Holidays and Observances: Winter

Hanukkah (alternatively spelled Chanukah) is an eight day Jewish holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after resisting assimilation under the Seleucid Empire in 164 BCE. The holiday is observed by lighting an eight-branched candelabrum called a 'menorah', adding one candle each night. It is traditional to eat foods fried in oil, like potato latkes or jelly doughnuts called 'sufganiyot'.

The Winter Solstice is known as the shortest day of the year, as the earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun in the northern hemisphere. Many cultures from around the world have historically celebrated festivals during the solstice since the Neolithic Age! Christmas and Hanukkah are two examples of festivals of light that fall around the Winter Solstice, although there are many more around the world!

Christmas is a annual Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Christmas is widely celebrated on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar. Orthodox Christians celebrate on January 7, according to the Julian calendar. Today, Christmas is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians with gift-giving and festive decorations like Christmas trees.

Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is celebrated on February 14th around the world. The origins of the festival are contested, but it is popularly believed that St Valentine was a priest from Rome in the third century AD. Today the holiday is a celebration of love. People exchange cards, flowers, and chocolates to express affection for one another.

Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday celebrated from December 26 to January 1. The holiday is non-religious and centers around seven principles of African-American culture and heritage. Kwanzaa is observed by lighting a seven-branched candelabra called a 'kinara', with one candle added for each night of the holiday. Music, artwork, and cuisine from various African nations are central to the celebration of Kwanzaa.

The Lunar New year marks the beginning of a new lunar calendar. Often referred to as Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in China and is a significant holiday in Vietnam, South Korea, and other East and Southeast Asian countries. Across numerous cultures, people celebrate by visiting family, attending festivities, and cooking traditional foods.

The lunar calendar is a twelve-year cycle with each year being represented by an animal. This year (2023) is the fourth year in the cycle and is represented by the Rabbit. Like in Western astrology, each animal has a set of associated attributes and characteristics.