# data[].attributes.body
Get the experience and perhaps use it as a teaching experience for your children to explain the process of apples growing on trees, being picked, being sold and taken to markets.

# data[].attributes.body
Plus some cream cheese, delish!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Diwali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. (The corresponding dates in the Gregorian calendar usually fall in late October and November.) The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning "row of lights." The festival generally symbolizes the victory of light over darkness.

Observances of Diwali differ depending on region and tradition. Among Hindus the most widespread custom is the lighting of diyas (small earthenware lamps filled with oil) on the night of the new moon to invite the presence of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. In Bengal the goddess Kali is worshipped. In North India the festival also celebrates the royal homecoming of Rama (along with Sita, Lakshmana, and Hanuman) to the city of Ayodhya after defeating Ravana, the 10-headed king of the demons, thus connecting the festival with the holiday of Dussehra. In South India the festival marks Krishna's defeat of the demon Narakasura. Some celebrate Diwali as a commemoration of the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu, while others observe it as the birthday of Lakshmi.

During the festival, diyas are lit and placed in rows along the parapets of temples and houses and set adrift on rivers and streams. Homes are decorated, and floors inside and out are covered with rangoli, consisting of elaborate designs made of coloured rice, sand, or flower petals. The doors and windows of houses are kept open in the hope that Lakshmi will find her way inside and bless the residents with wealth and success.

The names and events of the individual days of Diwali are as follows:

The first day, known as Dhanteras, is dedicated to cleaning homes and purchasing small items of gold. Lakshmi is the focus of worship on that day. The second day, called Naraka Chaturdashi or Choti Diwali, commemorates Krishna's destruction of Narakasura; prayers are also offered for the souls of ancestors. On the third day, Lakshmi Puja, families seek blessings from Lakshmi to ensure their prosperity; light diyas, candles, and fireworks; and visit temples. It is the main day of the Diwali festival. The fourth day, known as Goverdhan Puja, Balipratipada, or Annakut, commemorating Krishna's defeat of Indra, the king of the gods, is also the first day of Karttika and the start of the new year in the Vikrama (Hindu) calendar. Merchants perform religious ceremonies and open new account books. The fifth day, called Bhai Dooj, Bhai Tika, or Bhai Bij, celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. On that day sisters pray for the success and well-being of their brothers.

Diwali is generally a time for visiting, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks (though such displays have been restricted to limit noise and other environmental pollution). Gambling, especially in the form of card games, is encouraged as a way of ensuring good luck in the coming year and in remembrance of the games of dice played by Shiva and Parvati on Mount Kailasa or similar contests between Radha and Krishna. Ritually, in honour of Lakshmi, the female player always wins.

Diwali is also an important festival in Jainism. For the Jain community, the festival commemorates the enlightenment and liberation (moksha) of Mahavira, the most recent of the Jain Tirthankaras, from the cycle of life and death ( samsara). The lighting of the lamps celebrates the light of Mahavira's holy knowledge.

Since the 18th century, Diwali has been celebrated in Sikhism as the time of Guru Hargobind's return to Amritsar from captivity in Gwalior -an echo of Rama's return to Ayodhya. Residents of Amritsar lit lamps throughout the city to celebrate the occasion.

Although not a primary festival of Buddhism, Diwali is celebrated by some Buddhists as a commemoration of the day when Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism in the 3rd century bce. It is observed by the Vajrayana Buddhist minority among the Newar people of Nepal. They celebrate by lighting lamps, decorating temples and monasteries, and worshipping the Buddha.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Diwali (Divali) is a major Hindu religious festival that lasts for five days during the lunar months of Ashvina and Karttika (October-November). The name is derived from the Sanskrit term dipavali, meaning 'row of lights,' which are lit on the new-moon night. Read here to learn more about Diwali.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Veterans Day, observed annually on November 11, is a tribute to military veterans who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors those who died while in service, Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including t hose still with us .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
This article was most recently revised and updated by

Yom Kippur, Hebrew Yom Ha-Kippurim, English Day of Atonement, most solemn of Jewish religious holidays, observed on the 10th day of the lunar month of Tishri (in the course of September and October), when Jews seek to expiate their sins and achieve reconciliation with God. Yom Kippur concludes the "10 days of repentance" that begin with Rosh Hashana (New Year's Day) on the first day of Tishri. The Bible refers to Yom Kippur as Shabbat Shabbaton (" Sabbath of Solemn Rest," or "Sabbath of Sabbaths") because, even though the holy day may fall on a weekday, it is on Yom Kippur that solemnity and cessation of work are most complete. The purpose of Yom Kippur is to effect individual and collective purification by the practice of forgiveness of the sins of others and by sincere repentance for one's own sins against God. Yom Kippur is observed on September 28, 2020.

Yom Kippur: shofar blowing© 2006 Index Open

Yom Kippur is marked by abstention from food, drink, and sex. Among Orthodox Jews the wearing of leather shoes and anointing oneself with oil are forbidden. Orthodox Jews may wear long white robes called kittel.

