Date: May 1st 2008

May 2008

"It's May, it's May, the lusty month of May." You may recall that song from the musical Camelot, but you may be less familiar with the fact that celebrating May Day, the first of May, has roots going deep into pre-Christian observances in Europe. Dancing around the May pole or choosing a May Queen were ways to celebrate Beltane, welcoming the Spring. May Day is one of the "cross quarter" days, falling between the equinox and the solstice, and is celebrated today by Wiccans and other Neopagan groups.

This May includes several other significant observances: May 2 is Yom HaSho'ah, the Jewish remembrance of the Holocaust, while May 13th is Vaisakhi, on which Sikhs celebrate the founding of the Khalsa, the dedicated order of Sikhs. In the middle of the month, Buddhists will celebrate in many different ways the birthday of the Buddha, while on May 23, Baha'is will remember the Bab, the prophet who announced the coming of Baha'u'llah, founder of Baha'i.

POSTPONED: The third annual interfaith gathering sponsored by South Bay Interfaith that had been scheduled for later this month has been postponed. The South Bay Interfaith Steering Committee will be planning for another community gathering and exploring ways to strengthen and deepen our connections with one another. Updateswill be posted as available on the South Bay Interfaith website: www.southbayinterfaith.org

Send your events! Let the community know about events that are open to the public and are either interfaith or offer an opportunity for others to learn about your faith community. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.

 

 

 

 

May Religious and Cultural Observances

• 1 Beltane or May Day (Wiccan/Pagan)
• 2 Birth Guru Arjan Dev Ji (Sikh)
• 2 Twelfth Day of Ridvan (Baha'i)
• 2 Yom HaSho'ah (Jewish)
• 4 Ascension of Christ (Christian)
• 5 Cinco de Mayo (Mexican Cultural)
• 11 Pentecost/Whitsunday (Roman Catholic, Protestant)
• 13 Vaisakhi (Sikh)
• 18 Trinity Sunday (Christian)
• 20 Buddha Day - Visakha Puja (Buddhist)
• 20 Buddha's Birthday (Wesak in Theravada tradition) (Buddhist)
• 23 Declaration of the Bab (Baha'i)
• 25 Corpus Christi (Roman Catholic)
• 29 Ascension of Baha'u'llah (Baha'i)
• 30 Sacred Heart of Jesus (Roman Catholic)

[Interreligious Calendar events are taken from the Silicon Valley Conference for Community and Justice Interfaith Calendar and the Multifaith Action Society Multifath Calendar 2007. See also the Online Interfaith Calendar] NOTE: Jewish Holidays begin at sundown the day before. Buddhist holidays are observed on many different days, according to local tradition.

May Interfaith Opportunities

"Interfaith Opportunities" focuses on specifically interfaith events; "Take Action" offers opportunities to take action on issues of concern with people from other religious traditions, and "Meet Your Neighbors" includes events that are sponsored by a specific religious group but which are open to the wider community. Items for the calendar can be sent to calendar@interfaithspace.org

Click on highlighted links below for more information-

Saturday, May 3, 2008, 3:00 - 6:00 pm, Hayward

Humanity in the eyes of Christ & Mohammad

Children of Abraham Interfaith Series. Each forum features two speakers who will give a presentation on the forum's topic. Presentations will be followed by a friendly session of Q & A.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 3:00 pm, Santa Clara

Confronting Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism
Sharing Our Stories- Uniting Against Racism

It is important to address Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism together, because their roots are the same: fear, ignorance, and misinformation. 

Meet Your Neighbors

Public events sponsored by specific religious groups that seek to help others understand their tradition and concerns more fully.

First Wednesdays, January 9- May 7, 2008, San Jose

"Look Who's Talking": Eastern Christian Churches

A series of events for learning about the Eastern Christian tradition. May 7, "Icons and Iconography— Not Just Pretty Pictures, But Theology in Color"

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 10:45 am, Sunnyvale

Buddha's Birthday Celebration

In celebration of the Buddha’s Birthday, Chung Tai Zen Center of Sunnyvale will be holding a "Bathing the Buddha" Ceremony. A special performance of Indian dance and Buddhist songs to celebrate the Buddha's Birthday will follow.

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 2:00-4:00 pm, Santa Clara

Islamic Art and Architecture

Come and discover the depth and width of Islamic Art and see why Islam and its Art continue to be an enduring force in the world.

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And more...

News and Notes from Interfaith Space is an occasional blog with information and commentary on issues related to interfaith relations in the South Bay, the Nation, and around the world.

You can find News and Notes by going to the Interfaith Space website (www.interfaithspace.org) and clicking on "Notes," or simply going to www.revdak.com/wordpress/. I invite you to add your comments or responses; together we can create an online "dialogue on dialogue"!

Help us share your good news! If you know of interfaith opportunities that are coming up- please let us know so they can be included on the Interfaith Space Calendar. Send information to calendar@interfaithspace.org.