Happy Holidays: Religious, philosophical, and cultural traditions during the month of December and beyond.
Co-authored by Leslie Anselme and Morgan Alley. Please reach out to Leslie Anselme, Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion/Racial Justice with any questions.
December is often regarded for its rich cultural traditions and celebrations. While not everyone engages in such practices during the month of December, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts invites each of its members to take a moment this month and expand their world view by doing research on cultures, religions, or philosophies that may be unfamiliar to them.
First, it is important to understand the differences between a religion, a philosophy, and a culture:
Religion: a set of organized beliefs, practices, and systems that most often relate to the belief and worship of a superhuman power or powers, especially a god or gods (e.g. Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Vodou/Voodoo).
Philosophy: a system using reason to understand things like nature, existence, the use and limits of knowledge, and the principles of moral judgment (e.g. Confucianism, Daoism/Taoism, Shintoism).
Culture: the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group (e.g. Black culture, Scandinavian culture).
December is a time of celebration in many cultures and religions including Christianity, Judaism, Pan-African culture, Buddhism, and Paganism. December holidays include:
December 7-15, 2023, Hanukkah (Judaism): an annual eight-day festival commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem during the Maccabean Revolt.
December 8, 2023, Bodhi Day (Buddhism): an annual commemoration of the day that Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment.
December 21-January 1, 2024: Yule (Paganism/ Germanic cultural origins): an annual festival celebrating the winter solstice.
December 25, 2023, Christmas (Christianity): an annual festival celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 26-January 1, 2024, Kwanzaa (Pan-African culture): an annual celebration of African-American culture based on African harvest festival traditions.
Along with rituals and traditions, food plays a large role in many holidays. Fasting, for example, is a key component of several religious traditions. Here's more:
During Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, Jewish people do not eat, drink, bathe, engage in sexual activity, or wear anything made of leather. It is a day devoted to fasting, prayer, and repentance. Yom Kippur is observed on the tenth day of the lunar month of Tishri, which falls sometime between September and October each year.
During Ramadan, a month-long period of reflection, prayer, and spiritual discipline, Muslim people do not eat, drink, or engage in sexual activity between dawn and sunset. Ramadan follows the lunar Islamic calendar which is determined through the phases of the moon. The official beginning and end of Ramadan are determined by a moon sighting committee in Saudi Arabia each year. Ramadan will occur approximately from March 10-April 9, 2024.
In other instances, specific foods are eaten to celebrate and commemorate the holidays:
- On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, the Karamu feast is held. Participants decorate the table with ears of corn and seasonal fruits. The main meal is usually a one-pot stew or soup, supported by Black-eyed peas, collard greens, Hoppin' John, sweet potato pie, and other traditional foods of the African diaspora.
- Traditionally on Easter, Christians enjoy a big meal featuring a main dish of ham or lamb, alongside vegetables, starches, and plenty of dessert. Lamb, an homage to Jesus Christ who is sometimes referred to as the lamb of God, was considered the traditional main course for thousands of years. However, ham has been established as an acceptable and less expensive alternative over time.
- For Passover, Jewish people have a dinner called a Seder. During this meal, matzah, shank bone (zeroa), egg, bitter herbs, vegetable (karpas), and a sweet paste (charoset) are eaten to remember the bitterness of enslavement and the sweetness of freedom.
It’s important to remember that in the United States, there are prescheduled breaks in school and places of employment that favor holidays celebrated in the Christian faith. Whereas those who follow other faiths may have to miss school or request time off of work in order to attend their religious gatherings or services.
When greeting friends, family, coworkers, and strangers this season, consider wishing them a “Happy Holidays” or a “restful break”, as you strike up a conversation for their weekend’s plans. You may learn something you might have otherwise never known about!
