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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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Which Lunar New Year animal are you like?

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Learn about the animals that inspired the Chinese zodiac signs.

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KidVision | Chinese New Year | PBS LearningMedia

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Miss Penny and the KidVision Kids visit a Kung Fu school to learn about the Chinese New Year. They find out about the Chinese New Year calendar, learn some Kung Fu moves, put on lion dance costumes, and see a celebratory lion dance performance. Gong Hei Fat Choy!

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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Visit DK Find Out! to learn about dinosaurs, space, animals, nature & more. Fun learning activities for kids with videos, quizzes & galleries at DKFindOut.com

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It's Christmas Eve and there's an unexpected knock at the door. If you're in the United States, it may be a gaggle of carolers who have come to serenade you. If you're in Argentina, it might be neighbors arriving to exchange gifts and light fireworks. If you're in Newfoundland in Canada, it could be friends disguised in costumes who perform comedy sketches until you can guess who they are.

Christmas, an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, is celebrated in unique ways in different countries, even those with few Christians. Celebrations of Christmas are commonplace around the world: India is less than three percent Christian, but Christmas is a national holiday. Only one percent of Japan's population is Christian, but Santa impersonators and holiday music still fill department stores.

Christmas in the United States brings together many customs from other countries and cultures. Around the world, family members help to decorate the tree and home with bright lights, wreaths, candles, holly, mistletoe, and ornaments.

In every country, food takes center stage. In Ukraine, ambitious feasters enjoy a 12-course meal. In Japan, it's common for families to visit the American fast-food chain KFC for dinner. In Poland, carp featured during dinner are often kept in the family bathtub for days before it's eaten. Afterwards, it's common for the fish scales to be kept for good luck.

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Learn about the winter holiday celebrated on December 25.

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Christmas | All About the Holidays | PBS LearningMedia

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Christmas Day isn't just a holiday for Christians. Learn about the various traditions that people hold to celebrate it. Then have yourself a merry little Christmas!

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The Jewish festival of lights, called Hanukkah, is celebrated around the world today. But the inspiration for the holiday dates back thousands of years in what is today the country of Israel.

In 175 B.C., King Antiochus, whose ancient kingdom included Judea (located in present-day Israel), made it against the law for people who lived there to practice their religion, called Judaism. Instead, he wanted Jews to worship Greek gods. When they refused, he ordered his troops to destroy the Temple of Jerusalem, an important place of worship for Jews. He replaced the Jewish symbols with an altar dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Greek gods.

The Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, rebelled against King Antiochus. Many historians believe that they battled for about three years to become an independent region so they could practice their religion. Finally, around 164 B.C., the Maccabees, as they were called, defeated King Antiochus and his troops.

When the Maccabees returned to their ransacked temple, they found only one jar of oil-just enough to light the temple's candles for one day. But according to the Talmud (one of Judaism's holy texts), the oil miraculously burned for eight days-enough time for the victorious Maccabees to find more oil for their sacred candles.

Restoring the temple and driving out King Antiochus didn't end the conflict. His followers continued to battle with the Jews for more than 22 years. Finally, in the year 142, the warring groups signed a peace treaty, and the Jews formed their own independent region.

How it's celebrated today

Hanukkah starts on the 25th day of Kislev, the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. (It's also called the Jewish calendar and is used to track religious dates.) Because this calendar follows the lunar (or moon) cycle, the holiday begins on a different date each year on the calendar you use the most, which is based on the sun cycles. Usually, Hanukkah starts in late November to mid-December.

In 2023, Hanukkah starts the evening of December 7 and ends on December 15.

To celebrate the ancient miracle of the oil burning a candle for eight nights, Jews celebrating Hanukkah light a candleholder called a menorah for eight nights. The menorah holds nine candles-one for each night plus a candle called the shamash used to light the other candles.

On the first night, one candle is added to the menorah and lit. On the second night, another candle is added and lit. The adding and lighting of candles continues for eight nights. During these moments, people recite special blessings and prayers, sing songs, and exchange gifts to celebrate the miracle in the temple more than 2,000 years ago.

Hanukkah foods and fun

Traditional Hanukkah foods include deep-fried jelly donuts called sufganiyot and potato pancakes called latkes. Both dishes are fried and represent the long-lasting lamp oil.

After they've feasted on rich foods, families gather to take turns spinning a top called a dreidel. Players can win chocolate gelt, or coins, if the top lands the right way.

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Lasting eight days, the joyous Jewish holiday celebrates a miracle from more than 2,000 years ago.

