2008 Woodie Awards
Seven reasons for the season
Barrett DeCutler
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Each year as the days grow short and the leaves fall, families observe traditions that have often been part of their lives since childhood.
On Nov. 19, students gathered in the Conference Center to learn about how different faiths observe the holidays at a program sponsored by the Multicultural Center, International Student Services Office and Residential Life. Students and staff shared food, drinks, and stories about their beliefs.
The students quoted at this event represented their respective faiths.
Christmas (KRISS-mus)
Christmas is a Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ - who Christians call their Savior - in the town of Bethlehem. Though many cultures have a hierarchical, pyramidal structure with kings at the top and everyone else at the bottom, Christians believe the birth of Jesus effectively flipped the world on its head, as implied in one of Jesus' names, "Emmanuel," which means "God with us," said Garrett Davis of the Fellowship of Christian University Students.
Christmas has been greatly commercialized due to the custom of giving gifts, but its true nature is closer to love and sacrifice, Davis said.
"It's not just about giving things, but giving myself," Davis said.
Ramadan (rah-mah-DON)
Ramadan is a month-long observance of fasting based on the lunar Islamic calendar, occurring in the fall each year.
During Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating between sunrise and sunset each day, and give up other vices in an attempt to form habits that will last the rest of the year. It also focuses on charity, one of the central tenets of Islam.
"We're supposed to give more, and we're supposed to expand more," said Ahmed Abughazaleh, electrical engineering sophomore and treasurer of Muslim Student Association.
The expansion includes nightly prayer called "tarweeh" and readings from the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. Some Muslims try to read the entire Qur'an during Ramadan, Abughazaleh said.
Each night, Muslims break their fast in a feast called the "iftar," the largest on the last day called "Eid al-Fitr," literally meaning "holiday of breakfast." Many members of the family attend and celebrate together, he said.
Kwanzaa (KWAN-zuh)
Kwanzaa is an African-American and pan-African tradition celebrating family, community and culture. It was created by a professor of black studies at California State University, said historical studies sophomore Brian Roberson.
The name comes from a Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning "first fruits," Roberson said.
Each day during Kwanzaa, the family lights a candle that represents one of seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.
Hanukkah (HKAN-uh-kah)
About 2,200 years ago, the Syrian king Antiochus oppresed the Jewish people who lived in his kingdom. He defiled their temples with idols and refused to let them read the Torah, their holy book.
The resistance members took back their temple but needed light to see at night, and there was only enough oil for one night. The Jews lit a lamp, but the oil lasted for eight days, which Jews consider the miracle of Hanukkah.
Each year around November or December, they commemorate this event by lighting candles on a "chanukiah." There are eight candles, and a different candle is lit each day.
Jews also celebrate by eating oil-rich foods such as "latkes," potato pancakes, by giving gifts and playing a game with a toy called a dreidel. The dreidel contains a Hebrew character on each side, representing the first letter of the words in the phrase "nes gadol haya sham," meaning "a big miracle happened there (in Israel)," said neuroscience junior and Hillel member Yana Gelman.
Three Kings/Los Tres Magos (losse trace MAH-gosse)
A Catholic holiday primarily celebrated in Mexico and Latin America, Three Kings commemorates the story of the three kings who visited Jesus at his birth in Bethlehem.
Children who celebrate Three Kings write letters to the three kings asking for presents and leave out food for the kings the night before.
On the actual day, Jan. 6, families eat "king cake," a donut-shaped cake with chocolate flavoring and a small plastic baby inside. Whoever finds the baby - which represents the baby Jesus - is obligated to throw a party at their house soon thereafter.
Most families also have a nativity scene depicting the baby and visitors, and they will pass around the baby, kissing him in custom and receiving candy, said Cristina Galaviz, political science sophomore and treasurer of League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at UTD.
"Bringing the family together is the important part," said finance senior Daniel Martinez, LULAC secretary.
Samhain (SAW-in)
Samhain is an ancient autumnal festival now celebrated by Wiccans and some Pagans on the night of Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, representing the changing of the Celtic lunar year.
Wiccans believe in a life force that exists in all things and that on the night of Samhain, the veil between the living and dead is thinnest. Different groups practice differently, but most engage in meditation or perform rituals that involve speaking with spirits, said information security technical trainer Mary Dziorny.
Remembrance of deceased ancestors is important during Samhain, and some celebrate by sharing things that remind them of loved ones who have passed. Dziorny said that she drinks black currant tea to remember her late grandmother.
"You cannot have birth without death, and you cannot have death without life," Dziorny said.
Diwali (div-ALL-ee)
The eldest son of a king was banished for 14 years from the kingdom Ayodhya in India to live alone in the forest. When he returned to his homeland and overthrew the oppressive king Ravana, the villagers lined the streets with "diyas," ceramic pots filled with purified butter, that they lit to illuminate the city in celebration, said Saumya Saran, computer engineering freshman and member of Hindu Students Council.
Hindus in India and elsewhere remember this event during Diwali, which starts the lunar year they customarily observe in October or November. It also commemorates the victory of the Hindu deity Krishna over Narakasur and other events at the same time in history, all under a theme of "triumph of good over evil," Saran said.
Observers of Diwali also hand out sweets called "mithai" and light firecrackers. The focus is on family and togetherness, and many Hindus pray during the holiday.
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