By Alex Maravillas

While Christmas is among the most celebrated this time of year, there are several other diverse

religious traditions to recognize.

Hanukkah, a religious Jewish celebration, occurs before Christmas every December; however,

this is not the holiest of Jewish events, for that would be Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.

Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the haven in Jerusalem after it was scoured by the

winnow Syrian/Greek affiliation. The haven was left with simply enough oil to light the candles

for one night; however, the oil wondrously came to last for eight. That is the reason Hanukkah

is celebrated for eight nights, beginning at crepuscule on Dec. 21. Hanukkah traditions include

lighting the menorah and consuming traditional Jewish dishes such as latkes.

Eid al-Adha is the Festival of Sacrifice. This Muslim event remembers Abraham’s dedication to

God when he attempted to sacrifice his only child in lieu of God’s command. Eid is one of the

two most key events in Islam, which takes place after the Hajj. The Hajj is an Arabic translation

and is defined as a pilgrimage to Mecca. Eid celebrations include dressing up in the finest

traditional clothing, visiting family members and holding feasts.

Yule, a name for the Winter Solstice, is an event celebrated on Dec. 21 and is a pagan religious

festival that was considered traditional prior to the existence of Jesus Christ. Animals were

butchered and a live tree was brought into the home as part of tradition. Also as part of the

celebration, followers of Yule traditions decorated their homes with evergreens, candles and

standard plants such as the mistletoe.

Buddhism is a religion that follows the teachings of Buddha, also known as Siddhartha Gautama.

Buddhism teaches that enlightenment can be achieved by acquiring knowledge and abandoning

ignorance. Ultimately, Buddhism emphasizes enlightenment as the road to liberty. A Buddhist

tradition includes the celebration of the birth and death of Buddha. The celebration takes place

every May during the full moon.

Whether it’s celebrating the birth of Christ during the Christmas holiday, eating latkes and

lighting the Menorah for Hanukkah, remembering Abraham’s sacrifice for God during Eid or

honoring Buddha on a May full moon, it’s important to recognize the diversity of cultures and

traditions that make up the religions of the world.