Dongzhi Festival
The Dongzhi Festival, also known as the Winter Solstice Festival, is a traditional Chinese celebration marking the shortest day and longest night of the year, typically falling on or around December 21st or 22nd. Rooted in the ancient philosophy of yin and yang, the festival signifies the turning point when days start to become longer,…
La Noche de los Rábanos, Mexico
La Noche de los Rábanos, or The Night of the Radishes, is an annual tradition in Oaxaca, Mexico for carving festive radishes during the Christmas season. Click here for information.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is marked by festive traditions, gift-giving, and gatherings with family and friends.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish celebration that lasts for eight nights (December 25 - January 3, 2024). It commemorates the miracle of the oil in the Second Temple in Jerusalem and involves the lighting of the menorah, playing dreidel games, and enjoying festive foods. Click here for information and…
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a holiday celebrated on the day after Christmas Day. It is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong and South Africa. Originally it was a holiday to give gifts to the poor, but today Boxing Day is mostly known as a shopping holiday.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an annual holiday, celebrated primarily in the United States, affirming African family and social values. It takes place through January 1.
Ōmisoka, Japan
Ōmisoka —or ōtsugomori —is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. It is customary for people to clean their homes, eat soba or udon noodles, and bathe at night to rid themselves of uncleanliness. Bells are struck 108 times to bring in the new year and lift people from suffering.
New Year’s Day
New Year's Day on January 1 is celebrated by people around the world. It is a widely recognized and observed holiday in many countries and cultures. The celebration often includes various customs, traditions, and festivities to mark the beginning of the new year.
Shōgatsu, Japan
Shōgatsu, or Japanese New Year, is one of the most important holidays in Japan, celebrated from January 1–3 with family gatherings, traditional foods, and special customs. Activities include cleaning homes beforehand, decorating with kadomatsu (pine and bamboo arrangements), and visiting shrines to pray for good fortune in the coming year. It is a time for…
Independence Day, Haiti
Haitian Independence Day is celebrated on January 1st to commemorate the day in 1804 when Haiti declared independence from French colonial rule, becoming the first independent Black republic in the world. Lit Connection: Freedom Soup: A Taste of Haitian Independence