Many families celebrate Christmas every December, but not everyone waits for Santa Claus. This month we thought we’d take a look at how people of different traditions celebrate important holidays in their families. Looking at other cultures through the lens of holiday celebrations is a great way for preschoolers to learn about people who may have different beliefs, but who are all Sproutlets just the same!--Diana
Kwanzaa
Christy Matte is a free-lance writer who blogs at More Than Mommy and Quirky Fusion. She has incorporated Kwanzaa into her life, and shares this holiday with her family. Here's how!
We did not celebrate Kwanzaa in my house when I was young. I grew up bi-racial in a white family and Kwanzaa was not in our vocabulary. As I grew older and started asking more questions about my African American heritage, my mom began to learn about Kwanzaa and to teach me about the history, meaning and symbolism of the celebration. My children are still very young, but we're beginning to introduce the basic concepts of Kwanzaa to them. For me, it symbolizes a part of our ancestry, but it also embodies the values my husband and I want to pass along to our children.
Unlike most of the other holidays at this time of year, Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration; it is a cultural one. Started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa takes place on December 26 through January 1. The seven-day celebration was designed to help African Americans reconnect with our lost roots and reclaim a sense of ethnic pride. “Kwanzaa” comes from a Swahili phrase that translates roughly to "first fruits of the harvest." Swahili is used throughout Kwanzaa as it is widely spoken on the continent of Africa (particularly East Africa) and is not tied to any one nation or tribe. The lack of religious symbolism makes it accessible to people of a variety of religious beliefs.
Before the start of Kwanzaa, we decorate a table with the seven elements of the holiday:
Mazao - Crops such as fruits and vegetables, which symbolize "first fruits," giving thanks, and the rewards that come from hard work.
Mkeka - A woven place mat.
Kinara - A candelabra that holds seven candles. The center candle is black (for black people), the three candles on the left are red (to symbolize struggle, both past and present) and the three on the right are green (to symbolize harvest and the fruits of labor). Red, green and black are the colors of Kwanzaa.
Vibunzi - Ears of corn, traditionally one for each child in the family. The ears represent the "offspring" of the corn stalk and the future of our people.
Zawadi - Small gifts, usually for the children of the family. They are often handmade or educational in nature (such as a book) and usually serve as a reward for meeting goals.
Kikomba Cha Umjoa - A communal unity cup that is used to pour libations to the ancestors. It represents unity as a people and as a family.
Mishumaa Saba - The seven candles in the kinara, each representing one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
The celebration of Kwanzaa can be formal, or it can be casual. Since our children are young, we follow a simple ritual. Each day, someone asks, "Habari Gani?" which means, "What's the news?" Someone else will answer with the principle of the day and may talk about what the principle means in their life. The candles on the kinara are lit, starting with the center black candle and then adding one candle each day until the kinara is fully lit on the seventh day. We might do an activity to go with the principle of the day or may give small gifts. The six night of Kwanzaa (New Year's Eve) is when we might attend a larger celebration called the Kwanzaa Karamu. It's typically a community event with food, dress and cultural performances appropriate for people of the African diaspora.
The Nguzo Saba, or seven principles, are my favorite part of Kwanzaa. They happen to reflect values that my husband and I think are important. As our kids grow older, Kwanzaa can help us reinforce those values in concrete ways. We celebrate one of the principles each day of Kwanzaa:
1. Umoja (unity) – We might talk about sticking together through difficult times and experiences, and supporting one another.
2. Kujichagulia (self-determination) - On the second day of Kwanzaa we might set goals for the future and craft a plan for reaching those goals.
3. Ujima (collective work and responsibility) - We can think about how much more we accomplish when we work together and maybe take on a family project.
4. Ujamaa (cooperative economics) - For the fourth day, we might collect all of our change to save up for something special, or we might talk about how behaviors like turning off the lights can help us save money together.
5. Nia (purpose) - Nia means being mindful of our actions. As we work towards goals, each decision we make must keep those goals in mind.
