Beyond Christmas: Embracing London's Vibrant Tapestry of Holiday Traditions
'Tis the Season when you hear many Canadians exclaim "it's the most wonderful time of the year!". Children are excited about the prospect of Santa Clause arriving with gifts in the next couple of weeks. Families are hunkering down on cold evenings decorating the tree and having hot chocolate. The sound of crisp, fresh snow underneath your boots on a walk tells you something magical is around the corner.
However, December is not just a time to celebrate Christmas. There are many other festive holidays being celebrated by Canadians and those that are staying or living in Canada. It is important to take note of and honour the diverse ways people in our community are celebrating the holidays. This not only makes everyone feel welcome, no matter how they celebrate, but it also provides us all with an opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions!
Here, we will discuss a handful of holidays, other than Christmas, that call for celebration in December:
Hanukkah:
Hanukkah began on the evening of November 28th and is a multi-day celebration that continued until December 6th. Hanukkah is a celebration among the Jewish community. It is commonly referred to as the "festival of lights". The "menorah" (a candelabrum), holds eight branches, one of which is lit each night to represent a day of the celebration. During these eight days, those celebrating spend time together with loved ones, playing games and eating traditional foods.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a multi-day festival lasting seven days celebrated by many African cultures. Singing, dancing, music, storytelling and the sharing of food are some of the ways in which Kwanzaa is celebrated. On each night of Kwanzaa one of seven principles (unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith) are discussed and a candle is lit. Through this discussion, and sharing of ideas, African tradition and cultural values have the opportunity to be celebrated and kept alive. Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26th until January 1st.
Fiesta de Guadalupe
Fiesta de Guadalupe is celebrated each year on the 12th of December. For many Mexicans and other Latino groups, Our Lady Guadalupe is an important symbol of devotion and identity. This holiday is spent honouring and celebrating her through religious ceremonial activities and lots of delicious food and great music!
Omisoka
New Years Eve is referred to as Omisoka in Japan. Omisoka is celebrated December 31st on the final day of the year to celebrate the end of the year and welcome the new year. Families gather for a meal and continue their celebrating into the evening. Many travel to temples and shrines to partake in "hatsumode", the first prayer of the new year. Omisoka is heavily rooted in tradition and bringing luck to the new year. It is a highly important holiday in Japanese culture.
These are just a few of the holidays different groups celebrate in December. There are others to consider and learn about such as St.Lucia Day, Winter Solstice, and Yule. Additionally, there are many festive celebrations that take place at other times of the year as well.
While considering all of the different types of celebrations presented here, we can see that they are all tied together by common threads of love, joy, togetherness, tradition and warmth. All of these holidays take time out of busy lives to celebrate with friends and family, to share stories, laughter and good food. No matter how you have celebrated already this month, or how you will celebrate in the coming weeks, all of us at the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership wish you a safe, bright and enjoyable holiday season.