Happy Holidays! What are the holidays?

As the weather gets colder, we enter a new season of holidays. Learning about other cultural and religious holidays is important, and an easy way to stay educated and respected. Continue reading to find out about winter holidays!

Christmas -December 25

Christmas is a holiday commemorating the birth of the Christian religious figure Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by decorating a Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols, watching movies, baking, exchanging gifts, and spending time with family. It is a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Christmas is the most celebrated and universally recognized holiday worldwide.

Hanukkah -December 18 to December 26

Hanukkah is a minor Jewish holiday celebrated for eight nights. It originates from the story of the Maccabees who revolted against an Greek-Syrian army. While rededicating the Second Temple of Jerusalem after mass destruction, a single day’s supply of oil lasted to light the menorah for eight days. This miracle inspired the holiday, in which candles are lit each night, with a shamash. Delicious foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) are fried in oil and time is spent with family and friends.

Kwanzaa -December 26 to January 1

Kwanzaa is a holiday that honors African American culture. The name stems from a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits”. People light candles that represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work/responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. There is a black, red, and green Bendera flag that represents the people, the struggle, and the hope. There are also seven symbols, the first of which is a placement, the other six are candleholder, seven candles, crops, corn, a unity cup, and gifts.

Winter Solstice (Yule) -December 21

One of the oldest recorded winter holidays, this celebration is on the shortest day of the year. It is Pagan holiday and observed by Germanic peoples. It can be traced back to the god Odin or the pagan Anglo-Saxon Modraniht. It is considered a powerful time for introspection and energy renewal. It is celebrated with a Yule log.

Soyal

Soyal is the winter solstice ceremony of the Zoni and Hopi Native American peoples. It is held on the winter solstice or shortest day of the year, where participants ceremonially lures the sun back from its slumber. For the Hopi, it is a 16 day long festival with prayers, stories from elders, and a feast. Tribe members dress up as Kachina spirits and dance, and children are given Kachina spirits.

St. Lucia Day -December 13

St. Lucia day is a Festival of Lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and some parts of Finland. It is a feast day celebrating the Christian Saint Lucia. It symbolizes light in the dark long winters of Nordic countries. To celebrate, young girls wear wreaths on their heads covered in candles. Communities chose a Saint Lucia, and families chose the oldest daughter to play the role of St. Lucia. St. Lucia serves baked goods and coffee.

New Year -January 1

New Year’s Day is a festival celebrated on the first day of the year on the Gregorian calendar. People celebrate by writing resolutions for the person they want to be in the new year. There are also parties, parades, and fireworks. This is a time for people to be with who they love, rethink their choices in the past year and celebrate the turn of the new one.