Sure, an American Christmas is ball-o-fun with a bow on top! But there are some seriously cool December celebrations we’ve been missing out on!
“The Holidays” sound like Santa Claus, stockings, toys, food, acres of wrapping paper, and a lot of red and green...everything.
With snowflakes on your nose. Or something like that.
But Christmas actually falls right in the middle of Australia’s summer! So camping trips are a common holiday thing! Who knew?
I mean, other than every single Australian…
In England, the children don’t leave cookies for St Nick, but mince pies and brandy.
Pie and cocktails? They may be on to something...
In Iceland there are actually 13 Santas, called Yule Lads. Children put their shoes on the windowsill hoping to find little gifts in the morning by one of those thirteen.
The odds seem pretty good. The workload is distributed WAY better.
But Christmas ain’t for everyone!
Others celebrate different, very cool things. And some party BIG!
Like Hanukkah! There’s a menorah with nine candles, one used to light the other eight one by one, for eight days.
That represent the eight days that the Temple lantern blazed (with only enough oil for one night, so every night after was a miracle!)
They also feast on amazing foods like Sufganiyah, fruit-filled donuts (um, yum), and many celebrating Hanukkah exchange gifts, too.
Canadiens (and some others) add a bonus holiday on the day AFTER Christmas.
Boxing Day, December 26, began in the UK during the Middle Ages, when collection boxes for the poor (usually in churches) were opened and distributed, and some areas still do this!
How holiday-cool is that?
The Bahamas whoop it up and celebrate Boxing Day with a street parade and festival called Junkanoo.
Never been to one, but “Bahamas,” “parade,” and the word “Junkanoo” have me convinced I’ve been missing out on something fabulous.
In Japan, December 31st means Omisoka and is considered the second-most important day of the year!
At midnight, many visit shrines and temples, whose bells ring 108 times, one for each of the earthly desires.
Closing out the old year, crossing over into the LONG new year ahead by- and I’m not even kidding- eating bowls of LONG noodles!
Noodle bowls!
Can we PLEASE add this to the ball-dropping thing?
I’ve always heard of Kwanzaa, but never really knew how it got started. Apparently, “Kwanzaa” comes from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza” which means “first fruits” in Swahili.
Most celebrations include songs and dances, African drums, storytelling, and a large traditional meal.
The African feast, called a Karamu, is held on December 31.
Um, is it just me, or does a New Year’s Eve of Cajun catfish and beans and rice sound divine?
So Happy Merry Holiday(s) to all! If I missed yours, I’ll get it next year!
Wishing you all the most joy-filled, delicious, memory-making season!!
See you in 2021!
