Diwali

Interfaith / Hindu 

The five-day Festival of Lights, a New Year Festival, is one of the most popular holidays in South Asia and is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs and some Buddhists. Houses, shops, public places and shrines are often decorated with lights. These symbolize the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Sikhs celebrate this as Bandi Chchor Divas, or a day when Guru Hargobind Sahib freed many innocent people from prison. 

• Lighting of lamps and fireworks, cleaning and redecorating the home, gift-giving, feasts, street processions and fairs. 

• The third day is the main day of the festival with fireworks at night and a feast with family and friends. 

• Diwali’s significance and celebration varies across different religious traditions. 

• Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist practitioners are often lacto-vegetarian. 

• Jain cuisine is also lacto-vegetarian but excludes root vegetables. 

Hanukkah (Chanukah)

Jewish

Chanukah, which means dedication, celebrates the successful revolt that happened over 2,000 years ago against an oppressive regime that limited the rights of Jewish people and took over the  sacred Temple. When The Temple was re-taken and re-dedicated, a small amount of oil was expected to burn for a short time, but instead it burned for eight days, which is why Chanukah lasts eight days. 

• On the first night of Chanukah, and throughout the holiday, food fried in oil is eaten.

• People share meals with family and friends and play a game with a spinning top called a dreidel.

• A candelabra, known as a Chanukah menorah, is lit in the evenings after sundown. 

• Chanukah has several commons spellings: Chanukah, Chanukkah, Hanukah, and Hanukkah. 

• Meat and dairy are not eaten together. 

• Pork and seafood are not eaten. 

Christmas

Christian

Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, celebrate his birth on December 25. The precise date of his birth is unknown. Its occurrence in the late 1st century B.C. in Bethlehem is recorded in the Christian Scriptures (the Bible) in Matthew chapters 1-2 and Luke chapters 1-2. Christians believe the conception and birth of Jesus is how the Son of God became a human.  Christmas is also celebrated with a focus on Santa Claus. On Christmas Eve. Santa delivers presents to all of the children around the world.

• Food plays a major role in the festivities and cookie decorating as well.

• Colorful decorations, Christmas Trees, colorful lights, and the exchanging of presents is a major part of this holiday.

• Families often get together for meals and to give gifts.

Sankranti

Hindu

Sankranti is the passage of the sun from one zodiac constellation to the next in Indian astronomy and marks the change from one month to the next. Makar Sankranti celebrates the winter solstice, when the sun enters Makar rashi (Capricorn), starting its southern journey, and marking the beginning of longer days. In India and Nepal it is considered a spiritually important event, since we move away from darkness into light. 

• Food plays a major role in the festivities and might include til ladoo, puran poli and Makara chaula.

•  Feasts, colorful decorations, kite flying and sharing sweets are often part of the holiday. 

• Children go house to house, singing and asking for treats in some areas. 

• Hindu practitioners are often lacto-vegetarian.