Stolen from Karen Pixel-stained Peasant Grant: Happy Holidays. My saying that does NOT mean there is a War On Christmas. It simply means I am aware that there are a LOT of different holidays going on during this festive season, and I would rather include good wishes for all of them than leave anyone out. I respect everyones beliefs, INCLUDING Christians, but telling people that Jesus is the reason for the season is simply incorrect. Please dont get me wrong, I love Christmas, and the message behind it, but if I say Happy Holidays, it only means that I understand not everyone I am speaking to might not be Christian. Heres a list of the various holidays that happen during December: Hanukkah: 27 November-5 December (this year) - A Jewish festival celebrating the miracle of oil that lasted for eight days at the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem in the 2nd century BCE. Advent: four weeks prior to Christmas (Western Christianity). Saint Nicholas Day: 6 December Bodhi Day: 8 December - Day of Enlightenment, celebrating the day that the historical Buddha (Shakyamuni or Siddhartha Gautama) experienced enlightenment (also known as Bodhi). Saint Lucys Day (aka Lucia Day): 13 December - Church Feast Day. Saint Lucy/Lucia comes as a young woman with lights and sweets. Winter Solstice: 21 December-22 December - midwinter Dongzhi Festival - a celebration of Winter (Chinese and other East Asian cultures) Soyal: 21 December - Zuni and Hopi Yalda: 21 December - The turning point, Winter Solstice. As the longest night of the year and the beginning of the lengthening of days, Shabe Yaldā or Shabe Chelle is an Iranian festival celebrating the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil. Shabe yalda means birthday eve. According to Persian mythology, Mithra was born at dawn on the 22nd of December to a virgin mother. He symbolizes light, truth, goodness, strength, and friendship. Herodotus reports that this was the most important holiday of the year for contemporary Persians. In modern times Persians celebrate Yalda by staying up late or all night, a practice known as Shab Chera meaning night gazing. Fruits and nuts are eaten, especially pomegranates and watermelons, whose red color invokes the crimson hues of dawn and symbolize Mithra. Mōdraniht: or Mothers Night, the Saxon winter solstice festival. Saturnalia: the Roman winter solstice festival Pancha Ganapati: Five-day festival in honor of Lord Ganesha. December 21–25. Christmas Eve: 24 December Dies Natalis Solis Invicti (Day of the birth of the Unconquered Sun): late Roman Empire - 25 December Christmas: 25 December Twelve Days of Christmas: 25 December through 6 January Yule: Pagan winter festival that was celebrated by the historical Germanic people from late December to early January. Anastasia of Sirmium Feast Day: 25 December Malkh: 25 December (solstice holiday with roots in an ancient faith practiced by Chechens prior to the introduction of Christianity and Islam.) Boxing Day: 26 December - Gift-giving day after Christmas. Kwanzaa: 26 December - 1 January - Pan-African festival celebrated in North America Saint Stephens Day: 26 December Saint John the Evangelists Day: 27 December Holy Innocents Day: 28 December Saint Sylvesters Day: 31 December Watch Night: 31 December New Years Eve: 31 December - Last day of the Gregorian year Hogmanay: Night of 31 December - Before dawn of 1 January - Scottish New Years Eve celebration
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 16:58:24 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015