Why don t Rastas celebrate CHRISTmas?

But for the Rastafarian, it is a time to not only celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour in the manner prescribed by tradition, but to reflect on this event in the context of the original prophecy as told to our father Adam, and the expectations of the time of the manifestation of God not only as Priest but King, ...

What do Rastas believe about Jesus?

Jesus is an important figure in Rastafari. However, practitioners reject the traditional Christian view of Jesus, particularly the depiction of him as a white European, believing that this is a perversion of the truth. They believe that Jesus was a black African, and that the white Jesus was a false god.

Do Rastafarians have holidays?

Some examples of celebrated holidays include the celebration of Emperor Selassie's birthday, Groundation day, and Ethiopian Christmas and New Year. Rastafarians also observe strict religious dietary practices and follow a diet known as ital.

What date is Rasta Christmas?

As Ganna is a very religious occasion on the Ethiopian calendar, Orthodox Christians and Rasta alike attend mass on Christmas Eve (January 6th), known in Ethiopia as the gahad of Christmas. The church service typically begins at around 6 pm and continues through to the early hours of Christmas day.

Do Rastas get married?

Marriage. In Rastafari there is no formal marriage structure. A Rastafari man and woman who live together are regarded as husband and wife (unless, of course, they are related in some other way, such as mother and son). If marriage does take place it is regarded as a social occasion rather than a religious event.

JiDion Explains Why He Doesn't Celebrate Christmas And The Truth Behind The Holiday

Can Rastas drink alcohol?

Rastas are super healthy!

They consider their body to be a temple, based on the Old Testament teachings. Rastas do not drink alcohol or eat food that is not nourishing to their body, which includes meat. Many follow a strict dietary law called ital, which states that all food must be completely natural and raw.

What do Rastas do when someone dies?

Within Rastafari there is no death, that's one of the key things. They are spiritual beings having a physical experience, so within that there is no death. As a Rasta, in days of old, and still in some cases today, when you go to a funeral, you then cut your dreads.

What do Rastas say before smoking?

The Ganja is always smoked in a ritual way. Before smoking the plant the Rasta will say a prayer to Jah (God) or to Haile Selassie I. The Rasta call them reasoning sessions when they use Ganja for Nyabinghi. A Nyabinghi session is much different from a casual marijuana smoking session that western people take part in.

What do Rastas call Christmas?

And so, it emerges that Rastafarians do celebrate the Birth of Christ, except that it's not called Christmas and it's not celebrated on the 25th of December. It is called Lidät, an Amharic word meaning “Birthday”.

Do Rastas eat chicken?

Rastafarians who do not follow a very strict Ital diet may also choose to consume other meats, such as chicken, but shellfish and pork are unlikely to be eaten by anyone following an Ital diet. This is because these animals are scavengers and their meat is considered to be unclean and harmful to the human body.

Who do Rastas worship?

Rasta believe in the Judeo-Christian God and refer to their higher power as "Jah". 7. The Rastafari believe marijuana, known as ganja, is sacred. It's used to clean the body and mind and brings people closer to God.

Do Rasta eat meat?

To stay healthy and spiritually connected to the earth, Rastas eat a natural diet free from additives, chemicals, and most meat. The style of primarily vegan eating is known as ital cooking. Rastas commonly say, “Ital is vital,” pointing to how the diet got its name.

Why do Rastafarians think Haile Selassie is God?

Rastafarians regard Haile Selassie I as God because Marcus Garvey's prophecy - "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be the Redeemer" - was swiftly followed by the ascension of Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie I is regarded by Rastafarians as the God of the Black race.

Do Rastas read the Bible?

Rastas believe that they can come to know the true meanings of biblical scriptures by cultivating a mystical consciousness of oneself with Jah, called “I-and-I.” Rastas read the Bible selectively, however, emphasizing passages from Leviticus that admonish the cutting of hair and beard and the eating of certain foods ...

How do you say thank you in Rastafarian?

Do Rastas go to church?

Rastafari doesn't have a specific religious building that is set aside for worship. Rastafarians usually meet weekly, either in a believer's home or in a community centre. The meetings are referred to as Reasoning sessions. They provide a time for chants, prayers and singing, and for communal issues to be discussed.

Do Rastas celebrate Easter?

On our calendar of events, Rastafarians do not celebrate Easter, as in the case of Christmas (Christ mass), the Nyabinghi Theocratic Order for certain. The origins of Easter customs unveil as follows. The most widely practiced customs on Easter Sunday relate to the symbol of the rabbit ('Easter bunny') and the egg.

Why is April 21 a holy day for Rastafarians?

Groundation Day (21st April)

Marks the date Haile Selassie I visited Jamaica in 1966. The visit was the only time the Emperor visited Jamaica. A Nyabingi session, inclusive of music, chanting and prayer is held to mark the occasion.

How do you become a Rastafarian?

Therefore, to become a Rasta, one must believe Haile Selassie to be at least a prophet descended from Solomon, practise a pious lifestyle and be righteous, but most importantly gain acceptance among a group of believing Rastafarians. This is not as difficult as it seems for a white person.

What language do Rastafarians speak?

Iyaric is the self-applied term for Rastafari language. It is formed by a combination of Iya (higher) and Amharic, the language spoken by Haile Selassie I.

Why do Rastas say Jah?

Rastafari usage

Rastafari use the terms Jah or sometimes Jah Jah as a term for the Lord God of Israel or Haile Selassie, who some Rastafari regard as the incarnation of the God of the Old Testament or as the reincarnation of Jesus Christ, who is also known by the Ethiopian title Janhoy.

What does the rasta lion mean?

The Lion of Judah is a prominent symbol in the Rastafari movement. It represents Emperor Haile Selassie I as well as being a symbol of strength, kingship, pride and African sovereignty.

Why do Rastas cover their hair?

Rastas (men) wear beards. Hair shows holiness, leaving it uncut shows your holiness to the lord. The whole point of dreadlocks, back in the 60s people had never seen them and they were considered 'dreadful. ' So when Rasta men would pray, they would uncover their hair, to show their holiness to the lord.

Why do Rastas cut their hair?

Many Rastafarians believe that like Samson, their hair is their strength and also their weakness if it is cut off . The belief in the weakness of cutting of the dreadklocks was used as a way to intimidate Rastafarians in Jamaica in the past, as they would be arrested and their hair cut off.

Do Rastafarians accept blood transfusions?

ORGAN DONATION/TRANSPLANT - These will be intensely disliked by most Rastafarians in the belief that they interfere with God's plan for mankind. BLOOD TRANSFUSION - The fear of contamination of the body would influence the attitude to transfusion.