DECEMBER HOLIDAYS
There are many different holidays celebrated in December, depending on one’s cultural and religious background. Some examples of holidays that may be celebrated in December include
- Hanukkah (Jewish)
- Christmas (Christian)
- Kwanzaa (African-American)
- Yule (Wiccan and pagan)
- Festivus (secular)
- Ashura (Islamic)
- Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
- Winter Solstice (various cultures and religions)
- New Year’s Eve (secular)
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean revolt in the 2nd century BC. The holiday is observed for eight days and nights, typically starting on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev.
During Hanukkah, Jewish people light a nine-branched candelabra called a menorah. One candle is lit on the first night, two on the second night, and so on until all eight candles are lit on the final night of the holiday. The ninth candle, called the shamash, is used to light the other candles and is often placed in a higher or lower position to distinguish it from the others.
In addition to lighting the menorah, many Jewish families also enjoy traditional Hanukkah foods such as latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts) fried in oil to commemorate the miracle of the oil. Gifts are also often exchanged, and the dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew letters on each side, is a popular game played during Hanukkah.
Hanukkah is a time for celebration and joy, and is an important part of the Jewish cultural and religious tradition. It is a time for families to come together, give thanks for the blessings in their lives, and remember the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days.
Christmas is a holiday celebrated by Christians around the world to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is typically observed on December 25th, and is marked by the exchange of gifts, the decoration of homes and public spaces with Christmas trees and other festive decorations, and the gathering of family and friends to celebrate.
For many people, Christmas is a time of joy and celebration, filled with the warm glow of holiday lights, the excitement of gift-giving, and the joy of spending time with loved ones. For others, however, Christmas can be a difficult time, marked by feelings of loneliness, loss, or stress.
Regardless of how one personally observes the holiday, Christmas is a reminder of the importance of love, compassion, and generosity. It is a time to be grateful for the blessings in our lives and to reach out to those in need.
As the holiday season approaches, may we all remember the true meaning of Christmas and strive to bring a little bit of its warmth and joy into the world.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration that begins on December 26th and ends on January 1st. It is a cultural holiday that was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to celebrate African-American heritage and traditions.
During Kwanzaa, people gather with their families and communities to celebrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa, known as the Nguzo Saba. These principles are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each day of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of these principles, and people often celebrate by lighting candles in a kinara (candleholder), participating in communal meals and other activities, and exchanging gifts.
Kwanzaa is a time to reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and look towards the future. It is a way to honor and preserve African-American culture and to promote unity and community among all people.
Yule is a winter solstice holiday celebrated by Wiccans and other pagans. The solstice, which falls on December 21st or 22nd each year, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. For many pagans, Yule is a time to celebrate the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days.
During Yule, pagans often gather with their covens or other communities to hold rituals and ceremonies. These may include lighting candles or a Yule log, decorating with evergreen boughs, and performing special prayers or spells. Many pagans also observe the tradition of gift-giving during Yule, similar to the Christmas holiday.
In addition to its spiritual significance, Yule is also a time for pagans to celebrate the season and the natural world. For some, this may involve outdoor activities like hiking or snowshoeing, while for others it may be a time to simply enjoy the cozy warmth of home and family.
Festivus is a secular holiday celebrated on December 23rd as an alternative to the commercialism and pressures of the Christmas season. The holiday was popularized by the sitcom “Seinfeld,” in which it was introduced as a holiday created by a character named Frank Costanza.
One of the key traditions of Festivus is the “airing of grievances,” in which participants gather around the Festivus pole (usually a plain aluminum pole) and express their frustrations and disappointments from the past year. Another tradition is the “feats of strength,” in which the “head of the household” must be physically challenged by a participant.
Festivus may also include a Festivus dinner, typically featuring meatloaf, and the “Festivus miracle,” in which participants share unexpected good things that have happened to them.
While Festivus may be a humorous holiday, it also offers a chance to take a break from the hectic holiday season and to gather with friends and family in a low-key, non-commercial way.
Ashura is a significant day of mourning and remembrance for Muslims, observed on the 10th day of the month of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. The word “Ashura” means “tenth” in Arabic, and the holiday marks the day that the prophet Muhammad and his followers were saved from their enemies in the city of Mecca.
For Shia Muslims, Ashura is a particularly important day of mourning, as it marks the martyrdom of the prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Hussein, at the Battle of Karbala. Shia Muslims often observe Ashura by holding processions and gatherings, in which they mourn and remember the suffering of Imam Hussein and his followers.
Sunni Muslims also observe Ashura, though they do not mourn in the same way as Shia Muslims. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura is a day of fasting, reflection, and charitable acts.
Overall, Ashura is a day of solemnity and remembrance for Muslims, and a time to reflect on the sacrifices of the prophet Muhammad and his family.
Bodhi Day, also known as Rohatsu, is a Buddhist holiday that celebrates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment. This event, known as the “Great Awakening,” occurred under the Bodhi tree in what is now modern-day India.
For Buddhists, the day is a time for reflection and meditation, as they seek to follow in the footsteps of the Buddha and awaken to the truth of the world. In some traditions, this may involve practicing mindfulness or reciting mantras.
The holiday is typically celebrated on December 8th, but the date may vary depending on the lunar calendar. In some countries, such as Japan, the day is a national holiday.
Overall, Bodhi Day is a time for Buddhists to remember the importance of the pursuit of enlightenment and to renew their own spiritual practice.
The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. It occurs when the North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, causing the sun’s rays to hit the earth at a lower angle. This results in longer periods of darkness and shorter periods of daylight.
For many cultures, the winter solstice has held spiritual significance and has been celebrated for centuries. In ancient times, people would light bonfires and hold feasts to celebrate the return of the sun and to encourage it to grow stronger.
Today, the winter solstice is still celebrated in many parts of the world. In some places, people gather to watch the sunrise and celebrate the longest night of the year. In others, people celebrate with music, dance, and other cultural traditions.
Overall, the winter solstice is a time to celebrate the natural cycles of the earth and to look forward to the return of longer, brighter days.
New Year’s Eve is the last day of the year and is typically celebrated with parties and festivities. Many people gather with friends and family to count down the last minutes of the year and to welcome in the new year.
Traditionally, people would hold large public events, such as concerts or fireworks displays, to celebrate the occasion. In some countries, such as the United States, people gather around the television to watch the ball drop in Times Square.
In recent years, many people have also taken to social media to share their celebrations and to offer well-wishes for the new year.
Overall, New Year’s Eve is a time for people to come together and celebrate the end of one year and the start of another. It is a time for making resolutions and setting goals for the year ahead.