It is the time of year for celebration. Everyone has their own traditions, many of them revolving around a holiday. Although each holiday is unique, all are celebrations of life and togetherness.

Christmas

Christmas is a Christian holiday held on Dec. 25 to celebrate the birth of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to the Virgin Mary.

The holiday is typically associated with the Nativity scene, which is partially described in the Bible.

It tells of the birth of Jesus to Mary and her husband Joseph in the town of Bethlehem.

The story goes that there was no room in the inn for the couple, so Jesus was born in a nearby stable and placed in a manger.

People in the surrounding area were told of the birth of Jesus by an angel, and they were the first people to see the baby.

The Magi, or Three Wise Men, are also part of the Christmas story. According to the Bible, the wise men traveled a long way from the East and were guided by a star that led them to the baby. With them, they brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, which were significant during the time of the story.

Traditionally, Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus. Attending church, gift-giving and tree decorating are common ways of celebrating the holiday.

Ashley Nodgaard, senior in journalism and mass communication, loves celebrating Christmas.

“My family always gets together and goes to church,” Nodgaard said. “I love going to church on Christmas Eve because we light candles while we sing ‘Silent Night.'”

Nodgaard said the Christmas spirit is a great way to celebrate and remember what Christmas is all about.

“I always like the good moods that people are in – it is hard to be mad,” Nodgaard said. “Everyone seems to focus on family and celebrating together.”

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, which means “dedicated” in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights beginning on the 25th day of Kislev in the Hebrew calendar. This falls sometime between late November and late December.

The holiday celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after the Jews won a battle over the Syrians in 165 B.C.

According to the Jewish document, the Talmud, there was only enough oil to light the Temple for one day, but the light held out for eight days – enough time to rebuild the Temple.

During each night of Hanukkah, a candle is lit with the Shamash candle, which is a candle that is lit first and placed either higher or lower in the Hanukkah menorah, which holds eight candles. The purpose of lighting the candles or oil lamps is to remember the story of Hanukkah.

Traditionally, Hanukkah is celebrated with rituals such as daily prayers, songs, blessings and the nightly lighting of a candle or oil lamp on the menorah.

Amanda Berg, sophomore in liberal arts and sciences-open option, remembers celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas when she was younger because her parents belonged to different religions.

“We used to celebrate both holidays, but for Hanukkah, I remember lots of family and food,” Berg said. “During Hanukkah, we would get a present for each of the eight days. I thought it was cool because I got two presents on two holidays.”

Berg said it was unique going to two different celebrations because they felt like complete opposites.

“Hanukkah doesn’t feel the same as Christmas,” Berg said. “For the dinners we had, there were readings for the Torah, and I remember it feeling really strict.”

Kwanzaa

Although Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, it is also celebrated during the holiday season for seven days – Dec. 26 through Jan. 1. It is an African-American holiday that celebrates family, community and the roots of the African-American culture.

The holiday was started in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, who wanted to create a way for African-Americans to come together as a community and celebrate their roots.

Each day of the holiday highlights a principle in which to live by. Unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith are celebrated over the seven days.

The holiday is celebrated through these principles, along with symbols, gifts and the lighting of a candle for each day in a manner similar to Hanukkah.

Whitney Jacobs, junior in speech communication, said that, although she does not celebrate the holiday, she finds it to be a good celebration.

“I think it is a good thing to bring people together to celebrate something,” Jacobs said. “It is wonderful to celebrate your people and your culture, and Kwanzaa seems like a good way to do that by having all the important aspects of life as a part of the seven days.”