(A look at the holidays that are celebrated from late November to the New Year)
As Thanksgiving ends those in the United States many begin their celebrations and preparations for the holiday season. Although Christmas is a holiday that has been widely spread and commercialized across the globe to the point that many other holidays are forgotten about or ignored on a global scale. There are 17 holidays that are celebrated during the holiday season. Let’s take a look at each of these holidays, when you can expect them to be celebrated, as well as where they are celebrated, and how they are celebrated
Diwali
India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka
November 12th Hindu
Although the date of this holiday has passed, many people around the world believe that the true start of the holiday season begins at the beginning of November rather than at the end. Therefore Diwali, the South Asian celebration lights the holiday that truly kick-starts the holiday season for many around the world.
This holiday celebrates the triumphs of light or darkness which is a representation of good vs evil. To celebrate this holiday those who practice Hinduism will decorate their homes in many lights. In fact, in the countries of India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, millions of lights illuminate the country during the Holiday.
Ashura
Global
December 5th Muslim
Ashura is a holiday that is celebrated by the largest group of Muslims, also known as Sunnis. During this holiday Muslims pay their respects to the Prophet Mohammad, and remember that he fasted with the Jews in solidarity during their celebration of Yom Kippur, which is the day of Atonement for those who practice Judaism. Although Yom Kippur is not considered to be a part of the winter holiday season it is still an important holiday that should be recognized when it does happen.
On this day, Shiites, another group of Muslims, recall the death of Mohammad’s grandson during a battle which was what led to the division of the two religious subgroups. Although many of the holidays during the winter season are considered to be bright and colorful, the holiday of Ashura is considered to be a day of mourning for those who practice the Muslim faith.
Krampusnacht (Krampus Night)
Germany and Eastern Europe
December 5th Christian
Krampusnacht is another name for the holiday known of St. Nicholas Day Eve, in which during the night before St. Nicholas Day the Christmas Devil, who goes by the name of Krampus, punishes and terrorizes children who had been bad, while the children who had been good are left alone to be rewarded by St. Nicholas the next day.
St. Nicholas Day
Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg
December 6th Christian
St. Nicholas is a man who is considered to be the inspiration behind the idea of Santa Claus. He is celebrated as the man who sold off all of his worldly possessions in order to give to those who were in need. He is remembered and celebrated as a man who changed the known world through his generosity. On this holiday St. Nicholas and his generosity are celebrated through the giving of gifts.
Bodhi Day
Global India
December 8th Buddhist
Bodhi Day is a holiday celebrated by those of the Buddhist faith in which they remember Siddhartha Gautama, who sat under a tree and refused to rise until he reached the point of enlightenment. The title Buddha is often misconstrued to mean god, however, in reality, it means “awakened one” or “enlightened one”. It is often believed that anyone who practices the Buddhist faith has the ability to become a Buddha. On Bodhi Day the Buddhist community celebrates the holiday by participating in meditation, studying the dharma which is their universal truth, chanting the sutras, and of course performing acts of kindness.
St Lucia
Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Global
December 13th Christian
In the countries of Italy, Croatia, Hungary, and those with Scandinavian heritage across the world remember the young St. Lucia, who was a young woman who was said to have consecrated her life to god, and served the poor. She was martyred or killed for her religious beliefs during the Diocletian persecution. To honor her on this day families will dress up the young girls in the home in white with candle lit wreaths adorning their heads. These girls will then be tasked with serving baked goods such as gingerbread.
Las Posadas
Global
December 16th-24th Christian-Latinx
This holiday initially began as a way to share holiday traditions with the native people. Las Posadas is an 8-day-long celebration celebrated by mostly the Latinx community. It is an 8-day-long religious holiday that is meant to represent the 9 months of the virgin Mary’s pregnancy with Jesus Christ, as well as the journey that Joseph and Mary went on as they traveled to find a safe place to go and give birth. One of the biggest parts of Las Posadas holiday traditions is the procession of carolers that is led by a small child who has been dressed as an angel. There are also tons of food, drinks, and of course games and pinatas during this holiday as well.
Hanukkah (Chanukah)
Global
December 18th-26th Judaism
Hanukkah or Chanukah if you wish to use the more traditional spelling of the holiday name, is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the miracle in which the menorah was lit with only enough oil to last a single day, only to have it last 8 days in total. This festival is also known as the Jewish Festival of Light and is celebrated by the Jewish community around the world.
During these 8 days, a candle will be lit on the menorah each night. There are also songs that are sung, stories that are told, presents given, as well as a variety of foods. Most notable are the foods that are fried in oil, such as potato pancakes and donuts known as sufganiyot.
Winter Solstice, Toji, Dongzhi Festival
Global
December 21st
The winter solstice is known as the longest night of the year, and while there are three names listed here, these are all essentially the same holiday as while they may have some cultural differences depending on the place they still celebrate the same thing, the slow start of the returning sun.
