Ten Things Tueday- December Holidays

 Have you seen all the hoopla over saying Merry Christmas versus Happy Holidays?

I honestly don't understand what is wrong with saying Happy Holidays.
Say what you want, it's all good to me.

But, lots of people seem to be upset that Happy Holidays is used. It is supposed to be Merry Christmas for some reason.

I get that people are sick of the whole political correctness in the world.
But when someone is saying something to be nice, should it really matter that they didn't stick Christmas into the greeting?

All this has inspired me to look into the many different holidays we can choose to celebrate in December.

This week's Ten Things Tuesday is about the different December holidays.
So, in no special order, here we go:


1. Hanukkah- December 8-16
     It is also known as the festival of lights. It is an 8 day celebration commemorating the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

2. Yule- December 21 or 22
     This is when the Goddess gives birth to the new sun God. The new God is born on the shortest day of the year.

3. Christmas- December 25
     If you are a Christian, this is the day you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

4. Boxing Day- December 26
     It's a big shopping day now, but roots can be traced back many centuries. It may be called Boxing Day because that is the day charity boxes given to the church were opened, but no one knows for sure.

5. Kwanzaa- December 26
     The word is Swahili meaning fruits of the harvest and celebrated by many Africans to pay homage to their heritage.

6. Festivus- December 23
     For the rest of us. Originally from a Seinfeld episode. Put up an aluminum pole and read a list of grievances that occurred over the course of the year. 

7. The Feast of Immaculate Conception- December 8
     To celebrate the day that the Virgin Mary was conceived by Saint Anne.

8. Saint Nicholas Day- December 6
     Saint Nicholas was a saint and bishop that gave to the poor. He was known to toss bags of coins through open windows. A coin fell into a child's shoe and so began the tradition of putting out stockings for Saint Nicholas to put things in.

9. Bodhi Day or Rohatsu-  December 8
     The day to commemorate the day that Buddha found enlightenment(bodhi).

10. Hogmanay- December 31
     This is the Scottish word for the last day of the year. It is also known to be the Scottish way of celebrating New Year's Eve. Each area of Scotland has it's own Hogmanay ritual. Singing "Auld Lang Syne" is also a Hogmanay custom.


Other awesome December holidays!- There are fun ones like national roast suckling pig day, bathtub party day, and wear brown shoes day.

*******************************************
Have a great Tuesday!