Happy Holidays!

Christmas Time is here! We are all very excited to celebrate Jesus’ birth by giving each other presents and, for some, getting to spend time with family. We all know about Christmas, however, we don’t say “Happy Holidays!” for no reason. Other cultures and religions celebrate around this time too. So this holiday season, think outside of the Santa wrapped Christmas box, and appreciate all of the great holidays that are celebrated during the most wonderful time of the year! Here are five holidays that are also celebrated during the Christmas season!

1.Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that’s celebrated for eight days and nights. It begins on the 25th day of the Jewish month of Kislev. The Jewish calendar is based on the lunar cycle, so Hanukkah can fall anywhere from November 28th to December 26th. This holiday honors the rededication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem, that followed the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. People celebrate Hanukkah by lighting their menorahs, spinning dreidels, and eating delicious foods!

2.Kwanzaa

Around five million people in the United States celebrate Kwanzaa each year. Kwanzaa is a holiday that celebrate the African culture.It begins on December 26th and ends on January 1st, making it seven days long. On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, there is a big feast know as Kwanzaa Karamu. Gifts of Kuumba, creativity, are given to loved ones. Kwanzaa’s also celebrated through lighting the Kinara, performing and listening to traditional music and discussing African principles and history.

3.Winter Solstice

December means the holiday of Yule is coming! This is actually a Pagan holiday. It falls on December 21st, which marks the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. For Pagans,the winter solstice celebrates the rebirth of the sun because days get longer from then on out.

4.Las Posadas

This holiday is a little different from the others on this list, because it actually leads into Christmas. From December 16th through December 24th, Las Posadas is celebrated by some Hispanic families in the United States. The nine-day celebration begins with a procession. It often includes candles, songs and sometimes even people playing the parts of Mary and Joseph, who lead the parade. Every night of Las Posadas is celebrated with gifts, piñatas, song, parties, tamales and prayer.

5.Chinese New Year

The holiday is celebrated for 15 days. It begins on the first day of the lunar new year. The 15th day of the new year is the Lantern Festival. This is celebrated at night with a parade. Similar to the Winter Solstice, The Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and the beginning of Spring, and it is a time to be spent with family and loved ones, eating and enjoying time together.