What do you know about Kwanza, Las Posados, St. Lucia Day?
These are all holidays that happen in the month of December.
Just look at the calendar – in our international city of Los Angeles – Happy Holidays are happening all the time. I will read books and tell stories and teach a few games to help us understand the importance and fun of these Holidays. Bring any activities or books specific to these holidays to share. Happy Holidays to you all!
December
5 – Ashura (Islamic, Muslim)
6 – St. Nicholas Day (International)
8 – Bodhi Day – Buddha’s Enlightenment (Buddhist)
12 – Virgin of Guadalupe (Mexico)
13 – Santa Lucia Day (Sweden)
22 – Mudpies & Butterflies Holiday Parkday
16-24 – Las Posadas (Mexico) (one day for each month Mary carried baby in womb)
20-28 - Hanukkah (Jewish)
25 – Christmas (Christian, Roman Catholic, International)
26 – Boxing Day (Canada, United Kingdom)
26-1st – Kwanzaa (African-American)
January
1 – New Years (International)
1 – Oshagatsu (Japanese)
6 – Three Kings Day (Christian, South American)
16 – Martin Luther King, Jr Day
22-26 Tet (Vietnamese)
23 -Chinese New Year (East and South-East-Asia)
Mini Plays in order of occurrence on calendar
1. Bodhi Day – Buddha’s start as a prince, 3 trips out of the palace and eventually enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree.
2. Virgin of Guadalupe – How an angel spirit revealed to herself to Juan Diego on a hill near Mexico City. She asked him to build a church there. He went to the archbishop who didn’t believe him and required proof. It came when roses fell in the shape of Mary on the floor of the church.
3. Saint Lucia day is celebrated in Scandinavia. All the girls walk in holding candles – one girl as St. Lucia wearing white dress and red sash. (boys can be gingerbread men). Original St. Lucia (250-302 CE) wished to do pious things like Jesus, wouldn’t marry a non-Christian betrothed and when they tried to burn her the fire wouldn’t catch. I won’t be sharing the part of the story that they plucked her eyes out with a fork instead – making her the patron saint of the Blind.
4. Hanukkah -Festival of Lights – We will light candles of the Menorah and tell the story of how the temple was spoiled demolished by a Syrian/Egyptian King and only one day’s oil recovered and sadly it took 8 days needed to make more. But the one day of oil lasted 8 days affirming God’s grace.
5. Kwanza story: the Seven Spools of Thread about 7 brothers in Africa who move away from Selfishness.
6. Three Kings Day – 12 days after baby Jesus was born is when the Kings are said to arrive and bestow Frankincense, Myrrh and gold.