It's the Holidays - let's celebrate them all, k?
Each December, ok, who are we kidding ourselves, beginning as early as October {we’re looking at you retailers!}, Americans are inundated with red and green, Santa, and Christmas. While 9 in 10 Americans celebrate Christmas, December is filled with winter holidays celebrating culture, rich histories, and the turning of the seasons.December is the perfect time to share holidays you don’t celebrate in your home, to allow your family to explore religious and cultural similarities and differences. To recognize there are many December holidays to celebrate and honor our friends and neighbors whose month may look different from our own.
Christmas
For Christians, the holiday marks the anniversary of Jesus’ birth some 2,000 years ago, and many Americans mark this holiday both in at church services and with the secular gathering of friends and families to exchange gifts. If your family doesn’t celebrate Christmas or don’t know much about its beginnings, there are many ways to dive deeper.
For families wanting to learn more about the religious history of Christmas, consider attending a church service or read the biblical version of the Christmas story. A nativity scene is a great hands-on way for children to learn about the birth of Jesus.
Indianapolis Celebrations:
While there are many celebrations for the secular meaning of Christmas, we recommend finding a local Christian church and attending either virtual or in-person services to learn about the meaning of Christmas.
Visit a Living Nativity at Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Fishers on December 12
Southeastern Holiness Church is hosting a drive-thru Christmas Play on December 12 & 13
Enjoy Luke’s United Methodist Church Christmas concert live streamed on December 4 and 5.
Hanukkah {also spelled Chanukah}
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah falls from late November to late December varying from year to year {in 2020, it is December 10-17}. The Festival of Lights, is celebrated over a period of eight days and nights, to commemorate the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Hanukkah is observed by kindling the lights on a menorah {nine-branched candelabra} and other festivities may include the exchange of small gifts, playing dreidel {make your own here}, and eating fried foods {this is to signify the lamp oil burning for 8 nights}.
The most important thing to remember about Hanukkah is that it is not Jewish Christmas. This is actually a minor holiday in the Jewish faith and gift-giving rarely extends beyond immediate family.
Indianapolis Celebrations:
The Jewish Federation of Greater Indianapolis has a variety of evening events including a car parade for those who prefer to be socially distant.
Chabad Luvatvitch of Indiana is hosting a car parade featuring a menorah lighting and gelt drop in Carmel along with several other events.
The Indianapolis Public Library curated a list of 8 nights of Bedtime Stories for Hanukkah and also features a reading of Hanukkah in Alaska on their website.
Tell your friends “Hanukkah sameach {Happy Hanukkah} this year.
Kwanzaa
Since 1966 millions of African Americans celebrate their cultural and historical roots from December 26 to January 1 during Kwanzaa. Honoring family, community, and culture and the touchstones of Kwanzaa, which is celebrated by decorating with African kente cloth, African art, and fruits that celebrate African ideals. A central symbol of Kwanzaa is the kinara, a candelabra that holds one black, three red, and three green candles.Each day of Kwanzaa focuses on seven principles {unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith}. As a family discuss one principle a day, or come up with activities to do to represent each principle. Traditionally a feast is held on day six of Kwanzaa and gifts are given on day seven. The feast, which falls on December 31 corresponds with the day honoring creativity, and many families will organize a craft-making party {traditionally the crafts are tied to African- American heritage} and exchange the crafts as gifts on January 31.
Indianapolis Celebrations:
Traditionally a Kwanzaa celebration is held at the Indianapolis Public Library on December 26th. Event information has not yet been announced by the Indianapolis Kwanzaa Committee {follow them on Facebook for more information}
The Indianapolis Public Library curated a list of Kwanzaa books for kids.
Las Posadas
This nine-day festival is celebrated mostly in Mexico and Central America and starts on December 16 and lasts until December 24. The poinsettia has great significance for Las Posadas {the nine leaves on the flower represent Mary and Joseph’s nine-day journey to Bethlehem or Mary’s nine months carrying baby Jesus} and is used to decorate for the holiday. During Las Posadas the nativity parade is traditionally held and at the end of the night children break open star-shaped piñatas {symbolizing the star that led the shepherds and wise men to Jesus}. To celebrate at home, have your children make hand-print poinsettias for decorations or break open your own star piñata.The Indianapolis Public Library recommends The Night of Las Posadas to read with your children.
Indianapolis Celebrations:
The Christian Theological Seminary is streaming a service of blessings and carols in the tradition of Las Posadas on December 20.
WORKING ON YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING?: Check out our Small Business guide
St. Nicholas Day
Celebrated primarily in Europe on December 6, St Nicholas Day honors the original Santa Claus. You’ll find different versions of the story of St. Nicholas from various countries, so share one that is most closely tied to your heritage, or read them all and decide what you think is the best.
Traditionally on St. Nicholas Day, children put their shoes outside their door and if they have been good, St Nicholas will leave little gifts or treats inside their shoes.
Yule {Winter Solstice}
This is a great opportunity to teach children about how the days get longer on solstice. Kids can make paper suns and decorate the rays with glitter. Some celebrants will wait until midnight and bang drums or blow whistles to welcome the light.
Many families honor nature during the Winter Solstice. You may build a yule altar, burning candles to honor the return of the sun, make an evergreen yule leaf from greens you find outside, burn a Yule Log, exchange nature-based gifts, take a hike and enjoy nature, or set up a meditations space to reflect on the coming Spring.The 2020 Indy Winter Solstice Celebration was cancelled due to Covid-19.
Whatever you choose to celebrate or not, we wish you a December filled with joy.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Laurel Price traded in her former career of wrangling Fraternity & Sorority members as a university Greek Advisor for wrangling her her six year old son and four year old daughter. She previously worked as the Communications Director at the Urban Chalkboard and now supports theCityMoms as the Digital Editor.Laurel loves reading {her resolution is to read at least 36 books a year}, long solo trips to Target, hiking and cycling, and {according to her husband} is becoming an obsessive environmentalist.
