 "Photo: Photo Illustration by Erin Poppe")
While merchandise, advertisements, movies and television are constant reminders that Christmas is just around the corner, several other religious celebrations play a prominent role in American homes this month.
The Christmas holiday is celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike on Dec. 25. The word “Christmas” comes from a compound of “Christ’s Mass” and generally corresponds for Christians with the birth of Jesus. Dec. 25 is not known to be the birthdate of Christ, but it corresponds with what is originally thought to be the Roman Holiday of Winter Solstice.
This holiday, although rooted in religious tradition, has acquired secular traditions, like giving gifts, singing carols and sending celebratory cards, and the myth of Santa Claus or Father Christmas as a fictional character that brings children presents.
Although the contemporary version of Christmas revolves around the purchase and giving of gifts, it is not the only way to interpret the holiday. Wes Withrow, a minister affiliated with Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, said he sees Christmas as “more of a religious holiday. I spend time with family and celebrate the birth of Christ.”
Also known as Chanukah or “The Festival of Lights,” this eight-day holiday is celebrated by members of the Jewish faith. Each year, it begins on the 25th day of Kislev, the third month of the nine-month year according to the Hebrew calendar. The celebration generally falls between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.
This year, Hanukkah is from Dec. 11-19. It is eight days spent in celebration of the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. A special, eight-stemmed candelabra, known as a menorah, is used by lighting one candle each night of the holiday.
Many menorahs have a central ninth stem. The ninth stem holds the shamash – Hebrew for guard or servant – which is a candle specifically used to light the other eight candles during the celebration.
During the candle lighting ceremonies, three blessings are recited. On the first night, all three prayers are recited, but for the remaining seven days only two are recited. The prayers are spoken either before or after the candle is lit, depending on the traditions of the family.
Other customs associated with the holiday are foods fried in olive oil such as latkes, or potato pancakes; playing dreidel, a four-sided spinning top; and Hanukkah gelt, or money distributed to children to enhance the celebration.
Hannah Leventhal, senior in animal sciences, participates in the holiday every year along with her family.
“On the first night, we would have a big dinner, then we would say prayers, have a nice dessert, and then we would light the menorah and give gifts,” Leventhal said.
She said on the first night, her family would start out with small gifts, and would get larger gifts by the eighth night, which was very exciting.
“We ate latkes ... and applesauce and then for dessert, the tradition is sugar cookis,” she said. “As a family, we would cut out shapes, like the Star of David, dreidels and menorahs. After the desserts, my brother and I would play dreidel with M&Ms or pennies. It was a good way to get our family together for the holiday.”
Kwanzaa is a tradition created within the United States and is primarily celebrated by the black community. The word Kwanzaa means “fresh fruits” and comes from the Swahili language to represent Pan-Africanism.
Ron Karenga, an African-American author, political activist and college professor, created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically black holiday to celebrate African history and heritage. The holiday’s creation was highly influenced by the Black Nationalist Movement of the 1960s, of which Karenga was an active member.
Kwanzaa lasts from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 and celebrates the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Kwanzaa features a candelabra called a kinara, which is lit during the celebration.
During the celebration, women wear kaftans – traditional African robes – and decorate their homes with art and fresh fruit. Families also pour libations in a ceremony to honor their ancestors each day of Kwanzaa.
Activities central to Kwanzaa include dancing, singing, artistic performances and, lastly, a feast called Karamu.
K-State holds a Kwanzaa celebration in the K-State Student Union every year to share information about the holiday. The celebration features speakers and faculty who come in and explain the meaning and importance of Kwanzaa.
The Black Student Union is still in the planning phase for this year’s Kwanzaa celebration, but Brandon Hall, sophomore in marketing, said he celebrated Kwanzaa before he went to K-State.
Hall said this year the festivities will include snacks and drinks, faculty and speakers who will talk about the holiday along with the lighting on the candles in the kinara. The Kwanzaa celebration should take place next week.
A few other celebrations that happen internationally in December are St. Nicholas Day, Bodhi Day and Las Posadas.
St. Nicholas Day is celebrated in northern Europe on Dec. 6, and traditionally children place their boots next to the fireplace so St. Nicholas can fill them with candy.
Bodhi Day is a Buddhist celebration to commemorate the enlightenment of Buddha and is celebrated on Dec. 8 each year.
Las Posadas takes place between Dec. 16 and Dec. 24 in Mexico and is a celebration featuring a reenactment of the struggles Mary and Joseph, parents of Jesus Christ, experienced as they searched for a place where Jesus could be born.
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