Christmas
Celebrated by Christians and many more, this holiday is a cultural merry staple. Every year on December 25, families and friends gather together to exchange presents and spend time in each other’s company. The holiday has Christian roots, as a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but over time it has blended with other cultural traditions into the global event it is today.
The festivities are endless, as malls completely transform into winter wonderlands containing decor and music that lets everyone know “tis the season to be jolly.” Beautiful trees bedazzled with ornaments and lights, houses with festive decorations and communities hosting holiday events all contribute to the celebration. Yet for many, all of this is still tied to religion, from nativity scenes inside homes to Christmas Day church services. At the same time, the holiday has been highly commercialized with gift-giving at its center.
Globally, Christmas celebrations can vary. While decorating trees and exchanging gifts still remain a theme of the holiday season, some places have similar holidays that play the same role. For example, countries in Eastern Europe celebrate New Year’s the way Christmas is done here. Giving back to their loved ones and opening gifts under the Christmas tree on December 31.
Hanukkah
Every holiday season, the importance of faith, family and community is celebrated during Hanukkah. The Jewish holiday originates from the rebellion of the Maccabees in the Seleucid Greek empire, where the practice of Judaism had been outlawed. The Maccabees took control over a sacred temple that had been corrupted by the Greeks and began to rededicate it to Judaism. Unfortunately, the Maccabees soon discovered that they only had enough pure oil to light the temple’s menorah (a religious candelabra) for one night. According to legend, a miracle occurred in that temple.
Instead of burning for a single night, the candle’s flame lasted eight whole nights. This miracle warranted a celebration, which is why Jewish families across the world commemorate the event each year by observing Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights.
Hanukkah has evolved into a festive eight-day winter holiday, celebrated with the lighting of a menorah each night to signify the menorah of the temple. Jewish families enjoy fried foods like latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts) to symbolize the long-lasting oil. They may also play with a dreidel, or a spinning top, said to have been used by Jewish children to conceal their Torah studies while Judaism was banned. This year, the holiday will commence on December 14, ushering in a week of fun and games to honor the miracle of Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is the celebration of African American culture and heritage that takes place each year from December 26 to January 1. It was created by Maulana Ron Karenga, who is an African American activist and author, in 1966. This creation was sparked by the Watts Riot, which was a series of riots in a Los Angeles, California African American neighborhood, where police violence and systemic problems towards Black community are rooted deeply. Although initially celebrated on a relatively small scale, Kwanzaa was later recognized as an official holiday in 1997 under President Bill Clinton.
The purpose of the holiday is to bring the African American community together and to recognize their heritage and the effort they put in to fight against oppression and discrimination. Each day of this seven-day celebration honors one of the Nguzo Saba, or the Seven Principles: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamma (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity) and Imani (Faith). These principles are memorized in one of the most spoken languages in Africa: Swahili. The kinara (candle-bolder) is also an important feature of the celebration. There are three red candles symbolizing the sacrifice during the process of liberation; the three green candles symbolize the vibrant future of the black community and the one black candle symbolizes all African American people.
Boxing Day
Every year, on December 26, British individuals and others in European Commonwealth countries (such as Canada, Kenya and New Zealand) gather to celebrate Boxing Day – a day of gift-giving and service. The day originated in Britain in the 1800s, when wealthy families would give their servants “Christmas Boxes.” These boxes usually consisted of money, food and other small gifts. Churches would also open their alms boxes and distribute donations inside to the poor on this day.
Today, Boxing Day looks different; it is now known as a day of shopping, sports and family gatherings. This holiday somewhat parallels Black Friday in the U.S., as it is one of the biggest retail sale days of the year. Sports are also a major part of the holiday, with soccer being the most popular, evident in the Premier League’s tradition of holding a fully-packed game schedule that day. Overall, it is a day of relaxation and fun with families and friends.
Although the holiday’s origins of being charitable have faded, some communities and organizations still celebrate Boxing Day through donation drives and volunteer events. Ultimately, the day serves as a reminder of the importance of celebration and giving to others.