In the town of Bethany, Lazarus was very sick. His sisters sent word to Jesus that their brother’s health was failing, and asked him to come. But instead of rushing to the town and helping Lazarus, Jesus took his time in getting there. He knew there was to be a great miracle, and he didn’t have to rush.

When he did arrive at the gates of the town, Jesus was met by Martha, who told him that Lazarus had already died, four days earlier. She asked him why he had not come? If he had been there, Lazarus would still be alive. “Your brother will rise again,” he told her, but she assumed Jesus meant he would go on to eternal life.

Jesus went on: “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

Grieved, Martha went back home.

Mary was the next to come, and she asked the same questions. She was weeping and terribly upset over her brother’s death. Those who were with her were weeping as well, and Jesus cried with them. He asked to see the tomb of Lazarus, and all the mourners led him there. Then he asked them to remove the stone that covered the hillside tomb. The sisters protested, but Jesus was adamant that the tomb be opened.

Jesus prayed to His Father, and when he was finished, he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”

Lazarus came out of the tomb, and as he did so, Jesus simply asked the shocked mourners to remove the grave clothes. The shock of seeing a man rise from the dead was more than enough to turn everyone into believers that day.

The important message in the rising of Lazarus is the simple belief that Jesus will do what he says he will do. Sometimes a situation will go from bad to worse, and you might wonder why Jesus hasn’t responded to your prayers. But the answer will come, and at a time that will bring the greatest glory to God. We must simply be patient and wait for the moment when it is all made right.

In the gospel of Matthew and Luke is the story of Mary and her husband, Joseph, who were the parents of Jesus. Jesus was sent to Mary by God, and asked to bear him as her own child. Mary and Joseph were in the town of Bethlehem when it was time to give birth, but they could find no room in any of the inns in the town. Therefore, they did the best they could, and found a stable in which to find protection from the elements. There, Mary gave birth to Jesus, wrapped him in clothes, and placed him in a manger.

The birth of Jesus fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament and set in motion all the things that would come in the three decades afterward, including all the teachings of Jesus, leading up to his death and promise to rise again.

Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in most corners of the world, and is designated as the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Some places celebrate Christmas on January 7th, in keeping with different calendars. Some even celebrate Christmas in July, in the belief that the date of conception happened nine months prior. Some believe that the date of Christmas was a random date chosen to mark the Winter Solstice. Regardless of when it is celebrated, the reason for the celebration is clear.

The tradition of a Christmas tree in the house actually began in Roman times, when trees were brought into homes for protection from the elements during the harshest weather. Pagan traditions of decorating trees soon became adapted to Christmas rituals, and so did the hanging of the lights. Centuries ago, European countries began celebrating Christmas by decorating their homes with anything green — evergreen boughs, pine needles, and ivy were popular options. It was believed that green denoted life, even in the cold and dreary winters, and was seen as a fitting way to honor the season.

Regardless of the date Christmas is celebrated or the way in which it is observed, there is no doubt that the birth of Jesus is the reason for the season.

During the end of November or early December, Hanukkah begins. It happens on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The word “Hanukkah” means “Rededication,” and is meant to remember the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC, after the Jewish soldiers wrestled it back from the Syrian-Greek soldiers.

The Jewish troops were determined to cleanse the temple by burning ritual oil for eight days. However, when they looked at the oil in the temple, they were dismayed to see only enough for one day. They lit the oil anyway, and to their surprise and delight, the oil burned for the full eight days, even though there should not have been enough.

The miracle of the oil is represented today by the lighting of the Menorah. On the first night, one candle is lit. On the second night, two candles, and so on, until the final night sees all eight candles burning bright. The candles should be lit at sundown or as close to sundown as possible, and positioned so that passersby can see the lights and remember the miracle.

The traditional placement is outside the front door and to the left, but that might not be feasible in all places. Another option is to place the Menorah in a windowsill, but if that isn’t possible, place the Menorah on a table in the center of the room, to declare the miracle to those who are in the household.

Since the Jewish holiday falls so close to Christmas, in many countries Hanukkah has become a bit more secular. Sometimes children are given small gifts, one for every night of Hanukkah, to celebrate the season and the miracle. Even though the gifts were not part of original traditions, many of the original games and foods are still presented during Hanukkah. The miracle of oil calls for the eating of fried foods during the holiday, and the spinning of the Driedel, a classic Jewish game, is often played during the nights when the Menorah burns.

Interestingly, Hanukkah is one of the lesser holidays, according to Jewish law. But the proximity of Hanukkah to Christmas has made it more of an event than it was in centuries past.

When Muslims pray, they do so with the intent of focusing only on Allah. A very important part of prayer is cleanliness — one must be clean, both of spirit and of body, when they approach the prayer. Cleaning with the purpose of prayer is known as making Wud’u.

There is a definite way to do this. Only a small bowl of water and a small towel are required, as to avoid waste of any kind. To begin, pay homage to Allah before you cleanse. “In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.”

Wash your hands three times, making certain to wash the backs of your hands and your thumbs as well. Then bring a handful of water to your mouth and wash it thoroughly, again, three times.

