Cultural Crossroads: Exploring The Diverse Traditions Of Holiday Celebrations

Author: Angelina Buckingham

Different cultural holiday winter traditions. Discover how Mexican, Jewish, and Greeks celebrate the holidays during the winter time.

Mexican holiday traditions are a beautiful mix of religious observances, cultural celebrations, and family gatherings. The Mexican holiday winter season is a month-long celebration, beginning in early December and continuing into January. Las posadas are a significant part of Mexican Christmas traditions that take place from December 16th to December 24th. It symbolizes the story of Mary and Joseph's journey to find lodging in Bethlehem. Las posadas are celebrated by some participants going house to house singing and asking for lodging, reenacting Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem. After the group is finally welcome into a designated home for a party that has food, drinks and a pinata filled with treats.  The main celebration is on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). It is celebrated with family gatherings and a festive dinner, traditional dishes and drinks include Tamales, Pozole, Ponche, Champurrado and more. Family gatherings often have games that are played like loteria. Afterwards, most people attend Misa de Gallo, which is a midnight mass. And lastly, gifts are opened at midnight. One last celebration is Dia de Reyes on January 6th. The tradition involves eating  Rosca de Ryes, which is a sweet, ring-shaped bread with a small figurine of baby Jesus inside the bread. And the person who finds the figurine is responsible for hosting a party with tamales and atole on Candlemas Day, February 2nd. 

During the winter months, Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah. This holiday celebrates the rededication of the second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days instead of one. Hanukkah traditions include lighting a menorah each night for eight days, reciting blessings, and often playing traditional games like dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with Hebrew symbols. It's a time for family gatherings, exchanging gifts, and enjoying special foods such as latkes and sufganiyot. Hanukkah is a vibrant and meaningful celebration that reinforces Jewish identity, commemorates historical resilience and brings light and joy to homes and communities. 

In Greece the winter holidays are a blend of religious observance and festive traditions. The Christmas season officially begins on December 6th, Saint Nicholas Day, with families preparing for the main celebration December 25th Christmas day. Homes are adorned with "Christopsomo", which is a special Christmas bread, and a shallow wooden bowl with a wire across the top holding a basil-wrapped cross, which is meant to bless the home. The wooden bowl is a traditional symbol of the festive season in Greece. On Christmas Eve children go door-to-door to sing carols also known as Kalanda, after which children often receive sweets or money. On Christmas day Greeks celebrate by gathering together and having a large feast. The meal often includes roasted pork or turkey, with vegetables and traditional greek christmas bread Christopsomo. The meal is followed by traditional desserts like Kourabiedes which are almond cookies and Melomakarona (honey-soaked cookies). Most of the time  after the main meal, younger family members may go out with friends to bars and clubs. Instead of exchanging gifts on Christmas day, Greeks exchange gifts on New Years. New Year's day, also known as Saint Basil's Day in Greece, is also significant. On that day people bake “Vasilopita”, which is a sweet bread or cake that contains a hidden coin that brings luck to the person. The person who finds the coin is believed to receive good luck for the upcoming year. 

The diverse winter holiday traditions of Mexican, Jewish, and Greek cultures highlight the beautiful different ways communities find light, joy, and connection during the winter season, each having a unique special way to celebrate the holidays.