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As we bring 2021 to a close, we recognize and celebrate the cultural and religious holidays and celebrations that come at the end of December and start us off in the new year. Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa have several commonalities that we can observe and celebrate, such as faith, culture, gathering with loved ones, and the sharing of food.

For centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ, the winter solstice was the focus of celebrations. This was a time that many people throughout Europe celebrated the end of winter and the beginning of longer days. This time coincided with the time that cattle were slaughtered and fermented drink was ready for consumption, so the winter solstice was a time for feasting. To  worldwide, the winter solstice has been observed for millennia and is a time to celebrate the natural world and the interconnectedness of all things. It is a time of self-care and care for loved ones and family. Many indigenous people continue to mark the solstice with storytelling and ceremony.

 was not a Christian holiday in the early years of Christianity. It wasn鈥檛 until the fourth century that Pope Julius I chose December 25 as a church holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Because it occurred around the same time as the winter solstice, the celebrations continued in much the same way with food and drink. This also became the time of year when the wealthy could 鈥榬epay their real or imagined 鈥渄ebt鈥� to society by entertaining less fortunate citizens. Christmas was not celebrated by all in early America and was  from 1659 to 1681. Eventually, Christmas was declared a federal holiday in America on June 26, 1870.

Although a much more recent holiday,  was created in 1966 to bring African Americans and the black community together to honor the traditions of the African culture. Originating from a Swahili phrase meaning 鈥楩irst Fruits,鈥� Kwanzaa is often celebrated with music, friends and family, and traditional foods. Kwanzaa is celebrated for seven days. Each day is defined by one of : unity, self-determination, collective work & responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. A celebration of family and community, Kwanzaa is an opportunity to reaffirm commitment and responsibility to each other.

It is clear to see that however one chooses to celebrate or believe, the concept of working together as a community to support and build each other up has long been the foundation of many observances. Celebrating and honoring our world and the bounty available to sustain all living creatures is a powerful concept that allows us to continue building and strengthening our communities and give thanks for our blessings.

Take Action:

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•  鈥� December 18, 2021
•  鈥� December 26 鈥� January 1
•  鈥� December 24, 2021
• Attach the Winter Celebrations design elements to your email signature and/or use it in your social media

For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the following resources are available:鈥�DEI Education and Resources,鈥�鈥�from the鈥�麻豆传媒 Libraries, the鈥�鈥�from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the鈥�UNITE workshops鈥�for faculty, staff, and students.鈥�鈥