Holidays: A Look Around the World
Linna Jones
Commentary Editor
The month of December brings families together for the celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and other holidays.
Holidays give people and families a chance to get together and remember their culture and ethnic past. Different groups celebrate in different ways and give the world diversity and culture that may not be seen anywhere else.
According to the-North-Pole.com, thirty-four countries celebrate Christmas. Each country celebrates Christmas in a different way. Some of the countries that celebrate Christmas include: Australia, Japan, Iran, Iraq and Nicaragua.
Many of the countries participate in some of the same tradition including decorating a tree, giving gifts, getting together with family and friends. In Australia they celebrate Christmas with family gatherings in backyards and picnics in the park, gardens and on the beach instead of a traditional dinner. Christians in Iran fast from eating meat starting Dec. 1 and after church service Dec. 25, they eat a dinner called the “Little Feast.”
Iraqi Christian Families gather together on Christmas Eve and one of the children read about the birth of Jesus while family members hold lighted candles. In Japan, people universally celebrate Christmas and adopted many western customs. The Japanese celebrate Christmas by decorating with evergreen and mistletoe, singing Christmas carols and exchanging presents. Christian Missionaries introduced Christmas to Japan and for a long time those who turned to the Christian Faith celebrated Christmas. To learn more about other countries, click here.
According to History Channel.com, Hanukkah commemorates the re dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews’ victory over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 B.C. The Jews who cleaned up the Temple found enough oil to light the menorah for a day and it lasted eight days. Today Jews commemorate the eight-day miracle by celebrating Hanukkah for eight days by lighting candles in a menorah every night. Several traditions of Hanukkah include:- Lighting the Menorah.
- Eaingt holiday dishes made with oil including Latkes, potato pancakes made from grated potatoes mixed with eggs, onions and flour and thin fried in vegetable oil.
- Spinning the Driedel.
- Making Sufganiyot, jelly donuts without holes.
An estimated 18 million Africans celebrate Kwanzaa each year around the world in countries including; the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America and especially Brazil, Canada, India, Britain and numerous European countries. Kwanzaa is an African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated Dec. 26 - Jan. 1, Kwanzaa draws from and builds from a rich and ancient African tradition by reaffirming the importance of family, community and culture.
Seven symbols represent Kwanzaa:
- Mazao (crops)
- Mkeke ( a straw mat)
- Kinara (candle holder)
- Mishumaa Saba (seven candles)
- Muhindi (ears of corn)
- Zawadi (gifts)
- Kikombe Cha Umoja (unity cup)
The candle holder holds seven candles; one black representing black people, three red representing their struggle and three green representing the hope and future that come from the struggle. Ears of corn represent the children in the family and the community, and children primarily receive and give gifts to reflect the heritage, culture and tradition of Kwanzaa. The Mkeke holds all of the seven symbols.
Everybody celebrates in their own way, form and fashion; not every family or country celebrates Christmas in the same way. Each holiday comes with its own traditions and history. Learning about the history of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, who celebrated them and how they are celebrated shows there is more to a holiday than giving and eating. You can learn about your heritage and culture and how the world celebrates a certain holiday.
So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays to everyone this season.
Have a comment? Please e-mail us.
©The Voice 2008
