Tag: Festivals

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa takes place every year from December 26 to January 1

source: CC BY-NC 2.0 Reginald James/TheBlackHour.com

From the Official Kwanzaa Website:

“Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.”

Find out more:

And check out these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days” :

Feast of Masa’il

In the Baha’i faith, December 11, 2025 marks the beginning of the Feast of Masa’il, or the Feast of Questions.

Find out more:

The Baha’i Faith at Baha’i.org

The Baha’i Faith at Baha’i.com

The Bahá’í Community of Canada

Celebrate Holidays & Holy Days at your school library.

The Holiday Season 2025

Here are just some of the observances, festivals, celebrations and special days that take place in the coming month or so of holidays and holy days, known to many as “The Holiday Season.”

  • November 30: Advent (first Sunday)
  • December 1: Gita Jayanti
  • December 2: Giving Tuesday
  • December 5: Krampusnacht
  • December 6: St. Nicholas Day
  • December 7: Advent (second Sunday)
  • December 8: Bodhi Day / Rohatsu
  • December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
  • December 10: International Human Rights Day
  • December 11: Feast of Masa’il
  • December 14: Advent (third Sunday)
  • December 14 (evening): Hanukkah begins
  • December 16: Simbang Gabi / Los Posadas
  • December 21: Winter Solstice / Yule / Grianstad an Gheimhridh
  • December 21: Advent (fourth Sunday)
  • December 22: Hanukkah concludes
  • December 23: Festivus
  • December 24: Christmas Eve
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 26: St. Stephen’s Day
  • December 26: Kwanzaa begins
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve
  • December 31: Hogmanay
  • January 1: New Year’s Day
  • January 1: Kwanzaa concludes
  • January 5: Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti
  • January 5: 12th Night / Christmastide concludes
  • January 6: Epiphany / King’s Day
  • January 7: Orthodox Christmas
  • January 13: Yule (First Full Moon after Solstice)
  • January 13: Maghi / Lohri

Visit your School Library, in person and online, to find out more about this season of Holidays and Holy Days.

Gita Jayanti

Gita Jayanti is a Hindu observance that celebrates the Bhagavad Gita, one of the holy books of Hinduism.  The Bhagavad Gita is presented as a dialogue between Arjuna, a prince, and Krishna, the embodiment of God. In 2025 this day takes place on December 1, however local festivals may take place at different times, and can last several weeks.

source: wikimedia commons / public domain

Find out more:

Gita Mahotsav

Hindu Calendar for Surrey BC

December is a month of Holidays & Holy Days. Visit your school library to find out more.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa takes place every year from December 26 to January 1

source: CC BY-NC 2.0 Reginald James/TheBlackHour.com

From the Official Kwanzaa Website:

“Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.”

Find out more:

And check out these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days” :

Feast of Masa’il

In the Baha’i faith, December 12 marks the beginning of the Feast of Masa’il, or the Feast of Questions.

Find out more:

The Baha’i Faith at Baha’i.org

The Baha’i Faith at Baha’i.com

The Bahá’í Community of Canada

Celebrate Holidays & Holy Days at your school library.

Gita Jayanti

Gita Jayanti is a Hindu observance that celebrates the Bhagavad Gita, one of the holy books of Hinduism.  The Bhagavad Gita is presented as a dialogue between Arjuna, a prince, and Krishna, the embodiment of God. In 2024 this day takes place on December 11, however local festivals may take place at different times, and can last several weeks.

source: wikimedia commons / public domain

Find out more:

Gita Mahotsav

Hindu Calendar for Surrey BC

December is a month of Holidays & Holy Days. Visit your school library to find out more.

The Holiday Season

Here are just some of the observances, festivals, celebrations and special days that take place in the coming month or so of holidays and holy days, known to many as “The Holiday Season.”

  • December 1: Advent
  • December 3: Giving Tuesday
  • December 5: Krampusnacht
  • December 6: St. Nicholas Day
  • December 8: Bodhi Day / Rohatsu
  • December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
  • December 8: Advent (second Sunday)
  • December 10: International Human Rights Day
  • December 11: Gita Jayanti
  • December 12: Feast of Masa’il
  • December 15: Advent (third Sunday)
  • December 16: Simbang Gabi / Los Posadas
  • December 21: Winter Solstice / Yule / Grianstad an Gheimhridh
  • December 22: Advent (fourth Sunday)
  • December 23: Festivus
  • December 24: Christmas Eve
  • December 25: Christmas Day
  • December 25 (evening): Hanukkah begins
  • December 26: St. Stephen’s Day
  • December 26: Kwanzaa begins
  • December 31: New Year’s Eve
  • December 31: Hogmanay
  • January 1: New Year’s Day
  • January 1: Kwanzaa concludes
  • January 2: Hanukkah concludes
  • January 7: Orthodox Christmas
  • January 13: Maghi
  • January 17: Guru Gobind Singh Jayanti

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is December 24

134746__nativity_l

For many Canadians and for millions of people around the world, Christmas is a secular holiday.  It is not a religious holy day, rather it is a cultural event based on things such as family, gift giving and charity.  For many Christmas is focused on children and the central figure is Santa.

Yet for many millions of of other people in Canada and around the world, Christmas Eve is a deeply significant night of the year in spiritual terms.  Christmas emerged as the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Whether in churches or other places of worship, or at home, or in other locations, Christians gather together celebrate the Nativity, the birth of Jesus.

Check out some of these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days.”

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is December 24

134746__nativity_l

For many Canadians and for millions of people around the world, Christmas is a secular holiday.  It is not a religious holy day, rather it is a cultural event based on things such as family, gift giving and charity.  For many Christmas is focused on children and the central figure is Santa.

Yet for many millions of of other people in Canada and around the world, Christmas Eve is a deeply significant night of the year in spiritual terms.  Christmas emerged as the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus.  Whether in churches or other places of worship, or at home, or in other locations, Christians gather together celebrate the Nativity, the birth of Jesus.

Check out some of these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days.”

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa takes place every year from December 26 to January 1

source: CC BY-NC 2.0 Reginald James/TheBlackHour.com

From the Official Kwanzaa Website:

“Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.”

Find out more:

And check out these books from our display, “Holidays and Holy Days” :