6. Kuumba (creativity) - We may look at creative ways to solve a problem, or we can use our creativity to make gifts or do something special for each other.
7. Imani (faith) – Imani is a belief in yourself, your family, your community, where you come from and where you are going.
Like many others, my family will celebrate Christmas as well as Kwanzaa. After all of the visits and presents and parties, it will be nice to regroup as a family and think about the simpler things in our lives.
Hanukkah
Jodi Glaser Taub has been a book publicist, preschool teacher, singer, tutor, educational consultant—and most importantly, mother to Blake. The Taub’s are Jewish and at their house, they celebrate Hanukkah in December. Here’s what their holiday is all about:
Jodi: While the most important Jewish holidays are the fall holidays Rosh Hashannah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the day Jews are forgiven for sins, and written in the Book of Life), perhaps the most popular of all the holidays is Hanukkah. This is probably due to the fact that each year it falls right around Christmas, and thus, for many Jewish families, it is a time of song, celebration, and gift giving.
The Jewish holiday Hanukkah is full of joy. It literally lights up the home! Also, called the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah) celebrates God's glory, the victory of the Jews over their enemies, and the freedom that Jewish people have today.
The story of Hanukkah begins with a struggle. Antiochus, a Greek who was king of Syria, marched with an army of soldiers into the kingdom of Judea, home to many Jews. He insisted that the Jews worship the Greek gods rather than the one God they worshipped. When the Jews refused to worship the Greek gods, the soldiers attacked the Temple in Jerusalem and killed countless Jews and destroyed the temple. The Jewish people who called themselves Maccabees worked as a team and eventually managed to drive the Syrian army out of Jerusalem and reclaim their temple.
When the Jews prepared to clean up the mess and rebuild their temple, they wanted to light a special candle that had always been important and was called an "eternal flame." They had just enough oil to burn for the candle for one day, but the oil miraculously lasted for eight days until new oil arrived to fuel the flame. To celebrate the miracle of the long lasting droplet of oil, Jewish families light candles in a menorah or candle holder for the eight days of Hanukkah, adding one candle each day.
One of the most fun games played at Hanukkah is a spinning top called a dreidel. Four Hebrew letters are written on the dreidel with one on each side. The letters - shin, hey, gimel and nun - are the first four letters of the Hebrew words "A Great Miracle Happened Here." There are many variations of the dreidel game, but it is really a game of chance where children win chocolate coins called gelt. It’s a big hit with children both young and old – and even with grandparents, too!
Like any wonderful holiday, Hanukkah has its own special foods. Traditionally, Jewish families eat foods that are fried in oil, since oil is such an important part of the holiday's history. In most families, this means potato latkes, which are crispy potato pancakes or sufganiyot, which are delicious glaze doughnuts friend in oil and filled with jelly.
Originally Hanukkah tradition was to give children chocolate coins to enjoy or a small amount of money to donate to charity. Many families today give their children and other family members gifts on Hanukkah. This is much in part to its proximity to Christmas, and the fact that there’s never anything wrong with celebrating the spirit of giving and happiness. Also, while tree decorating and colored lights are not a part of the Hanukkah holiday, some families enjoy adorning the house or themselves in the colors blue and white, which are the colors of the Israeli flag, and thus, the colors of the Jewish homeland.
For some great Chanukkah reads, check out the following titles:
HANUKKAH, OH HANUKKAH by Susan L. Roth
D IS FOR DREIDEL by Tanya Lee Stone
HANUKKAH MOON by Deborah Da Costa, illustrated by Gosia Mosz
Diwali
Nirasha Jaganath blogs about lots of things at Mommy Niri. Her family is Hindu, and they celebrate an amazing festival called Diwali in late fall. Here’s how her family celebrates.
Niri: Diwali, is a festival on the Hindu calendar that is celebrated with much pomp and splendor around the world. It normally falls around the October / November months but the date changes each year. This is because many Eastern festivals are based on a lunar calendar, while most other Western festivals are based on a solar calendar. Diwali, or Deepavali as which it is sometimes referred to, means “rows of lights” (Deep = light and vaali = rows).
