As students, when December rolls around, our minds are consumed with eagerness for a two week break from school.  But why do we actually receive this weekend vacation?

December contains many cultural and religious holidays.  The TDSB recognized that these celebrations are of great significance to many students and so created a December break.

Before we left school last month, the Rambassadors held the Festival of Lights to celebrate and promote the awareness of the many holidays in December.  The name, “Festival of Lights”, recognizes the common link between the celebrations: the symbol of the light.  For the Rambassadors, light represents the human unity we have in our diversity.

The following describes some of the holidays featured in the festival.

Eid Al Fitr is an Islamic festival that is held on the first day of Shawal, the tenth month of the Muslim calendar.  It marks the end of the month long fast during Ramadan.  To celebrate, Muslims visit mosques to attend prayers and provide charity to the needy.  Coming with the full moon Eid Al Fitr is a day of joy and thanksgiving.

Winter Solstice is observed on December 21st.  It is the official beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and is a significant day for many Wiccan and Humanistic religions.  Since December 21st has the fewest hours of daylight of any day of the year, Winter Solstice celebrates the coming return of the sun.  It often features the lighting of candles and bonfires.

Hanukka commemorates the rededication of the temple of Jerusalem by Judas Maccabee in 165 BC.  It is observed with the lighting of a menorah, a special eight branched candelabra, over eight successive days.  It was written that when Judas Maccabee recaptured the temple, it only contained enough oil to light it for one day.  Miraculously, however, the oil burned for eight days.  The rituals of Hanukka serve to commemorate this event.

Kwanza is a seven day celebration that begins on December 26th and continues until January 1st.  Kwanza is an African-American holiday that celebrates family, community and culture.  It has its roots in ancient African fruit harvest.  Kwanza is celebrated through rituals, dialogues, narratives, poetry, dancing, singing, drumming, and feasting.  A central practice is the lighting of the seven candles of Kwanza.   A candle is lit each day for the seven principles of Kwanza: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith.

Many Chinese, Vietnamese, and Korean cultural/religious celebrations are dated by a lunar calendar.  This year, Chinese New Year will take place sometime after February 10th.  The year of the zodiac sign of the Horse is 2002.  Activities associated with this festival include: cleaning house, paying of debts, settling old arguments, and making a fresh start.  To celebrate, people may light firecrackers, hang poetry, enjoy a family feast, buy new clothes, or exchange gifts (adults may give children “laisee”, red envelopes filled with money- red envelopes represent luck)

The Rambassdors hope that all students, staff and community members have an enjoyable break, and wish everyone a happy and fruitful New Year!