Winter holiday celebrations

Winter Holidays

Christmas

• A celebration of the

birth of Jesus Christ.

•http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm

Eid Al Adha The Feast of

Sacrifice

The feast commemorates Abraham's willingness to follow God's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael and Ishmael's consent to being sacrificed. At the very moment that Abraham raised the knife, Allah tells him to stop -- they had passed the test -- and to replace Ishmael with a sacrificial ram.

Before the festival, the faithful acquire new clothing and visit with family and friends.

At dawn on the day of Eid, Muslims recite the traditional declaration of faith, the Takbir, followed by the pre-sunrise communal prayer, Salat al-Eid.

Worshipers then greet friends with the traditional Arabic salutation of Eid Mubarak (“Have a blessed Eid”) and exchange gifts. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/eid-al-adha-2012-photos-muslim-feast-of-sacrifice_n_2024516.html#slide=1690829

Hanukkah• The eight-day Jewish

celebration known as Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah, which means "dedication." In 2012 it starts on December 8 and ends on December 16.

• Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional “fried” foods, games and gifts. http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah

VIDEO: http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah/videos#history-of-hanukkah

THE FESTIVAL OF

KWANZAA

• Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their

culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community gathering, and

reflection. A time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on

December 26th, the day after Christmas, and continues until New

Years Day, January 1st.

•Each evening a family member, usually the youngest child, lights candles in a

special candleholder (kinara) and discusses one of the seven principles of

Kwanzaa. The candles symbolize the seven basic values of African American

family life that are unity, self-determination, collective work and

responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith . On the sixth day, which falls on New Years

Eve, family and friends get together to enjoy a large feast and to celebrate their history, culture, and the upcoming new

year.VIDEO: http://www.history.com/topics/kwanzaa-history/videos#history-of-kwanzaa

http://www.sababuland.com/shule/kwanzaa/symbols.html

Diwali Hindu Holiday of Lights

• Diwali is a five day Hindu festival.Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps" The Festival of Lights. Diwali always falls in the months of October or November

• During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Laksmi, goddess of wealth. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Laksmi. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Diwali. The celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians.

• The festival begins with Dhanteras, a day set aside to worship Laksmi. Wealth is not viewed as a corruptive power. A wealthy person is considered to have been rewarded for good deeds of a past life.

• Second day Kali, the goddess of Strength. This day focuses on abolishing laziness and evil.

• Third day, lamps are lighted and shine brightly in every home. The lamp symbolizes knowledge and encourages reflection upon the purpose of each day in the festival. The goal is to remember the purpose throughout the year.

• The fourth day old business accounts are settled and new books are opened. The books are worshipped in a special ceremony and participants are encouraged to remove anger, hate, and jealousy from their lives.

• On the final day (Balipratipada) of the festival, Bali, an ancient Indian king, is recalled. The focus is to see the good in others, including enemies.. http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/diwali.html

http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/dday.htm

Chinese New Year

• Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

• The Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. 2013: Sunday, February 10-YEAR OF THE SNAKE

• New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

• The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

• Bodhi Day: December 8 in commemoration of the enlightenment of the Buddha http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-year/videos#history-of-the-holidays-chinese-new-year

•

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/winter-holidays-around-the-world.html

Christmas • Christmas is celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

• Christmas in the United States brings together many customs from other countries and cultures. Around the world, family members help to decorate the tree and home with bright lights, wreaths, candles, holly, mistletoe, and ornaments. On Christmas Eve, many people go to church. Also on Christmas Eve, Santa comes from the North Pole in a sleigh to deliver gifts; in Hawaii, it is said he arrives by boat; in Australia, the jolly man arrives on water skis; and in Ghana, he comes out of the jungle. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/peopleplaces/winter-celebrations/

• Mexico celebrates with Posadas and pinatas http://ly.glenview34.org/teachers/wilson/webquest/holiday-webquest.html#lp. In Peru, children place food on their slippers for the camels that bring the wise men to baby Jesus.

