- Lisa Treidel,
Graduate biological sciences student
It is that time of the year again, the time when it may be cold outside, but the house is always toasty and warm. That time when families decorate their houses for the season, and children jump for joy while on their best behavior. It is the time for a trio of holidays: Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa.Three ISU students discussed what these occasions mean to them.
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is all about giving, family togetherness, beautiful music and decorations, feasting on special foods and singing Christmas carols throughout the neighborhood. For political science major Nichelle Howard, Christmas celebrations begin early. “My family counts down the days starting with December 1,” Howard said. “Each day we do a different activity. We will do anything from baking, to coloring, to watching Christmas movies. It depends on whose day it is to pick an activity, and that is the activity that we do for that day,” she added. “My favorite is baking, because I love when my house smells like home, that’s the lovely smell of cakes and cookies.”
HANUKKAH
"Although a relatively minor holiday in the Jewish year, in the United States, Hanukkah’s closeness to Christmas has brought greater attention to the festival," Lisa Treidel, a graduate biological sciences student, said. Hanukkah, better known as the “Festival of Lights," begins on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month and lasts for eight days and nights. This year, Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 8. With blessings, games, and festive foods, Hanukkah celebrates the triumphs of Jewish heroes. Also, Hanukkah is celebrated because of the miracle of one day's oil lasting eight days.
“During this time of the year, my entire house smells like oil because we fry everything! My family fries latkes (potato pancakes) every night during Hanukkah,” Treidel said. “That is my favorite meal of all time.” Some Jewish families combine the traditions of Hanukkah with the celebrations of Christmas. “In New York, many American Jewish families give toys and other gifts to their children for Hanukkah because their children's friends receive presents for Christmas," Treidel said. “My mom is Christian and my dad is Jewish, so we celebrate both holidays, but I love the Jewish holiday more because it has more meaning behind it, in my opinion.”
One of the most popular and traditional ways to celebrate Hanukkah is the lighting the menorah. A menorah is a traditional candelabra with nine candles, one of which represents shammus, or the "servant" candle which is used to light the other candles. There is one candle for each night of Hanukkah, and the menorah represents the candelabra that burned for eight days with the miracle oil. “It really does not matter the color of the candle you use as long as you follow the order of lighting them. The candle in the middle tends to be red,” Treidel explained. “That’s my favorite candle, because when I got old enough, my family let me light that candle since I am the middle child.”
KWANZAA
“My favorite holiday is Kwanzaa because during that week I can learn more about my heritage and my people,” political science junior, Assumpta Iheaso, said. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday, which celebrates family, community and culture. The name Kwanzaa stems from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.
“Kwanzaa lasts for seven days, starting after Christmas and running until January 1. Each day has a different principle,” Iheaso said. “My favorite principle is Umoja, which means unity. During this day of Kwanzaa, we try to strive for unity with family, community, nation, and race.” Like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa uses candelabra. “There are three green candles, three red candles and one black candle. We light each candle each night and go around and say something, depending on the principle for that day. For example, ‘Kujichagulia’ means self-determination, and on this day we would define ourselves,” Iheaso explained.
Also like Hanukkah, many families celebrating Kwanzaa will give gifts as most of their children’s peers are receiving presents for Christmas. “We do receive gifts each day, but each day we will receive a book because it is a part of our custom,” Iheaso said. “The book is to emphasize the African value and tradition of learning. At first I did not like getting books, but now that I’m older, I appreciate it so much more,” he added.
Whatever you’re celebrating this month, consider the history and meaning behind your celebration - the reasons behind the seasons. Happy Holidays!