December Holidays Around the World

December Holidays December Holidays Around the WorldAround the World

Holidays celebrated Holidays celebrated longer than one daylonger than one day

AdventAdvent

• Advent is a Christian holiday that begins 4 weeks before Christmas on November 30 or the nearest Sunday to it.

• Advent is considered the New Year’s Day for the church year.

• Colors associated with Advent are purple, royal blue, white, and pink.

• Advent wreaths are used as decoration.

Traditions

HanukkahHanukkah

• Hanukkah is a celebrated by Jewish people in honor God saving the Jews from their enemies, the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.

• The word Hanukkah comes from a Hebrew word that means “and they rested.”

• Hanukkah lasts for eight days.

Traditions

RamadanRamadan

• Ramadan is a Muslim holiday that takes places during the 9th month of the Muslim calendar at the beginning of a full moon.

• It is a time for worship and contemplation.• Muslims fast during daylight hours during

the month of Ramadan.• At the end of the month, there

is a 3-day feast called Eid-al-Fitr.

Traditions

Las PosadasLas Posadas

• Las Posadas is a nine-day celebration from December 16-24th that takes place in Mexico.

• “Posada” means lodging or shelter.• It is a religious and cultural

celebration that acts out Mary & Joseph’s search for shelter.

Traditions

KwanzaaKwanzaa• Kwanzaa is an African-American

celebration that began in 1966.• It begins on December 26th and

last for seven days. • During this time seven principles

are honored.• Red, black, and green are the

official colors of Kwanzaa.

Traditions

SourcesSources• Let’s Celebrate Christmas by Peter & Connie Roop

• http://www.acadiawreath.com/t-advent-traditions.aspx

• http://www.msichicago.org/scrapbook/scrapbook_exhibits/catw2004/traditions/countries/ramadan.html

• http://www.archaeolink.com/kwanzaa_traditions.htm

• http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/christmas.html