ARTICLE
Delaware’s diverse cultural and religious communities join others throughout the globe in celebrating holidays in winter. They include Diwali, Bodhi, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, each with unique significance and customs. While New Year’s Day is marked on January 1st, some cultures also commemorate the Lunar New Year later in the winter months. This multitude of winter celebrations illustrates the rich diversity of customs and practices embraced by communities worldwide during this festive season. Diwali, a five-day Hindu festival, began on November 13th and is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and other South Asian countries. The festival is often called the “festival of lights” and celebrates both the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira, an Indian Sage, and the Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand, a Hindu religious leader. The word “Diwali” stems from a phrase meaning “row of lamps,” as the holiday involves lighting small clay lamps, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. During the festival, families and friends ignite firecrackers, do new clothes, and share sweets. Each year on December 8th, Buddhists celebrate the day that Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment through meditation. The word Bodhi means awakening or enlightenment. Bodhi Day is observed through Mahayana traditions. Both Buddhist and Zen schools in Vietnam, China, Korea, and Japan observe the day. Although different sects within the Buddhist community have different traditions, one shared aspect is the commemoration of Buddha’s achieving nirvana. Celebrants also reflect on the meaning of his nirvana and some people commemorate the holiday by meditating as much as possible. Christmas, a widely recognized holiday, is celebrated globally and has become an essential part of the festive season. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in most Christian religions and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The word “Christmas” refers to “Christ’s Mass,”, and holds significant importance in the Christian calendar. Gifts are exchanged and families, churches, companies and governments decorate (“decking the halls”) their homes, businesses, or public spaces with holy, ivy, and other greens. This display of nativity scenes is common in some countries. Christmas trees with lights and ornaments is a common sight, especially in the United States. Hanukkah, also spelled as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the re-establishment of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew, the language of the Jews. It commemorates the miracle that allowed the Temple’s Eternal Light, when relit, to remain burning for eight days with only one day’s supply of oil until a new source was found. Thus, the holiday is observed for eight nights with the lighting of one candle for each night adding one each day, until all are lit. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew Calendar, a lunar calendar, so it can occur in November or December on the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah 2023 begins on the evening of Thursday, December 7, and ends on the evening of Friday, December 15. Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada, and Western African Diaspora communities, and honors African heritage within African American culture. Established by Maulana Karenga in 1966, it is observed from December 26 to January 1 and ends with a festive meal and the exchange of gifts. The holiday highlights seven fundamental principles of unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Families decorate their homes with vibrantly colored African art and textiles. They celebrate with inspirational readings and reflection of the African Pledge. They also light seven candles kinora (similar to the Menorah), but with red, green and black candles. Lunar New Year is celebrated in China and other Asian countries as well in Asian families throughout the world. The holiday begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so the date of the holiday varies slightly from year to year, beginning sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. Traditionally, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are dedicated to familial gatherings and involve religious ceremonies honoring ancestors. Dance and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations. By Seyeon (Sena) Min - WTC Delaware Research & Trade Information Intern References Diwali, Hanukkah: https://mccormickcenter.nl.edu/library/winter-celebrations/ Christmas, Kwanzaa: https://time.com/6242283/december-global-holidays-christmas-hanukkah-yule/ Bodhi Day: https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/buddhism/winter-holiday-series-bodhi-day/ Lunar New Year: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lunar-New-Year
Delaware’s diverse cultural and religious communities join others throughout the globe in celebrating holidays in winter. They include Diwali, Bodhi, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, each with unique significance and customs. While New Year’s Day is marked on January 1st, some cultures also commemorate the Lunar New Year later in the winter months. This multitude of winter celebrations illustrates the rich diversity of customs and practices embraced by communities worldwide during this festive season.
Diwali, a five-day Hindu festival, began on November 13th and is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and other South Asian countries. The festival is often called the “festival of lights” and celebrates both the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira, an Indian Sage, and the Death Anniversary of Swami Dayanand, a Hindu religious leader. The word “Diwali” stems from a phrase meaning “row of lamps,” as the holiday involves lighting small clay lamps, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil. During the festival, families and friends ignite firecrackers, do new clothes, and share sweets.
Each year on December 8th, Buddhists celebrate the day that Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment through meditation. The word Bodhi means awakening or enlightenment. Bodhi Day is observed through Mahayana traditions. Both Buddhist and Zen schools in Vietnam, China, Korea, and Japan observe the day. Although different sects within the Buddhist community have different traditions, one shared aspect is the commemoration of Buddha’s achieving nirvana. Celebrants also reflect on the meaning of his nirvana and some people commemorate the holiday by meditating as much as possible.
Christmas, a widely recognized holiday, is celebrated globally and has become an essential part of the festive season. Christmas is celebrated on December 25th in most Christian religions and commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. The word “Christmas” refers to “Christ’s Mass,”, and holds significant importance in the Christian calendar. Gifts are exchanged and families, churches, companies and governments decorate (“decking the halls”) their homes, businesses, or public spaces with holy, ivy, and other greens. This display of nativity scenes is common in some countries. Christmas trees with lights and ornaments is a common sight, especially in the United States.
Hanukkah, also spelled as Chanukah, is an eight-day Jewish holiday that celebrates the re-establishment of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Maccabean Revolt in the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah means dedication in Hebrew, the language of the Jews. It commemorates the miracle that allowed the Temple’s Eternal Light, when relit, to remain burning for eight days with only one day’s supply of oil until a new source was found. Thus, the holiday is observed for eight nights with the lighting of one candle for each night adding one each day, until all are lit. Hanukkah begins on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew Calendar, a lunar calendar, so it can occur in November or December on the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah 2023 begins on the evening of Thursday, December 7, and ends on the evening of Friday, December 15.
Kwanzaa is a week-long holiday celebrated in the United States, Canada, and Western African Diaspora communities, and honors African heritage within African American culture. Established by Maulana Karenga in 1966, it is observed from December 26 to January 1 and ends with a festive meal and the exchange of gifts. The holiday highlights seven fundamental principles of unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Families decorate their homes with vibrantly colored African art and textiles. They celebrate with inspirational readings and reflection of the African Pledge. They also light seven candles kinora (similar to the Menorah), but with red, green and black candles.
Lunar New Year is celebrated in China and other Asian countries as well in Asian families throughout the world. The holiday begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar, 15 days later. The lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, so the date of the holiday varies slightly from year to year, beginning sometime between January 21 and February 20 according to Western calendars. Traditionally, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are dedicated to familial gatherings and involve religious ceremonies honoring ancestors. Dance and fireworks are prevalent throughout the holidays, culminating in the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated on the last day of the New Year’s celebrations.
By Seyeon (Sena) Min - WTC Delaware Research & Trade Information Intern
References
Diwali, Hanukkah: https://mccormickcenter.nl.edu/library/winter-celebrations/
Christmas, Kwanzaa: https://time.com/6242283/december-global-holidays-christmas-hanukkah-yule/
Bodhi Day: https://www.worldreligionnews.com/religion-news/buddhism/winter-holiday-series-bodhi-day/
Lunar New Year: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lunar-New-Year