Lighting the Way: Celebrating Winter Holidays Across Cultures
As winter settles in and the days grow shorter, communities across Canada and around the world come alive with light, colour, and tradition. From flickering candles to booming fireworks, the season is filled with celebrations that carry deep meaning—each with its own story to tell. These festivals, rich with culture and history, invite us to come together, learn from one another, and celebrate the beautiful mosaic of human experience.
Let’s take a journey through some of the diverse winter holidays observed in Canada, exploring how each one brings warmth, joy, and connection during the coldest months of the year.
Hanukkah: A Miracle of Light
Known as the Festival of Lights, Hanukkah is a cherished holiday in the Jewish community that commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of a single day’s supply of oil burning for eight. Over eight nights, families gather to light the menorah—adding one candle each evening—and share traditional foods such as latkes (crispy potato pancakes) and sufganiyot (jelly-filled doughnuts). Each flame is a tribute to resilience, faith, and the enduring power of hope.
Diwali: Triumph of Light Over Darkness
Also known as the Festival of Lights, Diwali is the largest and most significant celebration on the Indian subcontinent. It’s a five-day event observed by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists, symbolizing the victory of good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and light over darkness. Homes glow with oil lamps and rangoli—vibrant designs made from coloured powders—while fireworks burst into the sky, warding off negativity. The air is sweet with treats like laddoos, barfis, and jalebis, shared with loved ones in a joyful spirit of renewal and togetherness.
Kwanzaa: Honouring African Heritage
Celebrated from December 26 to January 1, Kwanzaa is a modern cultural holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Rooted in African traditions, Kwanzaa focuses on seven guiding principles, including unity, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each evening, a candle is lit on the kinara, representing one principle. The week is filled with music, dance, storytelling, and a communal meal known as Karamu. Kwanzaa offers space for reflection, connection, and a celebration of cultural identity.
Christmas, Reimagined Across Cultures
While Christmas is perhaps the most widely celebrated winter holiday in Canada, it takes on many unique forms that reflect the diversity of its people.
- Las Posadas is a Mexican tradition leading up to Christmas Eve, where communities reenact Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter. In Canadian celebrations, participants join candlelit processions, singing hymns and sharing in hospitality.
- Sviata Vechera, meaning “Holy Supper,” is central to Ukrainian Christmas Eve. This meatless feast includes 12 symbolic dishes—one for each apostle—and begins after a day of fasting, reflecting spiritual preparation and reverence.
- Christmas pantomimes (or “pantos”), inspired by British theatrical traditions, bring fairy tales to life through comedic, interactive performances. With plenty of audience participation and playful chaos, pantos are fast becoming a beloved holiday tradition across Canadian theatres.
The Winter Solstice: Welcoming the Sun’s Return
Falling around December 21, the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and the turning point toward longer days. Indigenous communities across Canada honour this moment with ceremonies filled with drumming, singing, and storytelling, celebrating the earth’s cycles and the spiritual significance of seasonal change. For many, the solstice is a time of renewal, gratitude, and reconnection with nature.
Lunar New Year: Welcoming a New Beginning
Observed between February 10 and 24, the Lunar New Year is a major celebration for Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other East Asian communities. It marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and is steeped in tradition, family, and symbolism. Homes are cleaned and adorned with red lanterns, believed to invite good fortune. Special foods—like dumplings, rice cakes, and whole fish—are prepared, and streets fill with the colour and sound of lion and dragon dances, accompanied by fireworks to chase away bad luck. It’s a celebration of renewal, prosperity, and honoring ancestors.
Learning Through Celebration
Living in a multicultural country like Canada offers an incredible gift: the chance to witness and take part in a variety of cultural traditions. Teaching our children about holidays from different cultures not only builds knowledge, but also empathy and respect. When we encourage curiosity about how others celebrate, we help raise a generation that embraces diversity with open hearts and open minds.
Finding Common Ground in Our Differences
At their core, winter holidays are about connection, hope, and light—values that transcend geography and religion. Whether it’s lighting candles, sharing meals, or gathering for stories and laughter, these traditions invite us to reflect on what truly matters. By celebrating each other’s holidays, we’re not just observers—we’re bridge-builders. And in a season that can sometimes feel cold or lonely, that spirit of inclusion is the warmest gift of all.
So this winter, take a moment to learn about a holiday you’ve never celebrated before. Share a meal, attend a performance, or simply listen. In doing so, you’ll be honouring the rich cultural fabric that makes Canada so uniquely vibrant—and maybe even lighting a new candle on your own journey of understanding.
