By Michelle Pepino, Library Aide, Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library

Winter is the perfect time to learn about different holidays around the world, and there’s an abundance of them! Being culturally aware of the global holidays helps children understand that this time of the year is not so much about gift-giving, but rather about traditions, history and cultural values.

Living in such a diverse area, our children often meet others from different cultural backgrounds. Educating kids about the various holidays widens their perspectives, helping them better understand their new friends and promoting the importance of inclusivity. Check out a few of the many winter holidays celebrated by different cultures.

Bodhi Day

Celebrated by Buddhists around the world through meditating and reflecting on their place in the world, Bodhi Day honors the day Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment after meditating under a Bodhi tree for 49 days and became Buddha. Most observers celebrate the holiday on Dec. 8, according to the website Learn Religions.

Diwali

Also known as Dipawali, this “festival of lights” is celebrated throughout India, Singapore and several South Asian countries for five days. Diwali is India’s biggest holiday, according to an article by National Geographic Kids, and celebrates the victory of good over evil. When Diwali is celebrated changes yearly, but it usually occurs in October or November.

Kwanzaa

Celebrated every year from Dec. 26 through Jan. 1, Kwanzaa is a week of festivities honoring African American culture and heritage. Friends and family gather each day to give thanks, exchange gifts and share feasts. Created in 1966, National Geographic Kids states, “the holiday honors African American people and their struggles in the United States, their heritage, and their culture.”

Simbang Gabi

One of the oldest Filipino Christmas traditions, Simbang Gabi is celebrated through a nine-day evening mass. Families set up parols, traditional star lanterns, which are “fashioned of bamboo and paper, symbolizing that they are preparing our hearts and homes to welcome and receive Christ, our Light,” according to the magazine, U.S. Catholic. The holiday begins on Dec. 16 and runs until midnight on Dec. 24.;