By: Stephanie Rice

Everybody knows that there are three major holidays in December; but does everybody know what all three are about? Christmas is the Christian holiday, although non-religious people also celebrate aspects of it. Chanukah is the Jewish holiday, and Kwanzaa is the African holiday. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, along with celebrating goodwill towards others, family, giving and compassion. Non-religious people sometimes celebrate the part of Christmas that is derived from Yule, the winter solstice celebration of the Germanic pagans. Some Christmas traditions include: Nativity scenes, the exchange of gifts, the arrival of Santa Claus, Christmas cards and decorations and the display of Christmas trees.
Chanukah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is the eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th day of Kislevusually starting in December, but on rare occasions, as in the 2005-2006 Chanukah it can start as late as January. The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first night, two on the second night and so on. The holiday was called Chanukah meaning "dedication" because it marks the re-dedication of the Temple after its abuse under Antiochus IV. Spiritually, Chanukah celebrates the Miracle of Oil. Historically, the Maccabees only had enough oil to light the Temple for only once day, miraculously, the oil lasted for eight days, which was long enough to make new oil.
Kwanzaa is a week-long non-religious holiday honoring African-American heritage, observed from December 26 to January 1 each year. Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in California in 1966, during his leadership of the black nationalist United Slaves Organization (also known as the "US Organization"), in order to give African Americans an alternative holiday to Christmas. It is a celebration that has its roots in the civil rights era of the 1960s, and was established as a means to help African Americans reconnect with their African cultural and historical heritage. Families celebrating Kwanzaa decorate their households with objects of art, colorful African cloth, especially the wearing of the Uwole by women, and fresh fruits that represent African idealism. It is customary to include children in Kwanzaa ceremonies and to give respect and gratitude to ancestors.
There are other holidays celebrated in December, but these are the three major ones. Now that you have read this, you are more highly informed, and you can go share these random facts with your friends.
