PITTSBURGH (PTTP) – The month of April is considered a holy month for many religions and contains several observances where people come together and share the experience of celebrating their religious traditions and history. Ramadan, Passover Seder, Good Friday, and Easter are some significant religious holidays that are observed this month.
Ramadan, the holy lunar month for Muslims, began on March 22 and ends on April 20. It is believed to be the month when the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed over 1,400 years ago. It is observed through fasting from just before the sunrise prayer until the sunset prayer. The Muslim Student Association here at Pitt hosts events for students to attend in celebration of Ramadan.
“Every night during Ramadan, they would have Iftar. I think that’s really cool that there are organizations at Pitt that have these organizations, especially for Muslims. There’s not a lot of Muslims at the University and having that support system while you’re going through a really challenging time, I think it’s really cool and helpful,” stated Arash Badragheh, Senior at Pitt.
Passover, an eight-day festival celebrates the Israelites’ journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom and began on April 5. Many Jewish Americans observe Passover with a seder, or a meal including ritualized foods, reading of the Exodus story, and other rituals, on the first and second nights of the festival. Pitt Hillel has been hosting seders and events for students to attend this week as well.
“I really see the story of Passover, the story of the Exodus from Egypt, as a moment to reflect on all of us. How are we all learning and growing as leaders and where we’re at today and where we’d like to go in the future,” stated Cantor Stefanie Greene.
Good Friday, also known as Holy Friday, occurs this year on April 7 and is the day that Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Christians will often observe the day by partaking in strict fasting or attending church services.
Easter, another sacred Christian day, is celebrated as the day of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave three days after the crucifixion. Easter is often celebrated and recognized in American culture through colorful egg hunts and bunny icons, however, Christians celebrate with the blessing of candles, holding baptisms, attending church services, and other traditions.
One uniting thing that all of these religious holidays and observances have in common is tradition. There are so many different events and ways of observing and celebrating each holiday. Take advantage of the month of April and ask your friends about their religious traditions.