Season Of Holidays!

A plethora of artistry to share!

There are plenty of Holidays to choose from; some lasting 10 days to several weeks, into the month of January. And then, there is Chinese New Years!

My person favorite is Kwanzaa, as shown in the colourful primary photo. Starting in 1966 by activist Maulana Ron Karenga, and African-American culture, culminating in a communal feasting called Karamu, usually on the sixth day. Kwanzaa lasts from December 26th through New Year 1st of the year.

A plethora of singing, dancing, gathering of friends, and offerings if food in celebration. These festivals have come from parts of West and Southeast Africa and are expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa.

Here in Colorado we have ~ Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble and studio.

A Glorious tradition founded in 1970 by Cleo herself.

While traveling to many cities honoring the universal language of dance, bringing the life to the origins of African Diaspora.

Hanukkah is an eight-day winter festival of lights, observed through nightly menorah candle lighting, special blessings, songs, and prayer. Jewish festival commemorating the recovery of Jerusalem and subsequent rededication of the Second Temple at the beginning of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century. Beginning at nightfall, December 7th through nightfall, December 15th, 2024 – Mon, Jan 1, 2025 will be the Jewish year of 5784.

Eid al-Adha (Islamic) Holiday with significant work restriction.
Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) Holiday with significant work restriction.
Yom Kippur (Jewish)
Sukkot (Jewish)
Shemini Atzeret (Jewish)
Simchat Torah (Jewish)
Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Baha’i)
Diwali (Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain)

And there is Christmas!

Which is also celebrate around the world by different cultures with different themes:

“”December 25th began a season of festivities that lasted until January 6–

Stated the “Twelve days of Christmas.” January 6 was called Twelfth Day, and colonists found it was the perfect occasion for balls, parties, and other festivals. Colonial Christmas was a holiday for adults, not a magical day for children.

Despite Puritan efforts, many colonists in New England did celebrate Christmas, importing English customs such as drinking, feasting, mumming and wassailing. Mumming, or “masking, involved people dressing up in costume and going from house to house, putting on plays and otherwise performing.

Now the tradition changed to Caroling Singers join together harmonizing age old classical and newly created songs, from Christ is Born to Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer found its debute in 1964.

Often some houses will share warm cinnamon apple cider, and houses are adorn in various

colorful lights and Santa Clauses with Rudolph pulling a sleigh filled with wishful thoughts as children attempt to sleep, waiting for the delightful adorned Christmas tree is filled with brilliantly wrapped gifts.

Let’s not forget “Boxing Day!”

And there is Boxing Day! The day after Christmas, traditionally a day for the servants, who would receive a special Christmas box from their “masters.” Often the servants would go to their home and offer Christmas Boxes to their families.

Holidays and special celebrations bring a lightness to my own personal perceptions, a “Time To Give and Share!” Each year in long past Denver are square, there would be a group or two of Carolers, dressed in olden fashion warm clothing, delivering the most celebrated songs of the year. These songsters would place me in the mood of cooking and hand written invitations sent to all neighbors, friends with family or friends.

The “Irony” of this holiday was not shared by Jesus’ which often is the namesake so many find represented in many midnight masses around the globe in prayer and song of, “Jesus Our Savior.” Jesus observed the Jewish Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles or Festival of Booths) during his ministry (see John 7:1–52).

There was a caveat, I am a hobbyist French trained chef, and written on the initiations were these words; “Please do not bring food, eat till your bellies are delighted” and bring a new “Children’s Toy unwrapped for those at Children’s hospital!” Or a check of “no less in amount of $, written to this Humane shelter for the forgotten dogs and kittens.”

The greatest holiday’s celebration were more of complete giving! Making and offering a huge delectable feast, a Holiday meal to all the retirees across the street from my Historical Victorian home. An old apartment building with two smaller houses in the back of “Elderly people, all retired in some fashion.” I would spend several days preparing a huge feast of every holiday fair from Turkey, stuffing, fresh cranberry-orange sauces, very special mashed potatoes accompanied by a delectable sweet potatoes laced with pecans and maple syrup, plus several pies, a dessert for each palate.

The feast would be carried over to a tall gentleman’s apartment, a retired military and railroad engineer and fancier organ player. Jackson would create a plate for each individual and deliver the meal to every apartment, some home bound long; all long time dear friends of decades. Jackson, remembering his name brings tears to my eyes of sadness, knowing I will never cook for that building of elderly again, they have long since passed. The building was renovated into condos; some progress is not a momentum in amelioration.

Growing up in Europe made the Holidays more special. As a “curious wondering child” I knew many families not associated or familiar to my parents. My wandering habit met many diverse families, from the dirt floor poor to the very rich with elevators in their homes.

Holidays meant, I was busy child going about all these homes and EATING a variety of foods, while speaking a plethora of languages and learning new cuisines. There were new born babies, laughter and play, meeting extended families; nothing could be more special celebrating different holidays and traditions.

Multi-Faith Calendar of Religious Holy Days

January 7 – Orthodox Christmas: Using the Julian calendar, Orthodox Christians celebrate Jesus’ birth.

January 13 – Maghi: Makar Sankranri is the only Hindu festival that is based on the solar calendar instead of the lunar. Makar means Capricorn and Sankranti meaning transition.

Not to leave out; All Saints Day, a Christian/Catholic celebrations. All Souls Day, Catholic by tradition. Diwali, Hindu, Jain traditions, and “Remembering the Martyrs of the UCA, Secular.”