rises, there is a new day.

Where I am, it is 2:07 AM at the moment. Most people here think it is now Wednesday. To me, it is still Mangalvar; Budhvar will start at sunrise.

I also felt really down and out last week. It hit me later that last week was Holy Week for many Christians in my area. I'm not a Christian, but many in my area are, and I wondered if I was picking up some the 'down' energy that I assume would go along with Holy Week(up until Easter).

It sounds like you were certainly picking up the ‘down’ energy associated with Holy Week. Do you ever feel uncomfortable when it is Good Friday? Back in the US, I felt uncomfortable on that day, especially at night. In fact, whenever I was out on that night any year, I noticed that creepy people were also out. Here in Korea, it’s not bad.

By the way, whenever I have a sudden interest in reading the Qur’an, I soon discover that it’s either at the beginning of Ramadan or somewhere in the middle.

 

[Viker]

Do you mean certain lunar phases that occur during a period of 28-30 days?

Yes. Quarters, fulls and new moons. Also, the major events like the upcoming Black moon on May 19. And lunar/solar eclipses.

 

[JustGeorge]

Most of them, at least outside of Hellas, probably follow the Attic/Athenian Calendar.



When the sun rises, it is like when flowers bloom or when a baby is being born. There are new flowers and a new human being. Similarly, when the sun rises, there is a new day.

This human seems to be born with the midday sun.

Where I am, it is 2:07 AM at the moment. Most people here think it is now Wednesday. To me, it is still Mangalvar; Budhvar will start at sunrise.

Is there a lot of activity at 2am there?

It sounds like you were certainly picking up the ‘down’ energy associated with Holy Week. Do you ever feel uncomfortable when it is Good Friday? Back in the US, I felt uncomfortable on that day, especially at night. In fact, whenever I was out on that night any year, I noticed that creepy people were also out. Here in Korea, it’s not bad.

I felt awful all last week. It didn't even really hit me until a Catholic friend said something on Saturday that it was Holy Week. My mind was cloudy, and I felt like someone had hit factory reset on my brain.

By the way, whenever I have a sudden interest in reading the Qur’an, I soon discover that it’s either at the beginning of Ramadan or somewhere in the middle.

That's very interesting!

Yes. Quarters, fulls and new moons. Also, the major events like the upcoming Black moon on May 19. And lunar/solar eclipses.

What's a Black Moon?

 

[mangalavara]

Is there a lot of activity at 2am there?

Not a lot, no. Many people will be outside throughout the night though. People in Korea don’t sleep that much.

 

[idea]

I follow the academic calendar with seasons such as in-service, curriculum day, first day of semester, official day of record, midterm, w-day, spring break, finals week, commencement, mini-mester, summer1, summer2 - each term is the chance for a new beginning, milestones, closure, all-nighters, celebrations and defeat. There are those who endure to the end, some that change paths - romances ebb and flow, new parents, some are lost but not forgotten. Some return after years in the field - I make them advise the younglings, tell tales of their adventures out in the real world. It's a good calendar to live by. Those who can't do - teach? there are thank-you notes - someone who no longer has test anxiety, another who didn't get a degree but has a career with the software they learned, another who kept expanding their project - the goofy intro project, and its not goofy anymore.. the first in their family to graduate.. the ones now working at NASA ... it takes a tribe to be sure, an amazing goofy diverse lot with all kinds of different beliefs and areas of expertise - a funny sort of tribe, but sometimes we raise them up, lift them up, it's a good calendar.

 

[River Sea]

@mangalavara I'll explore calendars in this thread, as this is where calendars were communicated.

My interest in calendars began back in the days when I was a Hellenic polytheist. I followed the Macedonian Calendar, which is quite similar to the Jewish Calendar.

@mangalavara
What were interesting about the Hellenic polytheists? What were their understandings about the seasons?

By the way, whenever I have a sudden interest in reading the Qur’an, I soon discover that it’s either at the beginning of Ramadan or somewhere in the middle.

The Hijri calendar is Islamic lunar calendar. Hijri Calendar 1445 / 1446 is that the year for this year? Islamic Calendar - When is Eid 2019? | Islamic Relief USA

I learn about the Qur'an from @paarsurrey that they weren't singing but they were recitation/quraat, a melodious.

It is not singing we name it recitation/quraat, it is miraculous, impressive without any instrument.
I only read it silently, it should be read in a melodious way, aloud but not disturbing others.

This is what I had learned earlier about calendars.

The Hindus and Hebrews have 13 months in their calendars. However, not each year.
The Hindu calendar has a 13th month every four years.
However, more complicating: The Hebrews need to adjust their calendar with a leap year. Add a 13th month (2nd Adar) 7 times in 19 years.

That sounds confusing because 7 times in 19 years. Add the 13th month, but only 7 times in 19 years? Which years, then, to make sure seven times yet must be done in 19 years?

Also it's the year 5785 in the Hebrew calendar. Hebrew 5784 - 5785 is Roman year A.D. 2024

Hebrew Calendar

Jewish Calendar is Lunisolar

The solar calendar is when the earth goes around the sun. (Devines seasons) Is that correct Devines seasons? What would that mean, Devines seasons?

The Lunar Calendar is the moon goes around the earth (no relations to seasons)

Hebrews combine solar and lunar calendars to create the Lunisolar calendar

So it appears some use the sun or moon or combine both the sun and moon to create a calendar.

What would happen if they used a different planet to create a calendar? I wonder if that has ever happened before.

 

[RabbiO]

@River Sea -

No, it is not 5785…. yet. Nor do the Hebrew calendar years 5784 - 5785 equate to 2024. You have misread the information on the site you have provided a link to. Look at it again.

 

[River Sea]

@River Sea -

No, it is not 5785…. yet. Nor do the Hebrew calendar years 5784 - 5785 equate to 2024. You have misread the information on the site you have provided a link to. Look at it again.

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The current year in the Jewish calendar is 5784, which began at sunset on September 15, 2023 and will end at sunset on October 2, 2024. The Jewish calendar counts years from the creation of the world, according to Jewish tradition

@RabbiO
So the year 5784 began September 15, 2023, and will end sunset on October 2, 2024.
You are right. It's not the year of 5785 yet.

This website showing the Hebrew calendar is confusing.

Hebrew Calendar

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Hebcal is my friend.

 

[IndigoChild5559]

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The current year in the Jewish calendar is 5784, which began at sunset on September 15, 2023 and will end at sunset on October 2, 2024. The Jewish calendar counts years from the creation of the world, according to Jewish tradition

@RabbiO
So the year 5784 began September 15, 2023, and will end sunset on October 2, 2024.
You are right. It's not the year of 5785 yet.

This website showing the Hebrew calendar is confusing.

Hebrew Calendar

The reason 5784 was so long (384 days) is because it is a leap year, meaning we have an extra month in this year.

"5784 is a leap year in the Hebrew calendar, also known as a shana me’uberet, or a pregnant year. Months in the Jewish calendar are based on the cycle of the moon and are shorter than months in the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the cycle of the sun. Most Jewish years are 353-355 days long rather than 365.25 days, as most Gregorian years are.

To address the misalignment of the lunar and solar years, every two or three years, a leap year with an additional month is incorporated into the Hebrew calendar. During a leap year, the month of Adar becomes Adar א, and Adar ב, also known as Adar I and Adar II. א (alef) and ב (beis) are the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet and have the numerical values of 1 and 2 respectively."

JMM Monthly Zine: Adar 5784 – Jewish Museum of Maryland

jewishmuseummd.org