Kenya

Kenyans celebrate three major winter holidays: Jamhuri Day and Christmas. The word, Jamhuri is "republic" in Swahili. The Kenyan people celebrate their independence on December 12th each year. Kenya became a republic on December 12, 1964, exactly one year after their independence from Britain. The Kenyan Artisans we partner with join in the celebration by dancing, feasting, participating in parades, and joining with their families.

Because Kenya is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas isn't the white wonderland you might picture. 70% of Kenyans claim Christianity as their religion, making Christmas one of the largest holiday celebrations of the year. Because of the heavy British influence, a Kenyan Christmas is celebrated on December 25th and is very similar to a Christmas celebration in North America. Unlike North America, Kenyans focus on Father Christmas, not Santa. Father Christmas is also believed to delivered presents. A Kenyan Christmas concentrates on family gatherings, church fellowships, and the birth of Jesus Christ.

Ethiopia

​The two leading religions in Ethiopia are Orthodox Christianity, called Tewahdo, and Islam. Most Ethiopian holidays are often multi-day celebrations that follow the Gregorian and Lunar calendars. Ethiopian Christmas is called Genna and is celebrated on January 7th. Genna comes from the word Gennana meaning imminent. Ethiopians begin to fill the streets at 6:00 in the morning while wearing their finest clothing. They gather together in the church for Mass. The Ethiopian people celebrated by standing for the entity of the three-hour duration. After they are dismissed, they gather with close friends and family for a large feast. Unlike North America, gift-giving is a minor festivity in this Christmas celebration.

Because the majority of Ethiopians are Muslim, Ramadan is also a major holiday celebration. Because of following the Lunar calendar, the Ramadan celebration dates change each year but always fall during the ninth year of the Lunar calendar. Ramadan is a month-long focus on fasting, introspection, and prayer. This major holiday is celebrated during the month Muhammad received the revelation for the Quran. Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset acknowledging that fasting is one of the five major principles of Islam.

The Philippines

With an overwhelming 80% of Filipinos claiming to practice Roman Catholicism, Christmas is the grandest holiday In the Philippines. With Western influence and native customs, Christmas is an exquisite tradition. In fact, Filipinos have the longest Christmas celebration worldwide, lasting for a total of four months! Because the last four months are considered to be the Christmas season, festivities begin in September and conclude on the first Sunday in January. The official Christmas celebrations start on December 16th. Many attend nine different Midnight Masses, called Simbang Gabi, and of course a large mass on Christmas Day.

Before Spain arrived in the 15th century, The Philippines had a rich Chinese influence. Many Filipinos celebrate Chinese New Year, also called the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year, which lasts for fifteen days. Following the Lunar Calendar, the Chinese New Year begins on the second New Moon after the Winter Solstice on December 21st. The Spring Festival can begin between January 21st and February 21st. Each year is represented with an animal from the Chinese Zodiac. It's believed that individuals born in the Lunar year will have a personality that corresponds with their Zodiac animal. 2021 is the year of the Ox. So, those who are born between the first day of the Lunar year, February 12, 2021, and the last day, January 31, 2022, are believed to be patient, kind, stubborn, and conservative.

Vietnam

With a rich Chinese heritage, those in Vietnam also celebrate the Lunar New Year. Locally referred to as, Tet, originally celebrated the coming of Spring. Tet is a colloquial term for Tết Nguyên Đán, meaning The Feast of the First Morning of the First Day. Today, Tet focuses on paying tribute to their ancestors. Before the festival, homes are thoroughly cleaned to rid themselves of any bad luck remaining from the previous year. The Vietnamese ornate their homes with flowers and prepare their ancestral altars.

Newly founded, the Hue Festival is a biannual festival held in Hue City. Beginning in 2000, the Hue Festival is held in April, May, or June every other year and preserves Vietnamese culture from the Nguyen Dynasty. Locals celebrate by participating in sporting events like human cheese, boat racing, and kite flying. There are also art events like the Dialogue of Drums and Percussion, the Hue Poetry Festival, and Ao Dai fashion shows.

India

Home to the Hindu capital of the world, 80% of Indians practice Hinduism. ​Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is the most popular celebration in India. Indians celebrated by lining their homes with clay lights, which symbolizes the light that protects from potential spiritual darkness. Through centuries of celebration, Diwali has even become a significant holiday for Indians who don't practice Hinduism. During this five-day festival, Indians dedicate each day to one specific cause. On the first day, Indians clean their homes and shop for gold or kitchen utensils to help bring good fortune. On the second day, they decorate their homes with clay lamps and create design patterns called rangoli on the floor using colored powders or sand. The third day is the main day of the festival. During the third day, families gather together for Lakshmi puja, a prayer to Goddess Lakshmi, and conclude the day with feasts and firework festivities. The fourth day of the festival is the first day of the new year. Friends and family visit while bringing gifts and best wishes for the season. On the final day, brothers visit their married sisters, and the sisters welcome the brothers with love and an ornate meal.

