13 January 2013
HOLIDAYS: Poly students celebrate the winter holiday season with unique traditions and customs.
By Kira Roybal, Staff writer
The Christmas season is rolling in again, so it is time to take out those cookbooks and whip up a batch of picture-perfect holiday galore. Let’s start with the ingredients for a great American Hollywood Christmas: take two cups of tinsel, a heap of The Miracle on 34th Street charm and a double-dose of Santa Claus, mix it all together and you’ve got the perfect serving of holiday delight.
Sure this is how it works in the movies, but not everyone is the star of a heart-warming Christmas TV special. The spirit of the winter season extends beyond the realm of Santa Claus and pumpkin pie.
In Russia, where I am from, there is a Christmas celebration at the Moscow Kremlin, the seat of the Russian government. Talented and bright students from all over the country and even from foreign nations are invited to partake in a Christmas tree-lighting event. When the lights on the tree are off, the children yell: “Christmas tree light up! Christmas tree light up!” Once the tree lights up, the children then chant: “Ded Moroz! Ded Moroz!” Imagine the horror on American children’s faces when they hear that some “dead more-oze” is supposed to walk in at any moment. Actually, Ded Moroz means Grandfather Frost; he, like Santa Claus, and his granddaughter Snegurochka bring presents for the children. Holiday traditions may not be the same for all nations and cultures, but the differences, and our understanding of these differences, contribute to our global heritage and history.
There are many ways to celebrate the winter season and Christmas is not the only holiday in town. Jaya Mistry (11) explained that her family celebrates the Indian festival of Diwali, a new year’s celebration. This cultural holiday, also known as the festival of lights, honors the Hindu god Rama’s return home after defeating the demons. Families light candles in small decorative pots known as diyas and then disperse them all around the house. They also adorn their homes with rangoli, decorative designs made of colorful powder, which are shaped into various styles by hand.
Diwali may seem foreign to many Americans, but it is actually quite similar to our New Years’ celebration. “Families make a lot of Indian sweets, light firecrackers and visit each other […],” Mistry said. The festival is a time for families to express their optimism for a successful and prosperous new year.
Millions of people celebrate Diwali each year, but there are also thousands of people who observe a holiday that is not an official holiday. Sammy Hershkowitz (11) celebrates Festivus, a nondenominational holiday that takes place on December 23 and was popularized by the television show Seinfeld. Though this holiday is not as historic as the rest of them, it still has a set of traditions. First and foremost, there is a Festivus Pole, which is simply an aluminum pole; it is more durable and easier to handle than a Christmas tree. One of the main events of Festivus is the feast. Hershkowitz said that he and few of his friends usually eat something simple, like sandwiches, for this occasion.
Other activities include the Airing of Grievances, in which one shares the disappointments they have faced throughout the year, and the Feats of Strength, which ends the holiday with a wrestling match. Hershkowitz also explained that there is no gift exchange involved. “[Festivus] support[s] the true meaning of the holidays,” he said.
The winter season is not just about feasting and celebrating the upcoming year; it is also about extending a helping hand outside of one’s family circle and embracing goodwill. Linda Murillo (11) spends part of her holiday season with the Youth Advisory Council, a program dedicated to empowering and connecting the lives of Riverside county youths.
“When I joined Youth Advisory Council, I had no idea what I was in for,” Murillo said in reference to the program’s hectic schedule. During December, she was swamped with volunteering duties. On December 8, Murillo participated in a Breakfast with Santa in Mead Valley, Perris. She dressed up as Santa Claus and played “reindeer games” with the children at the event. Murillo said that one little boy was even following her around. On December 15, she participated in a similar Breakfast with Santa event at the Good Hope Community Center in Perris. On December 22, Murillo will also volunteer at the Winter Wonderland event in Temescal Valley. This is a free event which includes an ice-skating rink, gift shops, a food court and real snow.
“[…] I know I made the right choice. Volunteering is something I love to do!” Murillo said.
The winter season is celebrated in a variety of ways. From centuries-old traditions to contemporary customs and from family gatherings to community services, the entire month of December may as well be considered a global holiday.