December Holidays
By Jillian Smoker, Grade 7
December is filled with many different holidays of different kinds. The three most known are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, but there are many more some people don't know about.
The Main Three Holidays:
December 18 - 26 - Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that is also called the "Festival of Lights'' and is celebrated for eight days. On the eight nights, the shamash candle is lit and from that point on is used to light an additional candle on the menorah each night. It is common to eat foods that are fried in oils, and people often eat potato latke (pancake) and the jelly-filled sufganiyot (doughnut).
December 25 - Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ who was believed to be the son of God. There are many different ways people celebrate Christmas. Many people go to church and light the fives candles on an advent wreath. Other towns have different traditions like setting up luminarias, which are bags filled with sand and lighted candles. A lot of people also celebrate by exchanging gifts and putting decorations inside and outside their houses.
December 26 - Jan 1st - Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an African holiday that is based on traditional African harvest festivals. During this holiday, seven candles are lit and seven symbols are placed around their home. It is also common for people to dress in unique clothing and decorate their homes with fruits and vegetables. Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning "first fruits."
Some Other Interesting Holidays:
December 5 - St. Nicholas Day
Many European countries celebrate St. Nicholas Day which celebrates St. Nicholas, who was a man who was determined to serve and help those in need. People give each other small gifts, candies, and riddles. In addition, children sometimes leave out their shoes along with some carrots and hay in hope that they would be filled with small gifts and treats from St. Nicholas.
December 13 - St. Lucia Day
St. Lucia Day is a Scandinavian holiday that is mostly celebrated in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland. This holiday is celebrated as a festival of light, and it was made in honor of St. Lucia, who was a Christian Martyr that was devoted to helping the poor. One girl from each town is chosen to represent St. Lucia wears a white dress and a wreath with candles on top of her head. With her, there is a procession of women wearing white dresses and men wearing white robes with stars covering pointed hats (they symbolize St. Stephen, another Christian Martyr).
December 16 - 24 - Las Posadas
Las Posadas is a religious festival that is celebrated in Mexico and parts of the United States. It celebrates the journey of Mary and Joseph as they tried to find a safe place to give birth to Jesus. Each night of this holiday, there is a procession of mainly kids dressed in gold and silver robes holding candles led by a child dressed as an angel. This procession goes to different houses and asks for lodging for Mary and Joseph, which is traditionally refused. At the end of each procession, mass is held and children break open piñatas in the usual shape of a star.
December 20 - 23 - Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day for the Southern Hemisphere. This event can occur anywhere between December 20 - 23 each year. To lure back the sun, some people light bonfires and candles. Many people around the world have different traditions for this event.
December 26 - Boxing Day
Boxing Day is celebrated in Great Britain and some Commonwealth countries and is traditionally shown by giving servants, tradespeople, and the poor gifts. The name was believed to have come from the collections of donations to help the poor. Since servants have to work on Christmas, they have their own observance of the holiday a day after. Many sporting events like fox hunting, rugby, and horse races also happen on this day.
*Please note that these traditions for each holiday vary depending on the region or household*
Citations:
https://iso.mit.edu/americanisms/three-cultural-holidays-in-december-in-the-u-s/
https://www.theedadvocate.org/december-global-holidays-2022-complete-list-of-winter-holidays/
https://www.eparenting.co.uk/celebrations/saint_lucia_day.php
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Las-Posadas
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Boxing-Day