Religious and Cultural Festivals in November 2016
Birthday of Guru Nanak – Sikh – 14th November
The Birthday of Guru Nanak celebrates Sikhism’s founding figure. The date of Guru Nanak’s birthday
is 14th April in the Nanakshahi calendar, and usually falls sometime in November.
Guru Nanak was born in 1469 to a Hindu family. One day when he was 30 Guru Nanak disappeared
in the river Bain and was believed to have drowned. However 3 days later he emerged from the river
where he had disappeared after having been in communion with God. After this he began travelling
and teaching. He taught that there is only one God, that rituals and priests are not needed to access
God and that all people are equal, regardless of race, gender or religion.
To celebrate this festival with Akand Path, which is the continuous reading of the Guru Granth Sahib
from cover to cover, at a gurdwara, finishing on the Guru’s birthday. On the morning of Guru
Nanak’s birthday Sikhs will come to the gurdwara for hymns and lectures, and sweets and food are
served in a langar (public kitchen). Processions led by five people representing the five beloved ones
can also take place, and these are held in some parts of the UK. Some Sikhs may let off fireworks to
celebrate.
Sikhs who cannot visit the gurdwara will celebrate similarly at home.
Activity Ideas:
Use this resource to learn to count from 1-10 in Punjabi, and practice writing the numbers with
children: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/punjabi-numbers-0-100-6390554
Display - Encourage the children to research information to create a display or use pre-sourced
information to make a display for the hospital.
Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur – Sikh – 24th November
Guru Tegh Bahadur is the ninth Guru. He was executed during the reign of Emperor Aurangzeb in
India.
Hindus were persecuted during the rule of Emperor Aurangzeb, who enforced Muslim laws. A
delegation of Hindus came to ask Guru Tegh Bahadur for help. He agreed to help them, and sent a
message to Aurangzeb that the Hindus would give up their faith if the Emperor could convince the
Guru to convert to Islam. He did this because he believed in the freedom of religion for all people.
Guru Tegh Bahadur and his associates were arrested by Aurangzeb and taken to Delhi. The Emperor
tried to convince the Guru to convert to Islam, but he would not. He was locked up without food,
and forced to watch his associates be executed, but he did still refused to convert. On November
11th 1675 he was beheaded. Two Sikh’s managed to recover his head and body and bring his head
back to the Guru’s son and successor, Guru Gobind Singh, and his widow Mata Gujari.
Sikhs celebrate Gurpurbs (important events in the lives of Gurus) through continuous readings of the
Guru Granth Sahib, hymns, lectures and processions.
Activity Idea
Poetry - Use an acrostic of the word ‘Sikhism’, ‘Guru’ or ‘Guru Tegh Bahabur’ to create poems.
Advent Sunday – Christian – 27th November
Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and is a time to prepare for the arrival of Jesus
at Christmas, as well as for the second coming of Jesus. Each Sunday during Advent candles are lit in
churches. The candles represent:
1. Patriach and matriachs ( e.g. Abraham and Sarah)
2. Prophets
3. John the Baptist
4. Mary and the Holy Family
5. The final candle, which represents Jesus, is lit on Christmas Day
Activity Ideas:
Love Life Live Advent - A programme of activities to help children prepare for Christmas, including
some free resources: http://www.liveadvent.net/
Posada - Posada is a Mexican Advent tradition where the Mary, Joseph and the donkey from a crib
set travel to homes in the local community on their way to ‘Bethlehem’ (arriving at the church Crib
on Christmas Eve). They spend nights in family homes where prayers are said and candles are lit. The
question behind this is ‘do you have room in your life/family for Jesus this Christmas?’
At the hospital we dress up as Mary and Joseph and take a ‘donkey’ (usually a decorated trolley) and
lots of Christmas activities around the wards during Advent. Mary and Joseph then appear at the
Hospital Carol service the week before Christmas.
Produced by the Centre for Paediatric Spiritual Care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital
St Andrew’s Day – Cultural – 30th November
St Andrew was a Galilean fisherman. He was one of Jesus’ disciples, along with his brother St Peter.
According to legend, a monk called St Rule had a vision which told him to take some of St Andrew’s
relics ‘to the ends of the earth’. He eventually landed in what is now St Andrew’s in Scotland.
St Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland, and his feast day is Scotland’s national day and a bank
holiday. Some of the ways that Scottish people celebrate St Andrew’s Day include preparing a special
meal, going to an event or going out with their families (many Scottish attractions offer free or
reduced entry on St Andrew’s Day).
Activity Idea:
Flag - Use the image of the Scottish flag to colour in and make a flag.
Produced by the Centre for Paediatric Spiritual Care at Birmingham Children’s Hospital