Download Slide 1

Celebrating Winter
Holidays
Bodhi or Rohatsu Day
A Zen Buddhist Holiday to
celebrate the enlightenment of
the Buddha. The story is told,
Buddha was born on the 8th day
of the 12th lunar month.
The majority of Zen Buddhist are
normally located in Japan, but
they are located throughput
most of the world.
This is a day in which Buddhists
show their respect to the
Buddha, but they recognize the
Buddha is not someone they
should worship. They view the
Buddha as someone they can
learn from to improve their own
life to reach enlightenment.
The week before this holiday,
Buddhist practice intense
meditation. This is a time for a
Buddhist to focus on themselves
and how they can improve to
reach full enlightenment.
Reaching enlightenment is the
goal for all Buddhists.
Being an enlightened one is to be
connected to yourself and with
the world around you.
The picture above is of a
Mandala. These take three weeks
to create.
They are made out of colored
sand and are two dimensional.
They are created by Buddhist
monks, and it is used for
meditative purposes.
Chanukah or Hanukkah
Hanukkah is the Hebrew word for dedication.
Hanukkah is more of a celebration than a
religious holiday. It celebrates the liberation of
Jerusalem and the rededication of the Temple.
When the Hebrews were preparing to
rededicate the Temple, they only found
enough oil for the Temple lamp for one day.
According to legend, the oil lasted for eight
days. The lighting of candles for eight
consecutive nights has become the traditional
way to celebrate Hanukkah.
Chanukah begins at
sunset on December 21st
and lasts until December
29th.
Traditions of Chanukah
Chanukah lasts eight days. On each day
feelings of gratitude are expressed
through special prayers, and the lights of
the Menorah are lit each evening. It is
also customary during the holiday for
members of the family to play dreidel, to
give presents, and to eat oily delicacies
such as donuts, pancakes and "latkes."
Happy Chanukah
The holiday involves worship that is centered more in the
home than in the synagogue. People light candles on a
menorah, or hanukkiah, adding a new candle for each
night. The menorah is an eight-branched candelabra with
a ninth holder
for a helper candle called the shamash. Since the
menorah could not be used as the only source of
light, and since no candle was to light another, the
shamash was used to light each nightly candle.
Christmas
History of Christmas
Annual Christian celebration
honoring the birth of Jesus
Christ
Celebrated in December since
the fourth century
Many countries exchange gifts
and/or cards
Christmas is a religious holiday
and a secular winter holiday
Joyeux Noel
Feliz Navidad
Merry Christmas
Saint Nicolas
Saint Nicolas was born into a
wealthy Catholic family. His
parents died when he was
young. With his inheritance he
decided to help the people in
need especially children.
Saint Nicolas later became a
bishop and served on the
Counsel of Nicaea.
His day of celebration is on
December 6th. This is also to
celebrate the small children.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is
December 26th
through January
1st. Dr. Maulana
Karenga started
the celebration
of Kwanzaa in
1966.
Representation of Colors
Black is for the face of the African
American people
Red is for the blood that the
African American people shed
Green is for hope and the color of
the motherland
Kwanzaa Ritual
The Kinara (candleholder) is placed
atop the Mkeka (mat, usually straw).
The Mishumaa Saba (seven candles)
represent the Nguzo Saba (seven
principles). Each candle represents a
distinct principle beginning with
Umoja. Candles are then lit each day
alternately from left to right. Three
red candles should be placed on t
he left and three green candles
should be placed on the right.
Kwanzaa is a Swahili word that
means "first fruits of the harvest."
Happy Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa builds
on the five
fundamental activities
of Continental African
"first fruit" celebrations:
ingathering;
reverence;
commemoration;
recommitment; and
celebration.