Topic: Festivals
Life is a Journey
How many new beginnings have you been through? Here is an animated introduction to ‘Rites of Passage’, thinking about life as a journey and the things that happen along the way.
Curriculum Mapping
TrueTube films are designed for use in a number of ways. Some ideas of where this film could link to your curriculum are below:
AQA
No link to GCSE spec
Edexcel
No link to GCSE spec
OCR
No link to GCSE spec
WJEC
No link to GCSE spec
Eduqas
No link to GCSE spec
Transcript
Life is a Journey
So they say, life is a journey. You were born, you were blessed with a name, you cry, you crawl, you walk, you talk, you grow. You learn, you question what you learn. You study, you achieve. You work and you get paid. You will meet many. You may love, you may lose love and then may love again. You may marry. You may have children. You may get lost along the way. You might retrace your steps. Change course. Start again. You may win. You may lose. You visit new places and find somewhere to settle. You will celebrate and you will mourn. You will grow old and you will grow wise. You will slow down. Eventually, someday, your journey will come to an end, or maybe a new journey is just beginning.
The Formation of the Khalsa
What would you die for? A report from the Punjab in India where the Sikh leader, Guru Gobind Singh, is asking people to stand up for their faith with an unusual question: “Who will give their head to my sword?” Animation by Ceiren Bell
Curriculum Mapping
TrueTube films are designed for use in a number of ways. Some ideas of where this film could link to your curriculum are below:
AQA
Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teaching and practices - Sikhism - The Festival of Vaisakhi (Baisakhi) - This covers the what, how, why, who, when of the festival.
Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teaching and practices - Sikhism - The Sikh initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanskar) - This includes the meaning and importance of the Khalsa and the five Ks, and the different perspectives of sahajdhari and amritdhari Sikhs.The use and significance of Singh and Kaur can be covered too.
Edexcel
Area of Study 1 - Sikhism - Section 3: Living the Sikh Life - Birth and naming rituals and ceremonies: the celebration and significance of Naam Karan and Hukamnama; the significance of Amrit sanskar (the initiation ceremony) for Sikh families, including reference to the Rahit Maryada Chapters 11 and 13; divergent understandings of these ceremonies between khalsa and non-khalsa Sikhs; the significance of the names Singh and Kaur in the naming and Amrit ceremonies, and for Sikh identity today.
WJEC
2.1 Unit 1 PART A - Part A Sikhism- Core beliefs, teachings and practices –Practices -Ceremonies Naming a Sikh child – meaning and significance The significance and use of the names Singh and Kaur Sikh initiation ceremony (Amrit Sanskar) – importance and significance in a Sikh’s life and consideration given to the perspective of non-khalsa Sikhs Meaning of the main features of the initiation ceremony Wearing of the 5k’s and their symbolism and significance – kesh, kangha, kirpan, kara, kacch.
Eduqas
Option 5: Sikhism: Beliefs and teachings: The sangat:Basis for acts of sewa (selfless service), nihangs, khalsa. Practices: Ceremonies:The meaning and significance of birth and naming ceremonies ➢ The significance of Amrit Sanskar: (the initiation ceremony): Bhai Gurdas Var 3.11. The significance and use of the names Singh and Kaur ➢ The different views of khalsa and non-khalsa (sahaj-dhari) Sikhs towards Khalsa and the Five K's. Component 1 (Route A) Religious, Philosophical and Ethical Studies in the Modern World :Theme 4: Issues of Human Rights: Prejudice and discrimination: Sikh beliefs, teachings and attitudes towards racial prejudice and discrimination, including Guru Gobind Singh's formation of the Khalsa
Transcript
The Formation of the Khalsa
Anandpur in the Punjab and the scene today of extraordinary events. Sikhs have come here from far and wide to celebrate the harvest festival of Besakih. There has been particular interest this year as Guru Gobind Rai, the Sikh leader, asked people to make a special effort to come.
All very intriguing. In front of the castle, a tent had been put up on a specially built stage, and tens of thousands of Sikhs gathered in expectations of the Guru's arrival, no doubt hoping that he would have some words of inspiration for them, in these troubled times when so many have faced persecution for their faith. Then the crowd was on its feet, cheering and waving as the guru walked out and took centre stage. He made an impressive sight, waving a sword above his head that flashed in the sunlight. He waited for the crowds to fall silent and then said: Who among you is willing to die for God and for their guru? Who will give their head to my sword? Certainly an unusual way to start a speech, and there was some confusion in the crowd.
