Winter Holidays
Winter is fast approaching, and people around the world are celebrating a variety of special holidays, including the Winter Solstice, Yule, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, and the arrival of the New Year. The cold and longer nights encourage us to bring warmth and joy into our hearts and homes. We are inspired to share time and celebrate with family and friends, remembering that even in the midst of darkness, we can find joy and light. Click to read more
Winter Solstice
On December 21, the Winter Solstice marks the beginning of winter in the northern hemisphere. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year. People light Yule logs, bonfires, and candles to illuminate their homes and bring in warmth. As the rebirth of the sun is celebrated, wishes and intentions for the coming year are made. Friends and family gather to create lanterns and prepare edible outdoor treats for birds and squirrels. “Some pagan Yule and Celtic winter solstice symbols include: Candles (Winter Sun), Pine (Healing), Holly (The God), Mistletoe (The Goddess), and the Yule Tree (Renewal), which can be brought into the home.” (from Mothermag.com). Other traditional customs include wassailing and decorating homes with plants like evergreen wreaths, mistletoe, holly, and ivy.
Christmas
On December 24th and 25th, Christians celebrate the birth of Christ. Families decorate Christmas trees with lights and ornaments, arrange nativity scenes, attend church services, exchange gifts, share meals, and spend time together. Many communities host live nativity plays that reenact the birth of the Christ Child. In addition to these traditions, popular celebrations include caroling (from the Yule tradition of wassailing), a Yankee Swap (or White Elephant), and Secret Santa gift-giving. In many countries, the holiday focuses more on its religious significance than on Santa Claus or gift-giving. The celebrations continue through January 6th.
Hanukkah
On December 25th, Jewish people begin the 8-day celebration of Hanukkah. Each night, a candle on the Menorah is lit, plus the middle "shamash" candle. Families gather to remember the Maccabean defeat of the Greek army, which led to the liberation and rededication of the Temple. Miraculously, the oil in the Temple, enough for just one night, lasted for eight nights! Dreidels are spun to win chocolate coins called gelt (from the Yiddish word for money), and traditional foods such as sfenji (Moroccan fried dough) and latkes with applesauce are enjoyed.
Kwanzaa
From December 26th to January 1st, many African American families celebrate Kwanzaa, which means "First Fruits." The name comes from the Swahili phrase, “Matunda ya kwanza”, which means “first fruits". Based on ancient African harvest festivals, Kwanzaa focuses on family and tradition. Special activities include the Karamu, a festive meal on December 31st, sharing from the Kikombe cha Umoja cup, reading poetry, and reflecting on the day's principle. People wear special clothing, decorate their homes with fruits symbolizing abundance, and light a candelabra called the Kinara. One candle is lit each night to represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
New Year
On December 31st, we bid farewell to the old year and welcome in the new one. Around the world, superstitions and myths for a good new year abound. In Latin America, people eat 12 grapes (representing the 12 months of the year) at midnight for prosperity and luck. They also carry a small suitcase outside and walk around the house in hopes of traveling in the upcoming year. In Germany, friends gather and melt tin in special spoons, reading their fortunes for the coming year. They wish each other a “Guten Rutsch,” literally meaning "a good slide" into the new year. In cities like Boston, “First Night” celebrations feature international music, dance, street performers, and ice sculptures, all culminating in a midnight fireworks display lighting up the dark night sky. In Brazil, New Year’s Eve is called Réveillon. People dress in white and celebrate with bonfires. They jump over seven waves, make offerings to the Yoruba goddess Iemanjá and throw white flowers into the ocean seeking protection and peace in the new year.
Three Kings Day
On January 6th, marking the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas, Three Kings Day (also known as the Epiphany or Little Christmas) is celebrated. This holiday commemorates the visit of the Three Kings (also known as the Magi or Wise Men) to the Christ Child, bringing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In Spain, children place their shoes on the windowsill, in the hopes of waking up to gifts from the Kings. A delicious treat, "rosca de reyes" (King's cake flavored with orange extract), is made with a small ceramic figure or jewel hidden inside. The person who finds the hidden gift in their slice is believed to have a wonderful year ahead!
Did you know…?
Yule predates Christmas by over a thousand years! The winter solstice is the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. There, it is the longest day of the year and marks the beginning of summer.
Kwanzaa has 7 principles known as Nguzo Saba (the Seven Principles of African Heritage): Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
During the 8 days of Hanukkah, children often receive one gift each night! The traditional fried foods are eaten to symbolize the oil that lasted for 8 nights.
The first artificial Christmas tree was made of dyed goose feathers and came from Germany. It takes about 15 years to grow a real, average sized tree!
The 12 days between Christmas and the Epiphany are known as the 12 Days of Christmas.
The first New Year was most likely celebrated in Mesopotamia around 4 millennia ago!
We wish you and your families a lovely winter break! May the cold stay outside and the warmth of the days remain in your hearts! Happy New Year!
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