A Multicultural Holiday
Written by Jenna McConnell
Thumbnail and banner photo by Sabri Tuzcu on Unsplash
With November coming to a close, the mind cannot help but wander to thoughts of the upcoming holiday season. With snow beginning to fall quietly outside, trimming the tree and cozying up with some hot chocolate, Christmastime is finally here! Christmas never fails to be cheerful and lively, bringing together families and friends to relax and have a good time. With upbeat music constantly playing, delicious food and baking, and decorations galore, Christmas has a lot to love. Ignoring the accompanying stress of exams that is also present at this time of year, the month of December is a favourite for many for precisely this reason. But as Nova Scotia becomes the multicultural hotspot that we know and love, we see celebrations of all kinds coming into the mainstream. These different holidays are all wildly interesting and unique, full of joy and laughter. In a diverse environment like Saint Mary’s, we will soon see students from all around the world sharing their unique holiday traditions; through them we will unlock a whole new perspective.
Let’s explore the beauty of worldwide traditions during this time of the year!
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight days. Its first day of celebration falls on Kislev 25 in the Hebrew calendar, usually coinciding with the month of December. People traditionally celebrate this holiday by lighting the nine candles of the menorah, using the shamash (“attendant”) candle to light the other eight, one on each following night. Special prayers and songs are sung before and after this ceremony. There are fun games to play, like the dreidel, and lots of fried foods like latkes and sufganyas, a kind of dessert. This year, Hanukkah will be observed from December 7th-15th.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a celebration of African culture that lasts every year from December 26th until the new year. This is not a religious or politically-driven holiday but a celebration of heritage and culture. It is primarily celebrated in the States; however, it has been growing globally each year. The holiday has a similar candle-lighting ceremony to Hanukkah. Each night, families come together to light one of the seven red, green and black candles on the kinara and discuss one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: essential values such as unity, creativity, and faith. There is a large feast on the last day of the holiday, with traditional African foods and clothing being worn. Gifts are exchanged on the last day as well. Kwanzaa is a very empowering and joyous celebration, making it tons of fun to learn about and celebrate with the families you may know who observe this tradition.
Yule/Winter Solstice
One of the oldest holidays on this list, Yule is an ancient Pagan tradition that coincides with the winter solstice, usually either on the 21st or 22nd of December. Unfortunately, this holiday has been on the decline since the rise of Christmas traditions; however, many still keep to the old ways, and some aspects of Yule are still alive and very well-loved. The most prominent practice carried into modern times is the Yule log. What once used to be a great, beautiful piece of wood to burn throughout the festival has inspired a delicious dessert, still in the shape and likeness of a log. It is a fun and creative way to celebrate the coming winter season and another excuse to get cozy by the fire with some good food. This year, Yule will fall from December 21st until the new year.
Photo by Umesh Soni on Unsplash
Diwali
While this holiday has already passed us by, Diwali is still a fantastic festival that is worth mentioning. It is India’s biggest celebration of the year, with a massive festival of lights full of food and dancing. It is observed over the course of five days during the Hindu month of Kartik. This coincides with mid-October to mid-November, and there are different traditions and activities done each day. Houses are decorated with clay lamps and oil lanterns, with fireworks shows occurring in the evening. A large feast is to be had on the third and “main” day, once again bringing the entire family together. This year, Diwali was celebrated from November 10th-15th, with the primary day of celebration occurring on November 12th.
Christmas Around the World
While overwhelmingly popular here in Nova Scotia and worldwide, Christmas itself has lots of cultural differences, depending on where and how you celebrate. This can clearly be seen when looking at something as simple as names! Our childhood was shaped by waiting up all night for Santa Claus on Christmas eve, but not every child knows him by that name. From Père Noël, Hoteiosho, or Babbo Natale, our favourite gift-giving Saint is still well known despite these differences. The traditional foods eaten for Christmas are different in other parts of the world, and some places treat the holiday as much more of a religious affair than others, attending mass and other church gatherings.
Every holiday has its merits. Whether it be more religious in practice or simply a fun day to spend with loved ones, it doesn’t matter what the name is. All of these traditions are beautiful and centred around love and unity, which always makes for a happy occasion. Nova Scotia is full of diversity, which adds lots of fun and excitement to life. As the days of cold and dreary skies draw nearer, it is a nice reminder to hold your loved ones close and to learn and celebrate all the interesting cultures we have the pleasure of coming across.