It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Music jingles around busy holiday shoppers, and colorful lights go up on houses across America. Different countries and cultures have various festivities, even for similar holidays. So sit back, grab your milk and cookies, and read on to find out what holiday celebrations are going on this December.

Christmas

Celebrated by Christians around the world, this holiday signifies the birth of Jesus. In America, the “Christmas season” starts almost as soon as Thanksgiving ends, with red and green decorations going up to complement the holiday music. Sailee Naik, an Oakton freshman says, “My favorite part of the holiday season is spending time with my family.” American festivities include putting up holiday lights and decorative Christmas trees before going out to the malls to buy presents for friends and family. Children leave out a plate of milk and cookies for Santa Claus, who is believed to slide down the chimney off of his sleigh to deliver presents to nice children. In many European countries, Christmas markets are held with vendors selling everything from bracelets to roasted chestnuts. Although some Mexican children expect for Santa Claus to come on December 24th, families in the south of Mexico and many South American countries do not expect their gifts until el Dia de los Reyes. Their gifts are thought to be given by the Three Kings on the Epiphany. In the U.K., festivities are similar to those in America, with Father Christmas delivering their gifts and a large family meal on Christmas day. The religious day is celebrated around the world with an attendance at a Midnight Mass, or Christmas service.

Hanukkah

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday which celebrates the miracle that occurred after the Jews reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The Jews only had enough oil for one night’s light, but the small amount of oil provided light for eight days, which provided time for more oil to be attained. Modern Jews light a menorah, adding a candle each night for the eight nights of the holiday. American Jews celebrate by saying prayers each night and giving gifts to children. Dalia Malakoff, an Oakton freshman, says, “My favorite part of Hanukkah is seeing other people’s reactions to gifts I got them.” Jews around the world celebrate by eating food fried in oil, symbolizing the small amount of oil that the Jews had at the temple. In Israel and other countries, one fried food is sufganiyot, a sweet, jelly-filled doughnut. An Eastern European food is the latke, a fried potato pancake that is eaten with either sour cream or applesauce in America. Families gather to trade presents, food, and prayers for these eight days.

New Year’s Eve

Based on the Gregorian calendar, New Year’s Eve falls on Tuesday, December 31st. It is the last day of 2019, and it makes the beginning of 2020. New Year’s celebrations date all the way back to ancient Babylon! Now, people celebrate by staying up until midnight, the start of 2020. Many Americans celebrate by watching the ball drop in Times Square, New York, a tradition more than 100 years old. In London, people gather around the Thames River to watch fireworks, and listen to the chimes of Big Ben. Fireworks are a common occurrence for the New Year, with more displays in Paris, Madrid, and Sydney. It is a tradition for couples to share a kiss and champagne when the clock strikes midnight. New Year’s Eve is the most celebrated holiday around the world, as it has no religious affiliation.

This brings us right into January! Although arguably, filled with less holiday cheer than its former month, the promise of a January snow keeps us on our toes through the winter season.