Do you celebrate Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or Christmas?
Kwanzaa
This year, Kwanzaa takes place from December 26, 2024 to January 1, 2025. Kwanzaa was created by Maulana Ron Karenga. The reasons for him creating this holiday was to reaffirm and restore African heritage and culture, introduce and reinforce the Seven Principles, and serve as a nationally created non-heroic holiday. People celebrate this holiday by reciting the writings of black writers, reciting original poetry, and sharing a meal of African diaspora-inspired foods. To prepare for Kwanzaa, people arrange a kinara on a mat with candles ready to light and surround it with fruits and artisan-made gifts around the kinara.
Hanukkah
This year, Hanukkah takes place from December 25, 2024 to January 2, 2025. It is a Jewish holiday that was created to recognize the recovery of Jerusalem of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. On Hanukkah people participate in a nightly menorah lighting and play the dreidel. They also sing songs and prepare food. To get ready for Hanukkah, people put out the menorah with an altar around it that has crystals, branches, pine needles, and anything that is desired.
Christmas
Christmas is celebrated on December 25, 2024. Christians think of this holiday as celebrating the birth of Jesus. On this festive day, people spend time together with their families and relatives. Some people do traditions on Christmas day as well. For example, Sophomore Katelyn Remes said “I go to Church with my family.” Junior Khoan Nguyen remarked, “Around 12:00, my family and I have a Christmas lunch.”
These three holidays are celebrated around the world. You don’t need to celebrate any of these holidays, but as we are heading into the holiday season, get to know these holidays better.
