International Holidays This Season
This time of year, we think of Christmas, the annual religious holiday celebrated on December 25th in Western churches. Hence, we often dismiss the many other significant holidays celebrated by various cultures worldwide. Listed below are some international holidays to take note of:
St. Nicholas Day – The feast day on December 6 of St. Nicholas, the 4th-century bishop of Myra. St. Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia and Greece, and of sailors and children, among many other groups, and was noted for his generosity.
Bodhi Day - Buddhist holiday commemorating the day Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama or Shakyamuni Buddha, experienced enlightenment.
Feast Day of Our Lady Guadalupe - Celebrated on December 12 every year in Mexico. Devotees honor the day when the Virgin Mary made an appearance to a young man on this day in 1531.
Immaculate Conception Day - Roman Catholic dogma asserting that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved free from the effects of the sin of Adam also known as the “original sin”, from the first instant of her conception.
Hanukkah - Jewish festival, lasting eight days from the 25th day of Kislev in December and commemorating the rededication of the Temple in 165 BC by the Maccabees after its desecration by the Syrians. It is marked by the successive kindling of eight lights.
Yule - “Yule” comes from Old English geol, a very similar meaning to the word jól. Both these words referred to a midwinter festival centered around the winter solstice, which traditionally marked the halfway point of the winter season.
Boxing Day – In Great Britain and some countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, celebrates (December 26) on which servants, tradespeople, and the poor traditionally were presented with gifts.
Kwanzaa – A nonreligious festival celebrated by many African Americans from December 26 to January 1 as a celebration of their cultural heritage and traditional values.
Zarathrost Diso – A Day of remembrance in the Zoroastrian religion. It is a commemoration of the death anniversary of the prophet Zoroaster. It is observed on the 11th day of the 10th month.
Diwali – For five days there is a light festival that celebrates good over evil and/or lightness over darkness. The holiday follows the lunar calendar and usually comes during October or November
Three King Day - In Mexico and many other South American countries, three Wise Men bring people gifts and leave presents near the shoes of small children. The holiday is also called Epiphany and a grand feast would be held on this day to honor the occasion of Jesus’ baptism to pay homage to the Three Wise Men.
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