Holiday traditions
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December 14, 2009 • Shealyn Golden, Reporter
Filed under 2009-2010
What do you really know about the holidays celebrated in December? Do you know why we have Christmas trees? Do you know how Kwanzaa started? Keep reading to find out these fun facts, and more!
Almost all of us are aware of Christmas. Christmas is the Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is celebrated by going to mass, getting together with family and friends, and by many people decorating a pine tree and giving presents.
Did you know that evidence suggests that Christ was actually born in the spring? The celebration of his birth was supposedly moved so that early Christians wouldn’t be persecuted by the pagans.
Did you know that the image of Santa Claus first became popular in 1823 when A Visit from St. Nicholas (better known as The Night Before Christmas) was published?
Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday of lights. It lasts eight days. The holiday celebrates a one-day supply of oil lasting for eight days. During the festival a menorah is lit for each of the eight miraculous days. It is celebrated like many holidays are, by much feasting on foods that are typically fried in oil. Gifts, of varying significance, are given out on each of the days.
Kwanzaa is the African-American festival that celebrates family life and unity. The festival runs from December 26 through January 1. During Kwanzaa, a candle holder, called a Kinara, is lit. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966, and was created largely because the African-American community felt that a holiday to celebrate heritage was exactly what was needed.
St. Lucia day is celebrated in Sweden. To celebrate the third century saint, girls dress up as Lucia Brides. They usually wear long white gowns, red sashes and wreaths of burning candles on their heads. The eldest girl in the house usually wakes up her family by singing songs, and then she will bring coffee and twisted saffron buns called Lucia cakes.
While some holidays and festivities are less known, it is always good to become acquainted with different cultures and ideals.
To end with a few fun facts: did you know that December 4 was Santa’s List Day? And get ready to celebrate National Chocolate Covered Anything Day on December 16, as well as National Fruit Cake Day on December 27. After all, if holidays and appointed days give us anything, it is an excuse to celebrate. And a diverse culture like ours, gives us plenty of reason to take part of the festivities.