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Hanukkah | All About the Holidays | PBS LearningMedia

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Hanukkah is a Jewish celebration, but anyone can find meaning in the holiday. Check out the origins of the tradition, and and how it is observed today.

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Hanukkah - The Jewish Festival of Lights on whychristmas?com

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Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. Its history and how it is celebrated.

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Celebrated every year from December 26 through January 1, Kwanzaa is a week of festivities honoring African American culture and heritage. Friends and family gather each day to give thanks, exchange gifts, and share feasts.

The holiday was created in 1966, during a time period when many Black people faced unfair treatment because of their skin color. The holiday honors African American people, their struggles in the United States, their heritage, and their culture.

Here's how Kwanzaa got its start and the different ways it's celebrated.

History of Kwanzaa

Throughout the 1950s and '60s, the civil rights movement sought to end the practice of treating Black people unfairly because of their race. In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that school segregation-or teaching Black and white children separately-was illegal. In 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr., gave his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. And the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ensured more equal rights for African Americans.

But Black people still faced discrimination. In 1965, a white police officer pulled over two African American men in a mostly Black neighborhood called Watts, in Los Angeles, California. Angry at how people in the community were being treated by police, a crowd soon gathered to protest. But the crowd grew bigger-and angrier. This led to six days of protests and rioting all over the city. Thirty-four people died and over a thousand were injured in what's now called the Watts Rebellion.

The next year, educator and activist Maulanga Karenga wanted to rebuild the neighborhoods affected by the riots and encourage pride within the Black community. As part of his plan, he created Kwanzaa in 1966 to empower African Americans to rediscover and honor their African roots.

Kwanzaa means "first fruits" in Swahili, a language spoken in Africa, and refers to the joy and unity many Africans have when celebrating the harvest season. The holiday encourages people to honor seven principles: unity, self-determination (helping yourself succeed), collective work and responsibility (teamwork), cooperative economics (sharing), purpose, creativity, and faith.

Celebrating Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is not an African holiday, but it's inspired by many African cultural practices.

Symbols of African heritage decorate homes during Kwanzaa. For instance, families place a traditional woven mat, called a mkeka (muh-KAY-kuh), on tables to represent the traditions-like sharing and faith-that the holiday is based on.

Meaningful items are arranged on the mat, such as a basket filled with fruits and vegetables to represent the harvest, and one ear of corn for each child in the family. A unity cup, called kikombe cha umoja (kee-KOHM-bee cha oo-MOH-jah), is also placed on the mkeka.

Lighting candles

A big part of celebrating Kwanzaa is lighting a candle each night. First, an adult pours a little water or juice from the unity cup onto the ground to remember the family's ancestors. Then the cup is passed to each family member, who sips while everyone chants harambee (Swahili for "let's pull together" and pronounced hah-RAHM-beh) seven times.

The kinara (kee-NAH-ruh) holds seven candles: one black, three red, and three green. The black candle in the middle represents unity among people of African descent; the red candles on the left represent the past, and the green candles on the right stand for the future.

Each day, family and friends gather to light a special candle that represents one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa. On the first night, celebrants light the black unity candle. Each night a different candle is lit to reflect on the other six principles.

Big parties

Celebrants enjoy special foods all throughout Kwanzaa. Families often use recipes that have been passed down over many, many years; often those foods have roots in African culture. Meals might include dishes like peanut soup or shrimp gumbo, topped off with tasty desserts like fried bananas, sweet potato pie, and coconut sweets.

Even though Kwanzaa lasts for seven days, the big celebration is on December 31. That's when family and friends gather in bright African-style clothing and have a large feast, called karamu (kuh-RAH-moo). They play music, dance, and sing.

The last day of Kwanzaa is much quieter. On January 1, people focus on how they want to succeed in the coming year and what kind of person they want to be in the future.
Learn more about Kwanzaa at National Geographic.

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Learn about this holiday that celebrates Black heritage in the United States as well as African culture.

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Kwanzaa | All About the Holidays | PBS LearningMedia

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Kwanzaa is a time to celebrate African American heritage. Learn the ways people observe this festivity and trace back its roots to ancient African customs.

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Kwanzaa, the seven day festival that celebrates African and African American culture and history.

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Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates the African community, family and values. Read on for a look at this special holiday.

What is it?

(AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Eugene Garcia)

The celebration of Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It's a time for people of African heritage to celebrate their culture and its history.

Kwanzaa lasts seven days, taking place from December 26th to January 1st.