But then a man got to his feet and made his way to the stage. This was Dharam, a young man from a well to do family. The guru welcomed him like a brother and took him into the tent. People were muttering to each other, wondering what was going on. Then the guru emerged alone from the tent and waved the bloodied blade above his head. Shock ran through the crowd like a wave. Had the guru beheaded Dharam? But the guru was speaking again. Who else is willing to give their life for God and for me? This time everyone remained absolutely still, frightened even to move. But finally another man stood up and walked calmly to the front, a farmer called Dharam Das. Again, the volunteer was welcomed by the guru and led inside the tent. I, like everyone else in the crowd, held my breath.
This time we distinctly heard the swish of a sword and a sickening thud. The guru came out and brandished his sword for all to see and fresh blood splattered over the crowd. A woman near to me screamed and panic began to spread. But above the noise I heard Guru Gobind Rai's words. My sword is still hungry. Who else is willing to give their head to serve me? Unbelievably, three more men pushed their way to the front. The tailor called Mokham Chand, a barber called Sahib Chand, and a humble water carrier called Himmat Rai. Some of the crowd were crying, some were angry. Some even tried to stop the men from reaching the stage. But one at a time the guru took them into the tent, and each time he came out alone, his sword sticky with congealing blood. The guru appealed for calm and threw back the flaps of the tent.
We stood spellbound as all five men, alive and well, walked out onto the stage. They were wearing saffron robes like the guru and smiling. Then the crowd was cheering and clapping, and the men stepped forward to acknowledge the applause. Five men from very different backgrounds standing shoulder to shoulder with the guru. Five men who were willing to stand up for what they believed, and the guru announced they would be known as the Panj Pyara, the Beloved Five, the first members of the Khalsa. The Pure Ones, a group of Sikhs who are truly committed to the guru. They will be given new names. Singh, that means lion, for men and Kore, meaning princess, for women. So goodbye Guru Gobind Rai, from today we'll be calling you Guru Gobind Singh. The people surged forward, all wanting to join the Khalsa.
I suspect there are some in the Emperor's court who will not be pleased. This is Abu Turani reporting for the Emperor Aurangzeb. Anandpur.
Eid ul-Fitr
Eid ul-Fitr is the Muslim festival following Ramadan. In this film, Danya discusses with her family and friends, how they celebrate and what it means to them.
Curriculum Mapping
TrueTube films are designed for use in a number of ways. Some ideas of where this film could link to your curriculum are below:
AQA
Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices- Islam - Practices, Duties and Festivals. Festivals and commemorations and their importance for Muslims in Great Britain today, including the origins and meanings of Id-ul-Adha, Id-ul-Fitr, Ashura.
Zakah: the role and significance of giving alms including origins, how and why it is given, benefits of receipt, Khums in Shi’a Islam.
Sawm: the role and significance of fasting during the month of Ramadan including origins, duties, benefits of fasting, the exceptions and their reasons, and the Night of Power, Qur’an 96:1-5.
Edexcel
Area of Study 1 -Section 3 - Living the Muslim Life - Islam - The nature, origins, activities, meaning and significance of the celebration/ commemoration of Id-ul-Adha, with reference to Surah 37: 77–111, and Id-ul-Fitr in Sunni Islam, with reference to their place within Shi’a Islam; and Id-ul-Ghadeer, with reference to Hadith and the interpretation of Surah 5: 3, and Ashura in Shi’a Islam, with reference to their place within Sunni Islam.
Section 3: Living the Muslim Life -Islam - Sawm as one of the Five Pillars: the nature, role, significance and purpose of fasting during Ramadan, including Surah 2: 183–185; those who are excused from fasting and why; the significance of the Night of Power: the nature, history and purpose of the Night of Power; why Laylat al-Qadr is important for Muslims today."