The celebration stems from an ancient story: King Dasrath was tricked by one of his queens into sending his oldest son Ram to exile in the forest for fourteen years. Because Prince Ram honored his father, he stayed away the full fourteen years. But when that time passed, he defeated an evil Ravana or King who had kidnapped his wife Sita and began his voyage home. As he approached his home, he sent Hanuman a monkey who was the son of the wind, to let his people know of his return. It is said that on the night of his return it was so dark that the entire village lit clay lamps to guide him. Diwali is one of the most important festivals in India and honors Ram for his goodness. Diwali is seen as a triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.
Preparations for the celebration begin much in advance, with women baking the tastiest of delicacies. Children are always involved in baking, too. Typically there are savory snacks and sweet dishes, similar to fudge but on a much richer scale. You would find savory items like namkeen, murku, sev and sweet items like laddu, barfi and gulab jamun. Trays of treats are distributed to neighbors, friends and relatives so the pressure always mounts to have the most talked about items.
On the day of Diwali, after donning the vibrant traditional clothing, we visit everyone to wish them well while bearing the fruits of our efforts in the kitchen. The mood is merry and the excitement mounts as we all wait for the main festivities, which are celebrated when night falls.
As the skies darken several clay lamps are lit and bedeck every room and also the yards of all homes. Children stay up very late watching fireworks. Normally a few houses are chosen for families to gather to set off fireworks together. The entire neighborhood is lit up and neighbors or all religions exchange treats. The special meal we eat is actually anything that is a favorite item in the family, not something specific. Normally prayers are said before meals and since the entire day is busy distributing treats it is the only time the family relaxes before the fireworks begin.
The sight of the neighborhood is breathtaking as the lights brighten up the night. Once the prayers are complete and a specially made meal devoured the firework displays begin. The dark skies begin to share the splendor of the ground below. When we eventually crawl into bed at night we are exhausted but already start dreaming of next year’s Diwali.
Children can make clay lamps from the instructions below, and pass the prettiest ones out to friends and family with the treats they’ve baked. It’s another way kids can feel involved on this fun day.
Making Clay Lamps:
Need:
- Clay
- Paint
- Glue
- Sequins/gemstones/glitter
Directions:
Mold clay into a cup like form, with a spout-like indentation on one end (this is where a wick would sit). After the clay has dried (air or oven based on package directions), they can paint the lamp as they like. When the paint has dried, they can glue on sequins, gemstones or glitter to decorate as desired. To simplify use just add a tea-light inside. Always make sure this is all performed under adult supervision.
Ramadan
Faten Abdullah is Muslim. You can find her online at Connecting Women, where her radio talk show discusses ways women try to —and succeed at—finding balance in their lives. Her family celebrates Ramadan each year. It’s a holiday that lasts for a month!
Every year millions of Muslims celebrate the ninth month of the Muslim calendar called Ramadan by fasting, performing prayers, and donating extra time and money to a variety of nonprofit organizations and charities that benefit Muslims and non-Muslims alike. They perform these acts to refocus their attention on God Those of puberty-age and adults who are able bodied, physically and mentally, are required to not eat or drink from dawn to dusk. Ramadan is also the time where families and friends enjoy meals with each other when it is time to break their fast at dusk. It is important to note that the month of Ramadan does not occur the same time every year. The Islamic calendar is on a lunar cycle, therefore marking the month of Ramadan about 10 days earlier than the previous year.
Muslims come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Did you know that majority of Muslims are not Arabs, and not all Arabs are Muslims? It is common to visit an Islamic community center or mosque and see a variety of people in attendance. So how does the Imam, religious or spiritual leader, lead members who speak different languages? Fridays are the special days as Saturdays are to Jews and Sundays are to Christians. On Fridays, sermons are given in English with quotes from the Qur'an (the Islamic holy book) and Ahadith (Prophet Muhammad's traditions of daily living), which are then translated into English. Prayers are lead in Arabic reciting from the Qur'an. Muslims are expected to know some recitations from the Qur'an.
