A Girl's Guide to the Holidays

December is a busy month for all of us. Luckily, you can properly honor your friends, co-workers and relatives with our easy-to-use guide.

By Catie Lazarus

For Buddhists, December 8th marks Bodhi Day, which celebrates Buddha's Enlightenment. Bodhi serves as a reminder to Buddhists that with effort and understanding, anyone can become enlightened. According to traditional lore, Siddhartha meditated on that day until he found the root of suffering and discovered how to liberate one's self from it and experienced Nirvana. Siddhartha then became a Buddha, or "Awakened One." Celebrated by Zen (in Japanese it is known as Rohatsu) and Shin, the actual observances vary. Like for Japanese who are Zen Buddhists, R_hatsu literally translates as "8th Day of the 12th Month." Zen monks will stay up the night before Rohatsu practicing meditation.

For Muslims and Druze, December 8th-December 11th, depending on the time zone, is Eid al-adha, or Adha Eid. This "Festival of Sacrifice" is acknowledged worldwide as the commemoration of the religious sacrifice Abraham made of his son for Allah, as told in the Koran. Today, Muslims will share meat, specifically for its sacrificial symbolism, with poor people as well as with family and friends and attend Mosque to pray. Eid al-Adha is one of two Eid festivals celebrated by Muslims, and each year it commences on the 10th day of the month of Dhul Hijja of the lunar Islamic calendar and lasts for two to three days. The holiday goes by many names. It is called Eid el-Kibir (the 'Big' Eid) in Morocco, Algeria, Syria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and Libya and Bari Eid in India and Pakistan.

For Jews, December 22nd marks the beginning of Chanukah, or Hanukkah or Chanuka. Known as the "Festival of Lights," the holiday commemorates the ability of the Jews to rise up against the destruction of the Second Temple by the Romans and occurs for eight days, memorializing how long the drops of oil lasted. Thus Chanukah is marked by eight nights of candle lighting, which begin on the 25th day of the Jewish calendar month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar year 5769, and foods baked in oil, such as potato pancakes, or latkes, and donuts are eaten. There are traditional songs, games, such as dreidel, and gift giving. The holiday is based on the Jewish revolt against assimilation and the suppression of the Jewish religion, but has evolved into a highly assimilated holiday due to its proximity to Christmas.

And for science lovers and history buffs, December 22nd and December 23rd, depending on your time zone mark the Winter Solstice, the shortest, and darkest, day of the year. It's the day with the shortest time between when the sun rises and when the sun sets. An ancient tradition, Winter Solstice was marked by Hopi Indians to Pakistanis to the Chinese, who actually base their calendar on the moon. As the planet orbits around the sun, winter and summer occur, which is why there are two solstices. In the summer the earth is tilted towards the sun and in the winter it's tilted on an axis away from the sun.

Christians, of most denominations, spend December 25th celebrating Christmas, Christmas Day or Christmastide. Arguably the most well known religious holiday, Christmas honors the birth of Jesus Christ, founder of Christianity. It’s not thought to be Jesus' exact date of birth, but coincided with ancient Roman solar festivals that were held on December 25. Today, devout traditions are intermixed with more commercial and secular rituals. There are church celebrations and individuals and communities share in Christmas tree lighting, choral singing, and, most famously, gift-giving. Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, who grew out of pagan Nordic and Christian mythology is said to have started bringing gifts and sneaking in through Chimneys in the 19th century. Other newer rituals include drinks and deserts, such as candy canes, eggnog, and Christmas pudding. Even non-believers, take the day off from work and hang stockings to mistletoe, where one is supposed to kiss the nearest person standing under it.

The day after Christmas, December 26th known as Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, Greece, South Africa and Australia. Traditionally, it is a day to give gifts to the less fortunate members of society, where leftovers are "boxed up" and donated to those less fortunate. However many take it as a second day of Christmas and see friends and family. Stores and other retailers have capitalized on it as a day to generate sales, much like in the U.S. There are football matches as well.

Come December 26th, Kwanzaa, or Kwaanza, is a weeklong secular holiday celebrating African-American heritage. From December 26 to January 1 there are seven days of festivities, including candle lighting, gift giving, and a feast. The Black-nationalist Ron Karenga began the tradition in 1966 as the African American off shoot of traditional African cultures celebrations. Kwanza is not held in lieu of Christmas, but an additional holiday guided by Seven Principles to celebrate the unique experience of African-Americans.

And December 31st marks New Year's Eve, which is celebrated in the United States and Internationally. The most common calendar used today is the Gregorian one, which evolved in 1582, and New Year’s Day begins on January 1st, 2009. In Western cultures, New Year's Eve is celebrated with parties and social gatherings and many make "New Year’s Resolutions" where they set goals for the approaching year, such as eating healthier. There are major festivities in Edinburgh, Sydney, Toronto, Moscow, Tokyo, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, and New York City, where the 1,070 pound Waterford crystal ball drops. Some spend New Year’s following up on their resolutions, such as exercising, volunteering, or calling home, and others spend it in bed recovering from a hang over.

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