(mon-GOHL-yun) – Mongols all over the world celebrate Tsagaan Sar (White Moon), the Mongolian Lunar New Year, which will be on February 18-20 this year. The evening before, February 17, Bituun, begins the celebration as they close out the old year. This celebration includes Tibetan Buddhist and shamanist rituals. Many Mongolian Christians will choose not to participate in all the traditions associated with the holiday. Even though they may not participate completely, family members will make every effort to be together because it is important to them to honor elders during this 3-day celebration. As believing Mongols meet with their non-believing family members, ask God to cause them to be a light and a witness. Pray that they will be bold in sharing the good news and give a clear testimony of their faith to those who question or even ridicule them for not following the shamanist and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Please pray that God will open the spiritual eyes of their relatives who have yet to believe His truth. Also, ask God to give Mongolian Christians creative ideas and God-glorifying ways to incorporate different aspects of their culture into their celebration of Tsagaan Sar.