Using your right hand to bring up a handful of water, sniff it into your nose to cleanse it. Expel it with your left hand. Do this three times to clear the sinuses. This part does not feel all that natural until you’ve done it for a while, so it might take some practice!

Wash your entire face three times. Then, starting with the right, wash your arms up to the elbows on each side. Do this three times as well.

Your hands will be wet. Slide them over your head, from front to back, and then from back to front. Using your wet fingers, wipe around the inside and the outside of your ears.

Now turn your attention to your feet. Wash them, up to the ankles, three times each. That’s the final step before drying off with the small towel you prepared at the beginning.

When you are done, make an appeal to Allah, showing that your care in bathing was for Him alone. “I witness that none shall be worshipped except Allah, and that Mohammed is His slave and His messenger.”

Tradition Muslim prayer is based on the movement of the sun. There are five times to pray throughout the day: before dawn, noon, in the afternoon, at sunset, and in the evening. Since the times of the day change in relation to the earth’s rotation, daylight savings time, and the like, the timing of the prayers can change so far as the clock is concerned. The point is to keep the prayer time accurate with the movement of the sun.

Islamic prayer rugs are placed on the area where the person intends to pray, thus ensuring the area is clean. The person must also come to prayer clean of body, washing beforehand if necessary. The rug should be placed with the top facing in the direction of Mecca, and the worshiper should face this way during prayer.

One of the most important parts of prayer is intention. Muslims do everything with clear intent. Clearing the mind and preparing to give thanks is one of the first and most important points of every prayer ritual.

Though prayer at any time is encouraged, the formal prayers are performed during those five set times every day. Each of them has a clear purpose:

Fajr. Performed right before sunrise, this prayer is meant to show remembrance of God, or Allah. It is meant to help start the day out on a clean slate and in the right mindset.

Dhuhr. At noon, this prayer is meant to offer a break from work during which thanks is given for the work, and remembrance of God is held strong.

Asr. This is the time to give thanks in prayer for the important parts of our lives, such as work, family, children, community, and all the other good parts that make up who we are.

Maghrib. As the day comes to a close, a time of remembrance is observed, again keeping God close to the heart.

Isha. The evening prayer is to give thanks for making it through another day, and to recognize God’s mercy and forgiveness.

The central idea of the Jewish faith is simple: There is one God. 4000 years ago, Abraham promoted that idea, and at the time it was quite radical. Abraham was a Hebrew man from the Middle East, where everyone believed in many gods, all of which were responsible for different things. The thought of one Supreme being was far-fetched to most people.

God told Abraham and his wife, Sarah, that they would have many descendants. The couple, old and childless, had given up hope of having children by the time God said this, but soon Sarah gave birth to Isaac. Isaac later had a son named Jacob, who was also known by the name Israel. The descendants of Abraham became known as the Israelites.

Soon the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt, and they dealt with many hardships. Moses, a leader of the Hebrew people, was given the Ten Commandments by God. Those Commandments form the basis of the Torah, or the religious book of the Jewish people.

After many years, the Jewish people were freed — but then they faced even more hardship. They were conquered by other peoples, and spent time enslaved as prisoners of war. The Assyrians, the Babylonians, and the Romans all had a hand in the persecution of the Jews, and the Romans destroyed many of their buildings and central way of life. The Jews scattered all over the region in the hopes of staying alive. This kind of dispersion is called the Diaspora, and it continues to this day.

During World War II, the Jews faced a persecution unlike any that even the Romans had handed down in their history. The Holocaust led to the death of millions of Jews, and that led to the desire to have their own country, a place where Jewish people could live in freedom and safety. In 1948, Palestine was divided and Israel was created. The land was once called Canaan, and it was the original “promised land” given to the Jewish people by God.

Today there are fourteen million Jews in the world. About half of them live in the United States, while a quarter live in Israel, and the rest are scattered around other countries. Israel is surrounded by people of Muslim descent, and they believe the land of Israel should be theirs — and so there is, to this day, unrest and fighting in the area of Palestine and Israel.

Those who follow the Hindu religion have several days that are considered holy, and several days of celebration with friends and family. A few of the more popular observed days are listed here. Depending upon where in the world a Hindu lives, there might be more holidays for celebration.

Diwali. The festival of lights takes place in October. It is meant to commemorate Lord Krishna and his killing of a demon, but it might also be in honor of Rama and Sita, who returned to their kingdom after 14 years of exile.

Ganesh Chaturthi. This day, celebrated in early September, celebrates the birth of Ganesh.

Vasant Navratri. The Hindu festival of worship and dance, the literal translation means “Nine Nights.” The forms of Shakti are worshipped in this festival, which falls in April.

Holi. Holi is a very popular spring festival, one that celebrates the slaying of demoness Holika by Prahlad, a devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Makara Sankranti. This is the popular harvest festival, and it is the only festival celebrated by the solar calendar rather than the Lunar one. Those who celebrate this day take a swim in the Ganges river or any large body of water, and then offer their thanks to the Sun God for the year’s harvest.

Pancha Ganapati. This winter solstice festival celebrates Lord Ganesha and the Lord of Categories. It lasts for five days and is a time of mending past mistakes and starting over.

