Even though the name of this website is Christmas Warehouse, we understand that there are other traditional holidays that take place during the same time. A lot of the fine products at Christmas Warehouse can be used to decorate for other occasions such as Indigenous holidays, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ta Chiu, and Ramadan. Luckily strands of tinsel, glittering fairy lights, glowing paper lanterns, and shiny stars look good no matter what you are celebrating. And since many of these holidays happen on days that used to be pagan festivals, they tend to use the same color schemes.

No matter what holiday you celebrate in Australia this summer, it is sure to include feasting, gift giving and outdoor activities. Unless you are a Muslim and the month of Ramadan happens to wind itself around to December this year (the Islam calendar is 354 days long). In which case, the occasion will be commemorated with a month of steady fasting and abstaining from sexual activity during the daytime -- so you probably should not put up tinsel.

Indigenous Australians

The story of the indigenous Australian Dreamtime does not make reference to the birth of Jesus Christ. Obviously they were subject to different seasonal rotations in the Southern Hemisphere, and so there is not the same winter solstice either. It does so happen that late-December is the same time as the start of Gudjewg, the last season when there are heavy rains. Naturally when the native population was introduced to Christianity by missionaries, many adopted the tradition of celebrating Christmas. However they tend to mix in many indigenous values and culture, such as traditional songs and music.

Hanukkah

Other than Christmas and Boxing Day, Hanukkah is the third most popular summer holiday in Australia. Each year the Jewish population celebrates Hanukkah, a Hebrew word that translates as 'dedication.' Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, making it a perfect complement to Christmas. Starting on the 25th of Kislev (a late month on the Hebrew calendar) the occasion lasts for eight full days. The children receive special gifts each day of Hanukkah. This is to celebrate the Hebrew victory over the Greeks in 200BC, despite overwhelming odds and an extreme lack of resources.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration of African culture that originated in the United States during the December of 1966. It was founded by Maulana Karenga as a holiday for the West African Disporia. Kwanzaa has seven core principles that are known as Nguzo Saba. They are Umoja or Unity, Kujichagulia or Self-Determination, Ujima or Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa or Cooperative Economics, Nia or Purpose, Kuumba or Creativity and Imani or Faith.  Kwanzaa is celebrated from December 26 to January 1 and is commemorated with feasting and gift giving.  

Ta Chiu

Although many people do celebrate Christmas in China, the festival of Ta Chi is traditionally commemorated on December 27 in Hong Kong. The phrase Ta Chi translates as to 'arrange sacrifices' but it is more about clearing away evil, celebrating life and restoring peace. Deities and ghosts are invited to the festival and people make them offerings of food, clothes and other gifts. Taoist priests perform a cleansing ceremony then release a flock of birds to symbolize giving life. To close the ceremony the names of each person are read out loud and then burned on a paper horse.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the ninth month on the Islam calendar. It is considered to be the holiest month because it has been observed with 29-30 days of fasting for many millennia. This practice is one of the five pillars of Islam and is mandatory for all Muslims, unless they have a health issue like pregnancy. From dawn until sunset for every day of Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat, drink, smoke or have sex, and they are not supposed to swear. The month is marked by sightings of the crescent moon. The last day of Ramadan is known as Eid al-Fitr which is festive in nature.  This is followed by Shawwal, the next lunar month.

 


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