This week our community will be celebrating our core value of diversity by exploring different winter holidays!
Monday - Hanukkah (Wear your shiny and glittery outfit to shine your light!)
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival also known as the Festival of Light. For eight days, families gather to light the menorah, share gifts, and enjoy traditional foods. Hanukkah is a time for dedication and rededication, or commitments and recommitments.
Tuesday - Kwanzaa (Wear black, red, and gold to represent the Black American Heritage flag, which symbolizes the culture and history of African American people.)
Kwanzaa was first created in the 1960s. The holiday is to honor and reconnect with African culture and traditions. One of the most important principles of Kwanzaa is Kuumba (Creativity): To always do as much as we can, in the way we can. This is so that we can leave our community more beautiful and better than we inherited it.
Wednesday - Winter Solstice (Wear pajamas to be cozy for the longest night of the year.)
The winter solstice occurs on the shortest day and longest night of the year. After this day toward the end of December, we say goodbye to short days and look forward to the extra hours of sunlight ahead in the new year when the Northern Hemisphere is the furthest distance from the sun. This year the Winter Solstice will happen on December 21, 2024 at 4:24 am.
Thursday - Christmas Around the World (Wear sweaters, scarves, and other winter gear to keep away the Yule Cat.)
In Iceland, there’s a terrifying Christmas cat who prowls the snow then eats alive anyone who doesn't have the appropriate clothing to handle the harsh winter weather! In Iceland, families celebrate this by coming together to protect one another and ensure that nobody gets taken by the Christmas cat – aka the Yule Cat.
Friday - Lunar New Year (Wear red for Lunar New Year, which symbolizes prosperity.)
Chinese New Year is an annual celebration of new beginnings, happiness and joy. It is one of the most important festivals in Chinese culture and is celebrated by millions of people around the world. The Chinese calendar is in cycles of 12 years, represented by different animals.
In addition to introducing these holidays during the morning announcements, we will celebrate with dress down days during the week. Please reach out if you have any questions!
