Cultural Winter Celebrations Around The World
Christmas Season: Arguably the most anticipated time of the year. But there is more than one holiday this time of year. So, the phrase “Happy Holidays!” is born out of respect and inclusivity of other celebrated holidays.
What are the other holidays?
Hanukkah (Chanukah) is an 8 day Jewish celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. Traditionally, those who celebrate will light a candle for the menorah, a candelabra with eight branches surrounding a center holder, each night of Hannukkah. The 8 day celebration is filled with prayer, song, food, and joy.
Kwanza is a holiday of African decent, beginning December 26 and lasts until January 1. It’s a celebration of family, community, and culture with principles derived from communitarian values seen across Africa - Unity (Umoja), Self-Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Purpose (Nia), Creativity (Kuumba), and Faith (Imani).
Ōmisoka is a Japanese celebration taking place the day before the New Year. The day is filled with activities to start out the new year fresh, including house cleaning and purifying the home of evil spirits and bad luck. A common tradition is the gathering of family to eat toshikoshi soba, a type of noodle, together to represent the crossing over to the new year. It also represents long life (since the noodles are long) and the breaking of bad luck (since toshikoshi noodles break easier than other types).
Lunar New Year, or more commonly, Chinese New Year, is a celebration of many Southeast Asian cultures. It begins towards the end of January, lasting 15 days. The Lunar New Year does not line up with the Gregorian calendar, rather it is based on the lunar calendar (the moon cycles). Traditionally, homes are cleaned to rid them of bad luck, the family gathers, and red envelopes (lai see) are filled with varying amounts of money and given to family members. Outside of the family, Lantern Festivals are traditionally held on the last day of the New Year, where there are dances, fireworks, colorful lanterns, and food.