Formerly known as Holika, Holi is the Festival of Color and also welcomes Spring. Sometimes called the Festival of Love, Holi is celebrated in almost every town in India. The Holi celebration is firmly rooted in mythology. The popular legend of Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap claims the devil, Hiranyakshyap, once lived and ruled as king. Except for his son, Prahlad, everyone worshipped him. Hiranyakshyap asked his sister, Holika, to burn Prahlad. However, because of his devotion to King Vishnu, Prahlad was saved and Holika was harmed. This is the reason for the Holi tradition of burning Holika.

Tunisia

With an outstanding number at 99%, most Tunisians practice Isalm. Naturally, Ramadan is their most celebrated Holiday. During Ramadan, Tunisians practice the month-long focus of fasting, introspection, and prayer. In addition, the Tunisian people also partake in the Tunisian Medina Festival. The theatre in the heart of Tunis is home to musical performances and international films. Many clothe themselves in medieval costumes and performances in street shows.

The Tunisian people celebrate the Festival of the Oases of Mountain in Tamerza, for their largest mountain oasis. Tamerza is home to an abandoned town. The town was lost due to a flood during 1969. This annual festival is held during March in honor of the famous poet, Abou El Kacem Chebbi. The festival hosts two animation shows, film screenings, horse racing, and of course, poetry readings. The festival also is home to a local art show where visitors can find native food and cultural crafts.

Peru

The Trujillo Marinera Festival is one most important Peruvian events of the year. It's held in the city of Trujillo during January, the heart of the Southern Hemisphere's summer. The festival's principal event is the dance contest for the Marinera. Peruvians also celebrate this festival with Paso horse competitions, parades, and various presentations. In fact, the Peruvian government has stated that the Marinera dance and the Paso horse competitions have been declared significant to Peruvian culture. Previously named, La Chilena, the Marinara earned its name from the Peruvian Navy during the 1879 war with Chile. This flirtatious dance is composed of intense, rigorous choreography.

The Festival Internacional de la Vendimia is also known as The Wine and Pisco Festival. Held every March, during the beginning of Autumn, since 1958, the festival has encouraged the wine culture in the Southern regions of Peru. These southern vineyards are a vital contribution to the Peruvian economy, especially in Ica and Pisco. During this festival, Peruvians celebrate and give thanks for having fertile land.

Zimbabwe

​74% of people in Zimbabwe claim to be Protestant Christians, making Christmas the largest celebration. Zimbabwe is in the Southern Hemisphere, making December 25th in the middle of summer. During the weeks preceding Christmas, Zimbabweans gather loaves of bread, jam, tea, and sugar in preparation for Christmas dinner. During Christmas Eve, one of the elders is chosen to be "Santa", and is given the task of distributing the gifts on Christmas Day. A Christmas Service is held on the morning of Christmas Day, and everyone attends while wearing their finest outfit.

Beginning in 1997, the Day of National Unity is on December 22nd each year. This holiday celebrates the unity of Zimbabwe's two major political parties, the ZANU-PF (Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front) and the PF-ZAPU (Zimbabwe African People's Union). These two political parties have fought for power since the 1970s. This fight grew violent in the 1980s. This holiday pays tribute to the signing of the Unity Agreement by Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo in 1987. Zimbabweans participate in different sporting events and attend several musical concerts.

Zambia

The Kuomboka Festival is the most popular festival in Zambia. Kuomboka is the Lozi word meaning to get out of the water. For over 300 years, this colorful festival has attracted individuals from all over the world. This celebration commemorates the Lozi-speaking people of Western Province. This celebration is held in February or March during the end of the rainy season after the upper Zambezi River plains have flooded. This festival remembers the King's journey from the flooded plains to high ground. The king was carried by two large canoes that were paddled by 50 men.

The Nc'wala Ceremony occurs in February every year. Most popularly celebrated by the people in the Ngoni tribe, the Nc'wala Ceremony celebrates the victories the tribe won during the immigration from South Africa. The ceremony begins after the chief tastes the first fruit. The tribe then continues the celebration with extravagant singing and dancing, speeches, and a large feast.

The world is a beautiful, diverse place. It's home to countless cultures and ethnicities. There is an unexplainable joy in partnering with Artisans in these nine different countries. Despite our cultural differences, the importance of family and celebrations remains the same. So, Happy Holidays from our family to yours.

written by Anna Barroso for Acacia Creations, posted 12/24/2020