Easter is a Christian holiday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, which is believed to have occurred on the third day after his crucifixion. Easter is also related to the Jewish festival of Passover, which celebrates the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Easter and Passover often coincide or are close to each other on the calendar. Easter also involves various customs and symbols, such as eggs, bunnies, and baskets, that have pagan or folk origins.
Yule is a Germanic winter festival that was celebrated by the ancient pagans and later by the Norse and the Anglo-Saxons. Yule was a time of feasting, drinking, and honoring the gods and ancestors. Some of the traditions and symbols of Yule, such as the yule log, the yule goat, and the yule candle, were later adopted or adapted by Christians and incorporated into Christmas.
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after the Maccabean revolt against the Seleucid Empire in the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, as it involves the lighting of a nine-branched candelabrum called the menorah, which symbolizes the miracle of the oil that lasted for eight days. Hanukkah also involves playing with a spinning top called the dreidel, exchanging gifts, and eating fried foods, such as latkes and sufganiyot.
Kwanzaa is a pan-African cultural holiday that was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, an African American activist and professor, as a way of celebrating and affirming the African heritage and values of the African diaspora. Kwanzaa lasts for seven days, from December 26 to January 1, and each day is dedicated to one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, such as unity, creativity, and faith. Kwanzaa also involves lighting a seven-branched candelabrum called the kinara, displaying symbols of African culture, such as fruits, crops, and mats, and exchanging gifts, especially handmade ones.
Diwali is a Hindu festival of lights that celebrates the victory of good over evil, the return of Lord Rama from exile, and the prosperity and joy of the new year. Diwali is usually observed in late October or early November, depending on the lunar calendar. Diwali involves the lighting of lamps, candles, and fireworks, decorating the homes and streets with colorful rangoli patterns, worshipping various deities, such as Lakshmi, Ganesh, and Kali, and exchanging sweets and gifts with family and friends.
