This year, three of the world’s most prominent religions welcome Spring by celebrating their faiths. While Passover and Easter are always celebrated in Springtime, the alignment of these holidays with Ramadan makes this a rarer occurrence. Only once every thirty-three years will these, some of the most prominent celebrations of the world’s Abrahamic faiths, coincide. While they are celebrated in different ways and for different reasons, themes of faith, hope, charity, and renewal connect these holidays.
Passover, also known as Pesach, is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. This eight-day festival is typically celebrated in March or April and involves the retelling of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, the consumption of matzah (unleavened bread), and the hosting of a ritual feast called the Seder meal.
Easter, a Christian holiday, celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This holiday is observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox, typically falling between March 22nd and April 25th. Easter is celebrated with church services and family activities including egg hunts and Easter baskets.
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, during which Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. This month of fasting, prayer, and reflection commemorates the revelation of the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad. Ramadan typically falls in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is based on the lunar cycle, so its dates vary from year to year.
So, whether you celebrate with Matzo Ball Soup, Qamar al-Deen, or an Easter ham (or Peeps!) your friends at the library wish you happy and peaceful holidays!
And for those of you who are interested in learning more about these faiths and their interconnected histories, the library has you covered! Take a look at our research guides for Islamic Studies and Jewish Studies or check out the databases for Jewish Studies and Religion.