A short history of…

Chanukah (Dec. 4 – Dec. 12)

Chanukah is an eight-day festival celebrated by Jews to commemorate the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the defeat of Antiochus IV by Jewish guerilla forces in 165 BCE. According to Jewish tradition, there was only enough olive oil on hand to keep the eternal flame in the temple burning for one day, but miraculously, the flame continued to burn for eight days, enough time for more oil to be pressed and purified. Jews around the world celebrate Chanukah by lighting one new candle each night of the festival on a special candelabra called a Chanukiah, while reciting prayers and singing songs. Traditional Chanukah foods are fried potato pancakes and jelly-filled doughnuts, and a popular Chanukah game involves a spinning top called a “dreidel,” which according to legend, was used in ancient times as a ruse to conceal religious study, outlawed by Antiochus IV’s Hellenist regime.

Christmas (Dec. 25):

The Christmas holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, a Nazareth Jew accepted in the Christian tradition as the anointed son of God and in the Muslim tradition as one of God’s favored prophets. The name Christmas is derived from “Christ’s Mass,” and the holiday gained prominence throughout Europe during the early Middle Ages as a series of celebrations honoring the birth of Jesus, his naming and circumcision, and his later baptism (the Twelve Days of Christmas). In the United States. and other western countries, Christmas is associated with the figure of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus), a character from German and Dutch folklore who resides at the north pole and distributes presents to good children from a sleigh drawn by flying reindeer. Another common tradition involves the decorating of Christmas fir trees with religious and other ornaments, and displaying the trees at home or in town squares.

Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 – Jan 1.)

Kwanzaa is a secular holiday celebrated primarily by African-Americans to honor African culture around the world. It was created in 1966 by political activist Ron Karenga, founder of the US Organization, in order to provide African-Americans with an opportunity to celebrate black heritage. Over the years, the holiday has increased in popularity, and is now marked by both an official U.S. Postal Service stamp and an annual presidential message. The word Kwanzaa is derived from a Swahili term meaning “first fruits,” and the holiday’s traditions include candle-lighting, musical performances, libations and the recitation of the Seven Principles of Blackness: Unity, Self-Determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith.