We are finally heading into December, so toss out your pumpkins and skeletons and dust off your trees and mistletoes — Christmas season has finally arrived. As we move towards the end of the year, the sound of holiday songs starts to flood the streets, malls start to crowd with eager family members buying gifts, and all products on supermarket shelves get replaced by panettone. Oh, how good it feels to be back to the best time of the year! Holiday spirit has truly started to

This holiday issue could not be complete without the mention of a beautiful event, celebrated by a variety of members of our EABH community: Hanukkah.  The word Hanukkah - sometimes spelled Chanukah - means “dedication” in Hebrew. According to the Hebrew calendar, Hanukkah is an eight-day festival celebrated by the Jewish community around November or December.  This holiday celebrates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. During the second century BCE,  the Sele

In the world, many different cultures celebrate the festive season in unison. Different cultures, however, have their own ways of celebrating this holiday. Here are some countries that have unique customs during the holiday season.  In Japan, there is a unique yet fun tradition around the end of the year, and that is to eat fried chicken. This began when the American fast-food giant KFC launched a major campaign to enter the Japanese market during the holiday season. It was s

According to Britannica, the atheist definition of Christmas is  “a secular family holiday observed around late December that focuses on traditions … emphasizing themes of generosity and goodwill.” In other words, it is a time to spread love and compassion. However, what if we mistake this time as an excuse for reuniting,ignoring conflicts, and pretending to care? Every year friends and families get together along decorated houses and exchange gifts, acting like everything is

Recently, in December 2023, a law was ratified, making Black Awareness Day an official Brazilian national holiday. November 20th marks one of the most significant dates in the long  lasting and resilient fight against oppression experienced by the black community in Brazil. It is celebrated in honor of Zumbi dos Palmares, the leader of Quilombo dos Palmares , a settlement of free and escaped enslaved people in the northwestern region of the country, during the late 1600’s. Al