OCR
Component Group 1–Practices - Islam - Public acts of worship - Salah as direct communication with Allah. The importance of practices - Islam as a way of life, lived in total submission to Allah • The importance of the Five Pillars of Islam to Sunni Muslims • The meaning of the Five Pillars: •• Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith •• Salat: performing ritual prayers in the proper way five times each day •• Zakat/Zakah: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy •• Sawm: fasting during the month of Ramadan •• Hajj: pilgrimage to Mecca • The analogy of the house and pillars Festivals/special days • The origin and meaning of: •• Eid-ul-Adha: the festival of sacrifice at the end of Hajj. Origins in Ibrahim ’s sacrifice of an animal instead of his son, Isma’il •• Eid-ul-Fitr: celebrated at the end of Ramadan. A public holiday in Muslim countries where gifts and cards are exchanged, and new clothes are brought for children.
WJEC
2.1 Unit 1 PART A - Part A Islam - Core beliefs, teachings and practices - Practices - The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam -Prayer/ Salat Adhan call to prayer, praying at mosque and Friday Jummah prayer (Qur'an 15:9899, 29:45) Praying at home, private prayer (Du'ah) The preparations and intention for prayer: wudu and niyyah The significance and symbolism of the different prayer positions that make a rakat (sequence of prayer) Obligatory Acts Shahadah: the Muslim profession of faith in Allah and the prophet Muhammad; occasions when the Shahadah is recited, e.g. aqiqah ceremony, conversion to Islam Zakat: paying an alms (or charity) tax to benefit others, what zakat tax may be used for, and additional charity (saddaqah) Sawm: Fasting during the month of Ramadan. How and why Muslims fast during Ramadan and rules about halal and haram diet (Qur'an 2:183).
Eduqas
Component 3 (Route A): Study of a World Faith: Option 3: Islam: Practices: The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam: practices in Britain and elsewhere: Sawm: How Sunni Muslims fast during Ramadan: Qur'an 2:184. Issues relating to Muslims fasting in Britain. Festivals and commemorations: practices in Britain and elsewhere:Id-ul-Fitr: The festival of fast-breaking following Ramadan. How Muslims celebrate Id-ul-Fitr in Britain and worldwide
Transcript
Eid Ul-Fitr
Hello. Hello!
Eid Mubarak! Eid Mubarak! Come and meet the family?
Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid al-Fitr.
When a new crescent moon is sighted at the end of Ramadan.
This day, which is called Eid al-Fitr. Basically, it's celebrating the end of the previous month, which was Ramadan. And that is the month where Muslims, um, fast every day for about 12 hours.
Fasting is when Muslims don't eat or drink during daylight hours, but people get together to break their fast at sunset.
Even though the month obviously is such a so beautiful because you're closer to God, you have a stronger faith. And people just, you know, pray and read Qur'an. So now they're celebrating the end of that month.
Hello, my name is Danielle. I'm 24 years of age. We're on our way to the mosque because today is Eid, yay!
We usually wake up in the morning. We go to the Eid prayer. When you're going to the mosque, we invite people in the car and then we go together. When we're going, we say, (speaks in Urdu) There's no God except Allah. And prophet Muhammad is his messenger. And then God is greatest. God is greatest.
When you get to the mosque, how do you feel?
I feel so happy actually, because I'm praying to God. And then you pray with a group of people, which is so much better and it's fun.
Hello. We just prayed the Eid prayers, and, um some people might be on their way home. Some people might be on their way to visit friends and family. But now it's the whole day of celebration and food. See you later.
Eid means to me, uh, a time to spend with family. It's a celebration after, uh, the finishing of the fasts. And, uh, it's a time to enjoy and be with family.
Well, they, it's the day that you spread the love. It's, um, it's a day that we all cherish.
After a long month of fasting and, you know, all the worship you've been doing and when you're trying your hardest for your fast, it's just like a nice break. For me personally, it's like I get to, um, see lots of cousins and family I don't see usually, and go out to eat and things like that. And, you know, dress up nice and stuff like that in the evenings as well. See your friends. It's just a nice day for everyone to get together.
We might play some football, and then, uh and then we might go, and then we're gonna go home and, uh, have our eating.
To mark this joyous occasion and to spread the Eid cheer. Children are given money gifts by their parents and relatives. This is known as an Eidi or Eidiya.
This is your Eidiya, your Eid present, there you go, you're welcome.
