Getting ready for the upcoming holiday season is a great way we express ourselves and reconnect with family in our traditions. We find spirit among each other and create traditions and extend hospitality in the way we best know.
Page Contents
Why do we call it the Holiday Season?
The holiday season and festivities are all based on multiple holidays being celebrated at a similar time or timeframe to others. Quite a few countries have built on their concept of holiday to include a variety of cultures. It is not about celebrating one holiday, but multiple… including the New Year.
Thanksgiving Traditions
I touched on Thanksgiving throughout the world and there is plenty of notoriety to this holiday. I typically start my Thanksgiving my start off with a run to speed up my metabolism for all the food. I’ll then go to my family’s house and try to catch the end of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. We are constantly snacking as we aim for a meal around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. We will slowly make our way and polish off all the white meat from the turkey (seriously, we do this).
We then put a football game on the television, talk about Christmas traditions and fall asleep on the couch with a coffee in hand. The food coma hits us hard, and then we wake up to get dessert. This has been my typical Thanksgiving Day observances, but we have known to take up to a week of preparation for this major holiday.
Christmas Traditions
This holiday is another important one in my family. We typically have a Christmas eve present, some travel, and possibly some libations as we feel very merry in our holiday spirit. Even though this is a one-day observance in the United States, we find ourselves working with all of our families and satisfying the craving we have to meet each other in person as much as possible.
Or how about when it is time to transition to Christmas music? The great debate has ranged from when the department stores are decorating to sometime in November, or earlier. As a consumer of this holiday, I don’t think its viable until Santa crosses the line at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
If you do not celebrate this holiday, it is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Families will have a Christmas tree brought in their home (typically a pine or fir variety), they decorate the tree and exchange presents on Christmas morning. The gift they share with each other is a symbolism of Jesus as a gift to mankind, and also a way to share goodwill among each other. Not everyone celebrates with the symbolism, and if they don’t they think of it as a way to be generous and show love for other people.
Hanukkah Traditions
Hanukkah is not the same as Christmas, it is a celebration of a Jewish revolt against the Syrian-Greek oppression. This revolt was led by the Maccabees is a memory of how the light overcame the darkness. During this time, the temple did not have enough oil for their ceremonial lighting in the evening. To buy time, they would light each candle separately, and dedicate their time to God for protecting them during this time.
As a part of these observances, scripture is read, songs are sung, and food is served. To celebrate the holiday, oily foods are especially enjoyed. Also, playing dreidel (a spinning top) is played by children and adults alike.
This is a period of fun that some even refer to as “Eight Crazy Nights”. These days are celebrated on the Hebrew calendar date of 25 Kislev, having the period range anywhere between November and January on our calendar. Check out this link for the Festival of Light Dates for future years.
Kwanzaa Traditions
Kwanzaa was founded in 1966 in the United State by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Due to the cultural paradigm to the African Americans and African diaspora, they use this day as a means of remembrance and reflection on the seven principles. These days are celebrated from December 26 to January 1st.
The principles are labeled in the order of celebration: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujima, Ujamaa, Nia, Kuumba, and Imani. Or, unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith, respectively.
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a holiday that is mainly celebrated in the Great Britain commonwealth. This day has a history of the church giving boxes and money to the poor the day after Christmas. It is mainly considered a shopping or commemorative day that is like an extension of Christmas. It is to provide honor to those in need, or celebrate the things that are already owned. Since many people have received many new gifts that make us feel loved, we can pay the feeling forward and collect items and money that we no longer need.
In Conclusion
This time of year has many traditions celebrated throughout the world. It shares goodwill and generosity that makes many people feel loved and within their community. They celebrate times of hardship that were overcome in the past, creating a lasting memory of those events, and moving forward reminiscing about good and hard times and feeling grateful for what you have.
What did you like about these different traditions? What do you do differently in your home? If there is anything you would like to add, leave a comment below and let us know how we can continue to enjoy these holiday season.
