December

Bodhi - Buddhist Holy Day - Dec. 8th Lesson

Bodhi Day is the Buddhist Celebration associated with Siddhartha Gautama reaching Nirvana (enlightenment) and becoming the Buddha. Although the date changes in certain countries, this is typically celebrated on December 8th. Celebrations of the holiday are typically private opportunities for meditation. Some Buddhists decorate a Bodhi (fig) Tree with lights to commemorate the tree under which Siddhartha meditated when reaching enlightenment.

Hanukkah - Dec. 14th - 22nd Lesson

Hanukkah, also spelled Hanukka, Chanukah, or Chanukkah, is a Jewish festival that begins on Kislev 25 in the Jewish Calendar(usually in December). This holiday is also referred to as the Feast of Dedication, Festival of Lights, or the Feast of Maccabees, and is celebrated for eight days. The holiday commemorates the victory of the Maccabean Army over the Seleucid Army and the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem that followed.

Hmong New Year - Dec. 26th - Dec. 29th Lesson

For the Hmong community, the New Year is a special time in which they honor the fruitfulness of the past year while celebrating the next that is to come. The sole purpose of the New Year is to cleanse your spirit away from anything bad that has happened that year, or any bad spirits. Traditionally the Hmong New Year is held for 30 days and is filled with dancing, eating and entertainment. The Hmong New Year was initially celebrated in Laos, China and Thailand, but through generations of movement and immigration, the New Year has continued as an important cultural holiday for Hmong communities worldwide.

Kwanzaa - Dec 26th - Jan 1st Lesson

Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach, created Kwanzaa in 1966. After the Watts riots in Los Angeles, Dr. Karenga searched for ways to bring African Americans together as a community. He started to research African “first fruit” (harvest) celebrations. Karenga combined aspects of several different harvest celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, to form the basis of Kwanzaa. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili. Each family celebrates Kwanzaa in its own way, but celebrations often include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large traditional meal. On each of the seven nights, the family gathers and a child lights one of the candles on the Kinara (candleholder), then one of the seven principles is discussed.