Eid, for me is an occasion where you're not just celebrating the holy month of Ramadan coming to an end, but it's about people coming together and celebrating that Islam is a religion of peace and purity.
Don't hate people. People can, people learn to appreciate each other.
Same time, also have to remember the less fortunate people as well. You know who are, sort of, less fortunate than us in this day and every day as well.
On Eid, um, we give money to poor people and homeless people, because whatever you give, you get good deeds from Allah. And he thinks a good, a good, thing of you.
All Muslims are expected to give a small percentage of their income to charity. This is called Zakat and is one of the five obligatory duties of Islam, and any extra donations they want to give is called Sadaqah.
When I give money to people, homeless people, especially homeless people, I feel so proud of myself because I've done a very good thing, that God likes and loves.
It's an opportunity for people to recognise that there's a lot of love out there, that is focussed around understanding different people's cultures, but at the same time also maintaining the idea that humanity should know one another and everyone is welcome to celebrate Eid.
To celebrate, we're gonna go to a restaurant during daylight, because we can. We're gonna eat.
Enjoy your food.
We will.
A film about Hanukkah which shows how Jewish families celebrate the festival together and the symbolism behind it.
Curriculum Mapping
TrueTube films are designed for use in a number of ways. Some ideas of where this film could link to your curriculum are below:
AQA
Component 2 - The study of religions: beliefs, teaching and practices - Judaism - Family life and festivals - Festivals and their importance for Jews in Great Britain today, including the origins and meaning of Pesach.
Edexcel
Not required for exam board
OCR
Component Group 1 - Judaism - Practices- Rituals • The meaning and importance of rites of passage • The form and meaning of Jewish birth ceremonies including: •• The welcoming of a baby girl •• The connection between Brit Milah and the covenant with Abraham •• The circumcision •• The roles of the father •• Mohel and Sandek •• The importance of birth rituals for the community • The form and meaning of Bar/Bat Mitzvah including: •• The preparation •• The nature of the service •• Subsequent preparations •• The meaning and nature of Bat Chayil The meaning and importance of burial rites including: •• The nature of burial •• The tearing of clothes •• The Kaddish Dietary laws • The origin and nature of dietary laws •The mitzvotand traditions regarding the slaughter and consumption of animals •The mitzvot and traditions regarding the consumption of poultry,fish,fruit and vegetables •The mitzvot and traditions regarding the consumption of meat and milk together • The importance and impact of dietary laws on Jewish lifestyle • The meaning of the terms Kosher and Terefah • Issues related to the dietary laws, including pikuach nefesh and breaking the laws of kashrut • Common and divergent emphases placed on the dietary laws by different Jewish groups,including the preparation of food by non-Jews Festivals • The origins and importance of Rosh Hashanah, including Teshuva, the Shofar, symbolic foods, the synagogue service and Tashlich • The origins and importance of Yom Kippur, including the connection to Rosh Hashanah,the Book of Life, Kapparah, the rules of Yom Kippur, the importance and nature of fasting, the synagogue services and Neilah •The origins and importance of the Pilgrim Festivals, including the story of the Exodus, the importance of chametz and the Seder meal • The origins and importance of Sukkot, inlcuding the building of sukkah and the four species • The origins and importance of Hanukkah • The origins and importance of Pesach
WJEC
2.1 Unit 1 PART A - Judaism - Core beliefs, teachings and practices -Practices -Jewish identity - Festivals and commemorations: Yom Hashoah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Pesach; significance, preparation and celebration of these festivals (Exodus 12:14)
Eduqas
No links to exam board
Transcript
Hanukkah
Woman And Hanukkah actually means dedication. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, and Jews all around the world celebrate Hanukkah to remember an amazing miracle that happened 2000 years ago. When the Syrian Greek Army had trashed the Jewish temple and didn't want Jews to practice their religion, and when the Jews got back into their temple, they found a tiny bit of oil, and they thought it would last for a day, but when they put the oil in their oil lamp, the menorah, it lasted for eight days, giving them time to find more oil and keep the lights burning to celebrate God's light, so that was a miracle. And the other miracle was that the Jews beat the Syrian Greek army, who were trying to stop them practising their religion. So it's basically a time to remember that we've got religious freedom.
