Tonight We're Going to Party Like It's 1427

It's time for another holiday. This year I'm sticking with only the holidays in my planner. I recently realized how large a task this could be. Next year I'll try to cover more of the lesser known holidays; I still have to accomplish something other then just posting to my blog.

Today we finally get to begin some of the Islamic holidays. Today marks the Islamic New Year. Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Islam uses a lunar calendar so the date of Muharram changes from year to year. This year it will be from January 31 until February 28; today is the first day of Muharram and the first day of the year 1427. Literally translated, Muharram means "forbidden". This month is so named because it is one of four months in which it is forbidden to fight. Partying and card giving on this holiday is looked down on by some Muslims. Many use this day to remember Muhammad's exile from Mecca and journey to Medina. On some nights mosques are forced to give out free food; these meals are seen as an actual meal with God much like communion.

Here's when my research gets ultra confusing. The tenth day of Muharram is known as Ashurah and means different things to the two main different kinds of Muslims. Sunni Muslims use this day to commemorate the crossing of the Red Sea by Moses and often fast on this day. The Shi'ite sect has a different reason altogether for Ashurah to be important. Shia commemorate the death of Husayn bin Ali. Shia believe Hasayn should have been Muhammad's successor since he was Muhammad's grandson. The son of the person the Sunni's believed to be the successor, Yazid, won at the Battle of Karbala by killing Hasayn.

The celebration of Ashurah is the most extreme in Karbala, Iraq, where Hasayn was killed. Some Shia where black to mourn him and fast as he was forced to do. Some Passion plays and poems are also performed centering on the events at the Battle of Karbala. In the least extreme of forms men gather together on Ashurah in public to perform ceremonial chest beating to express their devotion to Hasayn. In its most extreme form men gather together clothed in white and cut or whip themselves. Sometimes this is performed more symbolically with paint instead of real blood. In some Shi'a societies, actually hurting yourself is banned.

I hope this comes close to what this holiday is truly about. Information differs from place to place. This article kind of actually makes me glad Groundhog Day is around the corner; it's not a very serious holiday.