Kwanzaa takes place every year from December 26 to January 1
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.”
The Winter Solstice for 2025 will occur on December 21 at 7:03 AM
Why are there so many Holidays and Holy Days at this time of year? Why do so many of them, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, seem to emphasize light, especially light in contrast to the darkness? Likely this is because of the Winter Solstice.
Vicky WJ from Brighton, UK, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
The longest night of the year. The shortest day. The Winter Solstice occurs on December 21 (in some years December 22) as the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun. The North Pole will experience continuous darkness, the Polar region near total darkness, and the northern hemisphere its shortest day and longest night. Winter begins. Most populations will experience the darkest and coldest time of year.
It is a time where people crave light and warmth, and so it seems natural that the feasts and festivals of December emphasize those things. Moreover, at the darkest moment, hope is renewed, as after the solstice the days will get longer. This is hope for more light, more warmth. Spring will come eventually. New birth. New life.
And so many different observances, feasts, and festivals emereged at this time of the year, many on the day of the Solstice, and others near to it on the calendar.
Yule: Celtic Europe, Scandinavia and Germanic peoples.
Mean Geimhreadh: Irish
Alban Arthan: Wales
Modranhit: Anglo-Saxon Europe
Korochun: Slavic Eastern Europe
Shalako, Soyal :Native American peoples
Yalda: Iran/Persians
Dongzhi: China & East Asia
Lohri & Maghi: India, especially the Punjab
Dies Natalis Solis Invicti, Brumalia & Saturnalia: Ancient Rome
Of course, we have spent the last few weeks observing the many holidays and holy days of this time of year. It is not a coincidence that celebrations such as Christmas and New Year have grown to be huge events in the western world, and by extension other cultures, as the west has extended its influence around the globe. In places where modern conveniences such as lighting and heating offset the effect of the cold and dark of December, we might overlook how important it was for our ancestors to hope for the seeming death of one year to turn into the life of a new year, and to celebrate such rebirth.
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.
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 