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A Christmas Carol is a story that teaches universal themes, but does so in the context of the Christian tradition of the

celebration of Christmas. There are a great many more winter holidays, however, that are celebrated by a variety of

faiths and cultures in many diFerent countries around the world. Here are just a few of them:

Winter Holidays Around the World

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Winter Solstice

In the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice (historically known as Midwinter)

takes place on either December 21st or 22nd. In the Southern Hemisphere it

takes place on June 21st or 22nd. Astronomically, it marks the 7rst day of winter

and is the shortest day and longest night of the year. In each culture the event

of Winter Solstice has a variety of meanings, but for many regions it represents

rebirth. New beginnings are celebrated at festivals, feasts and rituals. Popular

yearly holidays also take place during this time of year including Christmas, Han-

ukah, Kwanzaa, New Years, Pongal and many other celebrations of light!

Kwanzaa

In 1966 Kwanzaa was created by a professor from Long Beach State University.

Kwanzaa means “fruits of the harvest” in Swahili. It is celebrated by African

Americans around the country as a reminder of their heritage. The holiday is

celebrated from December 26th to January 1st and involves seven principles

known as Nguzo Saba: Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima

(Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia

(Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Seven candles called Mishu-

maa Saba are lit and placed in a Kinara (candleholder). The seven candles rep-

resent the Nguzo Saba (seven principles).

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is the Jewish Holiday known as the festival of lights. Hanukkah

comes from the Hebrew word for “dedication” and marks the re-dedication

and devotion of the Temple. The holiday takes place in Jewish homes for

eight days, usually in late November to late December. In 2009, it will take

place from December 12th — December 19th. On each night during Ha-

nukkah a candle is lit on the menorah to represent the oil that miraculously

burned in the Temple lit for not one, but eight nights. The menorah is one

of the oldest symbols of the Jewish people. Celebrations also involve big

feasts, traditional songs, gift giving and playing games such as dreidel.

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Winter Holidays Around the World

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

New Year’s Eve/Day

January 1st marks the 7rst day of the year according to the Gregorian calendar. How-

ever, the New Year’s holiday exists in many cultures and not all of them take place on

January 1st. A variety of calendars (Roman, Lunar, Julian, Liturgical and the Sikh Na-

nakshahi calendar, to name a few) indicate the various times throughout the year

that people celebrate the beginning of a new year. In most traditions it is usually cel-

ebrated with the mentality of “out with the old, in with the new, lets celebrate!” Here

in America, we celebrate with 7reworks at midnight, parties and memorable New

Year’s resolutions to ful7ll in the coming year. Not only is New Year’s Day a holiday,

but in modern times, New Year’s Eve has proven to be the real celebration!

Tet

Tet is the 7rst morning of the 7rst day of the Vietnamese New Year which is based on the

Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrations usually occur around the end of January or early

February. It is similar to its counterpart, Chinese New Year. Holiday foods are cooked,

houses cleaned, families visited and the troubles of the past are forgotten as the new

year approaches. Traditionally, Tet symbolizes the beginning of Spring.

Eastern Orthodox Christmas

In Eastern Orthodox religions the Julian calendar is followed, versus the Gregorian

calendar (the calendar used in North America). The Julian calendar is set thirteen

days behind our standard calendar, which means those who observe a traditional

Eastern Orthodox Christmas celebrate not on December 25th, but on the 7th of Janu-

ary. Lent, or fasting, ends on this day, as it begins forty days earlier on the First Day of

Advent. On Christmas Eve, the celebration includes attending mass and honoring the

birth of Christ, as well as blessing friends and family. Traditionally, gifts were not ex-

changed, however it has now become more common.

Bodhi Day

Every year on December 8th, Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day, which is in honor of Buddha

and his discovery of the meaning of life. Sitting under a Bodhi tree, Buddha, the Enlightened

one, came up with the principles that Buddhists follow, such as showing compassion for

other human beings and living life in moderation. Buddhists share the message of apprecia-

tion for others and inner happiness.