Jewish congregations spend the eve of Yom Kippur and the entire day in prayer and meditation. On the eve of Yom Kippur the Kol Nidre is recited. Famous for its beautiful melody, the Kol Nidre is a declaration annulling all vows made during the course of the year insofar as they concern oneself (obligations toward others are excluded). Friends also ask and accept forgiveness from one another for past offenses on the evening before Yom Kippur, since obtaining forgiveness from one's fellows signifies God's forgiveness. God is believed to forgive the sins of those who sincerely repent and show their repentance by improved behaviour and performance of good deeds.

The services on Yom Kippur itself last continuously from morning to evening and include readings from the Torah and the reciting of penitential prayers. Yizkor, which are memorial prayers for the recently deceased, may also be recited by members of the congregation. The services end with closing prayers and the blowing of the ritual horn known as the shofar.

Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Subscribe today

Before the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the high priest performed an elaborate sacrificial ceremony in the Temple, successively confessing his own sins, the sins of priests, and the sins of all Israel. Clothed in white linen, he then entered the Holy of Holies-allowed only at Yom Kippur-to sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice and to offer incense. The ceremony concluded when a goat (the scapegoat), symbolically carrying the sins of Israel, was driven to its death in the wilderness.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Adam Zeidan, Assistant Editor.

Learn More in these related Britannica articles:

Jewish religious year: Ten Days of Penitence

...solemn of the Jewish festivals, Yom Kippur is a day when sins are confessed and expiated and man and God are reconciled. It is also the last of the Days of Judgment and the holiest day of the Jewish year. Celebrated on Tishri 10, it is marked by fasting, penitence,...

Judaism: Ten Days of Penitence

...solemn of the Jewish festivals, Yom Kippur is a day when sins are confessed and expiated and human beings and God are believed to be reconciled. It is also the last of the Days of Judgment and the holiest day of the Jewish year. Celebrated on Tishri 10, it is...

calendar: The structure of the calendar

...in order to prevent the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur (Tishri 10), from falling on a Friday or a Sunday and the seventh day of Tabernacles (Tishri 21) from falling on a Saturday, the New Year must avoid commencing on Sundays, Wednesdays, or Fridays. Again, if the molad of Tishri...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Yom Kippur | Holiday, Purpose, Meaning, & Facts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Yom Kippur, most solemn of Jewish religious holidays, observed on the 10th day of the lunar month of Tishri (in the course of September and October), when Jews seek to expiate their sins and achieve reconciliation with God. It is marked by abstention from food, drink, and sex.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Some cities and states are celebrating Indigenous peoples instead of Columbus.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Day of the Dead (el Día de los Muertos), is a Mexican holiday where families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

A blend of Mesoamerican ritual, European religion and Spanish culture, the holiday is celebrated each year from October 31-November 2. While October 31 is Halloween, November 1-2 is All Souls Day or the Day of the Dead. According to tradition, the gates of heaven are opened at midnight on October 31 and the spirits of children can rejoin their families for 24 hours. The spirits of adults can do the same on November 2.

Origins of Day of the Dead

The roots of the Day of the Dead, celebrated in contemporary Mexico and among those of Mexican heritage in the United States and around the world, go back some 3,000 years, to the rituals honoring the dead in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The Aztecs and other Nahua people living in what is now central Mexico held a cyclical view of the universe, and saw death as an integral, ever-present part of life.

Upon dying, a person was believed to travel to Chicunamictlán, the Land of the Dead. Only after getting through nine challenging levels, a journey of several years, could the person's soul finally reach Mictlán, the final resting place. In Nahua rituals honoring the dead, traditionally held in August, family members provided food, water and tools to aid the deceased in this difficult journey. This inspired the contemporary Day of the Dead practice in which people leave food or other offerings on their loved ones' graves, or set them out on makeshift altars called ofrendasin their homes.

Day of the Dead vs. All Souls Day

In ancient Europe, pagan celebrations of the dead also took place in the fall, and consisted of bonfires, dancing and feasting. Some of these customs survived even after the rise of the Roman Catholic Church, which (unofficially) adopted them into their celebrations of two Catholic holidays, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, celebrated on the first two days of November.

In medieval Spain, people would bring bring wine and pan de ánimas (spirit bread) to the graves of their loved ones on All Souls Day; they would also cover graves with flowers and light candles to illuminate the dead souls' way back to their homes on Earth. In the 16th century, Spanish conquistadores brought such traditions with them to the New World, along with a darker view of death influenced by the devastation of the bubonic plague.

How Is the Day of the Dead Celebrated?

El Día de los Muertos is not, as is commonly thought, a Mexican version of Halloween, though the two holidays do share some traditions, including costumes and parades. On the Day of the Dead, it's believed that the border between the spirit world and the real world dissolves. During this brief period, the souls of the dead awaken and return to the living world to feast, drink, dance and play music with their loved ones. In turn, the living family members treat the deceased as honored guests in their celebrations, and leave the deceased's favorite foods and other offerings at gravesites or on the ofrendas built in their homes. Ofrendas can be decorated with candles, bright marigolds called cempasuchil and red cock's combs alongside food like stacks of tortillas and fruit.

