Cultural Christmas Holiday Celebrations

Many cultural holidays coincide with Christmas: Kwanzaa, (a secular festival observed by many African Americans), Pasko (Filipino word for Christmas from the Spanish word of “pascua”, and Hanukkah, (a Jewish festival that reaffirms the ideals of Judaism and rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem), to name a few of the popularized names associated with Christmas.

With billions of people celebrating the Christian holiday across the globe, it has become one of the most extravagant, televised, advertised and anticipated occasions of the year.

In a religious context, Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. Traditionally and in non-religious way, the holiday marks a time for themed decorations, music, food, and time spent with friends and family. Aside from these festivities, the most widely known tradition is gift-giving on the morning of Christmas Day.

Christmas has assimilated into America’s diverse culture and is now celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike—beyond its religious origins.

The Christmas culture is a large part of the culture of the nation, and hence many non-Christians perceive this holiday as a cultural observation, symbolizing the importance of family, friends, and the joy of giving.

Festivals like Christmas has its strong influence in American culture. Celebration of this occasion is a way for people to connect with their American identity which added a unique value to its traditions and beliefs.

Christmas, whether it is celebrated religiously or culturally, is a time for people to gather with their friends and family, spread joy, and reflect on the achievements of the year as it comes to an end. It has been adopted by many diverse groups of people, and this only expands the importance of the holiday, not undermine it. Our nation’s diverse Christmas culture has given us a unique opportunity to celebrate our individual differences while still being interconnected through the core values of joy, kindness, and love.

Aside from the annual plethora of presents, let us appreciate and celebrate Christmas culture in its universalized and Americanized version, if we are living in this country.

Maligayang Pasko, as they would greet you a merry Christmas in our own beloved language of Tagalog, from the Philippines, the country that celebrates the longest Christmas among countries in the world.###

-By Anonymous Editorialist