CHRISTIANITY

Ascension Day – It is a day in which Christians believe Jesus Christ left the earth and went to heaven

Baptism – an act of sprinkling water onto the person’s forehead or immersing them in water
symbolizing purification

Baptism Ceremony- A key time in Christianity when a follower is welcomed into the religion and sins
forgiven.

Bible - The Holy Book for Christians

Chalice – The cup which holds the wine for the Holy Communion service

Church – A place of worship for Christians

Easter – Is the time when Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus

Excommunication – It is when followers who break the laws of their denominations are expelled

God – The Supreme being in Christianity

Holy Communion – The bread and wine which are shared during a Christian service

Jesus Christ – The founder of Christianity

Palm Sunday – It is the day Christians remember the day Jesus arrived in Jerusalem riding a donkey

Paten – The plate that holds the bread

Resurrection – The time when Jesus rose from the dead

The last Supper – The day Jesus shared a meal with his twelve disciples

The Cross – Christianity Symbol

Confirmation – It is when a baptized person affirms Christian belief and is admitted as a full member of
the church

Night Vigil – It is an all night singing and prayer in Christianity

Holy Trinity- Christians declare their religion in the name of The father, the son and the holy spirit.
 Islam
Adhan- A Muslim prayer that is whispered into the ear of the baby after birth

Allah- A Supreme Being for Muslims

Aqiqa- A naming ceremony which is done on the 7th day after birth

Chador- A dress used by Muslim women which covers them from head to toe

Eid-ul-fitr- A special occasion to mark the end of a fasting period.

Hajab- A scarf used by Muslim women to cover their heads.

Hajj- A pilgrimage to Mecca.

Halaal-Meat from animals that have been slaughtered according to the Islamic rules

Haram- Food which is not allowed to be eaten by Muslims

Id-ul-Adha- It is when Muslims celebrate Ibrahim’s willingness to kill his son as a sacrifice to God.

Imam- A religious leader in Islam

Jihad- Muslims who die during a holy war.

Ka’ba- A shrine where idols were kept.

Mosque- A place of worship for Muslims

Nikaar- Is a wedding ceremony in Islam

Ramadan- The end of a fasting period

Salat- Praying five times facing Mecca

Sawn- Means fasting during the month of Ramadan

Shahada- The words Muslims say to declare their faith

Sharia- Laws for Muslims to obey and the punishment for followers who break these laws.
Tahnik- Something sweet such as sugar or honey which is put into the child’s mouth

The Bismillah- A key time in Islam when a child is taught how to read the Qur’an for the first time at 4
years.

The Crescent moon- Muslim symbol

The Hijra- It is the journey Muhammad made from Mecca to Medina

The Night of Power- The first time Muhammad received the Qur’an from the Angel Jibril

The Shahada Ceremony- When a person decides to remain a Muslim and declares his/her faith

Ummah- A Muslim community

Wudu- The washing ritual Muslims perform before they enter the Mosque

Zakat- one of the five pillars in Islam that teaches Muslims to help the poor and the needy
 African traditional religion (atr)
Seantlo- It is the custom that allows a man to marry his wife’s younger sister or any close relative.

Polygamy- It is when a man marries many wives.

Bogwera- Initiation for boys.

Bojale- Initiation for girls.

Dikgafela- It is a ceremony of thanking the ancestors for a good harvest.

Mantsho a ngwana- A key time in ATR when a baby is taken out of the house for the first time after
birth.

Botsetse- When the mother and newly born baby are confined inside the house for some months.

Circumcision- The removal of the foreskin on males or the skin covering the clitoris in females.

Mopakwana- A log placed at the entrance of the house or hut where the new baby and mother are
confined.
 Hinduism
Arti- A form of worship

AUM- A Hindu sacred syllable.

Divali- The beginning of the Hindu New Year.

Janmashtami- The birthday of the Hindu god Krishna.

Murti- The statue or picture of the god or goddess

Mandir- A place of worship for Hindus.

Madhyanha Sandhya- Mid-day prayer in Hindu.

Manusmriti- This is a law in Hinduism.

Jatakarma- Rituals performed shortly after the birth of the baby.

Namakarma- A naming ceremony held on the 12th day after birth.

