It is thought that the large scale celebration of birthdays in Europe was due to Mithraism in the Roman Empire, and that prior to this it was not so common. Mithraism had a large influence throughout the empire, due to being taken up by many Roman soldiers, until it was supplanted by Christianity. Birthday celebrations were much rarer during the Middle Ages, but saw a resurgence with the advent of the Reformation, when they were seen as a good way to transfer customs from the saint's ...

See also:

Birthday, Birthday - Western birthday traditions, Birthday - Festive, Birthday - Testing, Birthday - Astrology, Birthday - Special birthdays, Birthday - Official/Alternative birthdays and name day, Birthday - History of celebration of birthdays in the West, Birthday - Birthday gift symbolism, Birthday - Birthstones, Birthday - Zodiac stones, Birthday - Birthday stones, Birthday - Links

Read more here: » Birthday: Encyclopedia II - Birthday - History of celebration of birthdays in the West

Main article: Festivals of Nepal Several festivals are celebrated in Nepal, lasting from one day to several days. Dashain is the longest and the most important festival of Nepal. Generally Dashain falls in late September to mid October, right after the end of the mansoon season in Nepal. It is "a day of Victory over Demons". Tihar is another important festival of Nepal. Other important festivals include Buddha Jayanti (the celebration of the birth of Buddha); Maha Shivaratri, a festival of Lord Shiva, and during Maha Shi ...

See also:

Culture of Nepal, Culture of Nepal - Tribes & ethnic groups, Culture of Nepal - High Himalayas, Culture of Nepal - Temperate zone, Culture of Nepal - Terai region, Culture of Nepal - Music & dance, Culture of Nepal - Art & Craft, Culture of Nepal - Folklores & folktales, Culture of Nepal - Languages & literatures, Culture of Nepal - Religions & philosophy, Culture of Nepal - Festivals & celebrations, Culture of Nepal - Food and drink

Read more here: » Culture of Nepal: Encyclopedia II - Culture of Nepal - Festivals & celebrations

This article have much info about the upcomning Venus Transit and it also includes actual prayers you can use at the Venus Transit.

Read more here: » Venus Transit: Opening the doorway to the Heart of Venus

We call people from all walks of Life to gather together to pray together in the Spirit of Oneness at the Venus Transit June 8th 10.00-10.15 am (GMT)

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead

Read more here: » Venus Transit: Oneness Prayer at June 8th 10.00-10.15 am (GMT)

Diwali is a time of the year when families, friends and communities come together in a spirit of celebration and joy. Diwali is the time, according to the version popular north of Vindhyas, when Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after spending 14 years in exile.

However, the deeper meaning of Diwali is celebration of the message of Lord Rama's life of sacrifice and dharma.

(See also: Diwali, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Diwali: The Significance of Celebrating Diwali  

There are four T's that need periodic revival. They are: Truth, Tradition, Trade and Technology. Time has a seeming effect on truth. Though truth is beyond time, it gets covered by maya or illusion. This is called avarana. Down the ages different schools of thought have tried to uncover the truth. Though the goal is common to all, the journey itself has to be undertaken individually. If you do not re-examine what you have learnt and believe to be the truth, you become fanatical and your intellectual growth stagnates.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace on Earth: Revival and Revolution Ucover the Truth

We acquire knowledge, but we lack awareness. Awareness arises when knowledge accompanies action. Mere acquisition of knowledge does not mean that such knowledge will translate into action.

For instance, most of us know that if you smoke cigarettes, you are susceptible to cancer. Cigarette smokers see the statutory warning imprinted on the cigarette packs: ''Smoking is injurious to health’’.

Nevertheless, they continue to smoke. But if one day, the smoker does begin to suffer from ill-health on account of his smoking, then, the knowledge turns into awareness - through direct experience - that smoking could indeed be injurious to health.

(See also: Awareness, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Awareness: Be Aware of Thought, Word and Action

July 31 - August Eve - Lughnassad

'Lughnassad' means 'the funeral games of Lugh', referring to Lugh, the Irish sun god. However, the funeral is not his own, but the funeral games he hosts in honor of his foster-mother Tailte. For that reason, the traditional Tailtean craft fairs and Tailtean marriages (which last for a year and a day) are celebrated at this time. As autumn begins, the Sun God enters his old age, but is not yet dead. It is also a celebration of the first harvest. The Christian religion adopted this theme and called it 'Lammas', meaning 'loaf- mass', a time when newly baked loaves of bread are placed on the altar. An alternative date around August 5 (Old Lammas), when the sun reaches 15 degrees Leo, is sometimes employed by Covens.

Read more here: » Wiccan Holidays: July 31 - August Eve - Lughnassad

The Venus Transit of June 8, 2004 is the astronomical event of the year. The Venus Transit has always preceeded great break thrus in human conciousness and played a very significant role in the Mayan Calendar. This article presents the significance of the Venus transit on June 8, 2004 in its larger context and in relation to the Mayan Calendar.

