It’s (almost) time to celebrate Hanukkah and other holidays around the globe
By LOGAN MERIWETHER, Student Reporter
As we enter into December, many people begin to get excited for Christmas time and Santa Claus.
For others, December holds in store different celebrations. Different countries and religions have different ideas for Christmas and holidays in December.
Starting with the most widely known holiday, Christmas is celebrated in America with Christmas trees, lights and dreams of snow. Australia’s Christmas falls during the summer months. Australians celebrate Christmas by going camping or having a party on a beach. Rather than having a tree, Australians decorate a Christmas bush, which has small, green leaves and flowers that turn red during the summer. In Iceland, the capital city, Reykjavik turns into a winter wonderland.
Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration that commemorates the Second Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt. Those who took part in the re-dedication witnessed what they believed to be a miracle. Even though there was only enough untainted oil to keep the menorah’s candles burning for a day, the candles continued to burn for eight nights. Hanukkah begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew Calendar. On each night, another candle is lit. Typically, blessings are recited, and Hanukkah foods such as potato pancakes and jam-filled donuts are consumed.
Kwanza was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. Families celebrate Kwanza in their own ways, but most celebrations involve music and dancing, African drums, storytelling, poetry reading, and a large meal. On each of the seven nights, families gather, and a child lights a candle. An African feast called Karamu takes place Dec. 31.
Boxing Day starts on Dec. 26. It is celebrated in the United Kingdom and was started in the Middle Ages. On this day, alms boxes – collection boxes for the poor often kept in churches – were open and their contents were distributed. This tradition still happens in some areas. It was also the day servants were given the day off to celebrate with their families.
Ōmisoka, New Years Eve, is considered the second most important Japanese holiday. Families gather one last time in the old year to have a bowl of toshikoshi-soba, a tradition based on eating the long noodles to cross over from one year to the next. At midnight, many visit shrines or temples. Shinto shrines prepare Amazake to pass out to crowds, and most Buddhist temples have large bells that are struck once for each of the 108 earthly desires.