Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
When you think of winter, what comes to your mind? Some children might think of Santa Claus and a tree with presents underneath. These traditions are associated with Christmas, but many other holidays are celebrated in the winter!
Chinese winter solstice
The Chinese winter solstice is known as Dongzhi (冬至). This translates to “winter’s arrival”. Dongzhi is a Chinese holiday from December 21 to 23. This marks when the night is the longest and the day is the shortest in the Northern Hemisphere.
This holiday is celebrated by worshipping at a temple or sweeping ancestors’ graves. People may also sing “The Nines of Winter”, a folk song that symbolises the coming of spring.
Hogmanay
Hogmanay marks the last day of the old year in Scotland. The celebration begins on December 31 and lasts for three days.
Cities and towns in Scotland hold festivals that include street parties and fireworks. Some tasks must be completed before midnight on the 31st. These include cleaning the house, paying off debts and sweeping ashes from the fireplace. This represents getting a fresh start in the new year.
Makar Sankranti
Makar Sankranti is a Hindu festival. The holiday is celebrated in India and Nepal on January 14 in honour of Surya, the sun god. It is observed with the rituals of bathing in sacred rivers, flying kites or giving things to the less fortunate.
There are many different names across India for this festival. In Gujarat state, it is called Uttarayan, which means “northward journey”. In Tamil Nadu, it is called Pongal, which means “full and overflowing”.
Noche Buena
Noche Buena means “good night” in Spanish. It is celebrated across Latin America and the Philippines on December 24. This cultural and religious festival is marked in unique ways in different countries.
It is common to spend the evening with family and friends. The night is centred around regional dishes, drinks and festive activities.
For Catholics, the celebrations include attending a midnight mass called La Misa del Gallo, which means “The Mass of the Rooster”.
St Lucia’s Day
St Lucia’s Day is a festival of lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway and parts of Finland on December 13. This festival is held in honour of St Lucia. She was a Christian martyr killed by the Romans because of her religious beliefs.
Each town elects a young girl to act as St Lucia. Then, a procession is held to mark the beginning of the Christmas season.
Families in these places traditionally have one of their daughters, usually the eldest, dress in white and serve coffee or baked goods to the other family members.
Use the puzzle below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.
Suggested answers
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Before you read: Answers will vary.
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Stop and think: For Chinese winter solstice, people tend to sweep graves of ancestors, worship at temples and sing an old song that recognises the coming spring.
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Consider: A Christian martyr named St Lucia was murdered by Romans because of her religion. St Lucia’s Day is a celebration to remember her and honour her sacrifice.
