Celebrating December Holidays
Winter Holidays are celebrated around the world, with different cultures and people spending time with family and friends and taking part in different traditions. This blog post looks at some of the holidays celebrated in December by people from the Lower-Mainland and what it means to them.
Hanukkah, sometimes spelled as Chanukah, is a Jewish Holiday meant to commemorate the retaking of the Jewish Holy Land and Jerusalem by Judah the Maccabee in the Second Century BCE. Judah and his small band were able to defeat a vastly larger Syrian-Greek army. Upon their reclamation of the Holy Temple, they found only a single day’s supply of oil that was uncontaminated. This single day’s supply miraculously lasted for eight! Giving enough time for new oil to be ritualistically purified.
The most traditional Hanukkah gift is that of gelt. Money given to children in one’s family. This money gives children the opportunity to give to charity. In more modern times, chocolate coins, still called gelt are more and more popular.
The central image of Hanukkah is the menorah a nine branched candelabra, one of these flames, the shamash, is more prominent, and used to light the other eight flames. Each night of Hanukkah celebrations a candle is light. Before the lighting, blessings are recited.
Oil fried foods are a central fixture of Hanukkah, calling back to the miracle of the oil lasting eight days. Latkes, a type of potato pancake are a classic for many, they are served with a variety of toppings, both sweet and savoury, from sour cream to applesauce, jelly filled sufganyas, a type of doughnut are also a popular choice.
“To me, Chanukah is a time to gather with friends and family,” says Sandra Hochstein, Coquitlam Heritage Board Member. “When we light the candles in the menorah each night, we re-kindle old memories, make new ones, and share the love we feel for those, near or far, who matter so much in our lives.”
Hanukkah Celebrations in the Lower Mainland:
- Menorah Lighting Downtown | Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver (jewishvancouver.com)
- Chanukah at Chabad - lubavitchbc.com
Read More:
- What Is Hanukkah? - Info you need about Chanukah - Chabad.org
Kwanzaa is an African-American Holiday, it is a relatively new holiday, first being celebrated in 1966. Kwanzaa was invented by Maulana Karenga, then professor of African Studies at California State University. Kwanzaa is celebrated around the number seven, featuring seven central principles, seven items, seven days, each with a candle, and even seven letters in ‘Kwanzaa.’ The word ‘Kwanzaa’ comes from ‘kwanza,’ meaning “first fruits” the second ‘A’ being added to make a seven letter word. Kwanzaa takes many inspirations from a variety of African harvest festivals.
The seven principles of Kwanza are:
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
Ujima (Collective Responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)
The seven items of Kwanza are:
Mazao (Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables)
Mkeke (Straw Place Mat)
Muundi (Ears of Corn
Kikimbe Cha Umoji (Unity Cup)
Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles)
Kinara (Candle Holder)
Zawadi (Gifts)
Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th to January 1st Each day being dedicated to one of the seven principles. The family celebrating lights one of the candles and discusses the topic of that day. The largest celebration is on the 31st of December, when a feast with the whole community called the Karamu is held.
Kwanzaa is a non-political and non-religious holiday. Although it originated as an alternative to Christmas, as a way for African-Americans to celebrate their own holiday, rather than celebrate what Karenga considered to be a white holiday. Today however, Kwanzaa is not seen as an alternative to Christmas, the dates it takes place on make it possible for both holidays to be celebrated by a family.
Kwanzaa Celebrations in the Lower Mainland:
Calendar – African Descent Society BC (adsbc.org)
Read More:
Kwanzaa – African Descent Society BC (adsbc.org)
Kwanzaa | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
Christmas is a predominantly Christian Holiday normally celebrated on the 24th or 25th of December, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day respectively. The holiday commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, although the date of his actual birth has been debated for almost as long as Christmas has existed.
Christmastime traditions vary around the world, with different cultures and peoples celebrating the holiday differently. The most iconic traditions of modern Christmas are that of a Christmas tree in which gifts are left under to be opened with friends and family. A large feast, in North America commonly a turkey, but in other places like Britain a goose may be a more typical centerpiece. In Sicily, 12 types of fish are served on Christmas Eve. Homes are decorated with various items like candles or mistletoe. Cards are often exchanged during this time of year, with families sending Christmas greeting cards to one another. People may attend Christmas markets in order to buy ornaments and other decorations for their tree. Many Christmas trees are topped with either a star or an angel, meant to represent the angels present at the birth of Christ, or the star that the three Magi followed to make their way to the stable where Jesus was born.
Many traditions of Christmas are adopted from Pagan traditions across Europe. This was done by the Church to encourage these Pagan peoples to celebrate the Christian holiday instead. The very idea of a winter solstice feast is one of these carryovers. Many of the plants that are hallmarks of Christmas are Celtic winter herbs, like mistletoe.
For a long time, Christmas was a rowdy time, where working classes would drink and party after church attendance. Christmas eventually shifted towards the family-oriented holiday that it is now. Writers and artists began to reimagine Christmas in the 19th century with well known stories such as Twas the Night Before Christmas, inventing the modern version of Santa Claus, dressed in red and driving a flying sleigh pulled by reindeer.
Santa Claus himself comes from the figure of St. Nicholas, a man who dedicated himself to helping the poor and needy. Santa Claus comes from St. Nicholas’ Dutch name, Sinterklaas, who himself is a gift giving figure dressed in red. Modern Santa Claus brings gifts to children, placing them under the tree, his most common method of entry is through a fireplace chimney. Children leave cookies and milk for Santa nearby, so he has a snack for his long journey.
“Christmas is about spending quality time with your loved ones,” says Shailynn McBride, Heritage Assistant at Coquitlam Heritage. “It’s the only time of year where my entire extended family gets together.”
Christmas Events in The Lower Mainland:
British Columbia, Canada Christmas Events | Eventbrite
Vancouver Christmas Events 2022 | Vancouver | Vancouver Christmas Guide
Read More:
Christmas: Holiday Traditions and Gifts | HISTORY.com - HISTORY
What do you and your family celebrate at this time of year? We at Coquitlam Heritage wish you Happy Holidays, no matter what you are celebrating. If you are interested in learning more, please visit us at Mackin House to see our December exhibit about these holidays.
Please note Mackin House will be closed for the holidays from December 24 to January 3.