Holiday Celebrations

The Menorah & Dreidel

The Menorah is used during the Jewish celebration of Hannukah. A candle is lit every day for 8 days in celebration of the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem. The dreidel is a fun spinning top with four sides played during Hannukah. Kids usually play to win chocolate coins! Yum!

Reindeer

During Christmas, Santa Clause has 8 magic reindeer pull his sleigh across the sky so he can deliver toys to all good little boys and girls. Reindeer are also called caribou!

The Kinara

The Kinara is a candle holder used in Kwanzaa celebrations. Seven candles represent seven different values: Unity, Self Determination, Collective Work & Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Creativity, Purpose, and Faith.

Gingerbread

In Nordic countries, gingerbread has been a popular Holiday tradition for centuries. The first person to have it made into figures of people was Queen Elizabeth I of England!

The Dharmachakra

The dharmachakra is an eight spoked wheel symbol used in many faiths, including Hinduism, and Buddhism. It has been used to represent the 8 fold path of right view, right resolve, right speech, right conduct, right livelihood, right mindfulness, & right meditation.

Angels

Seen across many faiths, Angels have an important role at Christmas time. According to myth, an Angel came to the Virgin Mary, and told her she was going to have a baby! She gave birth to Jesus, and now we have Christmas!

The Lotus

The Lotus is often associated with Buddhism, and several divinities in Hinduism. As a Buddhist symbol, it represents purity of mind, of body, and of speech. ‘Lotus Position’ is a form commonly used in meditation and yoga.

Christmas Trees

Did you know that Christmas trees are actually from the holiday Yule? People would decorate trees to ward off evil, prepare for spring, and celebrate the mid-winter!

Ganesha

Ganesha is a Hindu god of arts, sciences, and of removing obstacles. Pancha Ganapati is a celebration in honour of Ganesha, practiced in North America in December. It focuses on new beginnings, family time, and spiritual discipline.

Snowman

People have been building snowmen for hundreds of years. No one is sure when it started, but whenever it snows, you can be sure someone will build a snowman!