Cultural and religious holidays taking place in December

With December comes Christmas – the time of year where families get together to share gifts and good food, among other things.

Similar traditions also take place among other religions and communities. Beacon Fostering is aware that different families celebrate different festivities, so here are some other holidays and celebrations that take place at the same time as Christmas, as inspiration for your children in foster care.

Hanukkah

Taking place between 25th December and 2nd January in 2024, Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in the 2nd century BCE.

It’s celebrated by singing songs such as ‘Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel’, and preparing foods such as potato cakes and sufganiyot (fried jelly doughnuts). Families also light a menorah to symbolise the oil that burned for eight days after the rebuilding of the Temple.

Yule

Celebrated by neo-Pagans and the Wicca community, Yule starts on the winter solstice (21st-22nd December for the Northern Hemisphere) and ends on New Year’s Day. Its origins can be traced back to Scandinavia.

Many celebrate Yule by watching the sun rise at locations like Stonehenge or by burning logs.

Winter Solstice

Also predating Christianity, the winter solstice has been celebrated across the world since ancient times, influencing Hanukkah and Christians. You and your foster family can celebrate the solstice be walking through a local forest, looking out for associated plants like holly, yew and mistletoe.

Kwanzaa

Originating with the Black community in the USA, Kwanzaa is celebrated from the 26th December to New Year’s Day, and is dedicated to seven principles: unity, self-determination, purpose, faith, creativity, co-operative economics and collective work. They are discussed each day, and a candle is lit.