Central to any winter holiday or celebration are the messages of hope, charity,
gratitude, and family. No matter a person’s religion, origin, race, or social
class, we’re all bound together by the tradition of celebration.
Diversity among cultures and people runs deep across the
continents and it’s important to embrace and respect the fact that not everyone
celebrates the winter holidays in the same way. But celebrations are
expressions of joy and shared experiences, something we all have in common. Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Ayyám-i-Há, and
Winter Solstice (Yule) are just a few of the religious and nonreligious
customs that connect us all this time of
year. Acquainting yourself with
the varied winter holidays and celebrations of
different cultures and groups can be an enriching exercise and is one way of
gaining an appreciation of our differences.- Ayyám-i-Há is a four to five day celebration among the Bahá'í faith. During the Festival of Ayyám-i-Há, Bahá'ís are encouraged to celebrate God and his oneness by showing love, fellowship and unity.
- Christmas is the observance of Jesus’ humble birth to a virgin in a
stable in Bethlehem. The holiday also celebrates the events surrounding
his birth, such as an angel’s appearance to shepherds, telling them to
visit the newborn king.
Although the Church doesn’t consider it the most important Christian
holiday, Christmas is certainly the most popular, at least in terms of
cultural and social significance among billions of people around the world.
- Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish celebration that celebrates the first great victory for religious freedom won by the Jews more than two thousand years ago against Seleucid Empire of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is also known as the festival of lights, as the focus of the festival is lighting the eight candles during the eight days of the festival. Other Hanukkah festivities include playing dreidel and eating oil based foods such as doughnuts and latkes.
- Kwanzaa, a week-long festival that begins Dec. 26 each year is observed by many African Americans in honor of their African cultural heritage and traditional values. It is based on regional harvest celebrations in Africa. Each of the seven days focuses on one of seven core principles. The principles of Kwanzaa help people to learn, achieve, and grow. A candle is lit on each day, and on the last day, gifts are exchanged.
- Winter Solstice or Yule takes place on the day of the winter solstice, around December 21 in the northern hemisphere. Many cultures organize feasts, festivals, holidays and celebrations around December solstice.
Winter holidays, when shared with family and community, can bring us all together and help us better
understand other traditions, but perhaps gain deeper insight into our own
beliefs. When we stop to consider that our world includes countless unique people
and traditions, we progress in our recognition that diversity is valuable and that’s
something we can all celebrate.
Did
you know… Participating in group yoga classes promotes more than
just a healthy body. The practice of yoga celebrates diversity, promotes
friendships, mutual respect, empathy, and builds a strong community. You can
meet exceptional people with varied backgrounds and interests which fosters diversity and acceptance.
Whether practicing yoga or dancing along side a neighbor in class, Movement Works offers a full schedule of classes for
all ages and abilities that will transform your body, your mind, and your life. Get to know yourself and your community here with us.
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