The celebration was founded in 1966 in the United States, and Canada began to celebrate it in 1993. The word kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means "first fruits."

How is it celebrated?

This year, Kwanzaa may be celebrated a bit differently due to COVID-19. Families might gather in smaller groups, meet up by video chat, and do a lot of activities and celebrations online. It will be important to make sure to wear a mask and social distance with anyone outside your family to keep safe and healthy.

Let's have a look at how Kwanzaa is traditionally celebrated:

Kwanzaa is celebrated with many ceremonies throughout the week.

People often decorate their homes in the colours of the Pan-African flag: red, green and black.

People may wear traditional African clothing - women might wear a colourful robe called a , while men wear a bright shirt called a (say "da-SHE-KEE").

Are there any special traditions?

An important tradition in Kwanzaa has to do with a candle holder called the kinara .

It holds seven candles, including three red ones, three green ones and a single black candle.

Each day during Kwanzaa, one candle is lit, so that all of them will be burning brightly come the seventh day.

Every candle represents a different value of African culture. They are:

Each value is discussed by families during Kwanzaa, as the candles are lit.

Are there any other important symbols?

There are seven central symbols of Kwanzaa. They represent African values and the community.

The first is the kinara , the candle holder that holds the seven candles. It symbolizes African heritage.

The candles themselves are another symbol and are meant to be a sign of light during the seven days.

The rest of the symbols are placed near the kinara. These include:

Fruits and vegetables that signify abundance.

A cup that every family member will drink from as a sign of sharing.

One ear of corn for each child in the family.

Gifts, which are often handmade, that will be shared on the seventh day and encourage growth, self-determination, achievement and success.

What happens at the end of Kwanzaa?

A special feast, called (say "ka-RAH-mu"), is held on December 31st, the sixth day of Kwanzaa. Sometimes this meal is held in a church or community centre.

Traditional African dishes are served and may include items like beans, rice, stew, chicken and countless sweet desserts.

On January 1st, the last day of Kwanzaa, families exchange gifts that are often homemade, which are known as (say "za-WAH-dee").

(AP Photo/The Herald-Sun, Christine T. Nguyen)

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Kwanzaa - celebrating pan-African culture, community and history | CBC Kids

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Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday that celebrates the African community, family and values. Read on for a look at this special holiday. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Eugene Garcia) The celebration of Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday. It's a time for people of African heritage to celebrate their culture and its history.

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Mexican Christmas Traditions: Las Posadas | Las Posadas for Kids | Little Passports

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Feliz Navidad from Mexico! Las Posadas is an important Mexican tradition during the holidays - complete with prayer, music, food, and piñatas.

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This article was most recently revised and updated by

Las Posadas, (Spanish: "The Inns") religious festival celebrated in Mexico and some parts of the United States between December 16 and 24. Las Posadas commemorates the journey that Joseph and Mary made from Nazareth to Bethlehem in search of a safe refuge where Mary could give birth to the baby Jesus. When they were unable to find lodging in Bethlehem, Joseph and Mary were forced to seek shelter in a stable, where the Christ Child was born.

Las Posadas is celebrated in cities and towns across Mexico. Each evening during the festival, a small child dressed as an angel leads a procession through the streets of the town. The procession is primarily made up of children dressed in silver and gold robes carrying lit candles and images of Mary and Joseph riding a donkey. Adults, including musicians, follow the procession, which visits selected homes and asks for lodging for Joseph and Mary. Traditionally, the procession is always refused lodging, though the hosts often provide refreshments. At each stop, passages of scripture are read and Christmas carols are sung.

Mass is held each day after the procession, and, at the conclusion of the service, children break open piñatas filled with candy, toys, and, occasionally, money. The piñatas are usually crafted in the form of a star, which is said to have guided the three wise men of biblical tradition to the newborn Jesus.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Adam Augustyn.

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Las Posadas | Meaning, Traditions, & Facts

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Las Posadas, religious festival celebrated between December 16 and 24 that commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph before the birth of Jesus.

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In Mexico, Christmas is celebrated from December 12th to January 6th.

From December 16th to Christmas Eve, children often perform the 'Posada' processions or Posadas. Posada is Spanish for Inn or Lodging. There are nine Posadas. These celebrate the part of the Christmas story where Joseph and Mary looked for somewhere to stay. For the Posadas, the outside of houses are decorated with evergreens, moss and paper lanterns. Lighting the way for posadas might be 'luminarias' or 'farolitos'. These are paper sacks, with shapes cut into them, which are partly filled with sand and then have a candle put in them. They represent 'lighting the way' for somewhere for Mary and Joseph to stay.

