Special community events

Every community has festivals, celebrations and ceremonies, e.g. to mark special seasons of the year, such as planting time, the harvest and the New Year; there are many religious festivals and days in remembrance of national occasions and heroes. Some events are a time for enjoyment and relaxation, such as the coffee ceremony. Others call for serious thinking and quiet devotion. People celebrate in different ways, according to the culture and norm of the community. Whatever the purpose of the ceremony or festival may be, the whole community usually participates. All these events can be useful occasions to disseminate information on antenatal care and conduct activities that promote maternal and newborn health.