By Sophia Sullivan, Editor of Arts and Culture
Saint Leo University’s campus is teeming with students, staff, and faculty who share diverse backgrounds and come from various places worldwide. The beauty of the holiday season is that it promotes a sense of community, just as Saint Leo promotes in its core values.
While Christmas is a well-known holiday celebrated each year on Dec. 25, it is essential to remember that only some celebrate Christmas. The end of the calendar year is also home to the beginning of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
Hanukkah, a Jewish festival, is celebrated each year at varying dates because it is situated in the Jewish calendar, which can differ from the most familiar Gregorian calendar. This year, Hanukkah will begin on Dec. 7 and end on Dec. 15.
It celebrates the arrival of light and warmth into the homes of Jewish families. It remembers the actions of the Maccabees, Jewish warriors who reinstated the Temple in the second century BCE after the Greeks took it. It is a time of celebration, family, and remembrance.
Another lesser-known holiday which takes place this time of year is Kwanzaa. This year’s celebration will take place from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Kwanzaa, created in 1966 by Maulana Ron Karenga, means “first fruits” and stems from African culture. The holiday highlights unity, faith, creativity, purpose, and more.
According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, “Kwanzaa is a time for families and communities to come together to remember the past and to celebrate African American culture.”
Part of this culture includes the food. On the sixth day of Kwanzaa, there is a feast called Karamu, where various foods can be served. The focus is on the community and who one is eating with.
And, of course, Christmas will take place on Dec. 25 this year. Christmas is a Christian holiday which celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. While Christmas has become secularized for some, some still celebrate in the religious sense as well, especially here at Saint Leo.
Cole Washko, a senior majoring in English, shared one of his family’s Christmas traditions.
“On Christmas Eve, my mom puts a red tablecloth on our dinner table and calls me (and each of my brothers) up to the table to trace our dinner plate and write what we are thankful for,” said Washko.
Traditions like these are what characterize all holidays. Sharing knowledge and passion throughout multiple generations of one’s culture brings people together.
“Holiday traditions are important to me because they remind me of what the holidays are all about and add additional excitement,” said Washko.
Saint Leo loves to include its international community in their holiday traditions, regardless of the time of year. And, even though Saint Leo primarily celebrates Christmas as a Catholic college, everyone is always invited to join in on the festivities, such as the annual Christmas Tree Lighting.
Although everyone has different holiday celebrations and traditions, there is one thing everyone has in common: traditions.
Understanding and educating oneself on these traditions is vital to connect across cultures, just like we do here at Saint Leo.
Happy Holidays, Lions!
