Tag Archives: Social Science Questions for Students

“Jimmy Christmas” or “Jiminy Christmas” is a direct reference to Jesus Christ and dates back to 1664, when it was first recorded as “Gemini,” a twist on the Latin phrase Jesu domini. The name of the Walt Disney character Jiminy Cricket was probably based on this phrase.

There are many different reasons why candles are associated with Christmas, although no one knows when they first became connected!They were used during ancient winter solstice celebrations a way of remembering that spring would soon come.One of the earliest records of candles being used at Christmas is from the middle ages where a large candle was used to represent the …

The Orthodox Church uses the old Julian calendar which is 13 days behind the Gregorian calendar. In the former Soviet Republic, the Bolsheviks adopted the Gregorian calendar at the end of 1917, which put them in line with the rest of the Western world. However, the Orthodox Church, opposed to the Bolsheviks trying to suppress religion, kept the Julian calendar. …

No one knows the real birthday of Jesus! No date is given in the Bible, so why do we celebrate it on the 25th December? The early Christians certainly had many arguments as to when it should be celebrated! Also, the birth of Jesus probably didn’t happen in the year 1AD but slightly earlier, somewhere between 2BC and 7BC (there …

A hanukkiyah is a candelabrum with eight candle holders in a row and a ninth candle holder set a little above the others. It’s different from a menorah, which has seven branches and was used in the Temple before it was destroyed in 70 CE. A hanukkiyah is nevertheless a kind of menorah. The hanukkiyah is used during the Jewish …

A dreidel has one Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, those letters are: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), ה (Hay) and ש (Shin), which stand for the Hebrew phrase “Nes Gadol Haya Sham.” This phrase means “A great miracle happened there [in Israel].” After the State of Israel was founded in 1948 the Hebrew letters were changed for dreidels …

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), was the father of the Republic of India. He came from an upper class family and studied in England before returning to India in 1912. He became a close associate of Gandhi in the National Congress party which was devoted to gaining independence from Britain. Pandit (a title meaning ‘learned man’) Nehru, however, believed that socialism and …

Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is an important celebration in Singapore. It serves to bring together all of the citizens, regardless of their religion. Originally a Hindu religious observance, Diwali is an important part of the culture in Singapore, celebrated by Muslims and Christians, as well. Celebrate Diwali in Singapore: Step 1: Determine the actual dates of this year’s Diwali …

Diwali, also called Deepavali, is a major Indian festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism, and Jainism. Known as the “Festival of Lights,” it symbolizes the victory of good over evil, and lamps are lit as a sign of celebration and hope for humankind. Celebrations focus on lights and lamps, particularly traditional dīpa or deeya (earthen lamp, as illustrated). …

The main religious significance of Diwali is to forgive and forget, to clear the mind of evil and reflect over the past year’s events. In preparation for Diwali, house and shops are scrubbed clean and doorsteps are decorated with multi-colored designs called ‘Rangoli‘. Houses are painted inside and outside. New pots and pans are bought. Even the animals are washed, …