Light displays , gingerbread houses and decorated trees with presents underneath from loved ones and Santa Claus . These are some of the things that people can look forward to for during the Canadian winter . However , Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated in Canada at this time of year . There are far too many traditions to list them all but here are a few of the winter celebrations that can be observed in our culturally diverse country .
Light displays , gingerbread houses and decorated trees with presents underneath from loved ones and Santa Claus . These are some of the things that people can look forward to for during the Canadian winter . However , Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated in Canada at this time of year . There are far too many traditions to list them all but here are a few of the winter celebrations that can be observed in our culturally diverse country .
Chinese New Year Also known as the spring festival , Chinese New Year falls on the new moon between January 21 and February 20 . One of the traditions includes cleaning the home entirely to sweep away ill-fortune and to welcome good luck . On the evening following Chinese New Years Day , families gather for a large dinner . Windows and doors are decorated with themes such as good luck , happiness , longevity and wealth . Firecrackers are used , and money is gifted in red envelopes that symbolize good luck and ward off evil spirits .
There is a reason for the firecrackers and the use of red in the Chinese New Year . According to legend a beast called the Nian would eat villagers . The villagers would hide from the beast until an old man arrived and decided to get revenge on the Nian . All the villagers thought he was crazy , but the old man put red papers up and set off firecrackers . The next day the villagers emerged from hiding and nothing was destroyed so they realized that the Nian was afraid of red and loud noises .
The New Year for 2018 will be on February 16 and will be ringing in the Year of the Dog .
Hanukkah The Jewish holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire . The revolt lasted from 167 to 160 BC . The Empire had banned Jewish practices and a rural priest , Mattathias the Hasmonean , started a rebellion by refusing to worship the Greek gods . After his death , his son Judas Maccabee led an army to defeat the Seleucids .
Afterwards the Maccabees could only find a small amount oil to light the menorah , a lampstand made of pure gold with six branches , for one day . The oil miraculously lasted for eight days , when they would get more oil . Thus , Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days . Over these eight days , children receive gelt which is Yiddish for Chanukkah money . There are also feasts where foods cooked in oil are prominent and the dreidel game is played the Jewish children .
Little Christmas Also known as the Feast of Epiphany , little Christmas is a Christian celebration that is observed on January 6 . It commemorates the visit of the three kings to Jesus , a scene represented in most Christmas nativity scenes . There is a feast that occurs on epiphany eve and that is the night that those who celebrate this holiday must remove their Christmas decorations . If one fails to take their decorations down on this night , they must leave them up until Candlemas on February 2 . Candlemas is the feast that commemorates presentation of Jesus at the Temple .
Mawlid Mawlid is the birthday of the Islamic Profit Mohammed . The exact date has been debated as it is not known and has not been definitively recorded in Islamic traditions . This year it was celebrated from November 30 to December 1 . The week-long celebration includes parades , homes and mosques are decorated and stories and poems are recited by children . Internationally , around 3000 Mawlid celebrations are held annually .
December 2017 / January 2018 - The HUB 15