Read more here: » Venus Transit of June 8, 2004 – A Breakthrough of Intuitive Awareness

In this article, the author share a simple and very powerful way of combining drumming with clearly expressed intentions together forming your own strong prayer. This technique can be used by anyone and adopted to suit your own personal need.

Read more here: » Spiritual Music: Song Alchemy - Drumming for spiritual awakening

Buddhism Holydays: Holy days and Festivals in Buddhism

Festivals play a big part in the lives of many Buddhists. Most Buddhists, with the exception of the Japanese, use the Lunar calendar. The dates of Buddhist festivals and the way they are celebrated vary from country to country, and between Buddhist traditions. The most important holy days are: Wesak, Dharma Day, Sangha Day, Parinirvana Day and Losar

Read more here: » Buddhism Holydays: Holy days and Festivals in Buddhism

Carl-Johan Calleman, one of the leading authorities on the Mayan Calendar, presents a radical theory about the coming Venus Transit. Does the Venus Transit of 2004 relate to the Return of the Energy of Christ and of Quetzalcoatl? Quetzalcoatl is the serpent God of Ancient Mexico referred to by the Mayans as Kukulcan or Gugumatz and this article also explain the connection between the Energies of Christ and Quetzalcoatl.

Read more here: » Venus Transit & Quetzalcoatl: The Venus Transit and The Return of the Energy of Christ and of Quetzalcoatl

Indian culture has always held the guru in high esteem. Having a master was not just considered a matter of pride, but it was mandatory to have a guru. Not having a master was looked down upon as being an orphan, being poor and a sign of misfortune.

The word anatha in Sanskrit means one without a master. An acharya (teacher) gives shiksha, which means knowledge; Guru gives diksha, which means heightened awareness.

(See also: Sri Sri Ravishankar, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Sri Sri Ravishankar: Guru, God and Self are Synonymous  

Nearly 80 per cent of the people of Assam are dependent on agriculture and spontaneous celebration of festivities is associated with the beginning and end of the harvest season. Bihu from the Sanskrit Vishu, is the harvest festival of Assam and is celebrated thrice in a year. The festival at the beginning of the spring season is Bohag Bihu, associated with the Vernal equinox in Chaitra Sankranti. The Kati Bihu is associated with the Autumnal equinox in Ashwina Sankranti.

People often call the Kati Bihu as Kangali Bihu as there is nothing much to eat during that period. People welcome budding paddy crops. The Magh Bihu or Bhogali Bihu associated with the winter solstice is celebrated with food and drinks after harvest, in Pausa Sankranti.

(See also: Bihu, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Bihu: Bihu, the Unifying Festival of Assam  

The traditional concept of man was that of a materialist or spiritualist, moral or immoral person, sinner or saint. A divided man is miserable. He is neither healthy nor whole; the other half that has been denied will go on taking revenge. It will find ways and means to overcome the part you have imposed upon yourself. You will become a battleground, there will be civil war.

In the past we were unable to create real human beings; we made humanoids. A humanoid is one who looks like a human being but is utterly challenged. He has not been allowed to bloom in his totality. He is adhoora, and because he is half is always tense; he cannot celebrate. Celebration is the fragrance of being whole.

(See also: Osho, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Osho: Zorba the Buddha - The Complete Man  

The Thai Buddhist Calendar

With important days for ceremonies and rituals, including: Visakha Puja, Magha Puja, Asalha Puja, Khao Phansa, Ok Phansa, Tod Kratin

Read more here: » Buddhism: Thai Buddhist Calendar

Humanity’s path towards retrieving the Mayan calendar system really started with the Harmonic Convergence, August 16-17, 1987, when large numbers of people in the West turned out for a spiritual celebration. Although, it was not recognized at the time, this celebration had the distinction of falling on the first two days of a traditional Mayan tzolkin (260-day) round.

Read more here: » Mayan Calendar: Mayan Calendar and the Cycles of the Goddess

Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

There are many special or holy days held throughout the year by the Buddhist community. Many of these days celebrate the birthdays of Bodhisattvas in the Mahayana tradition or other significant dates in the Buddhist calendar. The most significant celebration happens every May on the night of the full moon, when Buddhist all over the world celebrate the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha over 2,500 years ago. It has become to be known as Buddha Day.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Festivals and Special Days

Paneurhythmy, the Sacred Bulgarian Dance of Life, that unites heaven and earth through a series of 28 easily learned movements in a rhythmic circular walking dance.
Personal sharing by Sananjaleen.

Read more here: » Paneurhythmy - the Sacred Bulgarian Dance of Life

Hinduism Lexicon on B

From backbiting to buddhi chitta.

Read more here: » Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon on B

Buddhism - Buddhist Festivals: Wesak

Wesak is the most important of the Buddhist festivals and is celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also marks his birth and death.

Read more here: » Buddhism: Buddhist Festivals - Wesak