December in California brings the shortest days and least amount of daylight hours, but this month also holds some of our most treasured annual religious and cultural holiday celebrations. Get to know more about five of the more prevalent December celebrations below. And mark your calendars: Marin County Free Library will be closed on December 25.
Bodhi Day – December 8
Also called Buddha’s “enlightenment day,” Bodhi (Bow-dee) marks the day Siddhartha Gautama attained awakening and became the Buddha. While not all Buddhists recognize Bodhi, observers of the holiday celebrate it in a variety of ways. Some pray. Some adorn trees with lights. Some have special meals like rice and milk. And some participate in acts of kindness.
Learn more about Bodhi Day and other Buddhist celebrations at Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
Christmas – December 25
Traditionally a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, Christmas in the United States has been observed by Christians and non-Christians as a secular holiday since the 20th century. In celebration, families and friends gather, share gifts, attend religious mass or church services, decorate pine trees with heirlooms, strings of lights, tinsel (and more), prepare meals centered around roast turkey or ham, and participate in a wide range of traditions and activities depending on the region.
If you’d like, gain a new perspective of the holiday by reading about how the American Embassy in Switzerland describes it to Swiss citizens.
Hanukkah – December 25 – January 2
Hanukkah or Chanukah is the Jewish festival of lights. While the days on which it is celebrated vary between November and December depending on the year, the holiday always last eight days and is in recognition of the Jewish people winning a battle against the Greeks and practicing their religious freedom many years ago. Over the course of the eight days, the menorah is lit in the evening. Observers also play a game with a dreidel or spinning top. And some offer one another a small present on each night of the celebration.
Watch this YouTube video by the Jewish Museum in New York, NY if you’d like to see a sample of menorahs and oil lamps in their collection (and learn more about them, too).
Kwanzaa – December 26 – January 1
Kwanzaa, a celebration of life, is a solely African American and Pan-African holiday. Always celebrated from December 26 to January 1, this relatively young holiday centers upon five common values and seven principles and greatly resembles the American Thanksgiving or the Nigerian / Ghanaian Yam Festival. Ron Karenga (Dr. Maulana Karenga), an activist, author, and professor, created the holiday in response to the Watts Riots in Oakland, CA in 1966 as well as the commercialization of Christmas.
Immerse yourself in the traditions and history of Kwanzaa through exploring videos, an interactive map, and more at the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
Omisoka – December 31
Omisoka, the Japanese word for New Year’s Eve, is a time of preparing for the new year through cleansing and purifying homes as well as celebrating. Because children and college students are on holiday, they share in the celebration with families. Traditionally, about one hour before midnight, observers share bowls of udon, and at midnight, visit a temple.
Follow the Consulate General of Japan in San Francisco on Facebook to learn more.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
Sources
https://apnews.com/article/buddhism-buddha-bodhi-day-celebrations-885e76f3b738ee280641dcd135d39922
https://tricycle.org/beginners/decks/holidays/?continue=1
https://ch.usembassy.gov/holiday-calendar/americans-celebrate-christmas-many-traditions/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/35030671
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/when-is-hanukkah-and-how-is-it-celebrated-around-the-world
https://www.africa.upenn.edu/K-12/Kwanzaa_What_16661.html
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/initiatives/kwanzaa
https://web-japan.org/kidsweb/explore/calendar/december/omisoka.html
Contributed by Sarah Broderick. Sarah is a contingent-hire Community Library Specialist. Outside of MCFL, she works as a writer and editor.
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