Happy Holidays.

[Endless]

Well, Happy Hannukah, the festival of lights!

I want to make sure I include everybody.

For our Jewish friends, Happy Hannukah! (Dec 2-9)
Hannukah marks the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem (Second Temple) after its desecration by the forces of the King of Syria Antiochus IV Epiphanes and commemorates the "miracle of the container of oil." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannukah

And our African American friends, happy Kwanzaa! (Dec 26-Jan1)
A weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring universal African heritage and culture, including Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), Imani (Faith)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

And for our Christian friends, merry Christmas! (Dec 25)
A celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

For our Latino Christian friends, happy Feast day - Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dec 12)
The Virgin of Guadalupe is a Catholic image of the Virgin Mary that miraculously on the cloak of a simple peasant named Juan Diego, on the hill of Tepeyac near Mexico City on December 12, 1531. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe

And for our Hindu friends, a joyful Pancha Ganapati! (Dec 21-25)
A Hindu festival in celebration of Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture. It is an important festival for new beginnings and mending of all past mistakes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancha_Ganapati

For our Buddhist friends, a peaceful Rohatsu (Bodhi Day, Rohatsu), Dec 8
the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that Gautauma Buddha reached enlightenment, or Nirvana. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhi_Day

For our Wicca friends, happy Yule/Solstice (Dec 21)
(Commemorates the rebirth of the Great horned hunter god who is viewed as the newborn solstice sun. The celebration includes the burning of a yule log decorated with holly and other items) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule#Wicca

And for our Muslim friends, peace be with you on Al-Hijira (Dec 7), and Ashura (Dec 16)
Al-Hijira is the Islamic New Year. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-hijra
Ashura is a day of mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Ashura

Zoroastrian friends - thoughts are with you on your holiday commemorating the Death of Prophet Zarathushtra (Dec 26th)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zartosht_No-Diso

And for our Baha'i friends, well, no holidays in December, but a belated greeting for your november holidays - Birth of Bahá'u'lláh (Nov 12), Day of the Covenant (Nov 26), Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Nov 28
Bahá'u'lláh's Birthday - A celebration of the birth of the founder of the Baha'i faith http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_of_Bahá'u'lláh
The day of the covenant celebrates the appointment of `Abdu'l-Bahá as the Centre of Baha'u'llah's Covenant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Covenant_(Bahá'í)
The Ascension of Abdu'l-Baha http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/`Abdu'l-Bahá

We also missed the holidays this year for our Rastifarian friends. The last Rasta holiday was on November 2nd - Emperor Haile Selassie I's Coronation (former emperor of Ethiopia). I think many of our members here would want to come down and celebrate with them, given the Rastifarian traditions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rastafarian

If I missed anyone, please pardon my omission, and please let us know about your holiday. We're all about inclusion here.

 

[ColmanMac]

Nollaig Shona Duit, Endless

Col.

 

[huskymom]

I think that I will print this list and show my boss! Who knew there were so many holidays celebrated at this time of year. Do you think that I can get time off for each one??

 

[ColmanMac]

Go for it, Huskymom - If you don't ask, you don't get!
Col.