Category: The Sharon & The Studio

Juneteenth (short for June 19th) honors the date in 1865, when federal Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. It is the oldest celebration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

More than two years earlier, The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, establishing that all enslaved people in Confederate states “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

Despite the orders in 1865, emancipation didn’t happen overnight – in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season or until Union troops arrived at their property. Finally, in December 1865, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

The next year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19, 1866.

Further reading:

• Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
• Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain
• The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
• How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
• Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Rachel by Angelina Weld Grimke (the first known play written, produced, and acted by Black creatives)

How can we celebrate?

• Make June 19th an annual day of reflection or conversation that celebrates emancipation
• Reflect on Black history in the U.S. and the recent and on-going killings of unarmed Black people
• Celebrate and recognize the contributions of Black people in America
• Buy or donate books about Juneteenth or Black history and share them with local school districts

_{Republished from The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol Instagram 2021.}

Sources:

History.com – What is Juneteenth

Juneteenth.com

Full text of Frederick Douglass Speech

Passover, or Pesach, celebrates the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and subsequent freedom from slavery. This year, Passover begins on the evening of April 15th and will last for 8 days (7 in Israel).

Why is it called Passover?

As described in the Book of Exodus, G-d told Moses and his brother Aaron to ask the Egyptian Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave (and no longer be enslaved). Moses went to the Pharaoh nine times and after each denial, G-d sent a plague upon the land. After the tenth denial, G-d sent an angel of death to kill all the firstborn sons; Moses was instructed to tell the Israelites to mark their doorposts with lambs’ blood and their sons would be spared (literally “passed over”).

To mark this miracle and the subsequent Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites celebrate every year on the anniversary of this time.

How is Passover Celebrated?

Before Passover starts, Jews will clean their homes and purge any leavened bread (chametz). The removal of chametz commemorates how the Jews left Egypt in a hurry and did not have time to let their bread rise.¹ The first night of Passover is marked with a Seder using fine plates and flatware. Once candles have been lit, the 15-step feast begins, centered around telling the story of the Exodus._²

Throughout the Seder 4 cups of wine are consumed (marking different parts of the Exodus) as well as elements from the Seder plate including: Maror (bitter herbs), Chazeret (bitter lettuce, typically romaine), Charoset (sweet paste of fruits and nuts), Karpas (vegetable dipped in salt water, typically parsley). Blessings, songs, and games with children – including The 4 Questions and finding the afikomen – feature throughout!

Find out more about the 15 steps here!

The following day is a day of rest, followed by a Second Seder that night. The rest of the week, no leavened bread may be eaten but some work may be done. At the end of the week are two more days of rest and final celebrations are held.

What is Holi?

Holi, also know as the Festival of Colors or Festival of Love, is a Hindu holiday that marks the start of Spring. It is celebrated in the 12th month of the Hindu calendar (Phagun). Like many holidays, Holi is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil. [1]

What is the origin of Holi?

Mentions of Holi date back as far as the 4th Century! In the 7th Century, the Indian Emperor Harsha wrote: “Witness the beauty of the great cupid festival which excites curiosity as the townsfolk are dancing at the touch of brownish water thrown … Everything is colored yellowish red and rendered dusty by the heaps of scented powder blown all over.” [2]

The most popular origin involves a sacrifice to save an innocent life. In Hindu mythology, there was a king who killed anyone who disobeyed him or worshipped other gods/beings. The king grew resentful of his sun who worshiped Vishnu instead. As a result, the king conspired to kill his own son. After many failed attempts, he conspired with his sister Holika; in the end Holika gives her own life for her nephew’s. [1]

How is Holi celebrated?

The celebration of Holi usually lasts for two day: Holika Dahan and Holi.

While Holika Dahan is marked with bonfires, the day of Holi sees people of all ages smear each other with dry or wet paint and get showered in powdered color and water.

Common foods and drinks include: guijya, flaky pastries with dried fruit; malpua, deep-ried pancakes; rasmalai, a creamy dessert; and thandai, a sweet, spiced milk-based drink. [3]