Holidays Around The World

The holiday season is upon us and all over the Internet I am seeing an astonishing number of interfaith holiday celebrations popping-up in communities, houses of worship, and schools around the world. In an effort to educate people about other faith traditions, interfaith holiday celebrations expose people to the many cultural and religious rituals that occur in the month of December.The Concordia Multi-faith Chaplaincy and the Dean of Students Office at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada recently celebrated the holiday season interfaith style at the “Holidays Around The World” event. The event welcomed over 80 people to the Loyola Chapel to experience various cultural and religious holiday traditions. In the ongoing effort of the Multi-faith Chaplaincy to educate students about other religions and foster mutual understanding and respect, participants learned about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the story of Christmas, Winter Solstice and Muhurram. Participants were invited to taste traditional holiday food from various cultures and faiths while being entertained by a Naskapi Hoop dancer, Carollers for a Cause, Drumming, Hanukkah music, and much more.

In conjunction with the “Holidays Around The World” event, the Carollers for a Cause troop raised over $2,000 for the Multi-faith Chaplaincy’s Student Emergency Food Fund. Comprised of Roberto Chen-Rangel, Cynthia Hedrich, Katherine Hedrich, Lorraine Toscano, Danielle Pullen, and Adrienne Willott, all of whom arepart of the Concrodia staff and/or students, Carollers for a Cause performed in the lobbies of various Concordia campuses. The generosity of the Concordia community helped the Caroller’s for a cause raise $2,010.The Multi-faith Chaplaincy at Concordia University is a group of students, teachers, and spiritual leaders who are dedicated to exploring spirituality, faith, religion, values, ethics, and morals through various activities. It welcomes all members of the Concordia community, regardless of faith, to explore what it means to live in a religiously and culturally diverse world. The Multi-faith Chaplaincy holds several weekly community activities such as Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (a weekly vegan meal), Building Bridges – Prison Visit Program, as well as the Interfaith Ambassador Program which brings together students of various faiths in a safe environment to engage in interfaith dialogue, spiritual exchange, religious literacy, leadership training, and learn about different religions.

Group Page: http://www.interfaithing.com/groups/...th-chaplaincy/
Website: www.chaplaincy.concordia.ca

Photos by Creative Media Services.