The OCtech Library Blog

The Holiday Season is Coming!

The holiday season is coming up and to celebrate I wanted to highlight some of the holidays coming up and give some information on them.

• November 23 - Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving is traditionally held on the fourth Thursday of November, which falls on November 23 this year. November 23 also just happens to be Eat a Cranberry day!
• December 8 - Immaculate Conception Day & Rohatsu (Bodhi Day) - Immaculate Conception Day celebrates the sinless conception of Mary, celebrated by Catholics. Bodhi Day celebrates the day that the historical Buddha experienced enlightenment, celebrated by Buddhists. 
• December 12 - Feast of Our Lady Guadalupe - This holiday, important in Mexico, celebrates the appearance of Mary to the Mexican peasant Juan Diego in 1531.
• December 7-15 - Hanukkah -  Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrating the Jewish victory against the Macabees in which they reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it. They only had enough oil to light the temple for one day, but it lasted eight days, which is why Hanukkah lasts eight days.
• December 21-January 1 - Yule - Celebrated mainly by neo-pagans, Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals. 
• December 25 - Christmas - A holiday celebrated by Christians to celebrate the birth of Christ.
• December 26 - Boxing Day - Mostly celebrated in Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, Boxing Day originated as a holiday to present gifts to servants, tradespeople, and the poor. Now it is more associated with shopping and sporting events.
• December 26 - January 1 - Kwanzaa - An African American and Pan-African holiday that celebrates history, values, family, community, and culture. 
• December 31 - New Years Eve - The last day of the year/the day before the new year.