December is known for having Christmas, but there are many other holidays in December. In this article, we are going to look at some other holidays in December celebrated around the world.
Ramadan or in Arabic known as Ramazan, is a Muslim holiday celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar which happens, to be the month that the Qur’an was revealed to the prophet Mohammad. The ninth month is also the month of fasting, where Muslims do not eat or drink anything until true dawn until sunset. Fasting is indispensable to the Muslims because it teaches people patience, sacrifice, and humility. Ramadan is a time for Muslims to fast for the sake of God, and to give more prayer than normal. During Ramadan, Muslims will ask for forgiveness to their past sins, ask for guidance from evil, and try to pursue in purifying themselves with self-restraint and by doing good deeds. Laylat al-qadr is considered the most holy night to the Muslims because; it was the night that the Qur’an was revealed to Muhammad. Muslims believe that it occurred on an odd number night, during the last ten days of Ramadan. Everyday during Ramadan, Muslims will get up before dawn to eat Shuoor (The pre-dawn meal.) And perform the Fajr prayer; they are required to stop eating before the call for this prayer begins until the fourth prayer of the day known in Arabic as Maghrid or sunset in English. “The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm” Quoted from Wikipedia. The elderly, the clinically ill and the mentally insane are exempt from the fasting but most make up for the fasting by feeding one poor person each day. Also exempt are pregnant women and those nursing a newborn but they have to make up for days they missed on a later date.
Ōmisoka (Oh me so ka)Known in Japanese as New Year’s Eve. During Omisoka, people tend to be very busy getting ready for the New Year. Many Japanese people, even do a cleaning known in Japanese as ōsōji (Oh so g) which is verysimilar to spring cleaning, done in warmer climates. Usually near the last day of the year, school child do their own cleaning to prepare for the upcoming year. Usually during Omisoka, people will gather around to have toshikoshi-soba (Toe she koe she so ba) toshi-koshi means “crossing over from one year to the next” There is a signing content on Omisoka where, the men and women will spilt into two teams and complete, later a panel of judges will determine the winner. Also, in case you are wondering how to say Happy New Year in Japanese it is Akemashite omdetou gozaimasu (Ah kay moss tay oh may day toe go zay mass).
Saint Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Bosnia, Iceland and Croatia. Saint Lucia Day is one of very few days saint days, celebrated in Scandinavia. “In traditional celebrations, Saint Lucy comes as a young woman with lights and sweets.” Quoted from Wikipedia. In Scandinavia, Saint Lucia Days is celebrated on December 13th in a ceremony were a selected girl portraying Lucia, walks ahead of a procession of other women also holding candles. “The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia’s life when she was sentenced to be burned.” But, before the procession take process the women sign a song to honor the Saint Lucia and after the signing the stops the procession commences.’
Bibliography
Website: www.educationworld.com
Article:December: A Month of Multicultural Holiday Celebrations
Writer: Gary Hopkins
Published: 11/20/2001
Last updated: 02/04/2008
Link: http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/lesson246.shtml
Website: Wikipedia
Articles: Ramadan, Omisoka, and Saint Lucia Day
Writers: Unknown
Articles last modified: 17th October 2008, 12th October 2008, 1st March 2008
Links: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramadan, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omisoka, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lucia_Day
Quotes taken form Wikipedia
