Mix and Mingle: A Holiday Tradition Exchange

KnoPro will be taking a holiday break! We’ll return with brand-new Skillbuilders to kick off the new year on January 6th. We hope you have a wonderful holiday season and can’t wait to see you in 2025!

The holiday season is celebrated in many ways across the globe, with each culture adding its unique flavor through traditions, food, and activities. While Christmas is prominent in some countries, other holidays bring joy during this time of year, such as:

Hanukkah (Judaism): An 8-day celebration marked by lighting the menorah, playing dreidel, and enjoying traditional foods like latkes and sufganiyot.

Kwanzaa (African-American Culture): A week-long holiday focusing on community, family, and African heritage, with principles like unity and creativity celebrated daily.

Diwali (Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism): The festival of lights, observed by decorating homes with lamps and candles, symbolizes the victory of light over darkness. While often earlier, its spirit of togetherness carries into the season.

Las Posadas (Mexico): A reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, celebrated with parades, songs, and feasts.

Chinese New Year (Chinese Culture): Although in January or February, its festive spirit includes family reunions, special meals, and cultural performances.

Christmas Variations: Some countries celebrate differently, like Japan’s tradition of eating KFC or Iceland’s "Yule Lads" bringing gifts each night of the 13 days before Christmas.

Your Task:
Pair Up or Form Groups: Partner with a classmate or small group and share one of your family’s favorite holiday traditions. Describe what you do, why it’s meaningful, and any special history behind it.

Choose a Tradition: Pick one tradition shared by someone else that you find fun, exciting, or interesting.

Write a short description of the tradition, including:
- Its background or meaning.
- Why it’s special to the person who shared it.
- How you could incorporate it into your own holiday season with your family and friends.