“How do you say the names of the months in Arabic on
your Islamic calendar?” I asked Layla. She enjoyed explaining how her calendar
works and showed me the pictures of the mosques or shrines for each month. Our
calendars differ because our religious histories differ. This gives us an
opportunity to describe the significance of BC and AD. One of the easiest ways
to connect with our Muslim friends is to converse about events or holidays
listed on our calendars. Many of my
Muslim friends, including their children, appreciate receiving beautiful
calendars; especially if they have pictures of gardens or outdoors scenery.
Many Muslims do not know what our western holidays or
thematic days are all about. Every month our Canadian calendar has something to
generate spiritual conversations:
January – New Year, February – Valentine’s Day or
Louis Riel Day, March – spring or St. Patrick’s Day, April – Easter, Holocaust
Remembrance Day, May – Mother’s Day,
Victoria Day, June – Father’s Day, St. Jean Baptiste Day/Quebec, July – Canada Day, August – my birthday,
September – Labour Day, October – Thanksgiving Day, Halloween, November – Remembrance Day, our wedding
anniversary, December – Christmas.
Then there are Islamic holidays in their respective
months: Muharram, Ashura Day, Ramadan,
Eid-al-Fitr, Eid-al-Adha/Qurban. For Afghans and Iranians Nowruz is their most
important holiday.
Besides Christian and secular holidays, festive
occasions, and Islamic holidays, there are Jewish holidays listed on our
western calendars. Since we are a pluralistic multi-cultural nation it is
beneficial to at least have a working knowledge of everyone’s special days. Our
Muslim friends might not care about any holiday but their own, however, it is
good to help them to understand what is important to other people in the
homeland we share.
So far I haven’t engaged in conversation about Jewish
holidays but I want to try it. These are Purim, Hanukkah, Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I also want to try
talking about the days noted which are full moon. I’m curious to see if there is any
significance for them about full moon days. There are all kinds of dates
specified for walkathons, cyclathons, marathons, parades, protests/marches,
festivals, and picnics like the teddy bear picnic. There are issues and causes
behind these activities. Behind each holiday, event, or theme spiritual
questions and conversation can develop. For example, when we talk about New
Year, we can converse about new things. I love talking about the new bodies we will
have in heaven. They are fascinated about that subject! When it comes to
conversing about our birth date we can ask them if they know why they were
created. What is their purpose in life? On Labour Day the principle of the
Sabbath rest can be addressed. When Nowruz comes up and they concentrate on
cleaning their house we can address how the soul can be cleaned from spiritual
dirt/sin. We can introduce how God is our perfect heavenly Parent on Mother’s
and Father’s Days.
I make good use of the calendar to introduce spiritual
discussions.
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for giving me
opportunity to witness about you through special days and events on the
calendar. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 
