Transcript Holidays Celebrated in December

Hanukkah
 Dates dependent on Jewish calendar
 Celebrates the miracle of the
Hanukkah oil
 In 168 B.C. Jewish Temple was seized
and used to worship Zeus
 After Maccabees regained control,
they attempted to purify the Temple
by burning ritual oil in the menorah
for eight days, but there was only one
day's worth of oil left. They lit the
menorah anyway, and it lasted the full
eight days.
Hanukkah
Celebrated for 8 days: One candle
is lit on the first night, two on the
second, and so on, until eight
candles are lit.
Because Hanukkah celebrates the
miracle of oil, it is traditional to eat
fried foods such as latkes and
sufganiyot during the holiday
A popular Hanukkah game is
spinning the dreidel
Kwanzaa
 December 26 thru January 1
 African-American holiday; celebrates
family, community and culture
 Kwanzaa is derived from a phrase that
means "first fruits" in Swahili
 Established in 1966 in the midst of the
Black Freedom Movement; reflects a
concern for reaffirming and restoring
rootedness in African culture.
 Cultural, not religious, holiday; but is
a time of special reverence for the
creator and creation in thanks and
respect for bountifulness and beauty
of creation
Winter Solstice
On or around December 21;
December 25 in the Julian calendar
Ancient Pagan tradition
celebrating rebirth and new life
Marks the end of the long dark
nights of winter and hints at the
return of light and warmth
Decorating with evergreens
symbolized return of green plants
Various celebrations included gifts,
sharing of food and singing songs
Relationship of Holidays
According to Jewish law, Hanukkah
is one of the less important Jewish
holidays. However, Hanukkah has
become much more popular in
modern practice because of its
proximity to Christmas.
Because Kwanzaa is not a religious
holiday, those who celebrate it may
also celebrate Christmas or
Hanukkah.
Secular Christmas Traditions
 Since the 4th century A.D,
Christians began blending
pagan winter solstice
traditions with Christian
rituals
 Yule may come from the
Norse jól, referring to the
pre-Christian winter
solstice festival
 Lighting a Yule log,
evergreen decorations,
gifts, sharing food, singing
of songs