A Posada, via Wikimedia Commons

In each Posada, children are given candles and a board, with painted clay figures of Mary riding on a donkey and Joseph, to process round the streets with. They call at the houses of friends and neighbors and sing a song at each home. The song they sing is about Joseph and Mary asking for a room in the house. But the children are told that there is no room in the house and that they must go away. Eventually they are told there is room and are welcomed in! When the children go into the house they say prayers of thanks and then they have a party with food, games and fireworks.

Each night a different house holds the Posada party. At the final Posada, on Christmas Eve, a manger and figures of shepherds are put on to the board. When the Posada house has been found, a baby Jesus is put into the manger and then families go to a midnight Church service. After the Church service there are more fireworks to celebrate the start of Christmas.

One game that is often played at Posada parties is piñata. A piñata is a decorated clay or papier-mâché jar filled with sweets and hung from the ceiling or tree branch. The piñata is often decorated something like a ball with seven peaks around it. The peaks or spikes represent the 'seven deadly sins'. Piñata's can also be in the form of an animal or bird (such as a donkey). To play the game, children are blind-folded and take it in turns to hit the piñata with a stick until it splits open and the sweets pour out. Then the children rush to pick up as many sweets as they can!

Children in Oaxaca, Mexico celebrate Las Posadas by breaking a Piñata, via Wikimedia Commons

As well as the posada's, there is another type of Christmas play known as Pastorelas (The Shepherds). These tell the story of the shepherds going to find the baby Jesus and are often very funny. The devil tries to stop the shepherds by tempting them along the way. But the shepherds always get there in the end, often with the help of the Archangel Michael, who comes and beats the devil!

Nativity scenes, known as the 'nacimiento', are very popular in Mexico. They are often very large, with the figures being life size! Sometimes a whole room in a house is used for the nacimiento, although this is less common now. The figures are often made of clay and are traditionally passed down through families. As well as the normal figures of the Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds and Three Kings, there are often lots of other figures of different people, including women making tortillas, people selling food and different animals and birds, like flamingos! The figures can be bought from markets in cities all over Mexico. The baby Jesus is normally added to the scene during the evening of Christmas Eve. The Three Kings are added at Epiphany.

Christmas Trees are becoming more popular in Mexico, but the main/most important decoration is still the nacimiento.

Christmas Eve is known as 'Noche Buena' and is a family day. People often take part in the final Posada and then in the evening have the main Christmas meal. Popular dishes for the main Christmas meal include Pozole (a thick soup made with hominy, chicken or pork and chilies with is topped with greens), roast turkey, roast pork, tamales, bacalao (salt cod), romeritos (a green vegetable that's cooked in a mole sauce with potatoes and shrimps) and there are normally salads served as side dishes such as Ensalada Nochebuena (Christmas Eve salad). For dessert bunuelos are very popular, they are fried pastries sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon or a hot sugar syrup. Bunuelos come in two shapes flat and round/ball! To drink there might be Ponche (a warm Christmas punch made with fruit) and Rompope (a drink like egg nog which often has rum added to it!).

At midnight, many people go to a Midnight Mass service, known as the 'Misa de Gallo' (which means Mass of the Rooster as people are up early like Roosters!). There are lots of fireworks to celebrate Christmas Day.

Poinsettia flowers are known as 'nochebuena' (Christmas Eve) flowers in Mexico.

On the 23rd December, in the town plaza of Oaxaca City in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, there's 'Noche de Rábanos' (the Night of the Radishes). There are competitions, in different categories, for scenes made up of several carved radishes. The traditional category is for scenes of things like the nativity story, Oaxacan traditions and local wildlife like alligators. The free category has more modern themes like caricatures of politicians. There are different prizes for adults and children.

The radishes used for carving are grown especially for the Noche de Rábanos and they're extra large - often more than 50cm (nearly 20 inches) long and can weigh up to 3kg (6.5lbs). Over 10 tons of radishes are normally used during the festival! The radishes used often have red skin and white flesh, so that when carved, there's a bright difference between the two. They are harvested around the 18th December and carved ready for the 23rd.

The competition of Noche de Rábanos started in 1897. Oaxaca has a tradition of wood carving and farmers began to carve radishes into Christmas figures and table centrepieces to sell at the Christmas market held on the 23rd December.

