Tip 664: So Many Celebrations

For the Holidays: So Many Celebrations 

“Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music!”

No. No. Wait a minute. That’s the Three Dog Night song.

This is a time of celebration, but . . . what are we celebrating? 

Let’s talk. In chronological order: 

Hanukkah (November 28th through December 6th) celebrates the 167 BCE recovery of Jerusalem and the re-dedication of the Temple in the Maccabean Revolt. Those at the re-dedication only had enough untainted oil to light the menorah candles for one night, but the candles burned for eight days.

The celebration includes lighting a menorah—one candle added on each of the eight nights, reciting blessings, and eating traditional foods such as potato pancakes (latkes) and jam-filled donuts (sufganiyot). 

Festivus (December 23rd) is a secular holiday providing an alternative to the commercialism of the season. Created by author Daniel O'Keefe, it entered popular culture after it was featured in a 1997 Seinfeld episode. 

Christmas (December 25th) celebrates the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Complementing the religious significance is the cultural appearance of Santa Claus and Christmas trees. In the United States, children leave milk and cookies for Santa. In England, children leave mince pies and brandy for Father Christmas.

In Australia, Christmas comes during the summer, and it’s popular to go camping or to the beach during the holiday. Australians decorate a “Christmas Bush,” a native tree with small green leaves and flowers that turn red during the summer.

Boxing Day (December 26th) began in the United Kingdom as a day in the Middle Ages when the Church alms box was opened and the donations given to the poor. Servants were given the day off to celebrate with their families. 

It’s now a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries. 

Kwanzaa (December 26th through January 1st) is an African-American and pan-African seven-day holiday that celebrates family and community. Created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, the name comes from matunda ya kwana which means “first fruits” in Swahili. 

On each of the seven nights, a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara and the family discusses one of the seven principles: Umoja(Unity) Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia(Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).

Ōmisoka (December 31st) is the second-most important day in Japanese tradition: the final day of the old year and the eve of New Year’s Day, the most important day of the year. Families gather on Ōmisoka for one last time in the old year to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba or toshikoshi-udon, a tradition based on eating the long noodles to cross over from one year to the next. 

This is fascinating.

We love it. 

Have a beautiful holiday.