Holidays and Celebrations
From January to December

Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
Make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!
~Amanda Bradley

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Christmas

6 Tips for Sticking to Your Budget This Christmas Christmas Gift Ideas for Your Hubby Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents Decorate Your Home For Christmas Christmas Decorating Outdoors Make Your Christmas Gifts 5 Christmas Crafts for Kids Christmas Party Game Ideas for Kids Start Your Own Toy Drive This Christmas Christmas Dinner Menu Ideas

The History of Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time of year for family, fun and faith. Modern Christmas is a blending of many traditions and customs from all over the world. No two families celebrate Christmas the same, as each family also has its own traditions passed down to each generation. The sacred and secular come together at this time of year to make a holiday season that has something for everyone.

Ancient cultures had mid-winter celebrations that tied in with the solstice and with fertility rites. These usually included a feast because they would slaughter some of their cattle. By doing this they would reduce the amount of feed that their cattle needed over the winter and the beef would last longer over the cold months. The Yule Log comes from one light festivals held by the Scandinavian people to keep watch for and welcome the sun back.

Various cultures, including the Egyptians, Romans and early Europeans believed that plants held special powers, including protection from evil and healing. They would use evergreens and palms to decorate their homes. Martin Luther is credited with the first Christian Christmas tree in the 16th century. He wanted to recreate the beauty of the snow and starlight on the trees he saw as he was on a walk. Many people, especially in England and the Puritan colonies, actually resisted the tree as a "heathen tradition" that shouldn't be connected to the birth of Christ. It wasn't until the mid 1800's that it began to become acceptable again when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert had a Christmas tree.

Santa Claus has a long history, going back to St. Nicolas, who was believed to have been born in 280 A.D. He was known as a generous man who helped those in need. The early church set aside December 6th to celebrate him. Over the years other cultures had similar generous men, such as Kris Kringle from the Swiss and German people. The various traditions blended together to develop the modern image of Santa Claus, which was solidified in the poem "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" in 1822.

The birth of Jesus is the focus of Christmas for Christians around the world. While many historians doubt that He was born in December, Pope Julius I chose December 25th to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is believed it was chosen to compete with the pagan rituals that were prevalent at the time, in an attempt to draw attention away from the pagan rituals for those newly converted to Christianity.

There were even times when Christmas was illegal. Oliver Cromwell attempted to remove Christmas from England, however Charles II reversed that decision. The Puritans in Boston actually had it declared illegal from 1659 to 1681. Other communities in the colonies, like Jamestown, still continued to celebrate Christmas. Christmas was finally declared a federal holiday on June 26, 1870.

Christmas is a real patchwork of traditions. It has gone through periods of controversy and division. Even today, people debate on how, and when, to celebrate Christmas.

Hanukkah

Important Terms Associated with Hanukkah and Their Definitions The Significance of the Menorah Tips for Setting Up the Menorah What Part Do the Blessings Play in Hanukkah? Hanukkah Games and Crafts For Kids Dreidel � The Hanukkah Game Hanukkah Recipes

The History of Hanukkah

Hanukkah comes from the Hebrew word meaning dedication. The history of Hanukkah begins with Alexander the Great who, after conquering Syria, Egypt and Judea, allowed all people to continue to observe their chosen religions. It wasn�t until later that the successor of Alexander the Great, Antiochus IV, caused a great upheaval in among the Jewish population.

Under the reign of Antiochus, the Jewish people were required to worship Greek Gods. In 165 BCE, Judah�s son Maccabee decided to rebel against this law and formed a crusade against Antiochus. Having defeated the Greek Army, Maccabee and his allies found a sacred temple which had been left in ruins as a result of Antiochus� army, and they restored the temple to its former glory.

Thus, on the 25th day of Kislev, they dedicated the temple by lighting a restored Menorah. Although they were only able to find enough oil to keep the Menorah lit for one day, a miracle occurred in which the Menorah stayed lit for eight days.

Thus, the Festival of Lights was born to commemorate that day in the temple when the miracle of the Menorah first occurred. All Jews celebrate the miracle of the oil by placing eight candles in the Menorah and lighting one candle on each of the eight days of Hanukkah.

Although not considered a holy day, Hanukkah is nevertheless celebrated by Jews around the world in observance of the miracle of the oil that occurred in the temple. Hanukkah traditionally begins on the 22nd of December and ends on the 31st of December.

Research also reveals that there are two types of Menorahs: one is 7-branched and one is 8-branched. There was a prohibition against the use of a 7-branched Menorah similar to the one used in the original temple.

The Chanukah (another way of spelling Hanukkah) Menorah has a place for eight candles as well as a ninth candle set apart from the rest. It is said that the eight candles commemorate the miracle of the oil while the ninth candle, the Shamash, symbolizes light.

Kwanzaa

The 7 Kwanzaa Principles Explained The 7 Symbols of Kwanzaa Decorating for Kwanzaa Kwanzaa Gift Ideas Kwanzaa Games and Crafts for Kids The Kwanzaa Feast � Karamu

The History of Kwanzaa

The sixties was a turbulent time, especially for African Americans. As a way of preserving African American culture, Dr. Maulana Karenga created a cultural holiday from December 26 through January 1. In 1966 Kwanzaa was born out of a need for all African Americans, regardless of their religious beliefs, to come together and celebrate family, tradition and community.

Kwanzaa�s roots are derived from a Swahili term known as �matunda ya kwanza� or first fruits. It has been the focus of a seven day event which not only encompasses the African tradition but is based on the Pan-African language which is primarily spoken in Africa today.

Similar to New Years, Kwanzaa represents the passing of one year and the welcoming of a new year to come. It is a time of reflection in which African roots are observed much as they were during ancient times when African harvest or first fruit celebrations represented five functions which included: the reaffirmation or �ingathering� of people to bond together, giving thanks to the creator, recognizing and honoring ancestors, honoring cultural values and celebrating life as a family, a community and existence as a people.

In addition, within the Kwanzaa history are Seven Principles also known as Nguzo Seba which are part of the seven-day celebration. When African Americans reinforce their values rooted in their ancient culture.

To commemorate this special holiday, a Kwanzaa setting is placed in a central part of one�s home in which seven symbols are utilized to represent the values of the African culture and serve as a reminder of one�s commitment to family and community.

Kwanzaa is a time of reflection that is celebrated by African Americans worldwide. It is a time in which ancient traditions are revisited and the rich history of the African culture is renewed through the reassertion of family values and community. It is a holiday in which every African American is afforded the opportunity to acclaim their heritage and to reaffirm their commitment to the ancient bonds which serves to strengthen their own identity in particular and as part of the world community in general.

Holidays and Celebrations From January to December