One legend says the selling and carving of radishes at the Christmas market started in the mid 1700s when two monks brought some extra large radishes to the market. The major of Oaxaca City started the competition in 1897 as a way of attracting more people to the Christmas market.

Thousands of visitors now visit the market every year to see the carved radishes on Noche de Rábanos. The radishes start going brown after a few hours.

On Christmas Eve churches parade floats through the plaza (these don't have radishes on them!) and on Christmas Day there are fireworks and Christmas meals.

People in Mexico also celebrate 'los santos inocentes' or 'Day of the Innocent Saints' on December 28th and it's very like April Fools Day in the UK and USA. 28th December is when people remember the babies that were killed on the orders of King Herod when he was trying to kill the baby Jesus.

In some states in Mexico children expect Santa Claus to come on December 24th. In the south of Mexico children expect presents on January 6th at Epiphany, which is known as 'el Dia de los Reyes'.

On el Dia de los Reyes the presents are left by the Three Kings (or Magi). If you've had a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve, you might also get some candy on el Dia de los Reyes!

It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Reyes' (Three Kings Cake) on Epiphany. A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.

Another important day, is La Candelaria 'the Candles' or Virgen de la Candelaria 'Virgin of Lights or Candles' (this is also known as Candlemas in other countries around the world) on the 2nd February and it marks the end of the Mexican Christmas celebrations. Lots of Mexicans have a party for Candelaria.

In Mexico, presents might also be brought by 'El Niñito Dios' (baby Jesus) & Santo Clós (Santa Claus)

In Mexico most people speak Spanish (Español), so Happy/Merry Christmas is 'Feliz Navidad'. In the Nahuatl (spoken in some parts of central Mexico) it's 'Cualli netlācatilizpan' and in the Yucatec Maya language (spoken in some parts of the Yucatán Peninsula) it's 'Ki'imak "navidad"'. Happy/Merry Christmas in lots more languages.

The largest ever Angel Ornament was made in Mexico. It was made in January 2001 by Sergio Rodriguez in the town of Zozaya in the state of Nuevo León. The angel was 18' 3"" high and had wing span of 11' 9"! Perhaps the most amazing thing about the angel was that it was completely made out of old beer bottles, 2946 of them!

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How Christmas is celebrated in Mexico and lots of other countries around the world. Christmas food in Mexico.

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The Adoration of the Magi by Giotto [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on 6th January (or January 19th for some Orthodox Church who have Christmas on 7th January) and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus. The Bible doesn't say how many Wise Men there were or that they were kings. The number three comes from the three gifts the Wise Men / Magi brought with them.

Epiphany is also when some Churches remember when Jesus was Baptised, when he was about 30, and started to teach people about God. Epiphany means 'revelation' and both the visit of the Wise Men and his Baptism are important times when Jesus was 'revealed' to be very important.

Some Churches celebrate use Epiphany to celebrate and remember both the visit of the Wise Men and Jesus's Baptism! Epiphany is mainly celebrated by Catholics and Orthodox Christians.

In Orthodox churches, Epiphany is also known as 'The Feast of the Holy Theophany' and it is as important as Christmas. During the services to celebrate Epiphany, on the eve of the feast and on the feast day, water is blessed (some churches only bless water at one service). This is to remember Jesus's baptism. The blessed water is used in church services during the rest of the year. People are often baptised on the Feast of the Holy Theophany. After the service, the water is also used by a priest to bless the houses of people in the church. It can sometimes take days or even weeks for the priest to visit all the houses and bless them.

In Spain, Epiphany is an important festival, where it's also known as 'The festival of the three Magic Kings' - 'Fiesta de Los tres Reyes Mages', and is when Spanish and some other Catholic children receive their presents - as they are delivered by the Three Kings!

In Spain on Epiphany morning you might go to the local bakers and buy a special cake/pastry called a 'Roscón' (meaning a ring shaped roll). They are normally filled with cream or chocolate and are decorated with a paper crown.

There is normally a figure of a king (if you find that you can wear the crown) and a dried bean (if you find that you're meant to pay for the cake!). In Catalonia it's known as a Tortell or Gâteau des Rois and is stuffed with marzipan.

A Tortell Pastry from the Catalan region

In France you might eat a 'Galette des Rois', a type of flat almond cake. It has a toy crown cooked inside it and is decorated on top with a gold paper crown.

