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International Holidays
By Krystal Reyes, Staff Writer, Lailah Moridzadeh,
News Editor & Christy Roberts, Feature Editor
So Santa comes down the chimney to stack presents under everyone's Christmas tree, right? Wake up and smell the coffee beans of Columbia. Here is one fairly recent and two ancient holiday traditions celebrated around the world, so take this multi-cultural lesson and stick it in your stocking. |
Kwanzaa: A Spiritual Holiday
Kwanzaa is a 33-year-old African-American spiritual holiday. Dr.Manlana Ron Karenga developed the holiday for African-American families. Kwanzaa is based on the Kawadia theory, which explains that exposing individuals to their cultural heritage results in a social revolution change for African-American individuals.
The holiday begins on December 12 when families begin gathering together. On the 19th, families decorate and arrange Kwanzian symbols on a low table on the floor. A week of fasting, from sunrise to sunset, to cleanse the body, is suggested.
The concept of Kwanzaa is simple: to help African-Americans connect with their past, so that they may better understand the present and deal with the future.
Ramadan: A Muslim Celebration
Fasting from sunrise to sundown for purification of the body for thirty days is a strict duty of the Muslim religion. Ramadan is the celebration Muslims hold during the first week of December.
During this time, Muslims follow a strict routine. Beginning at sunrise, they must not eat or drink until sundown. For the more strict believers, all parts of the body must fast as well. The eyes must not "check-out" anyone, the ears must not hear gossip, the tongue must not speak gossip, the hands must not commit crimes or hurt anyone, the legs must not take the body to where it doesn't belong, and there must not be any sexual activity at this time.
The purpose of fasting is to purify the body and hopefully train and inspire the individual to change for the better while keeping up these positive habits. The last day of fasting is called "aide," and on this day fasting is forbidden. Everyone visits family and lunches together, having a grandiose time.
Not everyone has to fast. Those exempt from fasting include pregnant women and those critically ill. Although, if one doesn't fast, he or she must pay $5 each day to a pauper to help feed him instead. So, for ten days of missed fasting, he or she owes fifty dollars.
Although this may seem like a strict regimen, the end results are for a healthier way of living.
Chanukah: Festival of Lights
The ancient Greeks had a particular dislike for the Jewish practice of "Brit Mila," the circumcision of a baby boy on the eighth day after his birth; it was, in fact, outlawed and became a capital crime. Circumcision offended the Greek idea of the perfection of the human body. After Greeks eventually captured and destroyed most of the temples in Jerusalem and a long and bloody war came to follow, the Jews recaptured the Holy Temple, and the first thing they did was light the menorah on the altar. They had only enough oil to last for one day, and new oil would take seven days to prepare. But a miracle occurred. Instead of burning for one day, the menorah stayed lit for eight days. This was a message to the Jews that they were right with God.
To the Jewish people, eight is a mystical number because they believe seven is a human and natural number, but eight transcends the natural world into spirituality. They believe the days of Chanukah are eight days of transcendence; days of opportunity to look both within themselves and beyond, to sense that there is far more to life than the world of nature could ever contain.
Traditions associated with Chanukah include "Chanukah money," which one wins gains by winning a game of Spinning the Dreidle. There are many Chanukah songs and dances besides Adam Sandler's. And of course there is great food and a festival of lights that lasts not for one but eight whole days! |
