A look at winter holidays

Brea BarthelRPI’s Advising & Learning Assistance

CenterRevised 12/4/2013

Q: How many different winter holidays are there?

A: Lots! Winter solstice Christmas (and “Little Christmas”) Hanukah (or “Chanukah”) Kwanzaa New Year’s Day

Happy solstice!

Usually solstice is on December 21st or 22nd

The shortest day of the year (in Northern hemisphere; longest in Southern hemisphere)

Celebrates the coming of the light with “evergreen” trees and “yule logs” (big fires)

Mistletoe tradition: you can kiss anyone standing under this plant

Celebrates a natural phenomenon: predates Christianity

“Merry Christmas” Usually celebrated on December 25

Celebrated on January 6 (“Little Christmas” or “Three Kings Day”) in some religions

Colors: bright red and bright green

Three aspects

Religious holiday: Christ’s birthday

Domestic holiday: family get-together

Commercial holiday: gifts & decorations

Religious (Christian) holiday Birthday of Jesus Christ, “the Son of God,” by Mary,

the mother of Jesus

Tradition has Christ born in a “manger” (a box for feeding animals)

A bright star overhead led “The Three Wise Men” (or “Three Magi”) from Africa to the manger

Angels sang to the shepherds

“Nativity” scene (or “creche”) usually shows a manger, Mary, Joseph (her husband) & infant, plus angels, camels, shepherds, more

Drawing: <http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/christmaspage.html>

Christian celebrations & songs

Celebrating “Advent” the 4 weeks before

Going to “midnight Mass” Christmas Eve (12/24)

Singing religious “Christmas carols”

“Silent Night”

“Joy to the World”

“Oh come, all ye faithful”

“The first Noel”

…and many more

Christmas as a domestic holiday: family & winter celebration

Santa Claus (loosely based on St. Nicholas) flies to every house in his sled pulled by reindeer

“Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman” (1950s songs)

“Christmas trees,” house lights & decorations

“Christmas cards” or holiday cards

Candy canes & snowflakes

Christmas cookies!

Famous poem “A Visit from St. Nick” was first published in a Troy NY newspaper.

“A Visit from St. Nick” (12/23/1823)

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all thro' the house, Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there…

As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound: He was dress'd all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnish'd with ashes & soot…

Christmas as a commercial holiday

Total 2012 US holiday retail sales? $579.5 Billion http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=Pages&sp_id=1140

Biggest shopping day: “Black Friday” Black Friday spending in 2013: $57.4 Billion

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-12-02/black-friday-weekend-spending-drop-pressures-u-s-stores.html

“Cyber Monday”: $1.7 Billion in 2013http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/12/03/us-usa-retail-shoppertrak-idUSBRE9B000020131203

Biggest shopping week: the last week before Christmas (33% of Christmas sales)

Estimated average gift sales, 2011: $740(http://www.gallup.com/poll/150737/consumers-holiday-spending-intentions-perk-november.aspx

Happy Hanukah! “Judaism” predates Christianity; shared history

in “Old Testament” (Bible; Christians added “New Testament”)

Judaism represented by 6-pointed “Star of David”

Hanukah, the “festival of lights,” occurs in December or late November (lunar calendar).

Celebrates that a small bit of lamp oil lasted 8 days, helping Jews fend off a military attack

Minor holiday in Jewish tradition, but heavily promoted now as an alternative to Christmas

Colors: blue and white

Hanukah symbols “Menorah,” a 9-candle holder

A main candle is lit each night, then one more for each night of the celebration (so 1 more on 1st night, 2 more on 2nd night...)

“Dreidl,” a special spinning top that children use in games

Sacks of “gelt” (chocolate “coins” wrapped in gold foil)

Blue & white decorations

Happy Kwanzaa!

A new holiday invented in 1966 to strengthen African-American communities

Now celebrated by millions worldwide

Runs from 12/26 to 1/1 (seven days)

Each day celebrates a different value

Colors: red, green, and black

Drawing & more info: <http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm>

Seven “guiding principles” based on Swahili words

Umoja (Unity)

Kujichagulia (Self-determination)

Ujima (Collective responsibility)

Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)

Nia (Purpose; personal goals)

Kuumba (Creativity)

Imani (Faith in ourselves)

Drawing & more info: <http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm>

Happy New Year! January 1st starts a new year

Celebrated on New Year’s Eve (12/31) with parties, champagne, fireworks, noisemakers

“First Night” arts celebrations in some cities

“Dropping the ball” in NYC’s Times Square (estimated 1M on site)

“Making resolutions” (setting goals) for the new year

Colors: silver & gold (“precious metals” ) to show celebration

The best winter events for us…

Troy’s “Victorian Stroll” this Sunday, 11 am – 5 pmLots of activities, all over downtown(even bigger than Troy Night Out!)www.victorianstroll.com

Semester break!

Have a joyous break, and a great winter!