A warm, bright celebration to look forward to is Saint Lucy’s Day. The leaves have changed, the temperature has dropped, and now we warily prepare for a season of coughs, chills and bony, barren trees. Traditions vary widely from one country to the next, but one thing they all have in common is the observance of customs around the time of the winter solstice. In modern times Christians all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on Christmas Day, which falls on December 25. Recently, it's become known as the Spring Festival, and is a time of gift-giving and feasting. Nearly every culture has traditions that mark the changing of seasons, the winter solstice, and the season of giving. Wiccans and Neopagans celebrate the holiday of Yule, at the time of the Winter Solstice, around December 21st. The Kwanzaa celebration lasts for one week. There are many other winter celebrations sacred to other cultures. Whichever guest gets the almond in his pudding is guaranteed good luck for the coming year. Some of the best winter vacation spots are hiding right in plain sight: explore majestic ice sculptures in China, watch twinkling lights in the Netherlands, compete in winter games in … A key aspect of the Chinese New Year is ancestor worship, and paintings and portraits are brought out and honored in the family's home. When I studied abroad in Sweden one of the hallmark celebrations the people took part in was Santa Lucia. Although Australia is huge geographically, the population sits at under 20 million people. The largest Diwali celebrations certainly take place in India, but it is celebrated by Hindus all around the world. However, the main winter festival in China is the New Year celebration that occurs at the end of January. 4 Winter Solstice Rituals From Around the World Members of the Shakti Sings choir sing as druids, pagans and revelers gather in the center of Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England to … November 21, 2017 6 min. Before baking the cake, as the wife is kneading the dough, she follows her husband outdoors. Those eight holidays are celebrated by billions of people around the world. Below you will find lots of great kid-friendly winter solstice activities and winter solstice crafts to celebrate the day. To welcome the New Year, families take time to clean their homes, perform rituals, and prepare feasts. Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, the winter solstice falls in June, and people may use native plants like Mallee roots, Tasmanian oak, and eucalyptus to make a family Yule log. On the other hand, if a child is naughty, he or she can expect to find a lump of coal left behind by La Befana. The eight day festival of lights commemorates the miracles of the faithful Jews as they reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The holiday name is derived from a phrase that refers to the first harvest in Swahili. in Students Comments Off on Winter Celebrations Around the World 15,548 views 15 Chinese New Year. The idea of decorating a Christmas tree didn't appear in Greece until the early nineteenth century, when King Otto arrived from Germany, where the custom was already in practice. Bundle up embrace the cold with these super cozy (and family-friendly) winter festivals found around the world. When Americans think of autumn celebrations, Halloween and Thanksgiving first come to mind. The midwinter festival of Yule has been celebrated by the Germanic peoples since at least the 4th century. It attracts a growing number of visitors from Japan and rest of world. While Americans celebrate with Christmas trees, visits from Santa Claus, and dreams of snowy landscapes, Christmas falls during Australia’s summer, where it is popular to go camping or to the beach over the holiday. This was a time of “role-reversal,” where slaves were temporarily freed and the rich gave to the poor. In Italy, there is the legend of La Befana, a kind old witch who travels the earth giving gifts to children. India's Hindu population typically observes this time of year by placing clay oil lamps on the roof in honor of the return of the sun. Intercultural Training. Date: November 30 th – January 21 st On Hogmanay, which is observed on December 31, festivities typically spill over into the first couple of days of January. This deluxe jacketed hardcover is visual storytelling at its best. 2018 will be Year of the Dog. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Either way, employees around the world commonly take a few days off work at this time. Soyal is the winter solstice celebration of the Hopi Indians of northern Arizona. In Scotland, the big holiday is that of Hogmanay. However, when she went to call them back, they had gone. The winter holidays are celebrated in many ways around the world. The man relents, the wife bakes the turta, and the trees are spared for another year. The solstice is the point in the year when the earth is most inclined away from the sun, and Wiccans celebrate Yule to honor the winter-born king, symbolized by the rebirth of the sun. Instead, a sprig of basil is wrapped around a wooden cross to protect the home from the Killantzaroi, which are negative spirits that only appear during the twelve days after Christmas. Nearly every culture has traditions that mark the changing of seasons, the winter solstice, and the season of giving. Those eight holidays are celebrated by billions of people around the world. Now she travels the world, searching, and delivering gifts to all the children. The city of Riga, Latvia holds the claim as home to history’s first decorated Christmas tree, back in 1510. Kachina dollsBrooklyn Museum, New York, Museum Expedition 1903, Museum Collection Fund (03.325.4653). The festival held annually in Sapporo, Japan, over seven days in February. Winter Celebrations Around the World. But what is winter solstice and what are the winter solstice traditions? The highlight is the Harbin Ice and Snow World, an entire city sculpted from 180,000 cubic meters of ice. For example, consider: hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(3026600, '8aa11458-d62e-4dce-8a1a-18505074be2d', {}); This post provides a just a glimpse into these rich cultural celebrations. Christians believe that this was when the three kings visited baby Jesus, celebrating the manifestation of God becoming human. I hope these ideas make teaching your students about holidays around the world an exciting experience they won’t soon forget! See how the celebration unfolds in countries around the world with this infographic. Across the world, festivals, contests, and celebrations are dedicated to the worship of snow and ice. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. By using Learn Religions, you accept our, Yule Craft Projects for the Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox Celebrations Around the World. The cows are venerated during this time, and they are decorated with floral garlands and their horns are painted. One fun custom is that of Glogg parties, which involve the drinking of Glogg, a mulled wine made from Madeira, and the eating of lots of baked treats. For Greek and Russian Orthodox churches, this is the celebration of Christmas. The sun rises close to 9:00 in the morning and sets around 3:00 in the evening. Winter Holiday Celebrations Around the World Winter Holiday Celebrations Around the World . The U.S. winter holiday season concludes with New Year’s celebrations, and although New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1, the festivities begin the night before — on New Year’s Eve. Santa Lucia commemorates the Saint of Light during a time when the days are growing darker. Invite students to learn more about how Yule is celebrated around the world at Yule Tide And Christmas Traditions of the Ancients from Old and Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace. Whether you observe Yule, Christmas, Sol Invictus, or Hogmanay, the winter season is typically a time of celebration around the world. A woman bakes a confection called a turta, made of pastry dough and filled with melted sugar and honey. On December 13th, children sing songs dressed in white gowns. The country's Christians celebrate by decorating mango and banana trees, and adorning homes with red flowers, such as the poinsettia. 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