There are similar traditions in Mexico where Epiphany is known as 'El Dia de los Reyes' (the day of The Three Kings). It's traditional to eat a special cake called 'Rosca de Reyes' (Three Kings Cake). A figure of Baby Jesus is hidden inside the cake. Whoever has the baby Jesus in their piece of cake is the 'Godparent' of Jesus for that year.

In Portugal, people take part in Epiphany carol singing known as the 'Janeiras' (January songs). On the Island of Maderia they're known as the 'Cantar os Reis' (singing the kings).

In Italy, some children also get their presents on Epiphany. But they believe that an old lady called 'Befana' brings them. Children put stockings up by the fireplace for Befana to fill.

In Austria, at Epiphany, some people write a special sign in chalk over their front door. It's a reminder of the Wise Men that visited the baby Jesus. It's made from the year split in two with initials of the names that are sometimes given to 'the three wise men', Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar, in the middle. So 2023 would be: 20*C*M*B*23. The sign is meant to protect the house for the coming year. Some parts of Germany also have the tradition of marking over doors. The 'Four Hills' Ski Jumping Tournament also finishes on 6th January in Bischofshofen, Austria.

At Epiphany in Belgium, children dress up as the three wise men and go from door to door to sing songs and people give them money or sweets, kind of like Trick or Treating on Halloween. Children in Poland also go out singing on Epiphany.

In Ireland, Epiphany is also sometimes called 'Nollaig na mBean' or Women's Christmas. Traditionally the women get the day off and men do the housework and cooking! It is becoming more popular and many Irish women now get together on the Sunday nearest Epiphany and have tea and cakes!

In the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (which celebrates Christmas on 7th January), twelve days after Christmas, on 19th January, the three day celebration of Ethiopians Timkat starts. This celebrates Jesus's baptism.

In New Orleans, Louisiana, in the USA, on Epiphany/King's Day, the Christmas Tree is either take down or the ornaments are replaced with Purple, Gold and Green ones and it's then called a 'Mardi Gras Tree'! People also like to eat 'King Cake' (a cinnamon pastry with sugar on the top and sometimes filled with cream cheese or jelly/jam). The King Cake will have a little baby plastic doll inside (which represents Jesus); whoever gets the piece with the baby has to supply the next King Cake! Some people have "King Cake Party" every Friday before Lent (the time before Easter).

Epiphany Eve (also known as Twelfth Night) marks the end of the traditional Christmas celebrations and is the time when you were meant to take Christmas decorations down. During the Elizabethan era people often left greenery up until Candlemas (this is still done by some people and in some countries).

There is also a custom that when you receive your first Christmas card with the Three Kings on it, you put it over the front door (on the inside) and will bring you good luck for the following year. Several visitors to the site from Ireland or from Irish heritage in the USA have reported doing this, as well as a Russian visitor to the site! It could also be related to 'chalk' marks for Epiphany put on doors in parts of Austria and Germany.

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Epiphany, the Feast of The Wise Men on whychristmas?com

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Epiphany is celebrated 12 days after Christmas on 6th January (or January 19th for some Orthodox Church who have Christmas on 7th January) and is the time when Christians remember the Wise Men (also sometimes called the Three Kings) who visited Jesus. The Bible doesn't say how many Wise Men there were or that they were kings.

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Epiphany - a celebration of the three kings | Articles | CBC Kids

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Holidays 101

November 15, 2022

Epiphany is a Christian holiday typically celebrated on January 6. It is also known as Three Kings' Day, Twelfth Day and Little Christmas.

For some Christians, the feast celebrates the visit of the three kings. They are also known as the Magi or the Wise Men.

According to the Gospel of Matthew, the three men "from the east" followed a star across the desert. It led them to Bethlehem to meet the Baby Jesus. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense (resin used in perfumes) and myrrh (tree gum).

For other Christians, Epiphany is a celebration of the baptism of Jesus.

For many, it is a celebration of both, as epiphany means "revelation." Both the visit of the Wise Men and his baptism "revealed" Jesus to be very important.

How is it celebrated?

Epiphany is celebrated all around the world. It is celebrated in many different ways by Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians.

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Epiphany - a celebration of the three kings | Articles | CBC Kids

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Holidays 101 November 15, 2022 Epiphany is a Christian holiday typically celebrated on January 6. It is also known as Three Kings' Day, Twelfth Day and Little Christmas. For some Christians, the feast celebrates the visit of the three kings. They are also known as the Magi or the Wise Men.

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It's that special time of year. Let's spread holiday cheer!

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What do you look forward to when the holidays ? If you're like most kids, you the thought of a couple of weeks of from school.