In Japan, where it is called Toji, the winter solstice coincides with a tradition of taking a hot bath that has been infused with citrus fruits such as yuzu. In China, people eat desserts that are made with glutinous rice, ground nuts, sugar, and lard.
Yule
Global
December 21st-Jan2nd Pagan/Germanic
Yule is a pagan holiday that celebrates the rebirth of the sun over the course of 12 days. Many of the things that we generally associate with being Christmas traditions are originally Yule-based traditions. These include the Yule log, decorating with mistletoe, making wreaths, decorating “Yule” trees, exchanging gifts with loved ones, and more.
Yule is celebrated during this time by exchanging gifts, spending time with loved ones, eating delicious foods, and participating in deep spiritual reflection.
Christmas
Global
December 25th
Christmas is a holiday celebrated all around the world in many different forms and aspects. Christmas is often defined as the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Although it is labeled as a Christian Holiday there are many around the globe who celebrate Christmas but do not celebrate it with the Christian faith in mind. For example, many people celebrate the holiday without going to church. In some Asian countries such as Japan, Christmas is celebrated by giving gifts to young children from Santa Claus and eating a meal of fried chicken with the family. Some even say that the celebration of Christmas today is actually an amalgamation of multiple holidays and celebrations that essentially became one major holiday over the years.
Boxing Day
United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
December 26th
This holiday was initially created as a day in which those who were considered to be servants or those in the lower income brackets could receive gifts from those higher up. However, as time has essentially made this sort of practice obsolete it has since evolved into a holiday that focuses on shopping, watching and playing sports, as well as spending time with friends and family.
Zartosht No-Diso
Iran, Global
December 26th Zoroastrian
Although the religion is relatively small, the Zoroastrian religion is a recognized religion with about 100 to 200,000 members worldwide. This holiday is a celebration of the prophet Zoroaster, who founded the religion and ultimately challenged the already ancient traditions that have already existed in the Iranian religion.
Kwanzaa
United States
December 26th- January 1st
Kwanzaa is a holiday that was created to honor the culture of African Americans and is celebrated from December 26th to the first of January. The holiday was first initiated by the professor and chair of black studies at the California State university in 1966. Maulana Karenga observed the holiday and held a Karamu feast on the 6th day of the holiday. This holiday includes eating foods from Africa, music, drumming, discussion of black history, reading of the African pledge, candle making, and of course a feast. This is a cultural celebration that is meant to connect black people who live in the United States with their heritage
Three Kings Day
Global
January 6th Christian
Three Kings Day is a day that commemorates the 12th day of the 12 days of Christmas. Celebrated on January 6th it is believed to be the day in which the 3 wise men or kings first saw baby Jesus. On this day those who celebrate celebrate the holiday by partaking in large feasts, exchanging gifts, and eating a special sweet bread in the shape of a crown that is called Rosca de Reyes
Eastern Orthodox Christmas
Global
January 7th Orthodox Christian
The reason Christmas is celebrated on this day is because they use the Julian Calendar in order to determine the date rather than the Gregorian Calendar. In Ethiopia, the holiday is observed with a 43-day-long fast leading up to the holiday itself. During the fast those who celebrate abstain from consuming meat, fish, dairy, wine, and olive oil. The fast is ended with a holiday vigil on Christmas Eve and is believed to be a way for Christians to prepare for the birth of Christ.
Lohri
India
January 11th Hindu
Lohri is considered to be the passing of the winter solstice in India and is considered to be a winter crop festival. During Lohri those who celebrate share the tale of Dulla Bhatti, who is remembered through the heroic actions of her father who rescued Punjabi girls from the fate of being forced into the middle eastern slave market. Lohri is celebrated by lighting bonfires, eating delicious foods, dancing, and giving and collecting of gifts. During the holiday people wear their most brightly colored clothes and dance to bhangra music.
Thai Pongal
India
January 15th-18th Hindu
Just as some celebrations follow the Gregorian calendar, and some follow the Julian calendar, there are some religions that use the Tamil Calendar in order to determine the dates of their celebrations. Thai Pongal is a harvest festival that is celebrated during the 10th month of the Tamil Calendar, as a way to welcome the sun god after winter. During the month of Thai, farmers can expect an excellent harvest of many crops including sugarcane, rice, and turmeric.
Although Christmas gets the majority of attention due to its widespread and commercialization it is important to recognize the many cultures as well as holidays that are spread across the globe.
An Increase in Multicultural Celebrations
As the world gets “smaller” there is an increasing number of individuals and families who are incorporating these holiday celebrations into their own lives. Also, more people are becoming more open to sharing that their holidays are a precious and valuable part of their lives. One important outcome of this is the development of broader cultural literacy. That’s something that has earned the attention of business leaders, and will likely influence marketing and operational decisions in the future. For example, this app allows users to state a variety of preferences and data relating to personal and cultural identity to inHily Appclude holidays celebrated.