– MORE INFORMATION AT• http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm • http://www.soon.org.uk/en/articles/christmas/around-the-world.html • http://www.allthingschristmas.com/northpole/aroundworld.html

•http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/index.htm

Eid Al Adha The Feast of

Sacrifice

Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic calendar’s last month, Dhu al-Hijjah. Eid al-Adha falls within the annual pilgrimage to Mecca known as the Hajj. Determining the exact date of Eid al-Adha, is a point of contention and some wait for an official announcement from the authorities in Mecca.In 2012 it was celebrated on October 26 in the USA.

The festival commemorates Abraham's willingness to follow God's command to sacrifice his son Ishmael and Ishmael's consent to being sacrificed. At the very moment that Abraham raised the knife, Allah tells him to stop -- they had passed the test -- and to replace Ishmael with a sacrificial ram. In the Quran, Abraham is rewarded for his faith with a second son, Isaac. Today, it is is marked by slaughtering animals to feed the poor. Coming at the end of the Hajj, a journey of dedication and purification, Eid al-Adha is understood as an opportunity for second chances.

Before the festival, the faithful acquire new clothing and visit with family and friends. At dawn on the day of Eid, Muslims recite the traditional declaration of faith, the Takbir, followed by the pre-sunrise communal prayer, Salat al-Eid, which is also said on Eid al-Fitr. Worshipers then greet friends with the traditional Arabic salutation of Eid Mubarak (“Have a blessed Eid”) and exchange gifts.

In a symbolic act, Muslims who can afford it slaughter a cow, goat, sheep or camel, keeping a portion to feed themselves and distributing the rest to friends, family and the needy. Those who can't afford it, buy meat from a Halal butcher to distribute. Giving out this meat, in addition to the morning prayers, is considered an essential component of Eid al-Adha.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/26/eid-al-adha-2012-photos-muslim-feast-of-sacrifice_n_2024516.html#slide=1690829

Hanukkah• The eight-day Jewish celebration known as

Hanukkah or Chanukah commemorates the rededication during the second century B.C. of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, where according to legend Jews had risen up against their Greek-Syrian oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.

• Hanukkah, which means "dedication" in Hebrew, begins on the 25th of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar and usually falls in November or December. In 2012 it starts on December 8 and ends on December16.

• Often called the Festival of Lights, the holiday is celebrated with the lighting of the menorah, traditional “fried” foods, games and gifts. http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah

• Lighting the hanukkiyah: Every year it is customary to commemorate the miracle of the Hanukkah oil by lighting candles on a hanukkiyah. The hanukkiyah is lit every night for eight nights. Learn more about the hanukkiyah in: What Is a Hanukkiyah? | How to Light the Hanukkah Menorah | Hanukkah Candle Lighting Blessings.

• Spinning the dreidel: A popular Hanukkah game is spinning the dreidel, which is a four-sided top with Hebrew letters written on each side. Read The Hanukkah Dreidel to learn more about the dreidel, the meaning of the letters and how to play the game. Gelt, which are chocolate coins covered with tin foil, are part of this game.

• Eating fried foods: Because Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of oil, it is traditional to eat fried foods such as latkes and sufganiyot during the holiday. Latkes are pancakes made out of potatoes and onions, which are fried in oil and then served with applesauce. Sufganiyot (singular: sufganiyah) are jelly-filled donuts that are fried and sometimes dusted with confectioners’ sugar before eating. Learn more about Hanukkah food traditions: Hanukkah Food Traditions | What Is a Latke?

• Hanukkah Traditions for Kids– http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/hanukkah.htm

VIDEO: http://www.history.com/topics/hanukkah/videos#history-of-hanukkah

THE FESTIVAL OF

KWANZAA

• Kwanzaa is a 7 day festival celebrating the African American people, their culture and their history. It is a time of celebration, community

gathering, and reflection. A time of endings and beginnings. Kwanzaa begins on December 26th, the day after Christmas, and continues until New

Years Day, January 1st. •

Each evening a family member, usually the youngest child, lights candles in a special

candleholder (kinara) and discusses one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. The candles

symbolize the seven basic values of African American family life that are unity, self-

determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and

faith . On the sixth day, which falls on New Years Eve, family and friends get together to

enjoy a large feast and to celebrate their history, culture, and the upcoming new year.