You might also look forward to receiving some cool presents. If you celebrate Christmas, then you know the date you'll get to open your Christmas gifts: December 25.

If you're Jewish, though, you might need to double-check the calendar to figure out exactly when Hanukkah begins this year. Why? Does Hanukkah change dates every year? Well, the answer is yes...and no!

Hanukkah is sometimes spelled Hanuka, Chanukah, or one of several other variations. This is because it's a Hebrew word (meaning "dedication"), and the symbols of the Hebrew language represent sounds rather than specific letters. Thus, they can be transliterated a number of different ways into English and mean the same thing (since they all sound the same).

Hanukkah, also known as the Jewish Festival of Lights, celebrates the rededication in 165 B.C. of the second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The celebration lasts for eight days.

Hanukkah usually begins sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The exact date changes from year to year...sort of. In reality, Hanukkah always begins on the 25 th day of Kislev, which is the ninth month on the Jewish calendar.

The Jewish calendar is a calendar, which means it's based upon the cycles of the Moon. The modern calendar most people around the world use (known as the Gregorian calendar), is a calendar, which means it's based upon Earth's revolution around the Sun.

There are about twelve and a half months in a calendar year. To make sure that months always occur in the same seasons, the Jewish calendar incorporates a leap month every few years.

Since the Jewish and Gregorian calendars are based upon different cycles, set dates on one calendar to different dates on the other calendar each year. Although Hanukkah always begins on the 25 th day of Kislev, that date can fall anywhere between late November and late December on the Gregorian calendar.

So that's why Hanukkah always changes dates every year on the Gregorian calendar...while always being on the same date every year on the Jewish calendar!

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Why Does Hanukkah Change Dates Every Year?

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What do you look forward to when the holidays ? If you're like most kids, you the thought of a couple of weeks of from school. You might also look forward to receiving some cool presents. If you celebrate Christmas, then you know the date you'll get to open your Christmas gifts: December 25.

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Wonderopolis

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If you could be any mythical creature, what would you be? A leprechaun leaping through green fields? Or how about a proud unicorn galloping through a dense forest?

If you want to be a fierce flier, you might choose to be a . Who wouldn't want to breathe fire and fly through the skies, claiming all the territory below as your own?

When you hear the word , what comes to mind? Breathing fire? skin? Huge wings? How about awesome dancer? If you're like most people, you probably don't associate dragons with dancing, but that's exactly what many people in China think of!

In Chinese culture, dragons are important symbols of a variety of concepts, from heavenly guardians to water spirits. For example, two different types of dragons commonly associated with Chinese culture are the Spirit , which controls the rains and winds, and the Earth , which controls the rivers.

To celebrate the importance of the of dragons in Chinese culture, the was invented as a form of traditional performed at public celebrations, such as parades. The is also often performed during the holiday of Chinese New Year.

The requires a team of coordinated dancers. A long, figure composed of many different pieces is manipulated using poles positioned along the length of the figure.

A traditional consists of a head piece, a piece, and several pieces that make up the length of the body. Although early dragons were made with metal and wood, today's dragons are more often made with lightweight paper, plastic, and .

Many dancers can participate in the , because dragons can be quite long. Although dragons can be made to be any size, many dragons used for large festivities can be 200 feet or longer!

Using poles to manipulate their particular piece of the 's body, dancers create the illusion that the is moving. Since the is often viewed as a river spirit, dancers often seek to mimic the smooth, flowing movement of a river. Other popular patterns have interesting names, such as , cloud cave, threading the money, and looking for pearl.

It takes an impressive combination of and by a large group of people to execute a successful . Hours and hours of practice are necessary. Some people believe a team is like a combination of a professional sports team and a professional performing arts group.

Historians believe the may have originated over 2,000 years ago during the Han . Over time, different regions of China developed their own unique versions of the . Today, there may be over 700 different types of dances across China!

Exactly what type of an area may create for a festivity will depend on the number of people and amount of available resources. Longer dragons require more people and can be quite expensive to produce.

Dragons also come in a variety of colors, each of which can be a symbol of a particular desire. Popular colors include green (a great ), yellow (a mighty empire), gold or silver ( prosperity ), and red (excitement).

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If you could be any mythical creature, what would you be? A leprechaun leaping through green fields? Or how about a proud unicorn galloping through a dense forest? If you want to be a fierce flier, you might choose to be a .

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Alexis . Alexis Wonders, " Why do we say Merry Christmas? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Alexis !

