December Holiday Primer Everybody knows that there are three major holidays in December; but does everybody know what all three are about? Christmas is the Christian holiday, although non-religious people also celebrate aspects of it. Chanukah is the Jewish holiday, and Kwanzaa is the African holiday. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus, along with celebrating goodwill towards others, family, giving and compassion. 

Ancient rituals gave rise to modern Easter celebrations A day to celebrate the resurrection of a savior, the renewal of nature, the rebirth of hope or a large bunny who delivers colorful eggs in grass-filled baskets. Easter is a religious holiday, but many of its symbols and rituals have their origins in pre-Christian legend and lore. Even its name probably first belonged to the pagan goddess of spring, Eostre, for whom festivals celebrating the end of winter and the birth of spring at the vernal equinox were held. According to mythology, the goddess, in a fit of rage, turned a large sacred bird into a hare, which, over time, evolved into today’s cute Easter bunny. The rabbit still retains some of those original bird-like qualities, since he makes straw nests full of eggs.