Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is celebrated by Jewish families across the world. The holiday takes place for eight nights and days, commemorating the triumph of the Maccabees in reclaiming the Temple in Jerusalem from Greek-Syrians. Hanukkah celebrates freedom from oppression. This year, Hanukkah begins in the evening of Wednesday, December 25th and ends in the evening of Thursday, January 2nd.

• Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days because according to Jewish tradition, when the Maccabees recaptured the Temple in Jerusalem, they only found enough pure oil to light the menorah for one day, but it lasted for eight days.
  
• The largest menorah in the world (pictured here) is located on Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, near Central Park in New York. It is 32 feet tall and 28 feet wide.
  
• People fry food such as latkes, sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts), and apple fritters in oil for Hanukkah as a symbol for the miracle oil that burned for eight nights straight.
  

Christmas is a Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe was the son of God. Christmas is celebrated by many on December 25th. Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on or near January 7th. Information about Orthodox Christmas, including the traditions and countries where is it traditionally celebrated can be found here.

• The name ‘Christmas’ comes from the old English phrase Cristes maesse, which means ‘Christ’s mass’. ‘X-mas’ dates back to the 16th century The ‘X’ is said to represent the Greek letter ‘Chi’– the first letter in the Greek word for Christ, Χριστός (pronounced ‘Christos’).
• Santa isn’t the only character associated with Christmas. In Italy, a kind witch called La Befana is said to fly around on a broomstick delivering toys to children. In Iceland, children leave shoes under the window for 13 mischievous trolls called the Yule Lads. If the child has been good, they’ll find sweets in their shoes – but if they’ve been bad, the Yule lads will leave them a rotten potato.
• The first records of Christmas trees being cut for display comes from the 1820s in Pennsylvania’s German community. But, as late as the 1840s, Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and not accepted by most Americans. However, in 1846, Queen Victoria and her German Prince, Albert, were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree (pictured here). Since Victoria was very popular with her subjects, everything she did immediately became fashionable, including the Christmas tree!

On January 7, many Orthodox Copts and other Orthodox Christians (including those in Russia and Ethiopia) celebrate their Christmas Day. Coptic Christmas is celebrated by Coptic Orthodox Christians, who make up over 90% of Egypt's Christian population.

• The Coptic Christians are a Christian community originating from Egypt, belonging primarily to the Coptic Orthodox Church. They are one of the oldest Christian denominations, tracing their origins to St. Mark the Evangelist, who is believed to have brought Christianity to Egypt around 42 AD. The term "Coptic" is derived from the Greek word Aigyptos, meaning "Egyptian," reflecting their deep historical and cultural ties to the region.
  
• Copts observe a 43-day fast called the Nativity Fast leading up to Christmas. During this period, they abstain from meat, dairy, and other animal products, focusing on prayer, charity, and spiritual reflection. The fast ends with a festive meal after the Christmas liturgy.
  
• Christmas celebrations revolve around the midnight Divine Liturgy held on Christmas Eve, January 6 (pictured here). The service is deeply spiritual, featuring hymns, prayers, and the reading of the Nativity story from the Gospels.
  

Kwanzaa, celebrated from December 26 to January 1, was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to honor African heritage and culture, particularly for African Americans. The holiday is rooted in the seven principles of Kwanzaa, known as the "Nguzo Saba," which emphasize unity, self-determination, collective work, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday but serves as a celebration of family, community, and cultural pride, focusing on values that strengthen bonds within the African American community and their African roots.

• The colors of Kwanzaa are a reflection of the Pan-African movement representing “unity” for peoples of African descent worldwide: Black for the people, red for the noble blood that unites all people of African ancestry, and green for the rich land of Africa.
  
• There are 7 principles and 7 symbols that emphasize a unique set of values and ideals during the 7 days of Kwanzaa… also spelled with 7 letters- highlighting the power of 7.
  
• With over 2000 languages spoken on the African continent, Kwanzaa adopted one of the many unifying languages, Swahili, which is spoken by millions on the African continent. The name Kwanzaa comes from a Swahili phrase meaning "first fruits."
  

Three Kings Day, also known as the Feast of the Epiphany, is celebrated on January 6th and commemorates the visit of the three wise men (or kings) (Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar) who brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus, recognizing him as the King of Kings. It is celebrated by many Christian communities, particularly in countries such as Spain, Mexico, and other parts of Latin America, as well as in some European countries like Italy and Greece.

• In many countries, people celebrate with colorful parades (pictured here), often featuring people dressed as the kings, along with floats, music, and dancing.
• Children receive gifts, much like on Christmas Day, symbolizing the presents brought by the wise men. In some cultures, children leave shoes out overnight for gifts to be placed in them.
• Traditional foods like the "Roscón de Reyes" (a ring-shaped cake in Spain) and "Rosca de Reyes" (a sweet bread in Mexico) are shared, often with a hidden figurine inside. Whoever finds the figurine is expected to host a party or bring the next year's cake.
  

Although the holidays are not directly connected to the Winter Solstice, the lighting of candles and lights are integral to the traditions of each holiday. The winter solstice marks the beginning of winter, which is the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. This date usually falls around December 22 in the northern hemisphere. This year the winter solstice is Wednesday, December 21.

• The term solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, meaning 'the Sun stands still'. The December solstice is actually a specific time. This year, the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere is on December 21st at 4:48 PM EST.
  
• New York City will experience 9 hours and 15 minutes of sunlight, compared to 15 hours and 5 minutes on the summer solstice. Helsinki, Finland will get 5 hours and 49 minutes of light and Barrow, Alaska, will not have a sunrise at all.
  
• The December Solstice can happen on December 20, 21, 22, or 23, though December 20 or 23 solstices are rare. The last December 23 solstice was in 1903 and will not happen again until 2303.