Tis’ the season Bulldogs! Around this time of year, people may begin to greet each other by saying “Merry Christmas,” but not everyone celebrates Christmas, right? So, here’s a quick rundown of five holidays around the same time as Christmas many do not know about.

First is the Hindu holiday, Diwali, which lasts for five days. It’s pronounced “de-VAH-lee.”  

Diwali is a festival of lights that celebrates victory over darkness. It takes place around October and November, varying each year.  People who celebrate Diwali place lights in their homes, on the road, and in their communities. The lights are traditionally candles, but in modern days can be LED displays, lanterns and other lights. They also decorate with flowers and diyas. There are tons of other cool things about Diwali that could be explored, but those are just the basics. 

The next holiday is the eight-day Jewish holiday, Hanukkah. Some people who don’t know much about this holiday believe it’s just like Christmas, but it’s not at all. 

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the second temple of Jerusalem after the Jewish people were forced to suppress their religion. Families celebrate with gifts, dinner and spending time with family. 

On each of the eight days, one candle is lit on the traditional menorah. On the last night, after sundown, the candle that lit all eight candles is placed in the center. This represents the miracle of Hanukkah — There was only enough oil to light a candle for one night, but it burned for eight nights. 

Families exchange gifts and feast on lavish dinners and deserts, a favorite being jam-filled donuts. In addition to good food, many kids receive small Jewish toys, such as the infamous dreidels.

Las Posadas is the next holiday. This is a Mexican holiday that serves as an extension of the Christmas celebration. 

Celebrated on Dec. 16 until Dec. 24, the holiday celebrates the journey of Mary and Joseph on their way to Bethlehem to give birth to baby Jesus. 

The journey of Mary and Joseph is reenacted by families through Posadas, originally held in the church, but sometimes in the streets of neighborhoods and in schools. The Posadas are similar to plays or acts and are accompanied by caroling and singing, breaking of piñatas, the giving of gifts, parties and dinners. The nine days of Las Posadas are to represent the nine months that Mary was pregnant with baby Jesus. 

Next is the seven day holiday, Kwanzaa. Celebrated by the African American community, it celebrates bringing the community back together after the civil rights movements in 1966. 

Each of the seven days of the holiday represents a principle. The first day is Umoja, or unity. The second is Kujichagulia, or self-determination. The third is Ujima, or collective work and responsibility. The fourth is Ujamaa, or cooperative economics. The fifth is Nia, or purpose. The sixth is Kuumba, or creativity. The seventh day is Imani, or faith. 

Each day families spend time together doing something that relates to what that day is about. Every night they come together and light one candle on the kinara, similar to the Jewish menorah. 

The traditional way to set up for Kwanzaa is with a mkeka, a woven placemat which the kinara is placed upon surrounded by fruits and corn. The holiday is meant to remind the African American community that no matter what hardship their communities go through, they will persevere.

Last, but not least, is the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year begins when the Lunar New Year happens, which is the start of a new moon. 

Chinese New Year is known as the Spring Festival. Before it begins there is an eight-day preparation period known as Little Year. Households usually prepare for the celebration, with a deep clean of the house, but there is a rule one cannot use a broom to clean in case of sweeping good luck out of the home. 

Each year has a designated animal or zodiac. 2021 will be the Year of The Ox. The ox represents hard work and honesty.

When the Spring Festival begins, it is a constant celebration. There are parades, parties, loud music and huge feasts of very traditional Chinese food, along with fireworks and light shows to scare off evil spirits.

Traditionally children are given red envelopes, called Hongbao, filled with money that symbolizes good luck and fortune for the coming year.

With all this new found knowledge of smaller traditions and celebrations, go out and spread some holiday cheer these next couple weeks.