Christmas...and a Happy New Year! Those are words that you will likely hear many times during the holiday season. But have you ever stopped to WONDER why those are the words you hear?

Why don't people wish you a Festive Christmas? And a New Year? In fact, why is Christmas when no other occasion seems to be? After all, you probably don't wish people a Birthday very often. You probably also don't hear many Hanukkahs or Ramadans either! What's the deal?

Historians and linguists can't for sure exactly why we to use Christmas. The greeting dates back to at least 1534 in London, when it was written in a letter sent to Henry VIII's chief minister Thomas Cromwell from bishop John Fisher. Scholars also note the phrase was used in the 16th century English "We Wish You a Christmas."

Christmas certainly picked up in 1843 with the publication of Charles Dickens' . That same year the phrase also appeared on the first commercially -sold Christmas card.

Despite its prevalence in the United States and its historical underpinnings , Christmas never gained universal support. For example, Clement C. Moore's The Night Before Christmas ends with the words, "A Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night." Each year, Queen Elizabeth also wishes British citizens a Happy Christmas in her .

In fact, Happy Christmas tends to be the phrase for a significant minority of Great Britain. Why might this be? It could be the queen's influence. A rumor has circulated that Queen Elizabeth prefers happy to , because the word , to her, carries with it a of boisterousness and even intoxication .

A linguistic comparison of happy and lends support to this theory. Early church leaders in Great Britain may have encouraged Christian followers to be happy rather than engage in merrymaking! In this , Happy Christmas is a bit more conservative and reserved than Christmas, which conveys a more emotional, unrestrained celebration.

No one knows for sure why Christmas became the more popular greeting in the United States. Some Christians believe it is a more fitting greeting, given the unrestrained and emotional response followers should have to a celebration of the birth of their Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Alexis . Alexis Wonders, " Why do we say Merry Christmas? " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Alexis ! Christmas...and a Happy New Year! Those are words that you will likely hear many times during the holiday season.

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Learn about a special holiday tradition in today's Wonder of the Day!

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Family. Feasts. Gifts. Black, red, and green candles. If you're unsure what we're talking about, then you're in for a treat. Why? Because today's Wonder of the Day is all about Kwanzaa!

What is Kwanzaa? This holiday started in 1966 with Dr. Maulana Karenga. He created the celebration as a way for Black Americans to celebrate their shared African heritage. Dr. Karenga also hoped Kwanzaa would be a way for people of African ancestry to as a community.

Does your family celebrate Kwanzaa? If so, you already know it's a fun and special time of year. Beginning on December 26, friends and families gather to light the kinara.

The kinara is a special candle holder. It holds one black, three red, and three green candles. They represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa. After lighting each candle, families spend time discussing the principle and how it can make a difference in their lives.

What are the seven principles of Kwanzaa? They include:

After lighting each candle, families take part in various traditions. Many read or poems or quotes from well-known members of the Black community. Plenty of families also sing, dance, and drum as part of their celebration. And, of course, they feast together.

The name Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza." In English, this means "first fruits" or "first harvest." As you might expect from this meaning, fruit and other have a special place in the celebration.

Many families place fruits, vegetables, and nuts on a special mat called the mkeka. Corn is also part of many celebrations. It represents children as hope for the future of the family. Often, an ear of corn is added to the mkeka for each child at the Kwanzaa celebration.

Of course, no Kwanzaa is complete without time to honor a family's ancestors. Many people do so on the sixth night with the tradition of the cup. Each member of the family takes a drink from the same cup as a way to represent and remembrance .

Some families eat a special meal each night of Kwanzaa. However, the largest feast takes place on the final evening of January 1. Called karamu, it is also often followed by gift giving. Family members each other with presents as a final way to observe the Kwanzaa tradition. Often, these gifts are handmade. They may also be educational or related to arts, culture, and heritage.

Do you observe Kwanzaa? If so, what is your favorite part of the celebration? If not, do you see any similarities between Kwanzaa and one of your family traditions?

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Family. Feasts. Gifts. Black, red, and green candles. If you're unsure what we're talking about, then you're in for a treat. Why? Because today's Wonder of the Day is all about Kwanzaa! What is Kwanzaa? This holiday started in 1966 with Dr. Maulana Karenga.

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"Merry Christmas" in different languages

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"Merry Christmas" in different languages

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How to say Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas In Different Languages on whychristmas?com

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How to say Merry Christmas or Happy Christmas in different languages. How Merry Christmas is said around the world!