14 Ways to Celebrate the Holidays
Four Japanese Leadership Lessons from Toyota
December 8, 20144 Ways to Work More Efficiently in 2015
January 5, 2015If you’ve read Lindsay Learns a Leadership Lesson from the Platinum Rule, you’re aware of the danger that follows from assuming all your employees celebrate the same things the same way.
Rather than marking our differences, the spate of holidays packed into December points to the similarities so many cultures share. In the northern hemisphere, where most of contemporary year-end holidays have their origin, December was a time of rest and reflection.
The harvest was over. Days grew shorter, nights longer. Then in the middle of the month when the winter solstice turned the tables, celebrations sprang up to revel in the return of the sun, the lengthening of daylight, and the promise of another season of life and growth.
Many of the following celebrations, listed in alphabetical order, celebrate the solstice. Others that do not celebrate it specifically, acknowledge it by setting their celebrations near the changing of the seasons.
Bodhi Day December 8: Buddhists celebrate Buddha’s enlightenment.
Boxing Day December 26: On the day after Christmas, people in Canada, the UK, and a host of other nations celebrate in a variety of ways, including giving gifts to the needy. The day has been renamed Day of Goodwill in South Africa.
Chalica During the first week of December some Unitarian Universalists reflect on one of seven principles with activities for each day.
Christmas December 25: Christians around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Dongzhi Festival On or around the winter solstice, the Chinese and other East Asians celebrate the balance and harmony in the cosmos with family and friends.
Festivus December 23: Fans of the popular comedy Seinfeld, are reminded of the alternative to Christmas introduced as “Festivus for the rest of us” by character Frank Castanza.
HumanLight December 23: Humanists reflect on a good future.
Karthikai Deepam Observed between mid-November and mid-December, this Hindu festival is observed in homes and temples.
Kwanzaa December 26 through January 1: Observed in the US and elsewhere, Kwanza celebrates African heritage in African-American culture with feasting and gift-giving.
Newtonmas December 25: Some atheists, skeptics, and other non-believers celebrate Isaac Newton’s birthday as an alternative to Christmas.
Pancha Ganapati December 21 through 25: In the US, Hindus honor Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture.
Soyal December 21: The Zuni and Hopi people celebrate the winter solstice ceremony of Hopitu Shinumu to ceremonially return the sun from its winter slumber.
Yalda December 21: This Iranian festival celebrates the victory of light and goodness over darkness and evil.
Zamenhof Day December 15: Speakers of Esperanto celebrate the birthday of Ludwig Zamenhof, inventor of of the universal language.
Whether or not you celebrate the holidays with your family and friends this year, find some time to reflect on the similar strains of humanity found in such a wonderful variety of celebrations. Meanwhile I wish you all the best this holiday season. Please feel free to greet me with “Merry Christmas” or the holiday wish you prefer.
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