Moveable feasts, also known as movable holidays, are religious or cultural observances that do not fall on a fixed calendar date but instead follow a formula based on astronomical events, such as the phases of the moon or the equinoxes and solstices. This means that the date of a movable feast changes from year to year, which can make it difficult to plan for them in advance.
There are a few reasons why holidays are moved. In some cases, the date is based on a natural phenomenon, such as the spring equinox or the full moon. In other cases, the date is chosen for religious or cultural reasons. For example, Easter is a movable feast because it is celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox.
Here are some of the most well-known movable feasts in July:
- Eid al-Adha: This Islamic holiday commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son Ishmael. It falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The date of Eid al-Adha changes from year to year, but it typically falls in July or August.
- Jab-e-Barat: This Muslim holiday is known as the Night of Forgiveness or the Night of Decree. It is celebrated on the 15th night of Sha’ban, the eighth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The date of Jab-e-Barat changes from year to year, but it typically falls in July or August.
- Tisha B’Av: This Jewish holiday commemorates the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. It is observed on the 9th day of Av, the fifth month of the Hebrew lunisolar calendar. The date of Tisha B’Av changes from year to year, but it typically falls in July or August.
- Festival of the Seven Sleepers: This Christian holiday is celebrated on July 27th in honor of seven young men who hid in a cave to escape religious persecution and were miraculously preserved for 300 years. The date of the Festival of the Seven Sleepers is fixed, so it does not change from year to year.
- Navratri: This Hindu holiday is a nine-day festival dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga. Navratri is celebrated on the ninth day of the lunar month of Ashvin. The date of Navratri changes from year to year, as the lunar calendar is a lunar calendar.
These are just a few examples of movable feasts. There are many other holidays around the world that follow this pattern.
First Week of July
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