From St. Nicholas shoes, St. Lucy lights, and Simbang Gabi, Wren Day, king cakes, and Candlemas to Easter egg trees, May Crowning, and Dia de los Muertos, Catholic traditions from around the world evoke memories of cherished celebrations that connect us to one another and draw us closer to God. In Festive Faith, Steffani Aquila, founder of Liturgy Culture & Kitchen by His Girl Sunday, brings to life liturgical living as more than simply observing seasons. It’s about joyously celebrating God’s presence in our midst, every day and in every way. Festive Faith is a treasury of more than seventy festive traditions celebrated in various cultural groups during specific seasons or on particular days of our liturgical year. For each one, Aquila shares a brief history, a description of what the custom involves, and practical adaptations for celebrating it today. She tells you the why and the how of these traditions and shares tips on how to make them accessible, attainable, and authentic for everyone in your household, neighborhood, and parish communities. Festive Faith also includes stories from twenty individuals of diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds who share personal experiences of living the liturgical traditions of their communities. Learn from them how the faith of generations has been deepened by traditions such as these: The Mexican tradition of La Posadas, where the community travels from house to house looking for a place in the inn The practice of making and eating king cakes to represent Christ the King The Polish tradition of blessing of the Easter basket on Holy Saturday to signify the end of fasting and the anticipation of the Easter season The Holy Thursday tradition of visiting seven churches with family and friends to stay awake during the time Christ was in the garden of Gethsemane Whether you’re well-versed in these practices or just beginning your journey, Festive Faith equips you with practical tools and insights to make these traditions your own. Each showcased custom is accompanied by actionable steps that invite you to carry on the tradition, adapt it to your context, and extend it from your home into your parish and back again. This handbook isn’t just for personal or family enrichment; it’s a valuable resource for catechists, parish leaders, and religious educators alike. With its blend of personal anecdotes, historical insights, and practical tips, Festive Faith is a celebration of Catholic heritage and a roadmap for embracing liturgical living in today’s world. Dive in and discover the joy of celebrating God’s presence in every season and every moment.

Soulful jazz singer Billie Holiday is remembered today for her unique sound, troubled personal history, and a catalogue that includes such resonant songs as “Strange Fruit” and “God Bless the Child.” Holiday and her music were also strongly shaped by religion, often in surprising ways. Religion Around Billie Holiday examines the spiritual and religious forces that left their mark on the performer during her short but influential life. Mixing elements of biography with the history of race and American music, Tracy Fessenden explores the multiple religious influences on Holiday’s life and sound, including her time spent as a child in a Baltimore convent, the echoes of black Southern churches in the blues she encountered in brothels, the secular riffs on ancestral faith in the poetry of the Harlem Renaissance, and the Jewish songwriting culture of Tin Pan Alley. Fessenden looks at the vernacular devotions scholars call lived religion—the Catholicism of the streets, the Jewishness of the stage, the Pentecostalism of the roadhouse or the concert arena—alongside more formal religious articulations in institutions, doctrine, and ritual performance. Insightful and compelling, Fessenden’s study brings unexpected materials and archival voices to bear on the shaping of Billie Holiday’s exquisite craft and indelible persona. Religion Around Billie Holiday illuminates the power and durability of religion in the making of an American musical icon.

Faith, Hope and Christopher is a novel, not a history book. The intention is to intrigue, entertain and maybe even scandalise the more serious minded reader. Historical gaps have been filled seamlessly with plausible invention, for example, the six months or so when Christopher Wren disappeared have been accounted for and details about Faith Coghill of whom there is almost no available information come vividly to light. Christopher Wren, who accomplished so much must have been propelled by a ruthless determination from within and pressures from without. And behind every such man is a determined woman.

Dive into the ancient and vibrant world of Hinduism, one of the oldest and most diverse spiritual traditions on Earth. "Exploring Hinduism: A Journey Through Faith and Philosophy" offers an insightful and comprehensive guide to understanding the rich tapestry of beliefs, practices, and philosophical schools that define this major world religion. From the mystical chants of the Vedas to the profound wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, from the colorful celebration of Diwali to the sacred rituals of daily worship, this book unravels the complexities and beauty of Hindu thought and culture. Each chapter delves deeply into key aspects of Hinduism, including its pantheon of gods and goddesses, its sacred texts, and the significance of rituals and festivals. Whether you are a student of religion, a practitioner of Hinduism, or a curious explorer, this book provides a thorough understanding of the foundational principles and contemporary practices of Hinduism. It examines the religion's influence on art, politics, and society, and addresses the challenges and transformations it faces in the modern world. Join us on this enlightening journey through the heart of Hindu philosophy and faith, as we explore how ancient teachings continue to enrich the lives of millions around the globe today. "Exploring Hinduism" is your essential guide to grasping the enduring allure and profound depths of this fascinating religion.

Contents -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- 1. Private Devotions in Public Places: The Sacred Spaces of Yard Shrines and Sidewalk Altars -- 2. Imagined Places and Fragile Landscapes: Nostalgia and Utopia in Nativity Presepi -- 3. Festive Intensification and Place Consciousness in Christmas House Displays -- 4. Multivocality and Sacred Space: The Our Lady of Mount Carmel Grotto in Rosebank, Staten Island -- "We Go Where the Italians Live": Processions as Glocal Mapping in Williamsburg, Brooklyn -- Conclusion -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index

An indispensable resource for exploring food and faith, this two-volume set offers information on food-related religious beliefs, customs, and practices from around the world. Why do Catholics eat fish on Fridays? Why are there retirement homes for aged cows in India? What culture holds ceremonies to welcome the first salmon? More than five billion people worldwide claim a religious identity that shapes the way they think about themselves, how they act, and what they eat. Food, Feasts, and Faith: An Encyclopedia of Food Culture in World Religions explores how the food we eat every day often serves purposes other than to keep us healthy and stay alive: we eat to express our faith and to adhere to ethnic or cultural traditions that are part of who we are. This book provides readers with an understanding of the rich world of food and faith. It contains more than 200 alphabetically arranged entries that describe the beliefs and customs of well-established major world religions and sects as well as those of smaller faith communities and new religious movements. The entries cover topics such as religious food rules, religious festivals and symbolic foods, and vegetarianism and veganism, as well as general themes such as rites of passage, social justice, hospitality, and compassion. Each entry on religion explains what the religious dietary laws and guidelines are and how these were interpreted and put into practice historically and in modern settings. The coverage also includes important festivals and feast days as well as significant religious figures and organizations. Additionally, some 160 sidebars provide examples and more detailed information as well as fun facts.

This USA TODAY bestseller book bundle includes three contemporary romance novels from the Christmas Mountain Clean Romance series. Experience the holiday magic of Christmas Mountain where warm homecomings, small town charm, and true love await. THE CHRISTMAS COMPROMISE (Morgan’s story) Morgan Reed is excited to open her beauty salon, but her goal gets complicated when she discovers her rented space is already occupied by hot furniture maker, Dallas Parker. ‘TWAS THE KISS BEFORE CHRISTMAS (Faith’s story) To keep her job, outdoorsy Faith Sterling must convince city-boy Adam Kline not to sell the luxury excursion business he inherited, but what she doesn’t count on is falling in love. A SUGAR PLUM CHRISTMAS (Lacey’s story) City girl Lacey Lane scopes out Christmas Mountain for a potential reality dating show location and gets more than she bargains for when feelings spark with small town guy Jacob Curtis who doesn’t want his hometown exploited for ratings.

An army helicopter pilot is staying in a peaceful English village while he recovers from an injury—but his pretty housecleaner has him in a whirl… Cassie Bell is used to mess. Her cleaning business, Bluebell Cleaning, is well known in the English village of Red Moss. But now it’s almost Christmas—and Cassie has a slightly messier situation to deal with than usual. She’s been hired to help Stefan Lambert, an injured army helicopter pilot who’s staying at the local Belthorn Manor while he recovers. Stefan resents Cassie’s interference and is definitely not looking for Christmas cheer. But Cassie prides herself on sparkling surfaces—so she’s determined to bring some festive sparkle to Stefan’s life too…

The modern Christmas was made by the Victorians and rooted in their belief in commerce, family and religion. Their rituals and traditions persist to the present day but the festival has also been changed by growing affluence, shifting family structures, greater expectations of happiness and material comfort, technological developments and falling religious belief. Christmas became a battleground for arguments over consumerism, holiday entitlements, social obligations, communal behaviour and the influence of church, state and media. Even in private, it encouraged reflection on social change and the march of time. Amongst those unhappy at the state of the world or their own lives, Christmas could induce much cynicism and even loathing but for a quieter majority it was a happy time, a moment of a joy in a sometimes difficult world that made the festival more than just an integral feature of the calendar: Christmas was one of British culture's emotional high points. Moreover, it was also a testimony to the enduring importance of family, shared values and a common culture in the UK. Martin Johnes shows how Christmas and its traditions have been lived, adapted and thought about in Britain since 1914. Christmas and the British is about the festival's social, cultural and economic functions, and its often forgotten status as both the most unusual and important day of the year