Published December 1, 2024
The holiday season is officially in full swing. But which holidays are we talking about? Christmas tends to get most of the attention this time of year, but there are a few other cultural celebrations that deserve the spotlight, too. So, this month we decided to give them the attention they deserve! Do you celebrate any of the holidays below?
Hanukkah
December 25, 2024 – January 2, 2025
Hanukkah, celebrated by the Jewish community, began over 2,000 years ago in Judea. At the time, Judaism was outlawed under an oppressive king. A brave group of Jews, the Maccabees, fought back and won, running their oppressors out of town. And they celebrated their new freedom by lighting a special candle called a menorah. They only had enough oil for one day, but, miraculously, it lasted for eight! And thus, the Hanukkah story was born.
Nowadays, Hanukkah is an eight-day-long celebration that honors the resilience of the Jewish people and the original Hanukkah miracle. The dates are different every year, but they usually fall somewhere between late November and December. During this celebration, people exchange gifts, eat potato pancakes called latkes, and play with a spinning top called a dreidel. They also light a new candle every night, which symbolizes the eight days the original candle oil lasted and celebrates religious freedom and the Maccabees who fought for it. Hanukkah is now celebrated worldwide and is spelled 20 different ways!
Click here for more info about Hanukkah.
Kwanzaa
December 26, 2024 – January 1, 2025
Kwanzaa is celebrated by the Black community and began after a period of racial tension in the US during the 1960s. All of that tension erupted into the Watts Riots of 1965 in Los Angeles, which was a reaction against police brutality against the Black citizens there. In response, Dr. Maulana Karenga founded Kwanzaa. The goal of Kwanzaa was to unify the Black community, honor their African roots, and celebrate their culture right here in the United States.
The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” and refers to harvest festivals that are celebrated throughout Africa. The holiday now takes place over the course of a week, and each night, people light a different candle that represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa:
- Umoja (Unity)
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility)
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)
- Nia (Purpose)
- Kuumba (Creativity)
- Imani (Faith)
The week begins on December 26th every year and goes through January 1st. On the sixth night, December 31st, there is a large feast called Karamu that’s shared with friends, family, and neighbors. Kwanzaa is celebrated by as many as 2 million people across the US.
Click here for more info about Kwanzaa.
Diwali
October 31 – November 1, 2024
Diwali is an Indian holiday that’s celebrated by Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs all over the world. In fact, some of the Buddhists in India celebrate Diwali, too. So, you’re likely to get a different origin story depending on where you’re from. But according to National Geographic for Kids, “there’s one common theme no matter where people celebrate: the victory of good over evil.” And it’s a theme that comes to life over the course of a five-day celebration.
The dates for Diwali are different every year, since it follows a lunar calendar, but they are typically anywhere from mid-September to mid-November. The celebrations tend to vary depending on where you live, but in general, Diwali symbolizes the light inside of us that protects us from spiritual darkness. So, you’ll see the theme of light in every celebration—in fact, the holiday is often referred to as the Festival of Lights. There’s usually a ceremonial lighting of a clay lamp called a “Diya,” as well as a feast day with lots of fireworks.
Click here for more info about Diwali.
Boxing Day
December 26, 2024
Boxing Day is celebrated in Canada, Nigeria, Australia, the UK, the Bahamas, and New Zealand. It’s similar to Diwali, in the sense that every country would give you a different origin story. One theory is that Boxing Day refers to “collection boxes” for the needy. There’s another theory that it refers to wealthy people giving boxes of presents to their servants. But in both cases, there’s a common theme of giving.
Boxing Day is always the day after Christmas and is celebrated in a few different ways, depending on where you live. Some people give to the less fortunate. Some people spend time with family. And many people watch sports. In the Bahamas, Boxing Day is a huge deal, where they have parades, wear costumes, and listen to music. Boxing Day is not a religious holiday, so everyone can celebrate alongside other seasonal traditions. And if you ask us, the more the merrier!
Click here for more info about Boxing Day.
Earlier in the Year
We’ve covered the main celebrations during the typical holiday season (November-December), but we didn’t want to leave out Buddhism and Islam, as they have major holidays during different parts of the year.
- Vesak (May 12, 2025) – Buddhism has a holiday called Vesak, also known as Buddha Day. Like Diwali, it follows a lunar calendar and so is on different dates each year. But it’s always in April, May, or early June. You can read more here, but in short, it’s all about spiritual enlightenment and acts of charity.
- Ramadan (February 28 or March 1, 2025 – March 30 or 31, 2025) – Ramadan is a month-long holiday all about generosity that’s sacred to Muslims all over the world. People celebrate by fasting while it’s light out and feasting with family once the sun sets. Ramadan also goes by a lunar calendar and its dates vary each year. You can learn more about Ramadan here.
Celebrations Near You
Diwali already took place this year, but you can still catch Kwanzaa and Hanukkah celebrations right here in town:
- The inaugural Kwanzaa Community Festival is being held at the Indiana State Museum in downtown Indy on December 29th. Click here for more info.
- Just an hour north, check out the 2024 Kwanzaa Celebration in Lafayette on December 28th. Click here for more info.
- Head to Newfields for a special Hanukkah celebration at Winterlights, called Latkes and Lights. Click here for more info.
- You can also find more family-friendly celebrations through Indy with Kids. They list several Christmas events, but you can also find a few other gems that make for a nice, cultural afternoon! Click here for more info.
Christmas is always a blast, but a lot of other holidays are working together to make the holiday season special. How will you celebrate?
Tags: Diwali, Hanukkah, holiday season, holidays, Kwanzaa