Since December is typically a very busy holiday month for just about everyone, we thought we would devote this issue
of the LGN to the understanding of three of these holidays. They will be listed in order by the date or the starting
date of the holiday.
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25th that commemorates the birth
of Jesus of Nazareth. The date of commemoration is not
known to be Jesus’ actual birthday, and may have initially
been chosen to correspond with either a historical Roman
festival or the winter solstice. Christmas Day marks the
beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which
lasts twelve days and ends on January 5th.
Hanukkah (Also called Chanukah)
Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration commemorating the
military victory of the Jewish Maccabees over the GreekSyrians. Hanukkah also commemorates the re-dedication
of the Second Temple in 164 BCE.
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days. This year it will
start Saturday, the 12th of December and will continue for
8 days until Saturday, the 19th of December. Note that in
the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the
previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Hanukkah
on the sunset of Friday, the 11th of December.
A Menorah, or a candelabrum is lit one at a time for
eight nights. On the last day of Hanukkah all the candles
are therefore lit. While the candles are being lit chants
are sung and blessings are recited. Afterward, families
can sit down to a prepared meal, play games or exchange
gifts. Other customs include spinning the dreidel (a top
with Hebrew letters on the sides), eating “oily” foods like
potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly donuts), and
giving Chanukah gelt (coins) to children.
- taken from Wikipedia
Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church
celebrations, the exchange of cards, and the display
of various decorations—including the Christmas tree,
lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes, and holly. Santa Claus
(also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two
figures have different origins) is a popular mythological
figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas for
children. Santa is generally believed to be the result of a
syncretization between Saint Nicholas and elements from
pagan Nordic and Christian mythology, and his modern
appearance is believed to have originated in 19th century
media.
Christmas is celebrated throughout the Christian population, but has also recently come to be celebrated by many
non-Christians as a secular, cultural festival. Because
gift-giving and several other aspects of the holiday involve
heightened economic activity among both Christians and
non-Christians, Christmas has become a major event for
many retailers.
- taken from Wikipedia
Other December
Dates to Remember
December 7th - Pearl Harbor Day
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is based on the Nguzo Saba (seven guiding
principles), one for each day of the observance, and is
celebrated from December 26th to January 1st.
Kwanzaa is an African American celebration with focus
on the traditional African values of family, community
responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement. Kwanzaa
is neither political nor religious and despite some misconceptions, is not a substitute for Christmas. It is simply a
time of reaffirming African-American people, their ancestors and culture. Kwanzaa, which means “first fruits of the
harvest” in the African language.
Kiswahili has gained tremendous acceptance. Since its
founding in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa
has come to be observed by more than18 million people
worldwide, as reported by the New York Times. When
establishing Kwanzaa in 1966, Dr. Karenga included an
additional “a” to the end of the spelling to reflect the
difference between the African American celebration
(kwanzaa) and the Motherland spelling (kwanza).
Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households
with objects of art, colorful African cloth, especially the
wearing of kaftans by women, and fresh fruits that represent African idealism. A Kwanzaa ceremony may include
drumming and musical selections, libations, a reading of
the “African Pledge” and the Principles of Blackness, reflection on the Pan-African colors, a discussion of the African principle of the day or a chapter in African history,
a candle-lighting ritual, artistic performance, and, finally,
a feast (Karamu). The greeting for each day of Kwanzaa is
“Habari Gani,” which is Swahili for “What’s the News?”
At dawn on Sunday, December 7, 1941, naval aviation
forces of the Empire of Japan attacked the United States
Pacific Fleet center at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and other
military targets. The goal of this attack was to sufficiently
cripple the US Fleet so that Japan could then attack and
capture the Phillipines and Indo-China and so secure access
to the raw materials needed to maintain its position as a
global military and economic power.
December 10th – Human Rights Day
On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the
United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Following this historic act the
Assembly called upon all Member countries to publicize the
text of the Declaration and “to cause it to be disseminated,
displayed, read and expounded principally in schools and
other educational institutions, without distinction based on
the political status of countries or territories.”
December 14, 1911 – South Pole Discovered
The South Pole was discovered by Roald Amundsen leading
a Norwegian expedition.
December 16, 1773 – Boston Tea Party
December 17th – Wright Brothers Day
Wright Brothers Day commemorates the Wright brothers’
first successful flight in a heavier-than-air, mechanically
propelled craft, accomplished on December 17, 1903, near
Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
December 31st – New Year’s Eve
- taken from Wikipedia
Warm Wishes
For a Wonderful Holiday Season
And a Very Happy New Year
From All of Us at
Onofrio Construction