by Lexi, Day-Riverside Branch December was always a magical time, growing up in Tokyo. On December 1st, seemingly overnight, every shop, restaurant and public space was decked out with tinsel, baubles, holly, fake snow; the works. When I moved to the United States I noticed similar behavior every December 1st, with one key difference. While “クリスマス” (Christmas) in Japan featured Santa everywhere (in gel, wood, plastic and even frosting form), there were also several symbols of a vast variety of December holidays. I saw menorahs, mirror rice cakes and mkekas everywhere I went. If any of these sound unfamiliar, there’s a reason for that! While 9 out of 10 Americans say they celebrate Christmas, 7% of the country doesn’t! That’s more than 23,000,000 people! Let’s spend some time investigating December holidays this season! Hanukkah, חֲנֻכָּה.December 10th- 18th in 2020.
Bodhi Day, 臘八December 8th.
KwanzaaDecember 26 - January 1
Omisoka, 大晦日 December 31
Las PosadasBetween December 16-21.
Pancha GanapatiDecember 21 - 25.
Sources:
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons. All I Want for Christmas is No Othering - an Alternative View of Celebrations ‘Happier’ Holidays: Making Space for Non-Normative Experiences During Holidays Pew Research (Christmas and Religious data). Jewish Population in the United States by State Retaining Cultural Sensitivity During the Holiday Season Lawsuit fears lead to menorah’s removal in Lakewood The City Library encourages a respectful and focused dialogue on blog posts. Comments must be reviewed by a blog administrator. User comments represent the views and interpretations of the patron, not necessarily those of The City Library.
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