Winter is here and there is one thing on everybody’s minds, the holidays. It’s that time of year when everyone gets out of their house and into the holiday spirit.

When most people think of the holidays they usually think of Christmas, but Christmas is only one of the holidays celebrated this time of year.

Several people celebrate Christmas but few actually know the history of Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and is celebrated on Dec. 25. It is a religious and cultural holiday celebrated in many different ways by millions of people around the world.

Hanukkah, another popular winter holiday, is also known as the “Festival of Lights.” This holiday is celebrated by Jews and begins at sundown on Dec. 20. Hanukkah celebrates the triumphs of both religious and military ancient Jewish heroes.

In Hebrew the word Hanukkah means dedication. Nearly 2,200 years ago the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV forced Greek culture amongst people in his territory.

The Jews in Judea, now known as Israel, were forbidden to perform their most religious practices or study the Torah. Vastly outnumbered Jews took up arms to protect their country and religion. Led by Mattathias and later his son Judah, the Jews fought a long war and won their independence in about 165 B.C.E.

The dreidel, one of the favorite toys among Jewish history, once had a serious purpose. When the study of the Torah was banned, Jews secretly studied tops or dreidels by spinning them in hand. That way if they were caught they could just say that they were only playing.

Another important detail of Hanukkah is the food. Hanukkah foods are cooked in oil to remember the oil that burned in the temple. Eating dairy products, especially cheese, is one of the many traditions. 

Eating dairy symbolizes the Jewish heroine Judith, who according to legend saved her village from attacking Syrians by getting their leader so drunk that he collapsed and then was decapitated.

The lighting of the menorah is one of the most important Hanukkah traditions. A menorah is a candle stand with nine branches, usually eight candles, and each branch represents a different day of Hanukkah. All the candles are the same height except for the one in the middle known as the shamash and is used to light the other candles. The menorah represents the burning light as well the eight days of Hanukkah.

Kwanzaa was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga, chairman and professor of Black Studies at California State University, in 1966 to celebrate African American culture.

Kwanzaa begins on Dec. 26 and ends on Jan. 1. There are seven principles of Kwanzaa also know as Nguzo Saba that represent each day of Kwanzaa.

Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa represents a different Swahili word; these words in order are umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba and imani. They all have different meanings and mean things like unity, determination or responsibility.

Those that want to celebrate Kwanzaa have an extensive respect for the culture and beliefs. Kwanzaa symbols or practices are not meant to be mixed with any other culture.

During the holidays, while you’re celebrating with family or friends, you should keep in mind the cultural diversity that comes with the holiday season.