Every religion has their holy days, sometimes also called holidays, that are celebrated on a regular basis. These days are meant to celebrate what a particular religion means, the days that changed the course of the faith, and important events that solidified the tenants of the religion for future followers.

Here are a few of the major holidays in Buddhism, and what they mean to those who celebrate them.

Buddhist New Year. The Buddhist New Year is an important festival time, but it varies from one country to another. For instance, in Thailand the Buddhist New Year begins on the first full moon day in April and lasts for three days. However, in China, the Buddhist New Year often falls in early January or February.

Vesak or Vesakah Puja. On the first full moon day in May (in June during leap years), the birth and enlightenment of Buddha is celebrated. This is the biggest festival of the year, and takes place on the one day of Buddha’s birth celebration.

Loy Krathong. Also known as the festival of the floating bowls, this particular ritual can light up a countryside into a beautiful work of art. On the full moon night of the 12th Lunar Moon, people bring bowls of leaves to bodies of water. The bowls are filled with flowers, candles, incense sticks, and the like. The offering of the bowls is said to pay homage to Buddha while erasing bad luck.

The Elephant Festival. During many of his teachings, Buddha used a story of an elephant. A wild elephant, when caught, it tethered to a tame elephant in order to tame the wildness. So it is with people, Buddha said — those who understand and are reaching for enlightenment should “tether” themselves to those who are just starting out in order to teach them what they need to know. The Elephant Festival, held on the third Saturday in November, celebrates the elephant and Buddha’s teaching.

Songkran. A massive “spring cleaning” that takes place in April, people wash their homes and their clothes, spray each other with water, and play in the rivers and streams. It is a break from the heat and a chance to enjoy each other.

Uposatha. This represents the four holy days of the month. They fall in the new moon, the full moon, and quarter-moon days.

Samson was a very strong man, born to parents who thought they would never have children. They were visited by an angel who promised they would have a strong and healthy child, but he must be raised as a Nazarite, dedicated only to God from birth. As a result of this vow, there were many things Samson would have to do, including never drink wine, touch a dead body, or cut his hair.

Samson was very strong, and fought many battles, all of which he won. He eventually became a great judge in Israel and ruled with a keen eye and conscience. However, he broke all of the rules of the Nazarites. He had a weakness for earthly things, and one of those biggest weaknesses was for women.

Delilah was a beautiful Philistine woman that Samson believed he loved. However, Delilah was working for the Philistines, and trying to find the source of Samson’s power. He lied to her many times about the powers he held, and each time he overcome her when she tried to trick him. But one day, blinded by love and lust, he told her the truth: “If you cut my hair, I become as weak as any other man.”

As Samson slept, Delilah cut his hair. This time when the Philistine Army came, he had no strength left. They beat him terribly, blinded him with hot pokers, and took him to the mill, where he would serve as an ox, pulling a stone around and around to grind grains. Samson was jeered and teased for losing his strength, and the Philistines asked him where his God was now?

Much later, the Philistines held a festival at the Temple of Dagon, the home of their false idol. Samson was brought to the festival as part of the entertainment. When he stood in the temple, he remembered the strength of it lay in the center pillars that held it up. Samson, whose hair had again grown long and luxuriant, prayed to God one last time to give him the strength to make up for his shortcomings.

Samson pulled and pushed the pillars and brought down the temple. Thousands of Philistines died that day, and so did Samson. But Samson’s act of faith in God and his sacrifice of himself for the greater good eventually led to the victory of the Israelites, and God’s plan for him was complete.

Abraham was a good man who always followed the word of God. One day God spoke to him and told him to leave his home, take his wife, and travel to a new land. God would guide them throughout the journey. When they got there, God promised that he would bless them, and they would have many children, who would then build a great nation.

Abraham was puzzled by this, because he and his wife Sarah had tried to have children for many years, but it hadn’t come to pass. But Abraham believed in God, and so he took his wife and his nephew, Lot, and set out to follow God’s direction.

One night during their travels, God asked Abraham to look up at the stars and count them. Abraham said he couldn’t count them all! That’s when God told him to be happy of heart, because he would have that many descendants for his great nation…too many to count.

Soon afterward, Sarah gave birth to their son, Isaac. God had kept his promise! Abraham now knew that he would have more descendants than there were stars in the sky.

Abraham was so happy as he watched his son grow strong. But one day God called down to Abraham and commanded him to take his son to the mountain and offer him up to the Lord, as a token of his faith. Abraham was devastated by this request, but he believed in God’s request. He told his son to come with him up the mountain, and with a heavy heart, Abraham set out to do what God had asked.

Isaac asked Abraham what they would do for a sacrifice at the top of the mountain. Abraham responded with “God will provide.” By the time they reached the top, Isaac knew what was to happen. Abraham built an altar and laid Isaac on it. At that moment, God called to him and stopped Abraham — he had proven that he trusted God completely.

A short distance away, Abraham spied a ram caught in a thicket. Abraham and Isaac brought the ram to the altar and together, father and son offered it to God. Abraham’s great nation began with Isaac and the faith they both showed when their will was tested by the Lord.