InfoGuides: Winter Holidays and Traditions: Winter Holidays and Traditions

Holiday Traditions Around the World

Hanukkah - or the "Festival of Lights" is a Jewish celebration that commemorates the retaking of Jerusalem from the Seleucid Empire and rededication of the Second Temple during the Maccabean Revolt. It takes place anywhere from late November to late December depending on where it falls on the Hebrew calendar with the 25th day of Kislev. The holiday is commonly celebrated by lighting the nine candles of a candelabrum, known as the menorah, with one candle being lit each night by the previous candle until all are lit on the last night. Other traditions for this festival include singing Hanukkah songs, playing dreidel (which involves spinning a four-sided top for prizes), and eating oil-based foods like "latkes" and "sufganiyot" as well as dairy foods.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 16). Hanukkah. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:39, November 18, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hanukkah&oldid=1185466419

Christmas - is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25th as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. Popular modern customs of the holiday include gift giving; completing an Advent calendar or Advent wreath; Christmas music and caroling; viewing a Nativity play; an exchange of Christmas cards; church services; a special meal; and the display of various Christmas decorations, including Christmas trees, Christmas lights, nativity scenes, garlands, wreaths, mistletoe, and holly. In addition, several closely related and often interchangeable figures, known as Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, and the Christkind, are associated with bringing gifts to children during the Christmas season and have their own body of traditions and lore.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 15). Christmas. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:37, November 18, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Christmas&oldid=1185250195

Kwanzaa - is an annual celebration of African-American culture from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. It was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West and Southeast Africa. Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 17). Kwanzaa. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:43, November 18, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kwanzaa&oldid=1185559514

Lunar New Year - is the first new moon of a lunar calendar or lunisolar calendar year, whose months are moon cycles. The event is celebrated by numerous cultures in various ways at diverse dates.

The more well-known celebrations include New Year's Day (or week) in the Chinese calendar and Tibetan calendar of East Asia; the Buddhist and Hindu calendars of Southeast and South Asia; the Islamic calendar and the Jewish calendar that originated in the Middle East; and the Nisga'a calendar from Canada. The determination of the first month of a new lunar year varies by culture.

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 4). Lunar New Year. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:45, November 18, 2023, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lunar_New_Year&oldid=1183503501

Books

Nine Days to Christmas by Marie Hall Ets; Aurora Labastida
Call Number: PZ7.E855 .Ni 2022
ISBN: 9780833578648
Publication Date: 1991-01-01
Published over 30 years ago, Nine Days to Christmas remains fresh and relevant. Ceci's first Christmas posada party and pinata have made her Mexican town come alive for generations of readers. The youngest child will be completely transported by this lovely story.--The Atlantic. Three-color illustrations.
Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas by Pamela Ehrenberg; Anjan Sarkar (Illustrator)
Call Number: PZ7.E3233 Que 2017
ISBN: 9780374304447
Publication Date: 2017-10-10
In this sweet and humorous picture book, Queen of the Hanukkah Dosas, a multi-cultural family (Mom's Indian; Dad's Jewish) celebrate Hanukkah while incorporating traditional Indian food. Instead of latkes, this family celebrates Hanukkah with tasty Indian dosas. To her brother's chagrin, little Sadie won't stop climbing on everything both at home and at the Indian grocery store, even while preparing the dosas. As the family puts the finishing touches on their holiday preparations, they accidentally get locked out of the house. Sadie and her climbing skills just may be exactly what is needed to save the day.
The Eight Knights of Hanukkah by Leslie Kimmelman; Galia Bernstein (Illustrator)
ISBN: 0823439585
Publication Date: 2020-09-15
The whole kingdom has gathered to celebrate Hanukkah--but a dastardly dragon keeps interrupting the festivities. Can the Eight Knights of Hanukkah set things right? A Sydney Taylor Notable Book It's the last night of Hanukkah and everyone is doing their part for the big celebration, but a dragon called Dreadful has other ideas. He roams the countryside, interrupting the party preparations. Lady Sadie must call upon the Eight Knights of Hanukkah to perform deeds of awesome kindness and stupendous bravery and put an end to the dragon's shenanigans. When Dreadful eats all the special donuts the baker made, Sir Lily helps the baker make more sufganiyot. Sir Alex makes a young lad a new dreidel after Dreadful scorched his original one. And on the Knights go--but when they finally catch up to Dreadful, a funny surprise awaits them! Leslie Kimmelman crafts a humorous and touching story out of a bit of wordplay and a love for a holiday that truly shines. Galia Bernstein's artwork is full of appeal and is sure to satisfy fantasy fans. Back matter includes a note on the traditions of Hanukkah and directions for playing the dreidel game.
Happy Holidays--Animated! by William D. Crump
ISBN: 9781476636467
Publication Date: 2019-03-11
Since the early 20th century, animated Christmas cartoons have brightened the holiday season around the world--first in theaters, then on television. From devotional portrayals of the Nativity to Santa battling villains and monsters, this encyclopedia catalogs more than 1,800 international Christmas-themed cartoons and others with year-end themes of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and the New Year. Explore beloved television specials such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, theatrical shorts such as Santa's Workshop, holiday episodes from animated television series like American Dad! and The Simpsons, feature films like The Nutcracker Prince and obscure productions such as The Insects' Christmas, along with numerous adaptations and parodies of such classics as A Christmas Carol and Twas the Night before Christmas.
Holiday Symbols and Customs by Omnigraphics (Editor)
ISBN: 0780813642
Publication Date: 2015-08-21
A guide to the legend and lore behind the traditions, rituals, foods, games, animals, and other symbols and activities associated with holidays and holy days, feasts and fasts, and other celebrations.
Rosh Hashanah Is Coming! by Tracy Newman; Viviana Garofoli (Illustrator)
ISBN: 9781512409451
Publication Date: 2016-08-01
Introduce young children to Jewish life with Very First Board Books. Crack the eggs. Hear the sound? Make this braided challah round. Rosh Hashanah is coming. This sweet board book celebrates the Jewish New Year, and is the fourth in Tracy Newman's Jewish holiday series. As Kirkus said of Shabbat is Coming!, a previous book in this series, ". . . the bouncy verse and Garofoli's richly colored, slightly three-dimensional cartoons against canvas-textured background provide a compelling introduction to the weekly celebration."
A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril
ISBN: 9781639101665
Publication Date: 2022-10-11
Their chocolates are to die for-but things aren't so sweet when a real killer comes to town, in this debut mystery perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs. Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. But now, there's a real killer in their midst. Shortly before Christmas, their septuagenarian neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village. Unfortunately, she's also shared her suspicions with town gossip Netta. The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane's house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby. The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects- Alex, a beneficiary in Jane's will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene. But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to draft a list of other potential suspects-townsfolk who'd recently been seen arguing with Jane. When Alex gets hold of Jane's journal, she begins to understand the truth. But a bearer of ill tidings is arriving early this year-and Alex just might not make it to Christmas.

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Tree and home lightings, Christmas villages, concerts, holiday shopping and more.

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