Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that takes place from December tenth to December eighteenth this year. This eight-night holiday is also known as The Festival of Lights or Chanukah. It originates in events from around 200 BCE, when, according to the story, Jews rose up against their oppressors and retook Jerusalem. They only had enough oil to keep the menorah in the temple burning for one night, but it lasted eight nights hence the eight nights of celebration. Each night of Hanukkah a candle is added to the menorah and lit, traditional food is eaten, blessings and prayers are made, and some people give gifts to one another.

The winter solstice, December twenty-first, is the shortest day of the year and the day of many winter celebrations around the world. In Scandinavia, St. Lucia’s day celebrates light and giving. Girls wear candles on their heads like St. Lucia supposedly did while giving food to others. Dong Zhi is a Chinese celebration that welcomes the winter and the upcoming new year with family celebrations and food. In Japan, Toji is celebrated to focus on one’s health and wellness and may include taking special baths or eating pumpkin for good luck. It is even more important to farmers who hope for the return of the sun and a good harvest.

Boxing Day occurs on December 26 and is traditionally a day to give back to the less fortunate. It is most commonly celebrated in Britain and its former colonies such as Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. It gets its roots in Britain where servants were given the day after Christmas off to visit family and probably gets its name from the boxes that were left out to collect money for the poor. In modern times, Boxing Day is like Black Friday in the United States, where many stores have special deals and promotions in addition to the charitable nature of the day.

Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday that was created in 1966 to celebrate African culture and is steeped in symbolism. It was derived from many different African traditions and celebrations (usually involving harvest) and lasts from December twenty-sixth to January first. Each of the seven nights another candle on the Kinara is lit and one of the seven principles (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith) which are deemed central to African culture, is discussed. On the sixth day of Kwanzaa the Karamu, a large feast occurs and throughout the holiday celebrations may include singing, dancing, and storytelling.