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In the month of
December,
our SIRS solutions spotlight
winter observances and more
from their unique perspectives.
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SIRS Knowledge Source®
Celebrating the myriad of cultural, religious, artistic, mystical and spiritual observances associated with the winter season.
The diversity of winter festivals and observances around the world reflect the myriad cultures celebrating them. Because winter comprises the Northern Hemisphere's darkest and coldest months, fire and light are traditional symbols of celebrations in this half of the globe.
From candles flickering in Jewish homes to Christmas trees decorated with lights; from the burning of the Yule log to the lighting of the kinara, winter celebrations such as Hanukkah, Christmas, Yule and Kwanzaa incorporate light into the festivities.
In some countries, people take to the streets in celebration, such as in China, where the winter season is commemorated with lavish street festivals during the Lunar New Year. The Mexican tradition of Las Posadas is also a social event, celebrated with street parties and processions paying homage to Mary and Joseph's search for lodging in Bethlehem. Some spiritual observations, like the Buddhist holiday Bodhi Day, are more meditative. Other winter holidays are celebrated with feasts, such as Santerian saints' days or Baha'i faith's spiritual observances.
Learn more about worldwide winter observances and celebrations in such articles and sites as:
ARTICLES
1. The Christmas Tree Ship
2. More Cultural Than Religious, Kwanzaa Rooted in Tradition
3. Interfaith Families Create a Season of Peace by Sharing Traditions
4. Chanukah American Style
5. Happy Pancha Ganapati!
WEB SITE
Holiday Traditions
Read more articles from our Spotlights by logging on to our SIRS Knowledge Source® feature page. Note that the new month's content will not appear until the first of the new month.
SIRS Discoverer®
People around the world celebrate different holidays during the winter season. These holidays may be associated with religious beliefs, spiritual customs, past events, or cultural practices. This diversity makes each holiday very unique. Just think about all of the ways that holidays are celebrated! Traditions may include festivals, lights, singing, decorations, parades, gift-giving, prayers, fairs, fasts, or feasts.
Every holiday has its own prominent symbols, too, such as red lanterns for Chinese New Year, pine trees for Christmas, menorahs for Hanukkah, ears of corn for Kwanzaa, and yule logs for winter solstice.
SIRS Discover what makes each winter holiday special in this month's Spotlight of the Month, Winter Holidays Around the World. Articles and Web sites include:
ARTICLES
1. Chinese New Year
2. Christmas in Scandinavia: Forget the Cookies for Santa -- Just Leave Porridge for the Elves
3. Wall Hanging Marks Holiday
4. Russian Christmas Eve and the Legend of Babushka
5. It's the Holiday Season
WEB SITE
Celebrate Christmas Around the World
Read more
articles from the Spotlight of the Month by logging on to SIRS Discoverer®.
Monthly Events/Holidays
- Happy Kwanzaa
Source: Trenton Public Schools
"Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, a professor at California State University, at Long Branch. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word meaning first fruits of the harvest. From December 26 to January 1, many Afro-Americans celebrate Kwanzaa." (TRENTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS) Learn about the history of Kwanzaa. This site also includes recipes and an explanation of table settings.
- Christmas Day
Source: Embassy of the United States of America
The American Christmas holiday springs from several sources: the Bible, European holiday traditions, and nineteenth century fiction are three of the most commonly cited influences. This page explores the history and traditions of Christmas in the United States.
Spotlight of the Month topics are selected mainly from
Chase's Calendar of Events. Articles are also accessible within the main database and remain in our SIRS newsletter archives for one year.
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