As winter arrives, billions of people around the world begin to prepare for the holidays. The most celebrated winter holidays around the globe are Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Diwali. Whether celebrated for religious or cultural purposes or for fun, all of them celebrate hope and light in different ways. Some people wonder about the differences between the holidays or who celebrates them, and why. It’s kind and thoughtful to understand the importance and significance of the holidays celebrated by the diverse community of people around us.
Over 2 billion people around the world celebrate Christmas, with around 60% celebrating for religious reasons. For Christians, Christmas is centered around the birth of Jesus Christ. While the exact date of Jesus’ birth was never given, Pope Julius I set it on December 25 to align with the Pagan festivals Saturnalia and Sol Invictus with the intention of converting pagans to Christianity and adopting their traditions. Both of the Pagan Festivals were celebrations of light and the return of the sun, which fit well with the Christian belief that Jesus was the Light of the World. Over thousands of years, Christmas has become an iconic winter holiday for many, including those without Christian affiliation for fun.
Hanukkah is celebrated over eight days by people of the Jewish faith as a reminder of Jewish perseverance through religious persecution. The Jewish Maccabean Revolt in 165 BC led to the rededication of a Jewish temple from the Seleucid Empire and a ceremonial re-lighting of the Temple’s menorah. It was then realized that there was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day, but the menorah miraculously continued to burn for eight days until more consecrated oil could be prepared to keep the menorah lit. Hanukkah is now celebrated over eight days and nights, where every night another of the nine candles on a menorah is lit. Gift giving is not an original part of the holiday, but has been added by many in America due to its close chronological relation to Christmas. Additionally, Hanukkah is a more well-known Jewish holiday, even though it’s not as important as other Jewish high holidays such as Sukkot, Passover, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur.
Kwanzaa was created as a non-Christian cultural celebration for African Americans. It was first celebrated in 1966 after being created by Maulana Karenga to “give black people an alternative to the existing holiday of Christmas and give black people an opportunity to celebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society.” The celebration of Kwanzaa includes wearing traditional, colorful African cloth, decorating the house with African artwork, and ceremonial candle lighting on the kinara. A kinara is a candle holder with 7 branches that is used during Kwanzaa. The three red candles on the left represent the struggle of African Americans and the blood that was shed, while the three green candles on the right represent hope, and the singular black candle in the middle represents unity. Kwanzaa is celebrated over 7 days, with each day focusing on one of the seven principles: Umoja, or unity; Kujichagulia, or self-determination; Ujima, or collective work and responsibility; Ujamaa, or cooperative economics; Nia, or purpose; Kuumba, or creativity; Iman, or faith.
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights that celebrates light and goodness winning over the dark and evil. It is celebrated between the Hindu lunisolar months of Ashvin and Kārtika and lasts for 5-6 days. Diwali is celebrated in many different variations, all celebrating different gods, goddesses, and deities. Hindus celebrate the return of Lord Rama after defeating the demon Narakasura, Jains celebrate Lord Mahavira’s attainment of Nirvana or enlightenment, and Sikhs celebrate the release of Guru Hargobind from his imprisonment in 1619. During Diwali, families get together to feast and light clay candles called Diyas and make floor art called Rangoli out of colored powder or sand.
Each of these celebrations shows the values and experiences of the communities that observe them, whether through faith or culture. Learning about and understanding the origins and significance of these celebrations grows empathy and respect for the diverse traditions around us. Although winter can be seen as a time of darkness or sadness, these holidays bring people together and share the message of hope, resilience, and light in the midst of darkness.