The most prominent symbols related to the Day of the Dead are calacas (skeletons) and calaveras (skulls). In the early 20th century, the printer and cartoonist José Guadalupe Posada incorporated skeletal figures in his art mocking politicians and commenting on revolutionary politics. His most well-known work, La Calavera Catrina, or Elegant Skull, features a female skeleton adorned with makeup and dressed in fancy clothes. The 1910 etching was intended as a statement about Mexicans adopting European fashions over their own heritage and traditions. La Calavera Catrina was then adopted as one of the most recognizable Day of the Dead icons.

During contemporary Day of the Dead festivities, people commonly wear skull masks and eat sugar candy molded into the shape of skulls. The pan de ánimas of All Souls Day rituals in Spain is reflected in pan de muerto, the traditional sweet baked good of Day of the Dead celebrations today. Other food and drink associated with the holiday, but consumed year-round as well, include spicy dark chocolate and the corn-based drink called atole. You can wish someone a happy Day of the Dead by saying, "Feliz día de los Muertos."

Movies Featuring Day of the Dead

Traditionally, the Day of the Dead was celebrated largely in the more rural, indigenous areas of Mexico, but starting in the 1980s it began spreading into the cities. UNESCO reflected growing awareness of the holiday in 2008, when it added Mexico's "Indigenous festivity dedicated to the dead" to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

In recent years, the tradition has developed even more due to its visibility in pop culture and its growing popularity in the United States, where more than 36 million people identified as being of partial or full Mexican ancestry as of 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Inspired by the 2015 James Bond movie Spectre, which featured a large Day of the Dead parade, Mexico City held its first-ever parade for the holiday in 2016. In 2017, a number of major U.S. cities, including Chicago, Los Angeles, San Antonio and Fort Lauderdale, held Day of the Dead parades. That November, Disney and Pixar released the blockbuster animated hit Coco, a $175 million homage to the Mexican tradition in which a young boy is transported to the Land of the Dead and meets up with his long-lost ancestors.

Though the particular customs and scale of Day of the Dead celebrations continue to evolve, the heart of the holiday has remained the same over thousands of years. It's an occasion for remembering and celebrating those who have passed on from this world, while at the same time portraying death in a more positive light, as a natural part of the human experience.

Sources

Día de los Muertos: A Brief History, National Hispanic Cultural Center
Giardina, Carolyn, "'Coco': How Pixar Brought its 'Day of the Dead' Story to Life," Hollywood Reporter, December 12, 2017
Dobrin, Isabel, "Día de los Muertos Comes to Life Across the Mexican Diaspora," NPR, November 2, 2017
Scott, Chris. "Day of the Dead parade - Life imitates art," CNN, October 28, 2016
Mictlantecuhtli, Ancient History Encyclopedia

Fact Check

We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) - Origins, Celebrations, Parade

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
On the Mexican holiday known as the Day of the Dead, families welcome back the souls of their deceased relatives for a brief reunion that includes food, drink and celebration.

# data[].attributes.body
If you enjoy hiking, Fall is the absolute best season (in my opinion) to do so. The views are the best!

# data[].attributes.body
Visiting the farm is always fun! Hayrides are even more thrilling, especially on bumpy roads.

# data[].attributes.body
Carving Pumpkin are a pre-Halloween must! It's a fun activity to do with family, friends, or even students.

# data[].attributes.body
The only donuts I truly enjoy. If you've never tried them and like apples, try them! Apple Cider is also amazing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Whenever I visit a haunted house, I always walk out nearly peeing my pants. If you don't like a good scare, I do not recommend you visit one.

# data[].attributes.body
A typical fall Ecuadorian drink to celebrate the day of the dead in the month of October. It is made with purple corn flour, many herbs, cinnamon, blackberry and mainly pineapple. It is my absolute favorite on a chilly day and can be accompanied by "pan de niño" which you can see on the far right.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hocus Pocus (1993) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Coco Trailer (2017) | 'Find Your Voice' | Movieclips Trailers

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
THE ADDAMS FAMILY | Official Trailer | Paramount Movies

# data[].attributes.body
Thanksgiving means Turkey! If you enjoy of course!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
It's been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century Sanderson sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow's Eve.

Directed By

Produced By

Cast

Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Sam Richardson, Doug Jones, Hannah Waddingham, Whitney Peak, Belissa Escobedo, Lilia Buckingham, Froy Gutierrez, Tony Hale

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
It's been 29 years since someone lit the Black Flame Candle and resurrected the 17th-century Sanderson sisters, and they are looking for revenge. Now it is up to three high-school students to stop the ravenous witches from wreaking a new kind of havoc on Salem before dawn on All Hallow's Eve.

# data[].attributes.body
Only if you're into horror movies, of course. Otherwise do not watch.