Learn about holiday celebrations from various countries across the globe.
Its also an opportunity to appreciate the differences between our holidays across a variety of cultures and continents.
Note that dried fruit pudding is very similar to fruitcake, so come with a sweet tooth.
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It is now celebrated by more than a billion people around the world, including Jains and Sikhs.
Reasons for celebrating Diwali vary across all three religions and within various regions in India.
The five-day festival celebrates good prevailing over evil and the triumph of light over darkness.
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The holiday is celebrated with traditional foods like ladoo and samosas, fireworks, and lantern displays.
The lanterns are often earthenware, and many communities light candles as well.
The holiday aligns with the lunar calendar and is usually observed in October or November.
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At the start of Diwali, prayers are offered to the goddess of wealth and good fortune Lakshmi.
Its common for families to inherit their own specific patterns, almost like a family crest.
Sadly, the pandemic has prevented this tradition from taking place in the last couple of years.
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Each large city holds its own outdoor market at night in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
Local artisans sell intricate Christmas ornaments, decorations, and other art pieces to give as gifts.
It celebrates St. Lucy, an Italian Christian martyr who died in the early 4th century.
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St. Lucia was killed for keeping to her faith by bringing food to Christians hiding in Roman catacombs.
To keep her hands free, she wore candles in a wreath on her head.
For the public festivals, a young girl is selected to represent St. Lucia.
Hanukkah, or Chanukah, means dedication in Hebrew.
They defeated the Greek army and reclaimed their place of worship.
The eight days of Hanukkah symbolize this miracle and celebrate the Jewish faith.
Beginning on December 16, a mass is held each day at a different time.
The early hours were to align with when the rooster crowed in the day.
Churches are often decorated with lights and parol lanterns to greet churchgoers, with a Nativity scene on display.
It is based on the Roman practice of not eating meat and diary on the eve of important holidays.
Still, the holiday remains unfamiliar to many Italians living in Italy.
Popular at the Christmas Eve feast are also panettone and pandoro, traditional, fluffy Italian cakes.
The day symbolizes the good deeds that St. Nicholas was known for.
Its said that during his lifetime, he sold all his possessions so you can help people in need.
Back then, people used to leave their shoes by the fire all night to dry them out.
As people slept, St. Nicholas would sneak in and leave the shoes filled with money or food.
For that reason, the day is also associated with acts of service.
Its customary for families to spend the day volunteering or doing good deeds for members of their community.
The holiday is modeled after traditional African harvest festivals.
On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, families celebrate with a large feast, known asKaramu Ya Imani.
It has been practiced in the Americas for the 400 years since then.
The nine days commemorate the nine months the Virgin Mary was pregnant for the baby Jesus.
The religious festival lasts from December 16 and culminates on December 24 in Las Navidad.
Gifts are usually given to children after the midnight mass as the evening officially turns into Christmas Day.
The day is observed with meditation and acts of kindness.
