BOOK REVIEW

 

Our Holidays in December

Chanukah November 28- December 6 2021

Saint Nicholas Day

Saint Nicholas Day recognizes the third-century saint who became an inspiration for the modern-day Santa Claus. St. Nicholas is known for selling all his possessions and giving his money to the poor.

 

Celebrated always on December 6^th in the United States. Part of the tradition, on the eve Saint Nicholas Day December 5^th, children leave their empty shoes out in front of their bedrooms or the fireplace.

Trivia history: After WWII/ World War II, December 6th became a major holiday in Italy. An even bigger holiday in Europe, among the Dutch and Italians.

One Chaplin dressed up as St. Nickolas (San Nicolo) asking the warriors to give items to him to give to kids.

Observed and celebrated on 6^th of December in Western Christian countries and a weeklong fair called Fiera di Nicolo.

It is celebrated by kids, placing shoes in the foyer before bedtime, hoping to receive many treats.

On December 6^th, the children are given treats as:

·        Cookies

·        Fruit

·        Toys

 All placed in stockings, socks, shoes, or bags.

Sweet treats 

Delicacies/food

·        Pastries

·        Italian Garlic Bread (Bruschetta)

·        Salad

·        Fruit

·        Fish

·        Brozel - Egg garlic parsley gravy

·        Meat balls

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Christmas in America 

Christmas is celebrated on December 25^th

 

A one-day event filled with many traditions, no matter what day the 25^th falls on. It is always celebrated on the 25^th of December.

Unlike Thanksgiving Day that is always celebrated on the third Thursday in November.

Many celebrate the eve of Christmas by:

·        Sharing and opening gifts

·        Attends special services

·        Prayers for the departed

·        Charity and visiting hospitals  

 

The holiday’s, main central core is in which many fail to recall - it is the ‘Birth of Christ.’

Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, held annual on December 25^th  

A few notable events are celebrated                            

• ·        Christmas Eve
• ·        12 days of Christmas
• ·        Gift giving
• ·        Helping others more and Charity giving
• ·        Secret Santa
• ·        Songs and musical programs throughout
• ·        The annual holiday parade in California

·       

For the most part - foods are vast in variety according to traditions and customs at family tables

 

 

 

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Kwanzaa  

 

^{December 26 - January 1, 2022}

It is important to note Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday, not a religious one.  Kwanzaa is a celebration of Family, Community, and Culture.

 

First-Fruits Celebration

• a time of ingathering of the people to reaffirm the bonds between them.
• a time of special reverence for the creator and creation in thanks and respect for the blessings, bountifulness, and beauty of creation.
• a time for commemoration of the past in pursuit of its lessons and in honor of its models of human excellence, our ancestors;
• a time of recommitment to our highest cultural ideals in our ongoing effort to always bring forth the best of African cultural thought and practice; and
• a time for celebration of the Good, the good of life and of existence itself, the good of family, community, and culture, the good of the awesome and the ordinary, in a word the good of the divine, natural, and social.

 

Source:

http://www.officalkwanzaawebsite.org 

Courtesy of: My Pal Buddee - 'Our Holiday'