Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, celebrates the start of the new year according to the lunar calendar. It's celebrated in China and other Asian countries and starts with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends the first full moon. The lunar calendar is based on the moon cycles so the dates vary from year to year. There is a 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs and this year is the year of the Rabbit. The Rabbit is a symbol of peace and longevity and this year is predicted to be the year of hope. 

At the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas comes a day called the Epiphany, or Three Kings Day. This holiday is celebrated as the day the three wise men first saw baby Jesus and brought him gifts. On this day in Spain, many children get their Christmas presents. In Puerto Rico, before children go to sleep on January 5, they leave a box with hay under their beds so the kings will leave good presents. In France, a delicious King cake is baked. Bakers will hide a coin, jewel, or little toy inside.

For eight days each November or December, Jewish people light a special candle holder called a menorah. The purpose of this tradition is to remember an ancient miracle in which one day’s worth of oil burned for eight days in the temple. During Hanukkah, Jewish people also eat special potato pancakes called latkes, sing songs, and spin a top called a dreidel to win chocolate coins, nuts, or raisins.

Kwanzaa, which means “First Fruits,” is based on ancient African harvest festivals and celebrates ideals such as family life and unity. During this spiritual holiday, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, millions of African American people dress in traditional gowns, decorate their homes with fruits and vegetables, and light a candle holder called a kinara.