Woman What we do at Hanukkah is we have our menorah, which represents the oil lamp that was in the temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. The rules are, and sometimes they get a bit muddled up. You put the candles in right to left, so when I put these candles in, I put them in right to left. But when you light them, you light left to right. You have to light the shamash first, you light the shamash, then you say the brachot, which are the prayers, and then you light the candles left to right. Every night you light one. The second night you like two until you've got all eight candles. And the shamash, the helper, burning. Because it's the festival of lights. Shel Hanukah, happy Hanukkah, everybody. We tend to light the candles when the first stars come out at night. We always like the first candle. On the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, whether or not it's November or December, it's the same every year in the Hebrew calendar. Often what people do, my family does this as well, is when we've got the menorah lit with the candles, we put it in our window so that the whole neighbourhood can can share in our joy and the festival of lights.
Woman Everybody can see our festival of light. There we are. Isn't that lovely?
Woman Hanukkah is a time of happy memories, it's remembering the fact that we won our freedom, we invite family and friends around, we play games. It's a time of year where we also give things to other people, we give things to charity, and we also give each other presents as well, to show gratitude and appreciation of life.
Woman Let's flip it over. These latkes are cooking. We only want them to go for 2.5 minutes on each side, and we have lots of fried food and we have latkes, which is potato sort of pancakes that we fry, and we have doughnuts full of jelly or jam, and that's one because it's a sweet occasion, and secondly, because the oil that we fry, the latkes, the potato pancakes, and the doughnuts in reminds us of the oil that burnt in the temple in the miracle where it lasted all those days.
Boy Dreidel.
Woman Oh, let's do the dreidel song.
Boy Wait. Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel, I made it out of clay. Uh.
Woman Children play quite a big role in Hanukkah, um, because in the, 2000 years ago, when the Syrian Greeks tried to stop us practising our religion, and they actually said that Jews would be arrested and killed if they practised their religion. What the parents did was they would send their children off to the forest with Jewish text to learn, and one Jewish child would be on the lookout, and if they saw the Syrian Greek soldiers approaching, they would put the religious texts behind them and get out this thing called a dreidel, which was a spinning top, and say, um, just playing here, soldiers, there's nothing wrong. So children played quite a big role in trying to keep the religion going, so what happens at Hanukkah is that a lot of it is based around children because we give them presents, or you can give them what we call Hanukkah gelt. Gelt is an old Yiddish word meaning money. Very often we give them little gold chocolate coins. We play game with them, and they love eating them.
Boy It was a-
Woman What we do with the dreidel, which is the spinning top, that is very representative and symbolic of Hanukkah, is that it has four letters on it Shin, Hei, Gimel, and nun, and what that means is, a great miracle happened here. We spin it, and depending on what letter it lands on, you either get a little bit more Hanukkah gelt, chocolate coins, or you have to put some of your Hanukkah gelt in the middle, so the object of the game is to try and get as much Hanukkah gelt for yourself as you possibly can.
Woman Good speed, good spin.
Woman It is very important for Jewish parents, and we're told this over and over again is to pass these stories, these traditions, onto our children.
Woman Oh, you're right, it's nun.
Woman What's really lovely and also awesome about the Jewish religion is it's so old. Jews have been doing this for 2000 years, so I'm very aware when I celebrate festivals like Hanukkah, of the weight of tradition and history behind me, it's a bit like carrying the Olympic torch, you know, I'm still doing it and passing it on to my kids 2000 years later.
Woman Hanukkah is all about remembrance. It's a time for the Jewish people to remember how good it is to be free, to remember the miracles and to remember that God was looking after us, but what it really symbolises for me is religious freedom and the importance of everybody to be able to practice their religion, whoever they are, whatever their religion is. So, it does make me think about other people around the world who maybe can't celebrate their religion or who are living under oppression, and you think it is, you know, a gift that we can't take for granted to be able to practice our religion and do what you believe in.
‘Tis The Season To Spend – One family’s views on Christmas and the pressures that build on parents to provide the latest, coolest presents for their children. Strong differences emerge between the Christmas of the modern day and the Christmas of not so long ago, however, parents are often willing to go into debt to have a happy Christmas for the whole family.