Meals are international as Muslims themselves. Some centers in the US host potlucks where Muslims can come together and break their fast eating and tasting a variety of dishes. It is common to eat Lentil soup, Adas Majroush, an Arab dish; Chicken Biryani, a Pakistani dish, or even pizza or fried chicken, American dishes.
Children are not required to fast during the month of Ramadan. However, many families encourage their children to practice some of the values that are seen in Ramadan, such as fasting for a couple of hours during the day, performing prayers with their families, and even donating some of their toys to other less fortunate children. Children are often included in family meal planning, decorating their homes and also buying gifts.
At the end of the month of Ramadan, there is a three day holiday, called Eid al Fitr or the Festival of Fast-Breaking, which is celebrated by all Muslims, the young and the old. This is a celebration for all those who have fasted and attempted to fast. A typical day of how a Muslim would celebrate would be waking up early to attend congregational prayer at their center or mosque in their best clothes. Following the prayer, Muslims congratulate each other on the completion of fasting during Ramadan, followed by socializing and eating sweets. Just like non-Muslim families, Muslim families have made some holiday plans which may include exchanging gifts, attending parties and other activities.
So what do Muslims do during Christmas time? For starters, it is a must that Muslims respect people of all faiths. Muslims interact with Christians and other people of faiths on a regular basis through socializing, working and other activities. It is common for Muslims to wish their fellow Christians "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". Some Muslims will even exchange gifts or attend parties hosted by their Christian friends. Children are taught to respect the similarities as well as the differences of others. Some families will allow their children to participate in gift exchanges at school. Muslim children know that they have Islamic holidays to look forward to celebrating as well.
Christmas
Jennifer Waller blogs about life, crafts, and great ideas at The Ramblings of a Crazy Woman in her spare time--you know, all that spare time she must have when she isn’t raising her 4 kids or teaching preschool! The Waller’s celebrate Christmas every year, and here’s what they do:
Jennifer: I love Christmas and I love celebrating it with my family. To me it is the best time of the year. Because I love celebrating it so much, we have quite a few traditions. I hope these traditions will make lasting memories for my children.
Two things we start the month of December doing is wrapping 23 Christmas books (the same ones every year, you can pick up nice inexpensive books in a 2nd hand stores) to place under the tree. And every night one of my kids picks a book to unwrap and read. On Christmas Eve every year, we read "The Night Before Christmas.”
The second thing we do is make an advent chain from strips of construction paper. Advent is the period of time four weeks before Christmas, where you prepare for the coming holiday. To make it really special and build expectation, each child makes a chain and each day they remove a link to see how many days are left until Christmas.
My home is always decorated with many of the kid's Christmas crafts we have made together over the years. No, my home will never make it into the pages of Better Homes and Garden, but it is definitely decorated with a lot of love and Christmas spirit. The kids love seeing their creations decorating the house. We also have an inexpensive artificial tree that we decorate in the main family room exclusively with ornaments the kids have made. I love this tree, it is more beautiful to me than any fanciest tree I have ever seen. And when we are decorating our trees we wear Christmas hats, which make for great holiday pictures!
It would not be Christmas for us if we did not decorate cookies together. On decorating day, I just accept that my house is going to be full of flour and sugar! The bigger the mess, the more fun we’re having!
We also have a few Christmas Eve traditions. On Christmas Eve morning I make yummy pancakes that look like Santa faces. They are so cute and delicious. And on Christmas Eve night the kids always get to unwrap one present: new pajamas. That way they get a gift to unwrap and they have nice new pjs for Christmas pictures in the morning. Also, on Christmas Eve after the kids go to bed, I sprinkle glitter on the front porch so the kids can see the magic reindeer dust in the morning.
I know Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Jesus and giving. We do make sure our kids do know the true meaning of Christmas. But kids grow up so fast and life has many challenges, so if I can create lasting and fun memories, I am all for that.
These are just four families and their four ways to celebrate important holidays. What do you and your family do to celebrate your favorite holidays?