Sayam Sandhya- Evening prayer in Hindu.

Tilak- A red dot on a Hindu’s forehead.

The River Ganges- A holy river in India where most Hindus go to, to bathe or scatter ashes of the dead
after cremation.

Puja- Is the most common form of worship that takes place at home.

Sacred Thread (Upanayana)- A key time for followers of Hinduism when a young boy goes through a
ceremony that gives him the right to read sacred books.

Samskars- Rites of passage that mark the main stages of life in Hinduism.

Kriya Ceremony- A ceremony held 10-12 days after the funeral.

Funeral Pyre- It is a pile of wood which the dead body is put on and burnt.

Ghee- A melted butter which is put on a baby’s lips.

Varanasi- A place along the river which Hindus must visit. They believe it is where a god called Shiva
lived.
 Sikhism
Baisakhi- It is a celebration of the Sikh’s new year and a time to remember the beginning of the Khalsa.

Kirtans- Religious songs.

Gurpubs- Celebrations of the birthdays of their important religious leaders called Gurus in Sikhism.

Gurdwara- A place of worship for Sikhs.

Guru Granth Sahib- A holy book for Sikhism.

Guru Nanak- The founder of the Sikh religion.

Mala- A string of 108 prayer beads used to help Sikhs pray.

Turban- A special head covering used by Sikh men.

Amrit Sanskar (Pahul)- It is a key time in the life of a Sikh when a person is ready to become a full
member of the Sikh religion.

Khalsa- Sikh brotherhood

Kesh- Sikhs are not supposed to cut their hair (uncut hair).

Kacha- shorts

Kara- Iron bandle

Kirpan- Steel dagger

Kangha- Small comb worn in the hair

Sanskar- Special sweets given to the baby during the ceremony

The Ardas- A common prayer in Sikhism

Amrit- Holy water

Karah Pasad- A mixture of flour, butter, sugar and water. A sacred food for the Sikhs.
Mool Mantar- A special prayer whispered in the baby’s ear shortly after the baby is born.

Rumala- A special cloth which covers the Guru Granth Sahib

Dastaar Bandi- It is a special ceremony in which the boy is taught how to tie the turban for the first time

Anand Karaj- It is a Sikh marriage ceremony

Anthan Sanskar- It is a funeral ceremony

Sohila- Bedtime prayer

Reht Maryada- The official Sikh code of conduct

 Judaism
Rosh Hashanah- Celebration of the beginning of the Jewish New Year

Passover or Pesach- Celebration of the time the ancestors of the Jewish people escaped from slavery in
Egypt.

Narmulke- Jewish men and boys wear a small cap on their heads.

Kosher- The food eaten by Jews which is approved by the teaching of their religion.
 Buddhism

Wesak- It is a celebration for the birth life and death of Buddha.

Obon- It is a festival celebrated to mark the time Buddha rescued the mother of a follower from hell.

Siddarta Guatama- The founder of Buddhism.

Monasteries- Places where Buddhists religious leaders called Monks are trained.

Monk- A religious leader in Buddhism

Stupas- They are places that are linked with the life of The Buddha. Eg. Where the Buddha stayed or
taught

Meditation- Sitting quietly and thinking deeply

Nirvana- Enlightenment (a state of finding solution to suffering)

The Noble Eightfold Path- Ways of happiness and to end suffering

Lumbini Grove- The birth place of Buddha

Bodh Gaya- The place of Buddha’s enlightenment

Saranath- The place where Buddha first taught.

Kusinara- The place where Buddha died.

Ordination- A key time in the lives of followers of Buddhism when a boy becomes a monk.

The Eightfold Path- It is a code of conduct in Buddhism

 General words
HIV- Stands for Human Immuno deficiency Virus

AIDS- Stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Juvenile delinquents- These are young people who commit crimes

Detention- It is when someone stays behind when others go as punishment for what he or she has done

Corporal punishment- It is the punishment by beating someone who has done something wrong

Suspension- It involves the punishing a student by ordering them not to attend school for a few days or
weeks

Expulsion- It is when a student is ordered to leave school for good

Reincarnation- To be born in different form of life

Birth- It is the first main stage of life or when a person is born

Crematorium- A place where the dead body is burnt

Cremation- Burning of the dead body