Bodhi Day
Bodhi Day celebrates story of how The Buddha, the central figure and founder of their religion, came to be. It’s said that a man named Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha because one day he decided to sit under a tree and think about all the problems in the world until he became enlightened and figured out the solution. Families celebrate this important moment in their religion by hanging up multi-colored lights and lighting candles, meditating and snacking on rice and milk, which is the first meal The Buddha ate after his enlightenment!
St. Lucia Day, December 13th
St. Lucia Day is a holiday dedicated to St. Lucy, a young girl who Christians believe was known for her kindness and generosity to the less fortunate. Her feast takes place on December 13th, but used to be celebrated on the winter solstice.
To celebrate, children dress in all-white and one girl is chosen to be Lucia; she wears a wreath with candles and a white dress. The children wake their parents the morning of the 13th by singing a special song for Lucia and lighting candles. Lucia then brings them coffee and pastries in bed. Today, the holiday is primarily celebrated in Europe (especially in Scandinavia, where the feast is believed to have originated), but it’s also celebrated as far south as Italy, and even in parts of the U.S.! In some places, there are even parades, church services, and no school.
Las Posadas, December 16th
Las Posadas is a nine-day Mexican tradition commemorating the part of the Christmas story in which Mary and Joseph must ask for a place to stay at every inn in Bethlehem before finding shelter in a barn when Jesus was born.
Starting on December 16th, Las Posadas celebrants go to a friend’s house to sing a traditional song, asking for shelter like Mary and Joseph did. The homeowners (acting as the innkeepers) then sing a traditional song back, saying they have no room and to move on. The celebrants go to another house and repeat the song, until they arrive at the third house, where a different song is sung by the innkeepers saying to come in.
After taking a moment to pray, a pinata is brought out for the children and everybody gets to eat, drink, and have fun. Sometimes a doll is used to symbolize the baby Jesus and the innkeepers keep the doll until the next night, when the whole celebration is repeated again and again until Christmas Eve!
Boxing Day, December 26th
Boxing Day is a holiday associated with acts of charity and giving gifts to workers. It is believed that the holiday was first started as a way for people to donate to and help the less fortunate by boxing up leftover food or old clothes, a tradition that continues strongly in South Africa, where the day is officially known as the Day of Goodwill.
The other main countries that observe Boxing Day today include Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.
Junkanoo, December 26th and January 1st
Junkanoo is a Bahamian celebration that was started as a way for people to remember and celebrate traditions of their ancestors through costumes, music, and dance.
The holiday originally began as a way for slaves in the Bahamas to celebrate their origins during some of the only days of the year when they didn’t have to work. But after slavery ended, Junkanoo continued as an excuse to party!
Today it includes parades that begin in the middle of the night and last until late the next morning, as well as singing and dancing in the street, good food, fireworks, and prizes for the most elaborate costumes!
Hogmanay, December 31st
Before celebrating New Year’s Eve, Scottish people observe Hogmanay, pre-New Year traditions that include cleaning and paying off debts to truly start the new year with a clean slate.
Hogmanay also includes the tradition of the first-footers which says the first person to cross a family’s doorstep after midnight will determine that home’s luck for the rest of the year! Legend says a tall, dark-haired man will bring the most luck, but whoever is chosen is expected to bring cakes and gifts for all who are celebrating.
Three Kings Day, January 6th
Three Kings Day, also called The Epiphany in some cultures, is a very important holiday in the Christian church that commemorates the moment when Jesus was recognized as God in human form.
In the Western sects, it remembers the day the three wise men came to pay their respects to the baby Jesus, while in the East it’s supposed to commemorate his baptism.
The holiday is celebrated with special sermons and masses. In the East, there are additional blessings of both homes and water (to remember Jesus’s baptism.
