SQA Holiday Greeting 2011

Smithers Quality Assessments Wishes Everyone, Everywhere a Happy Holiday Season!
 

People across the globe celebrate many different holidays in many different ways. Here are just some examples of various holiday festivities for religions and nationalities around the world. If you learn something new, feel free to share it with your friends and family so we can all appreciate holidays celebrated by other countries or cultures!

Eid'ul-Adha (Muslim): November 6. This festival is celebrated in remembrance of the prophet Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael to God, who ultimately gave him a sheep to sacrifice. On Eid'ul-Adha, Muslims pay tribute to Abraham by sacrificing their own domestic animals.

Saint Nicholas Day (Christian): December 6. In many places around the world, St. Nicholas is the main gift giver. His feast day is December 6. The tradition is that he moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. Small treats, meant to be shared, are left in shoes or stockings, left out by children for St. Nick the night before.

Fiesta of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Mexican): December 12. Before their Christmas season officially begins on December 16, Mexicans celebrate the festivities ofOur Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. On this day, thousands pilgrimage to the Basílica of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, where the miraculous image of Our Lady is kept.

St. Lucia Day (Swedish): December 13. The day of Saint Lucia is an essential part of Christmas in Scandinavia. Each year on December13, Saint Lucia is celebrated with candlelight processions honoring Lucia, who was a Christian and died for her faith. Often, the oldest girl in each family portrays St Lucia, wearing a white robe and a crown full of candles.

Hanukkah (Jewish): Sundown on December 20 through December 28. Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday celebrated for eight days and nights. The Hebrew word, "Hanukkah," means “dedication.” The holiday commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the Syrian-Greeks in 165 BCE.

Christmas Day (Christian): December 25. Christmas is observed with both religious and secular practices. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus, a spiritual leader whose teachings form the basis of their religion. Christmas Day has been a US federal holiday since 1870. Popular customs include exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and waiting for Santa Claus to arrive.

Boxing Day (Australian, Canadian, English, Irish): December 26. Boxing Day, also known as the Feast of Saint Stephen, originated in England in the nineteenth century. It was founded as a holiday for members of the merchant class to give boxes containing food and fruit, clothing, and/or money to trades people and servants. These gifts, given in boxes and representing gratitude, were similar to the bonuses many companies offer their employees today.

Kwanzaa (African American): December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa, first celebrated in the mid-1960s, is a weeklong celebration held in the United States honoring the universal African-American heritage and culture. Festivities include lighting a candle holder with seven candles, feasts and gift giving.

Omisoka (Japanese): December 31. New Year’s Day is considered the most important holiday of the year in Japanese tradition, so New Year’s Eve is marked by rituals of preparation, including cleaning homes and schools and decorating with images that symbolize good fortune and happiness for the coming year.

Chinese New Year: January 23 – February 6, 2012. To Chinese communities, Chinese New Year is the most significant event of the year. According to the Chinese Zodiac, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon. To celebrate the New Year, families gather for meals together and enjoy visiting friends. Local markets are alive with activity and decorated with beautiful ornaments in celebration.