There are three main holidays in the United States during the winter. Those three holidays are Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa. All three holidays are celebrated by different groups of people and have lots of history behind them.
Christmas is the most well-known holiday in the United States. It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Christmas is celebrated on December 25 every year. Even though it is a religious holiday, it is also celebrated by many people who are not Christians.
There are many different ways that people can celebrate Christmas. Many people build gingerbread houses, buy a Christmas tree, decorate their Christmas tree with lights and different ornaments, and sing Christmas carols They buy presents for friends and family. These presents are placed under the Christmas tree and are opened on Christmas Day. On Christmas Eve, people hang up their stockings and leave milk and cookies on a table for Santa Claus.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated over eight days. The centerpiece of the holiday is the lighting of the menorah. The menorah is composed of nine candles. One candle is lit every night for eight nights. The ninth candle is used to light the other candles. Before each candle is lit, people say blessings. After each candle is lit, people sing traditional songs. During Hanukkah, people play with a dreidel. A dreidel is a toy is spun to win prizes.
Kwanzaa is a holiday celebrated by African-Americans in the United States. This holiday was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a university professor, to bring African-Americans together after the Watts riots in Los Angeles. Kwanzaa is inspired by harvest celebrations of African cultures.
Like during Hanukkah, candles are lit to celebrate Kwanzaa. There are seven candles on a kinara, a candleholder, that represent seven principles. One candle is lit every night and the accompanying principle is discussed. Along with the seven principles, there are also seven symbols of Kwanzaa.
Kwanzaa is celebrated over seven days, from December 26 to January 1 of each year.
Vocabulary
| English | Español |
| holiday | un día feriado |
| winter | el invierno |
| Christmas | la Navidad |
| Hanukkah | la Janucá |
| Kwanzaa | Kwanzaa |
| well-known | famoso |
| Christian | el cristiano |
| religious holiday | la fiesta religiosa |
| gingerbread house | la casa de pan de jengibre |
| Christmas tree | la calabaza |
| ornament | el adorno |
| Christmas carols | los villancicos |
| present | el regalo |
| Christmas Eve | la Nochebuena |
| stockings | los calcetines |
| Jewish | judío |
| menorah | la menorá |
| dreidel | el dreidel |
| candle | la vela |
| blessings | las bendiciones |
| traditional songs | canciones tradicionales |
| to spin | girar |
| African-Americans | el afroamericano |
| harvest celebrations | celebraciones de cosecha |
| candleholder | el candelero |
| principles | los principios |
| to accompany | acompañar |
| to discuss | discutir |
| symbol | el símbolo |
Sources
Cover Image: @anniespratt
Hillerbrand, Hans J. “Christmas.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christmas.
History.com Editors. “Kwanzaa.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 14 Oct. 2009, https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/kwanzaa-history.
“What Is Hanukkah?” Chabad.org, Chabad-Lubavitch Media Center, https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htm.