Ramadan
is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, the month in which
the prophet Mohammed received the first revelation of the Koran
from Allah. Ramadan is celebrated by faithful Muslims as a time of
joy, peace, community and rededication, with fasting from dawn
to sundown, prayer and study, and social and family celebration.
Channukah
is the celebration of the Festival of Lights in remembrance of
a miracle occurring when the Jewish temple was liberated from
the Syrians in the second century BC. Only enough consecrated
oil could be found to burn the temple lamp for one day. The
lamp continued to burn for eight days, until new oil could be brought.
Winter Solstice
is the longest night of the year. It also marks the turning of
the year; from now on, nights will grow shorter as the earth
warms toward spring. In 2001, winter solstice falls on December 21.
Christmas
December 25th is celebrated as both a sacred and a social holiday.
Although not all Christians agree on the details, all agree that
Jesus the Christ is important and necessary to the reconciliation
and relationship between God and humanity, and most choose
to celebrate His birthday on December 25 as a time for peace, joy,
and fellowship. Both believers and non-believers usually
feast, exchamge gifts, and spend special time with family.
Kwanzaa
is an Afro-American and pan-African celebration of seven
personal and community ideals (one for each day) called the Nguzo
Saba: Umoja (Unity); Kujichagulia (Self-Determination);
Umijah (Collective work and responsibility); Ujamaa
(Cooperative economics); Nia (Purpose); Kuumba (Creativity); and
Imani (Faith).
New Year's Day
by the Western calendar, January 1 begins the new year,
celebrated by parties and spectacles on New Year's Eve. Making News
Year's Resolutions is also a popular custom. So is breaking New
Year's Resolutions.
