Holidays Around the World

By Aubrey Andrade

Holidays are meaningful times dedicated to festivals or leisure activities. In the United States, the holiday season typically starts the day after Thanksgiving. It ends after New Year’s Day, including celebrations such as Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Saint Nicholas Day.  These holidays are significant as they help build strong bonds between families and communities through traditions, not connecting us to our history and enabling us to celebrate generations of family.

New Year's Eve, which falls on December 31st, marks the end of the year and the beginning of the new one. People usually celebrate and welcome the upcoming year with a champagne toast while exchanging good wishes for a “Happy New Year.” Staying up late and bidding farewell to the old year is customary. People stay awake until midnight and count the seconds until the new year begins. Fireworks displays are typically organized in celebration, and people gather to watch them.

Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas Day, marks the end of the Advent season. Although the actual birth date of Jesus Christ is believed to be between 6 BC and 4 BC, Christmas has been celebrated in the church in Rome since the 4th century during the reign of Constantine. However, Christmas gifts are exchanged in most European countries on Christmas Eve. Additionally, some European countries and North American churches hold services on Christmas Eve, some beginning at midnight. Furthermore, many Hispanic people in Latin America and the United States celebrate Christmas on Dec. 24th as the end of Las Posadas. Christmas Eve is a day of celebration with family and friends, whether people are exchanging gifts, attending church, or celebrating Las Posadas.

Las Posadas (Spanish for “the lodging” or “dwelling”), is a holiday that commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary from Bethlehem to Nazareth in search of a place for Baby Jesus to be born. This holiday is celebrated in Latin America, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Latin America in the United States between December 16th and December 24th every year. 

During Las Posadas, people decorate their homes with lanterns, candles, and small lights to illuminate the interior. They also like to decorate the interior with branches, flowers, and other decorations. The celebration includes a procession with live music and children dressed as angels, Mary, and Joseph. Carols are sung, and at the end of the night, children break open a star-shaped piñata, symbolizing the seven-pointed star representing the Star of Bethlehem.

Diwali is a five-day-long festival that is from November 10th to November 14th that is celebrated in India. It is rooted in Hinduism and is honored by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. It is a festival of lights that symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. The celebration starts with Dhanteras, which marks the beginning of the Diwali festival. 

Choti Diwali, also known as Naraka Chaturdashi, is celebrated a day before Diwali and is believed to be the day when Lord Krishna destroyed the demon Naraka. Diwali day is the most important of the festivals, and it is celebrated by lighting diyas (lamps), performing puja (worship), and exchanging gifts with family and friends. 

The day after Diwali is celebrated as Govardhan Puja, and it is believed to be the day when Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan mountain to protect the people of his village from the wrath of Lord Indra. 

The last day of the festival is Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters. It is a day when sisters pray for the well-being of their brothers and apply tilak (vermilion) on their foreheads. Diwali is India's biggest and most important holiday, and it has become a national festival where people come together, celebrate, and strengthen their bonds with each other.

Hanukkah is a Jewish festival that lasts as long as eight nights and begins on the 25th day of Kislev. In 2023, Hanukkah will take place from December 7th to December 15th. Kislev is the ninth month of the Jewish calendar, according to biblical reckoning, and the third month of the civil year. It usually falls between November and December. Hanukkah is an important holiday in Judaism,  commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. 

The festival is celebrated by lighting candles on each day of the holiday. The lighting of the menorah, a candleholder, is an essential part of the celebration. Jewish people worldwide celebrate Hanukkah by lighting candles and spending time with family and friends.

Kwanzaa is a holiday created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga to celebrate history, values, family, community, and culture. Kwanzaa starts from December 26th to January 1st. The ideas and concepts of Kwanzaa are expressed in Swahili, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. The holiday has seven principles: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). 

Traditions associated with this holiday include lighting candles in a kinara to recognize the principles, placing one ear of corn for each child under the kinara, putting a fruit basket and a unity cup on the straw mat that holds the kinara, and having a lavish meal that celebrates cultural expression.

Bodhi Day is an important Buddhist holiday celebrated on December 8th, that commemorates the day when Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pai. The day is beheld through quiet meditation and prayer, and some Buddhists might decorate a Bodhi Tree with lights and statues of Buddha. After 49 days of meditating under a Bodhi tree, Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment and became known as the Buddha. 

For Bodhi Day, many Buddhists decorate a ficus tree to symbolize the Bodhi Tree. The tree is embellished with colored lights representing enlightenment and strung beads.

Three ornaments, representing the Three Jewels of the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, are a meaningful part of the tree decorations. The Buddha (the yellow jewel), the Dharma (the blue jewel), and the Sangha (the red jewel) are the Three Jewels or the Three Treasures of Buddhism.

Holidays are an essential part of our lives, providing us with the opportunity to take a break from our daily routines and engage in activities that promote relaxation and enjoyment. In the United States, the holiday season typically starts on the last Thursday of November,  which is Thanksgiving Day and extends till the first day of the new year, including celebrations such as Christmas, New Year's Day, and Saint Nicholas Day.

These holidays are significant as they help to build strong bonds between families and communities through traditions, connecting us to our history and enabling us to celebrate generations of family. For instance, Christmas is celebrated by exchanging gifts and spending time with family, while New Year's Day is a time to reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the upcoming one. Similarly, Saint Nicholas Day is dedicated to giving back to the community and spreading joy.

Moreover, holidays correspondingly have cultural and religious significance, allowing us to celebrate our diverse heritages and fostering understanding and respect for different cultures. Overall, holidays are more than just days off from work or school; they are an integral part of our lives that help us connect with others, celebrate our traditions, and foster a sense of community.