LIFE

NU XI NU (SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA) The Season of ALUMNAE CHAPTER’S 2019 Celebration HOLIDAY PARTY

ALPHA CHI OMEGAS COME FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS AND WALKS OF LIFE. TAKE SOME TIME TO LEARN LUNAR NEW YEAR ABOUT WINTER HOLIDAYS FROM VARIOUS FAITHS December 25, 2020 (also a federal holiday) or January February 12, 2021 AND CULTURES AND HOW SISTERS CELEBRATE! 7, 2021 (for Eastern Orthodox Christians, primarily Russian, following the Gregorian calendar) This is the most important holiday in China and is also Wish a sister who celebrates “Happy Bodhi Day,” celebrated by people of other Asian heritages; the new “Blessed Bodhi Day” or the appropriate translation in year begins with the first new moon and is celebrated November 12-16, 2020 While this holiday today may be marked by secular the language she speaks. traditions, it has its root in Christianity. The day for about 15 days until the full moon arrives. Those celebrating provide offerings to gods and ancestors, and “The Festival of Lights” is a 2,500-year-old celebration recognizes the birth of Jesus, on whose teachings and gift money in red envelopes (Chinese) or silk pouches for Hinduism commemorating the victory of good over HANUKKAH life many Christian faiths are based. Religious traditions December 10-18, 2020 (Korean) as a sign of respect between elders and evil. Celebrated over five days, Diwali includes traditions include attending church and sharing meals with younger family members. This will be the Year of the such as cleaning and lighting the home with lamps, family and friends, and popular customs for this federal An eight-day celebration for Judaism, the holiday Ox, one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac! setting off fireworks, praying, visiting family and friends, holiday also include decorating a tree, singing carols and commemorates the rededication of the second temple and feasting. waiting for Santa Claus to deliver toys to children. in Jerusalem and the miracle of menorah candles Wish a sister who celebrates “Happy New Year,” staying lit for eight nights with only a day’s worth of “xin nian kuai le” (Mandarin), “saehae bok mani “On the first day of Diwali, we shower, eat something “My mom, who is also an Alpha Chi Omega, and I have oil. Traditions include lighting candles on the menorah badeuseyo” (Korean), “gong hay fat choy” (Cantonese for bitter and then eat a traditional sweet to bid goodbye to a tradition of making homemade lefse (a traditional after sundown, playing dreidel, and enjoying foods like “Congratulations on the fortune”) or the appropriate the bad and start new. We pray, make sweets and before Norwegian flatbread) every year when I come home for latkes (potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly doughnuts). translation in the language she speaks. sundown light diyas (clay pots) all around the house, the holidays for Christmas.” windows and front doors.” ~Allison Walker (Alpha Omicron, The Ohio State “For me, Hanukkah is a time of warmth and light that Interested in sharing about your holiday traditions, whether ~ Keyuri Parab Scotti (Epsilon Lambda, The University University) I can always look forward to as the days get shorter and they are religious, cultural, familial or just for fun? Email of Texas at Arlington) colder in the winter. At MIT, I celebrated Hanukkah Wish a sister who celebrates “Merry Christmas,” or “S [email protected]! Sources of educational content: with friends and sisters in the AXΩ house. Each year a History.com and Huffpost Wish a sister who celebrates “Happy Diwali” or “Shubh rozhdyestvom Hristovym” (Russian). representative from one of our Jewish student groups Diwali” (Hindi). would bring over a menorah so my sisters and I could KWANZAA light the candles together outside. We celebrated December 26, 2020 – January 1, 2021 BODHI DAY with the broader Greek community on campus as December 8, 2020 (for Japanese Buddhists) or well, getting together with Jewish members of other January 20, 2021 (for Buddhists following the lunar Created in 1966 as a way to bring African Americans sororities and fraternities to have doughnut-eating calendar – the eighth day of the 12th lunar month) together, the cultural holiday is linked to several contests or wear funny/ugly Hanukkah sweaters.” harvest celebrations in Africa. Activities include ~ Hilary Vogelbaum (Theta Omicron, Massachusetts This Buddhist holiday recognizes the day the Buddha singing, dancing and lighting one candle each night to Institute of Technology) achieved enlightenment (translated as bodhi in ) symbolize and reflect on the seven principles, which are after forsaking his material lifestyle and committing ideals of African culture that contribute to community. Wish a sister who celebrates “Happy Hanukkah” or to meditation to seek answers regarding suffering. For “Chag Sameach” (Hebrew). this day, celebrants study the , light candles, Wish a sister who celebrates “Happy Kwanzaa” or meditate and share kindness with others. “Habari Gani” (Swahili for “What is the news?”). BETA PSI (LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY)

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