World Religion Flashcards
Cistercian monks
Famously silent
Name originating from a 17th century French abbey
Made cheese
Thomas Merton, author of The 7 Story Mountain, is one
TRAPPISTS
(from LA TRAPPE ABBEY)
Minor church/synagogue official
Keeps order during service
Character of Bumble in Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” is one
BEADLE
Church official
Cares for edifice and objects
Duties may include bell-ringing, grave-digging
SEXTON
Jewish harvest festival
Begins 5 days after Yom Kippur
Also called the “Feast of Tabernacles” (or “of Booths”)
Features homemade huts or booths
SUKKOT
“Day of Atonement”
10 days after Rosh Hashanah
Most solemn & holy day of the year in Judaism
Day of fasting & repentance
Ends with blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn)
YOM KIPPUR
Term for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, & the days in between
HIGH HOLIDAYS
(or HIGH HOLY DAYS)
Iranian/Persian prophet
Taught about the Ahura Mazda (Wise Lord) & the holy text “Avesta”
ZARATHUSTRA
ZOROASTER (Greek)
“Feast of weeks” in Judaism
Begins the harvest
Celebrates Moses being given the Torah on Sinai
Typically features readings from the book of Ruth
SHAVUOT
“9th of Av” in Judaism
Observes the destruction of the 1st and 2nd temples of Jerusalem
Typically features readings from the book of Lamentations
TISHA B’AV
Marks the New Year in Judaism
Occurs in fall, 10 days before Yom Kippur
Shofars are blown
Pomegranates are eaten
ROSH HASHANAH
Jewish holiday
Celebrates Esther overcoming the villain Haman
PURIM
Patron of cobblers, along with St. Crispinian
American union of shoemakers, “Daughters of” him
Day is on October 25th, when the battle of Agincourt (and a famous speech in Henry V) occurred
ST. CRISPIN
A Christian prayer said on rosary’s minor beads
“…full of grace…”
Also a desperate football pass
HAIL MARY
(AVE MARIA)
Patron of sailors
Namesake of a “fire” (actually lightning) that strikes ship masts
ST. ELMO
(ST. ERASMUS)
Sings or chants the liturgy in a Jewish synagogue
also called a “hazzan”
CANTOR
Means “son of the law”
A Jewish boy may undergo it at 13 and read from the Torah
BAR MITZVAH
Coming-of-age ceremony
Introduced in the 1920s for Jewish girls
BAT MITZVAH
Hindu, Jain, & Sikh “Festival of Lights”
Associated with Lakshmi & Ganesh
Lighting of “diyas”, oil lamps
DIWALI
1st day of Lent
Burnt palm fronds drawn in a cross on the forehead
“Dust to dust”
Day after Mardi Gras
Release day of “Passion of the Christ” (2004)
ASH WEDNESDAY
3 days before Easter
From “Mandatum novatum”
Marks the last supper
Pedilavium - washing feet (of 12 people)
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Marks crucifixion day of Jesus
Hot cross buns
Passion of St. John
Petrarch wrote a poem of falling in love on it
John Donne wrote a poem on it
1998’s “Belfast Agreement” which ended the Troubles (somewhat) occurred on it
2 days before Easter
GOOD FRIDAY
Patron saint of lost causes
Namesake of a Memphis children’s hospital
ST. JUDE
Position since 1587
Meant to argue against canonization of a potential saint
Role reduced by John Paul II
Now refers to anything “for argument’s sake”
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
ADVOCATUS DIABOLI
Alliterative church education taught on weekend
Taught by Richard Nixon & Jimmy Carter
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Day before Lent
Name refers to what is eaten, or the absolution
FAT/PANCAKE/SHROVE TUESDAY
Carnival leading up to the day before Lent
In New Orleans (& elsewhere), “krewes” run floats that throw “doubloons” and have beads tossed back
King cake (cake with a plastic baby inside) is eaten
MARDI GRAS
