Recognizing and learning some things about each holiday help to understand and appreciate the different cultures and groups that celebrate them.

HANUKKAH/CHANUKAH,  FINAL DAY DEC. 6, 2021

This year, Hanukkah is observed from Nov. 28 to December 6.  It is a time to celebrate the festival of lights, for 8 days, with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers and fried foods.

Historically, Hanukkah or Chanukah means dedication or re-dedication, when in 164 BCD, Judah Maccabee and his band  successfully led a guerilla war against the Syrians that earlier occupied Jerusalem, and outlawed the Jewish faith, seized and tortured the people.  The Maccabees liberated the city and rededicated the temple, by relighting the candelabra. They only found enough sacred oil to keep the menorah lit for one day.  Miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for 8 days. Hence, that is why Hanukkah is celebrated for 8 full days, and the celebration includes a nightly menorah lighting, special blessings are recited, and traditional songs and games are played.

WINTER SOLSTICE, DEC. 21, 2021

Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, when the earth鈥檚 tilt is extremely inclined away from the sun.  For the northern hemisphere, the shortest day this year is December 21. The main symbols and rituals include fire and light, in recognition of the shortest, darkest day of the year.

WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATIONS AROUND THE WORLD鹿,虏

• Iran鈥檚 Yalda festival marks the day when Mithra, an angel of light, was thought to have been born.
• China鈥檚 D艒ngzh矛 festival celebrates when winter鈥檚 darkness begins to give way to light. Families observe this time with special foods, such as rice balls known as tang yuan.
• Scandinavians (people who live in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden) gather for Juul, or Yule, a multi-day feast when ancient people would welcome the return of the sun god.
• In Britain, some people still observe the ancient tradition of cutting mistletoe, which is considered a sacred plant with healing properties.
• Shalako is a ceremonial dance, celebrated by the Zuni, one of the Native American tribes in New Mexico, which marks the beginning of the year.
• Soyal, with the Hopi of northern Arizona, is announcing the setting of the sun on the solstice. It involves an all-night ceremony with kindling fires, dancing and gift giving.
• Toji in Japan is the traditional practice of starting the new year with health and good luck. During the winter solstice, the practice involves taking warm baths scented with yuzu, a citrus fruit, said to ward off colds and foster good health.

CHRISTMAS,  DECEMBER 25, 2021,  FEDERAL HOLIDAY

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, which to Christians is the son of God. The day commemorating Christmas, December 25, was chosen by Pope Julius I, former head of the Roman Catholic Church, year 337-352, but no one really knows when Jesus was born.  This date was chosen in order to Christianize the popular ancient pagan festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun during the winter solstice.

Christmas celebrations may involve both religious and/or secular practices; from attending a mass or prayer services, to decorating the home with a Christmas tree and lights, or having festive gatherings that include traditional meals and gift exchanges, and waiting for Santa Claus to deliver gifts on December 24.  

KWANZAA DEC. 26  OBSERVANCE, THROUGH JAN 1, 2021

Kwanzaa is a celebration of family, community and culture.  It is an annual holiday affirming the African family and social values. Kwanzaa was initially introduced in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University in Long Beach, as primarily an African American holiday.  The concept of Kwanzaa is based on the South African first-fruits festivals.

Each of the days of the celebration is dedicated to one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa: unity (umoja), self-determination (kujichagulia), collective responsibility (ujima), cooperative economics (ujamaa), purpose (nia), creativity (kuumba), and faith (imani).鲁

There also are seven symbols of the holiday: fruits, vegetables, and nuts; a straw mat; a candleholder; ears of corn (maize); gifts; a communal cup signifying unity; and seven candles in the African colours of red, green, and black, symbolizing the seven principles. On each day the family comes together to light one of the candles in the kinara, or candleholder, and to discuss the principle for the day. On December 31, families join in a community feast called the karamu. Some participants wear traditional African clothing during the celebration.鲁

Resources

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This past November, I had the opportunity to attend NAGC鈥檚 Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona. Although the primary purpose of my trip was to learn more about the changing and ever-growing landscape of gifted education, I also had the privilege of listening to and meeting some amazing presenters and influential professionals in the field of gifted education.

One of the keynote speakers at the convention left a lasting impression on me and served as the inspiration for this blogpost. He was not only the youngest presenter at the convention, but he also seemed to embody what it truly means to be gifted and talented.

He introduced himself as Joey Hudy, a 17 year old student at Arizona State University and an active member of the Maker community. From a young age, he was fascinated with making things out of household materials and immersed himself in DIY engineering projects which lead to some great inventions, like his 听which he presented to President Obama at the White House.

His simple philosophy, 鈥淒on鈥檛 be bored鈥ake something!鈥� further propelled him to create more amazing gadgets like his SMD Arduino Shield,听 3x3x3 LED Cube Arduino Shield , and a prototype 鈥渟mart鈥� glasses which run by reading human thoughts. It was not surprising to also discover that he is currently the youngest intern in Intel鈥檚 New Devices Group product development program. I sat in amazement as Joey presented eloquently and knowledgeably about his experience and growth as a maker. Needless to say, I left Joey鈥檚 presentation feeling revitalized and inspired to delve into some DIY projects of my own.

The future definitely seems a little brighter with gifted and imaginative young people like Joey. There鈥檚 no doubt that Joey, and other young innovators like him, will pave the way for some ground-breaking technologies in the near future. If you want to know what Joey is making today, head over to his .

So what are you waiting for? Pull up your sleeves and get your creative juices flowing. Maker labs are popping up in cities nationwide. These labs serve as creative workspaces where makers of all ages and skill level can innovate, learn, design, and build things. They provide access to the necessary tools, resources, and equipment so you can bring some of your brilliant ideas to life! Check out some of the maker labs in Los Angeles County:

• Vocademy (closed in 2020)

If making things isn鈥檛 quite your forte, you can still get a unique glimpse of some remarkable projects and get involved in the maker movement by attending a . Think of these family-friendly festivals as a cross between a county fair and science fair with a sprinkle of innovation. Hundreds of makers from all walks of life showcase and hold live demonstrations for their incredible creations. Maker enthusiasts, educators, students, tinkerers, hobbyists and people of all ages come out to participate in hands-on activities, meet the brilliant makers behind these one of a kind designs, and learn new skills.Here are a few resources to help kick start your next project:

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