❄️ Happy Holidays, Mustangs! ☃️

By Sydney Morales Singer, Diya Jain, Kateryna Datsyshyn, Adit Kapadia, Purab Mehra, Atharv Karamcheti, Sammit Acharjee, Miraya Gupta, & Sophia Harleen Jassal-Cano

19 December, 2024

Every holiday season, millions of people around the world celebrate a special holiday. Some of the most well known holidays include Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, New Year’s Day, and Lunar New Year. A common theme among all of these is light, and after reading about each of them, you will see just how enlightening each one is.

Diwali, the festival of lights, is a celebration dating back to 527 B.C. Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit term "Deepavali," which means "row of lights." It is celebrated to acknowledge the victory of light over darkness. Diwali is celebrated over five days, normally falling between late October and early November, according to the Roman calendar. The exact dates vary each year, as they are determined by the Hindu calendar, specifically from the 13th day of the dark half of the lunar month Ashvina, to the second day of the light half of the lunar month Karttika. This year, Diwali fell between October 31 and November 1. Part of a much larger epic called the Ramayana, Diwali originates in Ayodhya, a city in Northern India. Rama, one of the princes of Ayodhya, was exiled to the jungle for 14 years by his evil stepmother Kaikeyi, who hoped that her son, Bharat, would be the king instead. After 14 years, the people of Ayodhya set up diyas (clay lamps) around the town to celebrate their beloved Rama coming back. Here are some ways students in MMS celebrate Diwali:

Atharv K: I celebrate Diwali by bursting fireworks and stuffing myself with sweets.

Yash S: I celebrate Diwali by having a party with my friends and family. We do puja and hang up diyas around the house.

Diya J: I celebrate Diwali by having family and friends over and putting diyas in every corner of the house. I was named after the diya since it symbolizes the light in the dark.

Purab M: I celebrate Diwali by stuffing myself with sweets, and Diwali sort of gives me an excuse to get out of work.

Aaroh M: I celebrate Diwali by bursting fireworks with my family.

Devansh M: I celebrate Diwali by bursting fireworks, lighting diyas, and eating sweets.

Adhvik J: I celebrate Diwali by doing puja and bursting fireworks.

Vivaan M: I celebrate Diwali by meeting family and doing puja.

Krishna S: I celebrate Diwali by having a party with my family and bursting fireworks.

Aditya P: I celebrate Diwali by eating sweets and bursting fireworks.

Rajasvi G: I celebrate Diwali by partying with friends.

Christmas marks the birthday of Jesus Christ and is celebrated on December 25th every year. It is the number one most celebrated holiday in the world, and is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike. The word Christmas is a shortened form of “Christ’s mass,” since many Christians go to church on Christmas. It was first observed around 336 CE, but the communities would debate the exact day Jesus was born. In the fourth century, the final date, December 25th, was chosen since it marked the winter solstice in the Roman empire and other church members agreed upon it. As much as it is a religious day, Christmas is equally a time for meeting loved ones and giving back. Christmas brings out the generosity and fun in everyone, through iconic activities like decorating a tree, singing carols, watching Christmas movies, opening gifts, building a gingerbread house, and finding the perfect Secret Santa gift. There are approximately thirty million trees harvested for Christmas every year in the United States. Common Christmas tree decorations include tinsel, ornaments, lights, garlands, bows, wreaths, and a star to top it off. Below the tree, it is believed that Santa comes through the chimney and leaves presents and eats the cookies. MMS wishes a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

How do you celebrate Christmas and what is one thing on your wishlist?

Richard Liang (Vis. Comm teacher): “We’re gonna hop around family to family celebrating Christmas dinner. [One thing on my wishlist is] a sewer pipe camera.”

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrated on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew Calendar. In the Gregorian Calendar, this can be any time between November and December. In 2024, Hanukkah will start on December 25th, (the same day as Christmas), and end on January 2nd, pouring into 2025. This is a rare occurrence and hasn’t happened in my lifetime ever before (the last time this happened was in 2005). In Hebrew, Hanukkah means dedication. The Festival of Lights celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple during the Maccabean Revolt. At this time, the Jews are said to have lit a seven-candle menorah, believing the oil would only last one day. Yet, a miracle happened and the menorah stayed lit for eight nights. To honor this, we light a menorah for each night of Hanukkah and many families also celebrate by gift giving. Another tradition is to play dreidel with gelt, a type of chocolate coin. Latkes, a potato pancake, are a popular dish eaten during this time, especially in Ashkenazi Jewish culture. Each family holds their own unique traditions to celebrate this special holiday and we are excited to share our vibrant culture a with you this year. Happy Hanukkah to all that celebrate! Have a great holiday season!

Student Interviews

I celebrate Hannukah by spending time with family and opening gifts. Also we light the menorah and put it in the window every night.
I celebrate Hannukah by going to my grandparents house every night.