• The holiday of Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966, during the period of

US history in which African Americans were involved in struggles for their civil rights. This was the period of Martin Luther King, the Civil

Rights movement, and Black Power. In fact the name he gave to the holiday, "Kwanzaa," comes

from the Kiswahili phrase for "first fruit" - matunda ya kwanza. (Kiswahili, or Swahili, is the largest spoken language on the African continent

and thus the language of Kwanzaa). • http://www.holidays.net/kwanzaa/story.htm

VIDEO: http://www.history.com/topics/kwanzaa-history/videos#history-of-kwanzaa

Diwali Hindu Holiday of Lights

• Diwali is a five day Hindu festival which occurs on the fifteenth day of Kartika. Diwali means "rows of lighted lamps" and the celebration is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. During this time, homes are thoroughly cleaned and windows are opened to welcome Laksmi, goddess of wealth. Candles and lamps are lit as a greeting to Laksmi. Gifts are exchanged and festive meals are prepared during Diwali. The celebration means as much to Hindus as Christmas does to Christians.

• Because there are many regions in India, there are many manifestations of the Diwali festival. In at least one area, the festival begins with Dhanteras, a day set aside to worship Laksmi. In the Indian culture, wealth is not viewed as a corruptive power. Instead, a wealthy person is considered to have been rewarded for good deeds of a past life.

• On the second day Kali, the goddess of Strength, is worshipped. This day also focuses on abolishing laziness and evil.

• On the third day (the last day of the year in the lunar calendar), lamps are lighted and shine brightly in every home. The lamp symbolizes knowledge and encourages reflection upon the purpose of each day in the festival. The goal is to remember the purpose throughout the year.

• The fourth day of Diwali falls on the first day of the lunar New Year. At this time, old business accounts are settled and new books are opened. The books are worshipped in a special ceremony and participants are encouraged to remove anger, hate, and jealousy from their lives.

• On the final day (Balipratipada) of the festival, Bali, an ancient Indian king, is recalled. Bali destroyed the centuries old philosophies of the society. However, in addition to this, he is remembered for being a generous person. Thus, the focus of this day is to see the good in others, including enemies.

• Because there is no one universally accepted Hindu calendar, this holiday may be celebrated on a different date in some parts of India, but it always falls in the months of October or November. http://www3.kumc.edu/diversity/ethnic_relig/diwali.html

http://home.freeuk.net/elloughton13/dday.htm

Chinese New Year

• Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade.

• The Chinese calendar is based on a combination of lunar and solar movements. The lunar cycle is about 29.5 days. In order to "catch up" with the solar calendar the Chinese insert an extra month once every few years (seven years out of a 19-yearcycle). This is the same as adding an extra day on leap year. This is why, according to the solar calendar, the Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year. 2013: Sunday, February 10-YEAR OF THE SNAKE

• New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving. The celebration was traditionally highlighted with a religious ceremony given in honor of Heaven and Earth, the gods of the household and the family ancestors.

• The sacrifice to the ancestors, the most vital of all the rituals, united the living members with those who had passed away. Departed relatives are remembered with great respect because they were responsible for laying the foundations for the fortune and glory of the family.

• The presence of the ancestors is acknowledged on New Year's Eve with a dinner arranged for them at the family banquet table. The spirits of the ancestors, together with the living, celebrate the onset of the New Year as one great community. The communal feast called "surrounding the stove" or weilu. It symbolizes family unity and honors the past and present generations.

http://www.history.com/topics/chinese-new-year/videos#history-of-the-holidays-chinese-new-year

Resources

• Lesson Plan and rubric

• http://ly.glenview34.org/teachers/wilson/webquest/holiday-webquest.html

• Fit holiday foods for kids http://fit.webmd.com/kids/food/article/holiday-foods

• MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

• http://www.giftcards.com/multicultural-education-holidays-around-the-world