As winter break approaches, MHS students are preparing for two widely celebrated holidays: Christmas and Hanukkah. Despite their fundamental religious differences, both holidays share universal themes of family, togetherness, and tradition.
Around the globe, people incorporate local customs into their celebrations, creating unique experiences while embracing the essence of the season. These traditions are reflected in the diverse heritage of the MHS faculty and student body.
In South America, Christmas is a lively and festive occasion. In Brazil, for example, the majority of celebrations occur on Christmas Eve, with families gathering for a grand dinner and exchanging gifts.
“In my culture, Christmas means spending quality time with family and friends,” says Clara Selber (’27). A unique Brazilian tradition involves placing socks by the window for Santa to fill with gifts instead of hanging stockings on the mantle.
Similarly, in Colombia, families celebrate with a late-night feast featuring traditional foods such as buñuelos (fried cheesy bites) and natilla (a creamy pudding). Camila River Duran (‘26) expands on this noting how “on Christmas Eve, we dance and celebrate until midnight, when we open presents.”
In Asia, Christmas is less widely observed due to the region’s predominant religions, including Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. However, the influence of Western culture has introduced a festive atmosphere in urban areas.
In China, Christmas is more about the spirit than the religious observance. “Christmas is refreshing for children—they get excited even if they don’t celebrate or receive gifts because the energy is so joyful,” says Chinese teacher Yuan Zhao. In an increasingly interconnected world, Chinese shopping malls are adorned with lights and Christmas trees throughout the month of December.
Given Europe’s deep history with and connection to Roman Catholicism, Christmas traditions are deeply rooted in religious and culinary customs throughout the continent.
In France, for example, holiday feasts feature delicacies like oysters, shrimp, foie gras, and the iconic yule log cake. “Dinner unites family and friends, making it an essential part of Noël,” explains MHS French teacher Audrey Perrin. Midnight Mass (Messe de Minuit), commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, is another central tradition.
In the Netherlands, the holiday season kicks off with Sinterklaas, celebrated in early December to honor Saint Nicholas. Noortje Havinga (’28) shares that “children put their shoes out, and Sinterklaas’ helpers leave candy in them” on December 24. Additionally festivities include parades, lights, and neighborhood gatherings, emphasizing joy and community.
Hanukkah, the Jewish Holiday which celebrates the miracle of one day of oil burning for eight days in the rededicated Holy Temple, is observed by approximately 7.5 million people in the U.S. and 15.8 million worldwide.
Many Jewish families embrace this tradition through nightly menorah lighting, prayers, and festive meals. “Every night, we light the menorah, say the prayers, and exchange small gifts,” shared MHS English teacher Julie Miller. Traditional foods such as latkes and jelly doughnuts, fried in oil, commemorate the miracle, while chocolate coins and the dreidel game add an element of fun for children.
Hanukkah centers on family and resilience, reflecting the values of unity and hope. Though smaller in scale than Christmas, it holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Jewish community.
Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-African holiday that spans from December 26th to January 1st each year. It celebrates history, values, family, community, and culture. The holiday was created by activist Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions from various parts of West, East, as well as Southeast Africa.
The meaning behind Kwanzaa is expressed in the Swahili language, one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa. The seven principles which form its core were drawn from communitarian values found throughout the African continent which are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith (Smithsonian). The holiday culminates in a communal feast called Karamu, usually on the sixth day.
Ella Bolger (’25) celebrates Kwanzaa each year with her family. Her favorite part of the holiday is the nightly candle lighting with her parents and the “stories [her] mom shares from her childhood in the Congo.”
Maya Okochu (’25) views the holiday as a time to connect with family as she “celebrates with her aunt every year” and appreciates the opportunity it provides to reflect on her heritage.
Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year, falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and is celebrated across secular communities. The holiday is observed by feasting upon foods associated with the winter harvest.
The holiday has been celebrated since ancient times and is often considered the “return of the sun.” Holidays including Christmas and Hanukkah are influenced by the Winter Solstice. Various cultures celebrate the holidays in different ways.
Tyler Prozes (’25) celebrates the solstice each year with his immediate family. On December 21st, his dinner table is lined with winter produce like “butternut squash and beets.” While Prozes, a unitarian universalist and also celebrates Christmas, he appreciates Winter Solstice as a time “to acknowledge the importance of science as a meta-presence and reflect on [his] personal life.”
Regardless of what you celebrate, the holidays at MHS highlight the richness of global customs and the shared emphasis on family and togetherness, uniting people across cultures in their shared joy and gratitude.