Lunar New Year or Spring Festival is a celebration of the arrival of spring when all of the frost and snow are gone and the trees start to bloom. This year it starts on Wednesday January 29, 2025. This is the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar which is the calendar used in China, Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Mongolia. This holiday is the most important holiday for Chinese people. That’s because Lunar New Year’s history and background takes place in China. There are many legends associated with this holiday. One of the legends is that long ago, each year the dragon monster named Nian would attack villagers. But, the villagers found a way to fight it. The monster feared loud noises, bright lights, and the color red. The villagers used these against the monster, and people continue to celebrate the victory to this day. Actors dress as the bright red dragon and run and jump around with the loud music and dances. Different regions across Asia celebrate Lunar New Year using many different traditions, such as dancing and fireworks, and they may follow different zodiac signs. This year, 2025 is the year of the snake. During this special holiday, dancing is one of the most important activities to do. The Lion and Dragon dances are the vibrant expressions of hope, prosperity, and cultural pride which are most common in Chinese New Year celebrations. There are also many traditional foods associated with this holiday - even more than on Thanksgiving! Some of the most important ones are longevity noodles, whole steamed fish for abundance, dumplings with different flavors, and sticky rice balls for togetherness. Lunar New Year is a really fun holiday with lots of history, traditions and activities. For those who will celebrate, PEN peer leaders wish you the best Lunar New Year! Here are some students who were interviewed about their favorite thing in Lunar New Year:

Natasha Lan: “I like to spend time with my family. I love the food and when your relatives give you money”

Hebe Leung: “Spending time with friends and food”

Iris Chen: “I love the food and that’s the time when all family and friends meet each other”

Kwanzaa is a vibrant celebration rooted in African heritage, and is observed from December 26 to January 1. Created by Dr. Maluana Karenga, Kwanzaa served as a way for Africans across the globe to celebrate this occasion. The name “Kwanzaa” is derived from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanzaa” meaning “first fruits,” reflecting the holiday’s emphasis on the harvest and community. There are seven candles on the traditional Kanora, one representing each of the seven principles - Nguzo Saba - of Kwanzaa:

Umoja: unity of the race, community and family

Kujichagulia: self-determination and accountability

Ujima: collective responsibility in working together for the benefit of the community

Ujamaa: cooperative economics by working together to build businesses

Nia: purpose in remembering African and African-American history, customs and cultures

Kuumba: creativity in the community

Imani: faith in people

New Year’s Day has been celebrated for over 4,000 years now, having roots from the ancient Babylonians and Mesopotamians. On the day of the vernal equinox, or when daylight and nighttime was the same, the Babylonians took part in an eleven day ritual each year honoring the sky and sea gods. The festival often renewed or crowned a new King for the nation. Other civilizations such as the Romans and the Persians gave gifts and offerings to the gods. But in these nations, the day of the event often varied. This could mean a day on the lunar or solar calendar, or like the Egyptians, when the Nile River flooded, providing water and fertile soil for their crops. Some cultural activities still exist, like the New Year’s kiss and popping champagne bottles. Another tradition that is less common is eating exactly twelve grapes at midnight, which is performed in Spain. However, New Year’s traditions have evolved over time. In the United States, the famous Ball Drop occurs at exactly midnight on New Year’s Eve, celebrating the new year. The Ball Drop happens yearly in Times Square, and a 700 pound illuminated crystal ball is dropped when the clock ticks down to twelve o'clock. This has been a common holiday activity since the early 1900s. Even when people are unable to visit Times Square, this is recorded each year, providing a method to escape the massive crowds.

Sammit A: I countdown to midnight every time, and stay up late.

Jake L: I have fun with my friends late at night.

Allen Z: I eat lots of sweets and stay up until midnight.

Bryan J: I make resolutions for the new year.

Jacob R: I go to New York to watch the ball drop.

Alyson W: I stay up late and play games.

Yian D: I go skiing on New Years.

Arin P: I watch the ball drop at home.

Ben P: I stay up late and watch the ball drop.

Oliver L: I take part in many games and festivities.

Ramadan is ninth month of the Islamic calendar and is the holiest month for Muslims. In 2025, Ramadan falls between February 28 and March 29. During the month, people fast, pray, and reflect. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are the core beliefs all Muslims must follow. The fast, which is called sawm, involves not eating or drinking from dawn to sunset. It is meant to develop self-discipline, empathy for others, and closeness to Allah. It is also a time for increased devotion, as Muslims recite the Quran, engage in additional prayers, and perform more good deeds. There are more community gatherings, more gatherings with friends and family (iftar). There is also a meal to break the fast at every sunset, known as suhoor.

The last ten days of Ramadan are even more significant, especially a night known as the "Night of Decree,” or in Arabic known as Laylat al-Qadr, which is believed to be the night the Quran was revealed to Prophet Muhammad. Muslims believe that the prayers on this night are particularly powerful. To become even closer to Allah, Muslims often go to Makkah (Mecca), the holiest place in Islam, along with Medina.Traditional foods include dates, as they are used to break fasts. Additionally, people eat their local cuisine, such as biryani in India, hummus in the Middle East, and Kuih in Malaysia.

The holiday ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a festival that marks the end of the month-long fast. It is an occasion full of joy, gifts, and charitable acts (zakat). It is a reminder to be grateful, compassionate, and highlights the Muslim community around the world.

Adyaan Kibria: I celebrate Ramadan by fasting. I started fasting because it is said that you are to start fasting around 13.

Sources

Ramadan

Lunar New Year

Hanukkah

Diwali

Christmas