Page 18 - North Haven Magazine Issue 16 Holiday 2020

Holiday
Holiday
Traditions:
Traditions:

A Time to Celebrate,
A Time of Good Cheer!
by Marisa Hexter

The last months of the year always bus- The celebration of the Winter Solstice is
tle with energy unlike any other. Whether one of the oldest in the world. Dedicated
it involves rushing to the store to buy gifts, to the shortest day of the year and the first
cooking meals for family and friends, do- day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere,
ing charity work, or decorating, November the Winter Solstice is a time where peo-
and December have us all diverge from our ple all over the world celebrate the return
usual lives. Usually at this point in the year, of sunlight and the future rebirth of the
we are all catching up in person with fam- Earth. Yule (December 21 to June 1) is also
ily from far away or going to dinners and celebrated during this time. A pagan ritual
parties, meeting up with friends and co- which predates many other religions, indig-
workers. This year though is very different. enous cultures in modern day Europe all
Instead of parties and dinners, some might participated in observing this time of year. Kwanzaa is a seven-day long holiday cele-
have joint Facetime and Zoom calls to make Many secular Christmas traditions, like the brated in African American communities
up for the inability to meet in person. Now Yule Log, decorating a tree, and Mistletoe, in the United States. The holiday originat-
while we might not be able to celebrate as can find root in Yule celebrations! ed in the 1960s as a way for the African
usual this year, let’s take a look at some tra- American community to celebrate their
ditions from the holidays many celebrate heritage and culture. Each of the seven days
during the last months of the year! on this nonreligious holiday is dedicated
ReformJudaism.org refers to Hanukkah as to a family principle: unity, self-determi-
nation, collective responsibility, cooper-
“[Hanukkah]...a joyous celebration of fami- ative economics, purpose, creativity, and
ly, freedom, and light, is a holiday primarily faith. December 31 is the feast day of those
celebrated at home, beginning on the 25th who celebrate Kwanzaa, bringing family
day of the Hebrew month of Kislev and and friends together. There are also seven
lasting for eight days.” This year, the Jewish symbols of Kwanzaa as well: The Crops,
holiday begins at sundown on December The Mat, The Candle Holder, The Corn,
10th and ends on December 18th. The holi- The Unity Cup,The Seven Candles, and The
day is a time to come together and celebrate Christmas, like many holidays, has tradi- Gifts.
being with family and friends. tions which can differ between branches of
Christianity, families, cultures, and secu-
The menorah, a nine-branched candle, is lar beliefs. Those who celebrate Christmas This year celebrations will be very different.
Many people, including my family, will not
lit one candle at a time for eight days while each have their own observances on what be able to see family members and friends
family members recite Blessings. Candles the holiday means to them. For religious as usual. But even though we may be pre-
are lit from left to right as well. The dreidel individuals, December 25th is a time to vented from seeing each other in person,
is a popular game played during Hanukkah. celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. This can that is not stopping us from starting some
Each of the players put “gelt” or chocolate involve many things like going to church, new holiday traditions! Thanking modern
coins into the center. The four sides are rep- giving to charity, and celebrating Advent. technology, we are able to video-chat with
resented by a different letter in the Hebrew Even cultures across the world celebrate family and friends across the world so we
alphabet and, depending on the side the the day differently. For Italian-Americans, can bake, watch movies, and eat holiday
dreidel lands on for the player, each player Christmas Eve involves the Feast of the meals together! So whether you Facetime
may win or lose coins. Food is another im- Seven Fishes, while Hispanic and Latino your aunt or bake cookies in the shape of
portant part of Hanukkah, Latkes and suf- Americans celebrate Las Posadas, a nine toilet paper and hand sanitizer, the holi-
ganiyot (jelly donuts) are the most popular. day celebration to pay homage to Joseph days, though different, can still be enter-
Hanukkah is a happy time of year for those and Mary’s journey to Bethlehem. There taining.
who practice Judaism by eating great food, are traditions which are both secular and
giving gifts, playing games, and spending non-secular like singing Christmas carols There are so many traditions and holidays
time with their family and friends! and gift giving. Many people also celebrate
Christmas in a non-secular way involving across the world during this time of year,
Santa Claus. Children leave milk and cook- whether to celebrate the start of the new
ies out on Christmas Eve for Santa (and year or deeply personal and religious ob-
hopefully some carrots for his reindeer!) to servances. Either way this is the season of
thank him for their gifts. Each family has being merry and making memories. So to
different traditions on decorating trees and all, have a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christ-
their houses, watching Christmas movies, mas, Joyus Kwanzaa, Happy Yule, and a
baking special treats and having great fam- bright solstice!
ily meals together.

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North Haven Magazine - Holiday Issue 2020