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Posted on December 01, 2011 by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), (1) Comments

‘Tis the Season: Holidays Around the World

This is without a doubt my favorite time of year. With family get-togethers, decorations, enormous feasts, parties and presents I look forward to Christmas all year. But Christmas isn’t the only holiday that will be celebrated this season in Jacksonville. Our city is full of communities that will celebrate traditions from around the world and as global citizens we celebrate with them. Here are just a few of the celebrations you might find locally during the winter months.

Christmas
Christians celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ. In the United States families often attend Christmas Eve church services and sing carols with friends and family. Around the world, families decorate the tree and home with bright lights, wreaths, candles, holly, mistletoe, and ornaments. (Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/)

Dia de los Santos Inocentes
The day of the Holy Innocents is celebrated in Spain on December 28 every year. It’s much like April Fools Day in the United States. According to the December Issue of Parent’s magazine, “children play inocentadas, harmless pranks like putting salt in the sugar bowl” (58).

Diwali, Hindu Festival of Lights
A Hindu Holiday like Christmas for Christians marks the beginning of the Hindu New Year and commemorates the triumph of good over evil. The holiday is celebrated by hanging lights, lighting candles, fireworks, and brightly colored paintings. (Source: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-17/story/hindus_begin_celebrating_diwali_the_festival_of_lights)

Eid Al Adha, the Festival of the Sacrifice
Eid Al Adha is celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate the willingness of the prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son for God. Like Easter for Christians, Muslims often get new clothes and share a grand feast with family and friends, Muslims or non-Muslims, as well as the poor members of the community. This year it fell on November 6 but changes with the lunar calendar each year. (More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2011/nov/06/eid-al-adha-in-pictures)

Hanukkah
Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, a holiday honoring the Maccabean victory over King Antiochus. For eight nights, Hanukkah is celebrated with prayer, the lighting of the menorah, and food. A menorah has nine candles, a candle for every night, plus a helper candle. Children play games, sing songs, and exchange gifts. This year Hanukkah will be celebrated December 20-28. (Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/)

Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a holiday to commemorate African heritage. Kwanzaa lasts a week during which participants gather with family and friends to exchange gifts and to light a series of black, red, and green candles, which symbolize the seven basic values of African American family life that are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Kwanzaa begins December 26 each year. (Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/)

St. Nicolas Day
According to the St. Nicolas Center countries that hold St. Nicolas in high esteem primarily give gifts on December 6th, not Christmas. “Parties may be held on the eve, December 5th, and shoes or stockings left for St. Nicholas to fill during the night. Children will find treats of small gifts, fruit or nuts, and special Nicholas candies and cookies. St. Nicholas gifts are meant to be shared, not hoarded for oneself”. (Source: http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/around-the-world/)

Three Kings Day
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 it. (Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/)

Winter Solstice
The Winter Solstice occurs around December 21st. It is the shortest day of the year. People all over the world participate in festivals and celebrations. Long ago, people celebrated by lighting bonfires and candles to coax back the sun. (Source: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/)


What’s missing? Add your favorite holiday traditions from any part of the globe. Post a comment below or send an email to Andrea at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)!

Comments

Commented on February 17, 2012 by How to Make a Cake
This is the first time i've ever heard about three kings day

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