A Look into Holiday Traditions

PrideTime Reporters:
Jocelyn Mullins, Natasha Garcia, Daphane Jenkins

Winter time is the time for family, a time for happiness, a time to enjoy the cold weather and drink hot chocolate while enjoying some festive music. Everyone has their special family rituals for the holidays, from the decorating of the Christmas tree, or lighting the menorah, cooking with your parents or just plain sitting around and stuffing your face while watching Greys Anatomy.
During the Christmas season, many of us like to turn on the Christmas radio station and blast the skinniest legend, Mariah Carey and sing along to the likes of Michael Buble and Bing Crosby. And on Christmas Eve, we leave out cookies and milk for Santa or open up some presents a little bit early.
Winter Solstice. Celebrated on December 21st by Pagans, is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year. Pagan also acknowledge this holiday as Yule.  In old Europe, it was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel.
Hanukkah is to remember defeating the Syrians and reviving the Temple of Jerusalem. Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days to mark the eight days the oil burned.

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