Winter quiz: what do you know about religious festivals?

Christmas: a season of togetherness

Christmas has evolved to become a time for people from various faiths to come together and celebrate. While the Christian tradition venerates the birth of Jesus, for others, Christmas is a time to celebrate the virtues he embodied: love, mercy, and forgiveness. In countries like the United Kingdom, people from various religious backgrounds, including Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Pagans, often partake in the festive season. Although they may not celebrate it for religious reasons, many join in the spirit of goodwill, using the season as an opportunity to foster unity and to give back to their communities.

For example, some Muslims and Hindus view Christmas as an opportunity to give to charity, aligning with their own faiths’ religious values of generosity and compassion. Many will partake in volunteering activities, such as helping at food banks, supporting those who are less fortunate, and gathering with friends and family to share in the holiday cheer. By participating in this way, people of various faiths contribute to a collective sense of community and peace, transcending religious boundaries and focusing on shared values.

Also, many faiths represented in the UK have their own celebrations in the winter, lighting up the dark months with moments for family and community to share joy and spend time together.

Buddhist

There are many celebration days, mainly relating to events in the life of the Buddha, and dates depend on the lunar calendar. The one that generally falls in the darker western days of December or January is Bodhi Day, which marks the Buddha’s enlightenment.

1 What are Western Buddhists most likely to do on Bodhi Day?

A Set off fireworks

B Meditate and chant

C Fast for the day

D Go for a walk in nature

2 Which of these do Japanese people most commonly mark in the Buddhist tradition?

A Wedding

B Baptism

C Funeral

D Coming of age

3 And just as a teaser, which is the most common religion in Japan?

A. Buddhism

B. Christianity

C. Confucianism

D. Shintoism

Christian

4 It is thought by scholars that the Three Wise Men were followers of which religion?

A Christianity

B Zoroastrianism

C Judaism

D Taoism

5 Who was the Virgin Mary’s mother?

A St Anne

B St Hilda

C St Martha

D St Theresa of Avilon

6 Why is Christmas celebrated later by Orthodox Christians?

A It takes longer to plan

B. The Byzantines passed a law

C. The moon rises earlier in eastern Europe

D. They follow the Julian calendar

Jewish

The festival of Hannukah always takes place in winter (in the northern hemisphere) because the Jews’ lunar calendar is modified in such a way as to ensure that festivals occur at roughly the same time of year. It is a celebration of the ‘everlasting oil’: the oil in the eternally-lit candelabrum, used to re-cleanse the second temple after the Jews successfully rebelled, would have run out after one day, but the miracle commemorated by Hannukah is that it lasted eight days.

7 What foods are traditionally made in many Jewish households during Hannukah? 

A Rice pudding

B Sauerkraut

C Potato cakes

D Fruit cake

8 How many candles does the Menorah candelabrum (often used as a symbol of Judaism) hold in addition to the central one from which the others are lit?

A Two

B Six

C Eight

D Twelve

9. What time of day should Hannukah candles be lit?

A Nightfall

B Sunrise

C Noon

D Sunset

Hindu and Sikh

Diwali is the main Hindu festival falling in the northern winter, which we often see marked in the UK, especially in our diverse Midlands cities such as Leicester and Nottingham. Sikhs celebrate Diwali at the same time, but they are marking Bandi Chhorh Divas, which means ‘Prisoner Release Day’ (celebrating release from prison of their sixth guru Hargobind, and 52 other princes with him, in 1619). This happens to be at the same time of year as Diwali, so the two are amalgamated.

10. Over how many days do Hindus and Sikhs celebrate Diwali?

A Three

B Five

C Seven

D One

11. What is Diwali a festival of?

A Light

B Darkness

C Autumn

D Winter

12. Why do Hindus celebrate Diwali?

A Return of Lord Hanuman from exile

B Return of Lord Ganesha from exile

C Return of Lord Rama from exile

D Return of the Lord Krishna from exile

13. Which time of month is Diwali celebrated?

A At full moon

B At half-moon

C At darkest moon

D At eclipse moon

14. Which of the following is an item worn/carried by devout Sikhs? (You can choose more than one)

A  Steel bangle

B Yellow scarf

C Wooden comb

D Embroidered slippers

E Cotton underwear

Muslim

Ramadan is observed by practicing Muslims as a month of fasting, reflection and prayer. It ends with the celebrations of the final day, Eid al-Fitr. In 2024 it will be celebrated in the winter for the first time in 24 years.

15 In which month of the Islamic lunar calendar does Ramadan normally fall in the northern hemisphere?

A First

B Third

C Seventh

D Ninth

16 What is the name of the meal that is taken after the breaking of each daily fast?

A Iftar

B Suhoor

C Eid

D Hajj

17 What do Muslims do to break their daily Ramadan fast?

A Eat dates

B Eat cheese

C Drink milk

D Drink fruit juice

Pagan

18 How is the Pagan festival of Samhain better known?

A Winter Festival

B Valentine’s Day

C Halloween

D Guy Fawkes Day

19 Which of these features of Christmas has a pagan origin? (You can choose more than one)

A Hanging up mistletoe

B Eating turkey

C Going to church

D Burning a Yule log

E Watching the King’s Christmas message

20 Some of our Christmas traditions have their roots in which Roman Pagan festival?

A Saturnalia

B Liberalia

C Mamuralia

D Lupercalia

Acknowledgements

Introduction by Gemma Gould

Quiz questions by Warwick Hawkins, Ronnie Horesh, Jenny Kartupelis and Thak Patel

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