Dates
This holiday is from Mon. Dec. 15 - Mon. Dec. 22, 2025.
What is Hanukkah?
From the Hebrew word Chanukah which means 'dedication', this celebration is the Jewish eight-day 'festival of lights'.
For Winter Solstice, many cultures make round food to symbolize this astronomical body.
What is the sun?
Examples of these round foods include pancakes, bread, cookies, rice balls and more. Rich, hearty dishes are also eaten to sustain revelers through the winter.
This is the number of candles lit on a menorah on the final night of Hanukkah.
What is nine?
While Hanukkah is a celebration of oil miraculously lasting for eight days, there is also a 'helper' candle called the shammash used to light the other eight candles.
This holiday is from Fri. Dec. 26 - Thurs. Jan. 1, 2025.
What is Kwanzaa?
Kwanzaa is an annual celebration of African-American culture, primarily celebrated in the US, Jamaica, France, Canada and Brazil.
During Hanukkah celebrations, many foods are prepared this way as a reminder of the oil in the story of the miracle of Hanukkah.
What is fried?
Quite popular, latkes are fried potato pancakes and sufganiyot are fried jelly doughnuts.
Kwanzaa candles are these three colors that represent the values of the holiday: the people, their struggle and the future and hope.
What are black, red and green?
Black is for the people, red is for their struggle, and green is for the future and hope that comes from their struggle
This holiday is on Sun. Dec. 21, 2025.
What is Winter Solstice?
This is the shortest day of the year, with the fewest hours of daylight, in the northern hemisphere, due to the tilt of the earth's axis.
Popular year-round and made from masa and stuffed with meats, cheese and even vegetables, this is one traditional food eaten during Las Posadas.
What are tamales?
Tamales are considered special because of the time it takes to make them.
Because they stay green thoughout the winter, these are a sign of good luck, life and strength during Winter Solstice celebrations.
What are evergreen branches?
In various traditions, these are used as decorations, gifted to friends, and made into wreaths to wear as crowns.
This holiday is from Wed. Dec. 31 - Fri. Jan. 2, 2025.
What is Hogmanay?
Hogmanay is how Scotland celebrates the ending of the old year and beginning of the new year.
Of the seven days of Kwanzaa, this is the day when the largest meal is eaten.
What is the sixth day?
Known as Kwanzaa Karamu (or Feast), this day involves inviting loved ones over for food and music, drinking from a unity cup and a farewell statement to the year.
This song is often sung during end of the year celebrations. During Hogmanay, it is common to sing this in a circle of linked arms crossed over one another as the clock strikes midnight for New Year's Day.
What is "Auld Lang Syne"?
During Hogmanay, it is only intended that participants link arms at the beginning of the final verse before rushing into the centre as a group.
This holiday is from Tues. Dec. 16 - Wed. Dec. 24, 2025.
What is Las Posadas?
Celebrated through Latin America, Las Posadas includes a reenactment of the pilgrimage of Mary and Joseph asking for shelter before the arrival of Jesus.
During Hogmanay in Scotland, a first-footer is the first person to cross the threshold of your home after the clock strikes midnight on NYE. A first-footer may bring one of these three traditional gifts.
What is coal, whisky & food?
Coal represents warmth and the wish that the home will always be warm. Whisky represents good cheer and the wish that the home will never be without a drink to offer a guest. Food, typically shortbread, black bun, or sometimes a fruitcake, symbolizes the wish that the household will never lack for food.
These breakable decorations are present at almost every Mexican celebration, but have a special meaning during Las Posadas.
What are pinatas?
Traditional piñatas have seven points, representing the seven deadly sins, and the sweets that pour out symbolize forgiveness and a new beginning.