CapU students share how their families celebrate the holiday season
Ayla Maxwell (she/her) // Contributor
Alina Sandu (she/her) // Illustrator
At Capilano University, the student body is made up of a wide variety of cultures from around the world, but how do these different cultures celebrate the winter holidays?
While Christmas is one of the most popular holidays during the winter season, there are a variety of ways to celebrate the holidays. Lena Oppler, a student from Germany, shares her family’s traditions. Where she’s from, they celebrate from the 24 to the 26 of December. Although this is a three-day tradition, Oppler says that the 24, “is the night where children get presents from the, we call it, ‘Christkind.’” Oppler’s family also celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ on the 25 and 26. They make lots of food for this holiday, including Plätzchen — which are small cookies — along with roast goose and potato dumplings, says Oppler.
Maria Coura added that her family, from Brazil, puts up a Christmas tree, lights, and a nativity scene. Veronica Fiamma Crepaz, an Italian/German student, says that after dinner her family walks around the city and then watches Christmas movies together.
In addition, many students at CapU celebrate Hanukkah, which takes place from December 7 to 15 this year. The eight day Jewish celebration is marked by the exchange of gifts, playing of games, and lots of cooking. One very important part of the Hanukkah celebration is the lighting of a menorah, a candlestick holder. One candle on the menorah is lit every day for each of the eight days.
Another important holiday to note is Kwanzaa. This holiday, originally started in California in the 1960s, takes place from December 16 to January 1 and consists of the lighting of a kinara — which is similar to a menorah but with seven candles — and ends with a feast, called a karamu. It is important to note that this holiday is not affiliated with any religion, rather it is a tradition created in celebration of African-American culture and is designed to bring communities together.
Pongal is another winter holiday, celebrated in South India and around the world by the Tamil community. Pongal is a Hindu harvest festival which celebrates the end of the winter solstice. This three-day holiday is celebrated this year from January 15 to 18. Some common traditions surrounding the Pongal festival include cleaning house and preparing dishes like Sweet Pongal, made of rice, lentils and ghee; and Venn Pongal, a more savoury dish made of rice, ghee and spices.
Lastly, some students at CapU celebrate the winter solstice. Each year, the winter solstice falls on December 21, the shortest day of the year. While this holiday is commonly associated with paganism, it can be celebrated by anyone. During the solstice, it is normal to eat squash, potatoes, and meat. Brian Reid, a student from Cumberland, B.C., says that they celebrate the solstice by lighting a candle or a fire and inviting the ancestors that came before them to come to this event. Reid then says that he presents an “offering of food to both the gods I worship and to my ancestors before burning a piece of paper which I’ve written down a goal or resolution on for the new year.” Reid also notes that he decorates with a Christmas tree, a Yule log, and wreaths put around their house. It is also important to note that every person that celebrates the solstice does it differently and that there is no ‘right’ way to celebrate.
By learning about these winter traditions, one will have better insight into the lives of their peers and help to foster an inclusive, diverse community at CapU.