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Winter Holidays Around the World

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Eid al-Adha

The Feast of Sacri ce, Eid al-Adha, commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s compliance

with Allah by sacri7cing his son, Ismail. Avoiding the temptation of the devil, Ibra-

him and his son made the journey to Mina for the sacri7ce. When the sacri7ce was

about to take place, Allah gave him a sheep to give up instead of his son. The cele-

bration lasts for three days and includes the annual Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca in

which millions of Muslims take part. Feasting and plenty of celebration takes place

during this joyous occasion.

Diwali

Marking the last harvest before winter, Diwali is a major holiday in faiths origi-

nating in India and Nepal: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and also by some Bud-

dhists. It is related to wealth and money, as businessmen often close bank ac-

counts to begin a new accounting year. The deity of wealth in Hinduism, God-

dess Lakshmi, is thanked on this day and everyone prays for a positive year

ahead. It is celebrated across the globe as the “Festival of Lights” where the

lights symbolize good over evil in every human being.

Hogmanay

This is a Scottish word which means “the last day of the year” and is basically

celebrating the New Year, according to the Gregorian calendar, in the Scottish

way. It begins on the night of December 31, lasting all through the night and

carrying on until the 'Ne'erday' or January 1, and sometimes even carrying on to

January 2, which is a bank holiday in Scotland.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which lasts 29 or 30 days. It is

the Islamic month of fasting, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating,

drinking, smoking and other vices during daylight hours and is intended to teach

Muslims about patience, spirituality, humility and submissiveness to God. Muslims

fast for the sake of God (Allah) and to oFer more prayer than usual. Compared to the

solar calendar, the dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days

each year depending on the moon; thus, a person will have fasted every day of the

Gregorian calendar year in 34 years' time. Muslims believe Ramadan to be an im-

portant month for the revelations of God to humankind, being the month in which

the 7rst verses of the Qur'an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

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Winter Holidays Around the World

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Shichi-Go-San

This Japanese festival, the name of which literally means "Seven-Five-Three." On

Nov. 15 or the closest weekend; a celebration for girls 3 and 7 years old and boys 3

and 5 years old, evolved from designated milestones of childhood. The children

dress in their best clothes-traditionally kimonos but often western clothing-and

pray at shrines to ensure futures free of sickness and misfortune. They are given

chitose-ame, or thousand-year candy, in long white paper bags covered with sym-

bols of luck and longevity. This is the most auspicious day of the year according to

the Chinese calendar, but it is not a national holiday, and is celebrated out of tradi-

tion.

Mardi Gras

The term Mardi Gras actuallymeans 'Fat Tuesday' in French. It occurs one day

prior to Ash Wednesday, and is also known as 'Pancake Day' or 'Shrove Tues-

day'. Mardi Gras is the last day of Carnival, which begins twelve days after

Christmas, hence is also referred to as Twelfth Night, which falls on January 6

and ends on Mardi Gras day, exactly forty-six days before Easter. Some of the

cities that most famous for celebrating Mardi Gras are: Rio de Janeiro in Brazil:

New Orleans in Louisiana; Italy; and Venice.

Ta Chiu

Ta Chiu takes place in Hong Kong and other parts of China. It is a Taoist

festival that takes place on December 27th and celebrates renewal, peace

and goodwill. The Tao people get together to summon gods and ghosts

of their ancestors collectively, to ensure a ful7lled new year. When the

celebrations and festivities come to an end, the local priests read each

townsperson’s name out loud. The priests attach the list of names to a

paper horse and burn it. The smoke from the burned paper is said to Eow

up to the heavens so they will be remembered by the gods.

St. Lucia Day

This is a winter holiday celebrated on December 13 in Sweden in honor of St. Lucia,

who lived in the third century and is regarded as the patron of light. Young girls be-

deck themselves in white colored long dresses with red sashes, and wear a wreath

made of lit candles on their heads. They sing songs in order to wake their families up

and bring them twisted saFron buns, known as 'Lucia cats' and coFee.