It is the end of the year and everyone has a celebration coming up soon. I am pretty sure there are more celebrations besides the ones listed below however these are the most popular ones. You might have a coworker, friend, or partner who celebrates a different holiday, and which customs are important to know in an age where we all must accept each other differences and cultures.
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Listed in chronological order and not importance:
St Nicholas Day
Celebrated on December 6th, it is also called the Feast of Saint Nicholas (celebrated on December 5th and December 19th in other Christian countries). Saint Nicholas was a Christian bishop from Myra (Modern Turkey) during the time of the Roman Empire. He had a reputation for secretly giving to the ones in need. St. Nicholas or Sinterklaas Day is celebrated in many European countries by sharing candy, chocolates, and small gifts. It is also a costume that the children leave their shoes out in hopes to find small gifts from St. Nicholas.
Immaculate Conception Day
This is one of the most important Marian celebrations in the Roman Catholic Church. Celebrates the sinless lifespan of the Immaculate Conception Mary. This day has been pontificated and it is the patronal day of Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, Uruguay, and Portugal. On this day the Pope offers expiatory prayers at the Piazza di Spagna. It is a family day among Catholics. Mother’s day is celebrated on this day in Panama.
Hanukkah
Celebrated between November and December, on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. This year (2022) will begin from sunset, on December 18th thru nightfall on December 26th. This celebration commemorates the Hannukah Miracle during the recovery of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem from the Seleucid empire (Syria) during the 2nd Century B.C. Festival of lights where each day one candle is lit on the menorah, singing a special hymn, and sharing meals and gifts for children.
St. Lucia Day
The Festival of lights is celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and certain areas of Finland on December 13th to commemorate St. Lucia who became a martyr in the hands of the Romans during the 3rd century. It is celebrated by a procession of young girls dressed in white and wearing a lighted wreath and boys dressed in white all singing and led by a designee St. Lucia. Each town holds its procession and each family observes this day by having their eldest daughter dress in this traditional outfit, bake cookies, and perhaps a lussekatter (saffron bread). The festivity is a combination of Christian and pagan traditions that date before the Scandinavian conversion to Christianity. Before then the Scandinavian celebrated the winter solstice with bonfires to drive out evil spirits. The St. Lucia Day celebration intentionality is to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year.
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice will occur on Wednesday, December 21st this year (2022) at 4:48 pm Eastern Time for the Northern Hemisphere. It is the longest night of the year that marks the official start of Winter. The winter solstice is not a day but a moment when the sun seems to stand still. Many ancient cultures celebrate this holiday: Yule from Scandinavia (fires are lit to symbolize the heat given by the sun), and Dongzhi Festival from China that celebrates the return of the longer daylight hours and the balance of the yin and yan. Yalda from Iran where people seat together to eat and read until the early hours. And of course, the popular site Stonehenge in the UK where the sun’s rays pass through line up stones. Some believe that Stonehenge was built for the winter solstice.
Christmas 25th
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This holiday is celebrated worldwide by gathering with family and close friends. Other traditions vary from country to country. For example, in Latinoamerica, most Catholics gather at midnight mass and right after go home and enjoy a feast with family members. Gifts are placed under the tree days before December 24th to be open on Christmas eve. Gifts are given (by baby Jesus) mostly to the children. Other countries will celebrate Christmas on the morning of the 25th of December when Santa leaves the gifts under the Christmas tree. Many aspects from the Winter Solstice and the St Nicholas Day celebrations were incorporated into this celebration.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26th to January 1st. It was created by a professor of African studies at California State University, Maulana Karenga to celebrate the first fruits. The festival culminates in a communal feast called Karamu. The feast includes fruits, vegetables, nuts, and ears of corn. The celebration also includes certain symbols like a cup that signifies unity and seven candles in the African colors of red, green, and black. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the word First (Kwanza) in Swahili. It is an African American holiday not intended to replace Christmas but to celebrate seven principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Cooperative Economics, purpose, faith, creativity, and responsibility.
New Years
The most common celebration around the globe. We all celebrate with friends, and family by eating special foods or creating goals and resolutions for the new year. Some cultures have unique traditions to bring the good omen into the new year. Taking a bath of honey and flowers before the end of the old year, eating 12 grapes right at midnight and making wishes for the new year, walking around the block with a suitcase to travel, and finally, the most popular watching the final countdown to the new year to start. In Japan, it is celebrated as the Osaka where people cleanse their homes and eliminated the old year clutter. This tradition is very common in Latinoamerica too.
Dia de Reyes (3 Kings Day or Epiphany)
Mostly celebrated in Europe and in Latinoamérica. In Latinoamerica it is celebrated by eating a King’s Cake or Rosca which is an Oval Shape Bread with candied fruits which symbolize a crown. It some countries like in Mexico a small doll is hidden inside the rosca that represents baby Jesus. Very similar tradition in France were they celebrate with a Gateau des rois, a sweet brioche bread cover with candied fruit and sugar. It is also celebrated by giving children gifts from the Wise Men. In the UK is a popular day for theater and plays. It is also celebrated with a delicious dense fruitcake.
Enjoy these holidays with friends and families around you and far in the distance too. We always learn new customs from each other.
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