Holidays

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a secular celebration of African-American heritage, meaning 'first fruit of the harvest' in Swahili. It starts each year on December 26 and lasts for one week. The celebration is based on several different African harvest celebrations and recognizes a long-standing African principle on each of the days. The principles are known as the Nguzo Saba and include beliefs such as unity, faith, and creativity. Each day, one of the principles is discussed while a candle is lit. A special candle holder, known as a kinara, holds all seven candles.

Yule

Yule is a secular or nonreligious holiday. It celebrates the winter solstice, or the beginning of winter and the day the sun is the farthest away from the northern hemisphere. This day varies but falls in late December. Though Yule is an ancient holiday with German and Nordic origins, it is now sometimes known in the U.S. as a pagan holiday. Paganism can refer to several different religious practices and traditions. Generally, pagan holidays honor nature and incorporate the worship of a variety of gods and goddesses in the tradition of Greek mythology. Yule traditions include the burning of a yule log, a feast, and wassailing. Wassailing is visiting friends and neighbors to sing and drink hot 'wassail' -- a warm cider-like beverage.

Boxing Day

Boxing Day is celebrated in several different parts of the world including Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Great Britain. It is on December 26. Boxing Day honors the tradition of opening church offering boxes with money given to the church after Christmas and donating the money to the poor. Boxing Day is celebrated in many different ways. For instance, The Boxing Day Test is a huge cricket game held each year in Australia and it is a very popular event. Another yearly event held celebrate Boxing Day in Australia is the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Large boats called yachts race from Sydney to the island of Tasmania. They travel in front of the famous Sydney Opera House at the beginning of the race.Boxing Day is also celebrated as the day many merchants place items on sale. It is a widely-observed shopping day similar to 'Black Friday' in the U.S.

Hanukkah

Chanukkah, or Hanukkah, is a religious holiday for people of the Jewish faith. This celebration spans eight days, beginning on the 25th day of the Jewish month Kislev. On the Western calendar Hanukkah falls anywhere between late November to late December each year. Chanukkah commemorates a miracle that occurred when one day's worth of oil burned for eight days in an ancient Jewish temple. Jewish families light a candle on each of the eight nights, using a menorah, which is a special, symbolic candle holder. Families also exchange small gifts on each of the eight days, and share a Chanukkah feast of traditional Jewish foods.

Christmas

Christmas is the most popular Christian religious holiday celebration held during the winter season. Celebrated on December 25, Christmas marks the birth of the Christian savior Jesus Christ. The holiday is celebrated in a variety of ways. The story of Jesus' birth, called the nativity, is often retold by children in nativity plays. Church services often include a carol service. Some Christians start Christmas Day with a midnight service, called Midnight Mass. Christians also often celebrate Christmas by giving and receiving presents and cards. This reminds them of the gift of Jesus, beginning his earthly life.

Saint Nicholas Day

Santa Claus is also known as Saint Nicholas in some parts of the world, which is why many countries also celebrate Saint Nicholas Day as part of the Christmas season. Saint Nicholas arrives to place candy and small gifts in children's shoes on either December 6 or December 19, depending on the country. Saint Nicholas Day is part of Advent, which begins four Sundays before Christmas. Advent marks the season of expectancy and anticipation leading up to the birth of Christ. Though Saint Nicholas Day have Christian origins, the arrival of Santa Claus is a secular practice and observed in many non-Christian households.

St. Lucia Day

St. Lucia Day is a Swedish holiday celebrated on December 13 each year honoring a third-century saint. St. Lucia Day is a day to honor St. Lucia. She was a martyr, which means she died for practicing her religion. St. Lucia's Day, or St. Lucy's Day, is a Christian holiday and there are many special ways people enjoy this day. St. Lucia was known as the Queen of Lights, and because of this, light is a big theme for the holiday. Each town or city chooses a girl to be the representative or play the part of St. Lucia. She travels through the town with a wreath on her head, and there are candles on top of the wreath. Don't worry, the candles are battery operated and do not have open flames! However, long ago the candles actually were real.The St. Lucia representative wears a white gown. She is followed by younger girls who may also wear lighted wreaths and white gowns. Younger boys follow as well, wearing white outfits that are similar to pajamas. This procession, or group of people walking, is done at night so the candles shine brightly. The hope is that even though the winter is a dark and cold time, the candles will provide everyone with happiness and warmth.