There are many ways people in our community celebrate the winter season, from religious observances to festivals and more. Here are a few of those celebrations.
Hannukah: Dec. 25-Jan. 2– Jewish
Begins previous sundown at 6pm. Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that is a commemoration of the recovery of Jerusalem and the re-dedication of the Second Temple at the start of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century. This holiday is also known as Chanukah, and it’s often referred to as the Festival of Lights.
During this holiday, candles on the Menorah (candleholder) are lit each day of this religious festival to commemorate the Hanukkah Miracle — an event where the olive oil in the Second Temple’s menorah burned for eight days, although there was only enough oil for the candles to burn one day.
Bodhi Day: Dec. 8 – Buddhist
Bodhi Day is an important event in the Buddhist religious calendar. It marks the day that Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment after meditating under a Bodhi tree for 49 days. After he reached enlightenment, he became known as the Buddha.
Bodhi Day is celebrated by Buddhist all over the world and is one of the main festivals of Buddhism, which is one of the five World Religions. The religion is practiced by roughly 500 million people worldwide
Our Lady Guadalupe: Dec. 12 - Mexico
The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, is celebrated on December 12 to honor the belief that the Virgin Mary appeared before a man in Mexico City, in 1531. According to the Basilica’s recorded history, “The Perfect Virgin Holy Mary Mother of God, our Queen, miraculously appeared out at Tepeyac, widely known as Guadalupe.”
For Mexicans and Mexican-Americans as well as other Latinos, Our Lady of Guadalupe is a powerful symbol of devotion, identity, and patriotism. Her image inspires artists, activists, feminists and the faithful. Catholics all around the globe celebrate Our Lady of Guadalupe Day in parishes with Mass, dancing, and celebration.
Yule: Dec. 22 – Wicca
This observance occurs during the winter solstice - the longest night of the year – and the rebirth of the sun, which is life sustaining, is celebrated. In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millennia. The Norse peoples, who called it Jul, viewed it as a time for much feasting and merrymaking. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins. Candles were lit on the tree to represent the sun.
Christmas: Dec. 25 – Christian
This day celebrates Jesus Christ’s birth over 2,000 years ago. The earliest celebration of Christmas, or the Feast of the Nativity was held in the year AD 336 in Rome. The term “Christmas” comes from the Old English Cristes Maesse, which means Christ’s mass. Customs include lighting candles, exchanging gifts, and using evergreen decorations to celebrate this day, the most widely observed Christian festival of the year.
Kwanzaa: Dec. 26 – African American/Canadian, USA
An annual African American and Pan African holiday celebrated December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. This non-religious holiday created by activist Dr. Maulana Karenga. It is rooted in both the cultural values and practice of Africans on the Continent of Africa and in the U.S. with strict attention to cultural authenticity and values for a meaningful, and productive life. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966. Families exchange gifts and have African-style feasts. Kinaras (seven-pronged candleholders) are lit on each consecutive night for the seven principles: unity, self-determination, working together, sharing, purpose, creativity, and faith.
Omisoka: Dec. 31 – Japan
Omisoka, the Japanese word for New Year’s Eve, is observed on Dec. 31 to celebrate the beginning of a new year with new possibilities. To prepare for the new year many people purify their homes and remove clutter from the last year. This is a time to do a deep cleaning, called “osoji”. People celebrate with giant feasts of traditional Japanese food with family and friends. Then at 11 p.m. many gather to have one last meal of toshinoshi-soba (noodles). This stems from the belief that eating long noodles will give you a long life and help cross from one year to the next. As midnight approaches, Shinto temples around the country begin ringing out the old year, sounding the temple bell 108 times, signifying the 108 human worldly desires removed by the striking of the bell.
