A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Winter Holidays Around the World
A Christmas Carol is a story that teaches universal themes, but does so in the context of the Christian tradition of the
celebration of Christmas. There are a great many more winter holidays, however, that are celebrated by a variety of
faiths and cultures in many different countries around the world. Here are just a few of them:
Winter Solstice
In the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice (historically known as Midwinter)
takes place on either December 21st or 22nd. In the Southern Hemisphere it
takes place on June 21st or 22nd. Astronomically, it marks the first day of winter
and is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In each culture the event
of Winter Solstice has a variety of meanings, but for many regions it represents
rebirth. New beginnings are celebrated at festivals, feasts and rituals. Popular
yearly holidays also take place during this time of year including Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years, Pongal and many other celebrations of light!
Kwanzaa
In 1966 Kwanzaa was created by a professor from Long Beach State University.
Kwanzaa means “fruits of the harvest” in Swahili. It is celebrated by African
Americans around the country as a reminder of their heritage. The holiday is
celebrated from December 26th to January 1st and involves seven principles
known as Nguzo Saba: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima
(Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia
(Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Seven candles called Mishumaa Saba are lit and placed in a Kinara (candleholder). The seven candles represent the Nguzo Saba (seven principles).
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the Jewish Holiday known as the festival of lights. Hanukkah
comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” and marks the re-dedication
and devotion of the Temple. The holiday takes place in Jewish homes for
eight days, usually in late November to late December. In 2009, it will take
place from December 12th — December 19th. On each night during Hanukkah a candle is lit on the menorah to represent the oil that miraculously
burned in the Temple lit for not one, but eight nights. The menorah is one
of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. Celebrations also involve big
feasts, traditional songs, gift giving and playing games such as dreidel.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Winter Holidays Around the World
New Year’s Eve/Day
January 1st marks the first day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. However, the New Year’s holiday exists in many cultures and not all of them take place on
January 1st. A variety of calendars (Roman, Lunar, Julian, Liturgical and the Sikh Nanakshahi calendar, to name a few) indicate the various times throughout the year
that people celebrate the beginning of a new year. In most traditions it is usually celebrated with the mentality of “out with the old, in with the new, lets celebrate!” Here
in America, we celebrate with fireworks at midnight, parties and memorable New
Year’s resolutions to fulfill in the coming year. Not only is New Year’s Day a holiday,
but in modern times, New Year’s Eve has proven to be the real celebration!
Tet
Tet is the first morning of the first day of the Vietnamese New Year which is based on the
Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrations usually occur around the end of January or early
February. It is similar to its counterpart, Chinese New Year. Holiday foods are cooked,
houses cleaned, families visited and the troubles of the past are forgotten as the new
year approaches. Traditionally, Tet symbolizes the beginning of Spring.
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
In Eastern Orthodox religions the Julian calendar is followed, versus the Gregorian
calendar (the calendar used in North America). The Julian calendar is set thirteen
days behind our standard calendar, which means those who observe a traditional
Eastern Orthodox Christmas celebrate not on December 25th, but on the 7th of January. Lent, or fasting, ends on this day, as it begins forty days earlier on the First Day of
Advent. On Christmas Eve, the celebration includes attending mass and honoring the
birth of Christ, as well as blessing friends and family. Traditionally, gifts were not exchanged, however it has now become more common.
Bodhi Day
Every year on December 8th, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, which is in honor of Buddha
and his discovery of the meaning of life. Sitting under a Bodhi tree, Buddha, the Enlightened
one, came up with the principles that Buddhists follow, such as showing compassion for
other human beings and living life in moderation. Buddhists share the message of appreciation for others and inner happiness.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Winter Holidays Around the World
Ramadan
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is
the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating,
drinking, smoking and other vices during daylight hours and is intended to teach
Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God. Muslims
fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to offer more prayer than usual. Compared to the
solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days
each year depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the
Gregorian calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an important month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which
the first verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.
Eid al-Adha
The Feast of Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s compliance
with Allah by sacrificing his son, Ismail. Avoiding the temptation of the devil, Ibrahim and his son made the journey to Mina for the sacrifice. When the sacrifice was
about to take place, Allah gave him a sheep to give up instead of his son. The celebration lasts for three days and includes the annual Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca in
which millions of Muslims take part. Feasting and plenty of celebration takes place
during this joyous occasion.
Diwali
Marking the last harvest before winter, Diwali is a major holiday in faiths originating in India and Nepal: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and also by some Buddhists. It is related to wealth and money, as businessmen often close bank accounts to begin a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi, is thanked on this day and everyone prays for a positive year
ahead. It is celebrated across the globe as the “Festival of Lights” where the
lights symbolize good over evil in every human being.
Hogmanay
This is a Scottish word which means “the last day of the year” and is basically
celebrating the New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar, in the Scottish
way. It begins on the night of December 31, lasting all through the night and
carrying on until the 'Ne'erday' or January 1, and sometimes even carrying on to
January 2, which is a bank holiday in Scotland.
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A CHRISTMAS CAROL
Winter Holidays Around the World
Shichi-Go-San
This Japanese festival, the name of which literally means "Seven-Five-Three." On
Nov. 15 or the closest weekend; a celebration for girls 3 and 7 years old and boys 3
and 5 years old, evolved from designated milestones of childhood. The children
dress in their best clothes-traditionally kimonos but often western clothing-and
pray at shrines to ensure futures free of sickness and misfortune. They are given
chitose-ame, or thousand-year candy, in long white paper bags covered with symbols of luck and longevity. This is the most auspicious day of the year according to
the Chinese calendar, but it is not a national holiday, and is celebrated out of tradition.
Ta Chiu
Ta Chiu takes place in Hong Kong and other parts of China. It is a Taoist
festival that takes place on December 27th and celebrates renewal, peace
and goodwill. The Tao people get together to summon gods and ghosts
of their ancestors collectively, to ensure a fulfilled new year. When the
celebrations and festivities come to an end, the local priests read each
townsperson’s name out loud. The priests attach the list of names to a
paper horse and burn it. The smoke from the burned paper is said to flow
up to the heavens so they will be remembered by the gods.
Mardi Gras
The term Mardi Gras actuallymeans 'Fat Tuesday' in French. It occurs one day
prior to Ash Wednesday, and is also known as 'Pancake Day' or 'Shrove Tuesday'. Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival, which begins twelve days after
Christmas, hence is also referred to as Twelfth Night, which falls on January 6
and ends on Mardi Gras day, exactly forty-six days before Easter. Some of the
cities that most famous for celebrating Mardi Gras are: Rio de Janeiro in Brazil:
New Orleans in Louisiana; Italy; and Venice.
St. Lucia Day
This is a winter holiday celebrated on December 13 in Sweden in honor of St. Lucia,
who lived in the third century and is regarded as the patron of light. Young girls bedeck themselves in white colored long dresses with red sashes, and wear a wreath
made of lit candles on their heads. They sing songs in order to wake their families up
and bring them twisted saffron buns, known as 'Lucia cats' and coffee.
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