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| Holidays allow Appalachian students
celebrate cultural heritage |
April
Klaassen
Features Beat |
| Almost everyone
equates December with festivity. While some deck the halls with
tinsel and lights, others deck the wall with a Bandera Ya Taifa
(Flag of the Black Nation), and while some celebrate the miracle
of their savior, others celebrate the miracle of victory. |
| Hanukkah |
Jews celebrate Hanukah, honoring the
Jewish people’s victory over the Syrian army and the miracle
of oil that followed.
The Syrian-Greek regime of Antiochus outlawed many aspects of
Judaism in the second century BCE, attempting to assimilate Jews
into their culture.
As a result, a band of Jewish settlers called Maccabees revolted
against the Syrians. They defeated the massive Syrian troops and
drove them from the land. The Maccabees cleansed and rededicated
the temple in Jerusalem in December 164 BC. They only found one
small jar of oil to light the Menorah, but astonishingly it burned
for eight days until someone brought a new supply of oil.
In celebration, Jews today celebrate Hanukkah (which means dedication)
for eight days, lighting a menorah, spinning the dreidel (a top
with Hebrew letters engraved on each side) and eating foods such
as potato pancakes, called latkes.
The tradition of spinning a dreidel derived from the Maccabbeen
revolt. Because Antiochus banned the Torah, Jews played the dreidel
to make authorities believe they were merely playing a game. Instead,
they used the dreidel to study the Torah. The letters on the dreidel
mean “A Great Miracle Happened There,” and Jews play
it to remember the defiance of anyone who persecutes Jews.
Jews celebrate Hanukkah with friends and family.
“More than anything it’s a nice time to be with my family,”
freshman middle grades education major Howard R. Schreiber said.
“The history of the holiday is important, and we celebrate
it for the reasons that we were able to escape persecution. Now,
for a lot of people, it’s a time to be with your family.”
Jews say non-Jews have some misconceptions about Hanukkah.
“It’s not that important, but in the eyes of non-Jews
it’s seen as very important,” Schreiber said.
“If Hanukah was taken off the calendar, it wouldn’t
be a big deal,” sophomore special education major Barrie
J. Schefflin said.
Because Jews schedule their holidays by the Jewish calendar, Hanukah
began this year on Nov. 29 and ended last Saturday. |
| Christmas |
People celebrate Christmas for various
reasons. For many, Christmas is a time to celebrate loved ones.
“Christmas is a time for being together. When you’re
apart all year long, Christmas is the time of year to slow life
down and spend time with people who mean the most to you,”
senior advertising major Andrea H. Lambert said.
For others, Christmas is also a celebration of Jesus Christ.
“Ever since I was little, Christmas was celebrating the birth
of Jesus,” senior Spanish education major Angela M. Rogers
said. “It’s about love and God’s love for us, that
he loved us so much he sent his only son, and giving that love
to others.”
Christians celebrate Christ’s birth according to accounts
found in the books Matthew and Luke from the Bible. They believe
Jesus is God’s son, sent to reconcile humans to God from
their sin, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy of a coming Messiah
promised by God.
The celebration of Christ’s birth began in about 98 A.D.
Christians celebrated on Jan. 6 for over 200 years. Bishop Julius
I of Rome chose Dec. 25 as the new date in 350 A.D. in order to
influence the Pagan winter festivals.
As a result, Pagan rituals mixed with Christian celebration. Those
rituals include decorating trees, giving gifts and awaiting Santa
Claus.
Advent is a unique aspect of the Christian celebration. Adventus,
which means “Arrival of Christ,” begins four weeks before
Christmas. Christians light one candle each week, symbolizing
the expectation of the coming of Christ.
Whatever the reason for celebrating, many families hold traditions.
“We always have a big dinner on Christmas Eve and open one
Christmas gift,” Lambert said.
Some people feel the meaning of Christmas has become one of consumerism.
“It really bothers me,” Rogers said, “because there
are so many people that aren’t going to even have the stuff
on TV that so many people are worried about. Christmas is about
love, sharing and giving to other people.” |
| Winter Solstice |
The Winter Solstice falls on Dec.
21 and is a Pagan holiday, derived from the ancient Pagan winter
holiday celebrated by the Greeks, Romans and Mesopotamians.
The holiday today represents inner renewal and the birth of a
new solar year. Some believe the goddess manifests herself as
the Great Mother and the god as the Sun Child, Old Man Winter
or Santa Claus.
Celebrators exchange gifts to strengthen bonds, decorate with
Yule wreaths to bless their homes and give to the needy. Magic
is practiced because it is believed to make the planet peaceful.
Some practice the Solstice ritual of meditating in darkness and
welcoming the birth of the sun by lighting candles, singing Pagan
carols and ringing bells. |
| Kwanzaa |
Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday
celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga started
Kwanzaa in 1966 because of the lack of a black holiday and because
of mistreatment of African Americans during Christmas. Some African-Americans
celebrate Kwanzaa to remember their cultural heritage and the
seven principles (Nguzo Saba) their ancestors used, including
unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics,
purpose, creativity and faith. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday
but one that emphasizes tradition and family unity.
Traditional Kwanzaa celebrations include rituals performed daily
for each of the seven principles.
Children perform a lighting ceremony followed by a discussion
of one of the principles by every family member.
Each principle is reinforced through songs and stories.
Objects that symbolize the spirit and principles of Kwanzaa are
placed on a low table or floor. Celebrators sometimes give gifts
that reflect black heritage or the seven principles. Gifts are
either given each day of Kwanzaa or during the Karamu, or feast,
held Dec. 31.
Sources: The Office of Multicultural Student Development; Aish.com;
The Circle Sanctuary (www.circlesanctuary.org); www.christmastime.com;
The Holy Bible. |
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