Winter Holidays

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Winter Holidays

• Spiritual Wellness

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Christmas- December 25

• The day chosen to celebrate the birth of Jesus in
  Bethlehem
• The birth of Jesus is thought to bring peace to
  earth and joy to Christians
• Gifts are given to family and friends as
  representatives of the gift God gave to man,
  Jesus

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Bodhi Day- December 8

• Marks the day Buddha received his enlightenment
• It is a day to calm minds and reflect
• It is observed through prayer, meditation, and
  teaching

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Chinese New Year- January/ February

• Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese calendar
  which pre-dates our Gregorian calendar.
• The year is often referred to by its animal
  mascot
• 2009 is the Year of the Ox
• Families give children monetary gifts in red
  envelopes to celebrate

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Diwali- October/ November

• Diwali is a 5 night festival of light celebrated
  in India
• It signifies Harvest Festival, the end of the
  gathering season
• A delicacy eaten during this holiday is called
  Pauva. It is made from freshly harvested and
  pounded rice.

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Hanukkah

• It marks Israels defeat of the Greeks and
  reclaiming of the temple in Jerusalem
• When the Jews went to light a candle to
  celebrate, there was only enough oil for one
  night.
• The oil lasted 8 nights so Hanukkah is now
  celebrated for 8 nights by lighting a Menorah
• Dreidel is a popular game to play during Hanukkah
  

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Eid al-Fitr

• Eid al-Fitr is a celebration to mark the end of
  Ramadana month of piousness
• Families give food donations to poor to ensure
  they have food for the celebration
• People gather on the day of the celebration at
  mosques for prayer, then spend time with their
  families

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Kwanzaa - December 26 to January 1

• Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan African
  celebration of family, community, and culture
• The name means first fruits in Swahili
• It is celebrated as
• a time of thanks and respect for the blessings,
  bountifulness and beauty of creation
• a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit
  of its lessons
• a time for celebration of the good of life and of
  existence itself, the good of family, community
  and culture