An Ancient Calendar Teaches Celebrating Conscious Living
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
Higher Education Center Bldg 29 - Des Moines Center
Start Date
19-5-2015
End Date
19-5-2015
Keywords
Zoroastrian Calendar, Iranian Festivals, Celebrations
Abstract
Calendars not only keep track of the passing days, but also reflect the values of cultures. Special holidays and events can be found on a typical American calendar that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, the birthdays of Washington and Dr. King, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, and others. The Latin saying, carpe diem, is credited to the Roman poet Quintus Horastius Faalccus who died about 8 B.C. and signifies the temporary nature of the moments that make up our lives. Carpe diem implies making the most of the present without much regard for tomorrow. The ancient Iranian calendar that continues to be used by the Zoroastrians reflects the values of a sophisticated culture that promotes paying attention to values that are needed for good governance (i.e., tranquility, strong leadership for and with justice, etc.) and the elements that sustain life (i.e., water, fire, earth, and air). In this solar-based calendar, each month has 30 days and each day has a name. These 30 names are repeated 12 times during the year. The last five days are given names that correspond to the Zoroaster’s songs. Every four years, an extra day is added to make the start of the spring season constant and in tune with nature. When the names of the day and the month match, a special celebration is held to honor conscious living. This research focuses on the twelve major monthly festivals that offer a practical model for improving people’s lives.
Recommended Citation
Kaviani, Khodadad (Khodi), "An Ancient Calendar Teaches Celebrating Conscious Living" (2015). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 3.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2015/cwucenters/3
Poster Number
4
Department/Program
Teaching Elementary Adolescent and Young Children
Additional Mentoring Department
Teaching Elementary Adolescent and Young Children
An Ancient Calendar Teaches Celebrating Conscious Living
Higher Education Center Bldg 29 - Des Moines Center
Calendars not only keep track of the passing days, but also reflect the values of cultures. Special holidays and events can be found on a typical American calendar that include Thanksgiving, Christmas, the birthdays of Washington and Dr. King, Valentine’s Day, Memorial Day, and others. The Latin saying, carpe diem, is credited to the Roman poet Quintus Horastius Faalccus who died about 8 B.C. and signifies the temporary nature of the moments that make up our lives. Carpe diem implies making the most of the present without much regard for tomorrow. The ancient Iranian calendar that continues to be used by the Zoroastrians reflects the values of a sophisticated culture that promotes paying attention to values that are needed for good governance (i.e., tranquility, strong leadership for and with justice, etc.) and the elements that sustain life (i.e., water, fire, earth, and air). In this solar-based calendar, each month has 30 days and each day has a name. These 30 names are repeated 12 times during the year. The last five days are given names that correspond to the Zoroaster’s songs. Every four years, an extra day is added to make the start of the spring season constant and in tune with nature. When the names of the day and the month match, a special celebration is held to honor conscious living. This research focuses on the twelve major monthly festivals that offer a practical model for improving people’s lives.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Khodadad (Khodi) Kaviani