Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 39 views

    1123we00c004 PDF

    Uploaded by

    West Essex Tribune
    The document is a holiday gift guide from the West Essex Tribune that provides information about winter solstice traditions and facts. It discusses what causes seasons and highlights winter solstice traditions from ancient cultures like the Romans, Scandinavians, and Greeks. It also explains the origins of exchanging gifts during winter holidays from religious traditions like Christmas and Hanukkah to secular celebrations like Kwanzaa.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    1123we00c004 PDF

    Uploaded by

    West Essex Tribune
    39 views1 page
    The document is a holiday gift guide from the West Essex Tribune that provides information about winter solstice traditions and facts. It discusses what causes seasons and highlights winter solstice traditions from ancient cultures like the Romans, Scandinavians, and Greeks. It also explains the origins of exchanging gifts during winter holidays from religious traditions like Christmas and Hanukkah to secular celebrations like Kwanzaa.

    Original Title

    1123WE00C004.pdf

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document is a holiday gift guide from the West Essex Tribune that provides information about winter solstice traditions and facts. It discusses what causes seasons and highlights winter solstice traditions from ancient cultures like the Romans, Scandinavians, and Greeks. It also explains the origins of exchanging gifts during winter holidays from religious traditions like Christmas and Hanukkah to secular celebrations like Kwanzaa.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    39 views1 page

    1123we00c004 PDF

    Uploaded by

    West Essex Tribune
    The document is a holiday gift guide from the West Essex Tribune that provides information about winter solstice traditions and facts. It discusses what causes seasons and highlights winter solstice traditions from ancient cultures like the Romans, Scandinavians, and Greeks. It also explains the origins of exchanging gifts during winter holidays from religious traditions like Christmas and Hanukkah to secular celebrations like Kwanzaa.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 1

    C-4

    West Essex Tribune

    November 23, 2016


    Facts About Solstice
    Thanks in large part to all the holiday hullabaloo, its easy to overlook
    the ofcial arrival of winter.This year
    winter begins on December 21. While
    you might know the winter soltstice
    brings cold weather, the following can
    teach you more about the arrival of the
    years coldest season.
    What is winter solstice? Winter solstice is when the hemisphere is leaning
    farthest away from the sun. Thats why
    daylight is the shortest this day.
    What causes seasons? They are
    caused by the rotation of the earth. Earth
    is tilted away from the sun during the
    northern hemispheres winter, which
    is why the days are shorter.
    What was the Roman festival of
    Saturnalia? A festival that honored
    winter solstice where servants ate with
    their masters. Schools were closed,
    prisoners were not executed and people
    paraded around the streets with black

    faces or masks.
    What tradition came from the
    Scandinavians winter solstice festival called Jiuleis? The burning of
    the Yule log. Norse men would burn
    the log to repel dark and cold. The
    wood was thought to bring good luck
    to each home.
    What ancient ruin was built to
    honor the solstice? Newgrange in
    eastern Ireland was built to honor
    the solstice. It is one acre and has a
    60 foot entranceway. It dates back
    to 3,300 BCE, making it one of the
    oldest structures in the world.
    What custom involves giving
    presents? Romans gave their children
    earthenware (sigillaria), rings and
    seals to celebrate Sigillaria.
    When its winter solstice in the
    northern hemisphere, what is happening in the southern hemisphere? They
    are celebrating the summer solstice.
    At that time, night is at its shortest
    and daytime is at its longest.

    What does the word solstice mean?


    It comes from two Latin words
    sol, which means sun, and sistere,
    which means to cause to stand still.
    How did the ancient Greeks observe the winter solstice? Their winter
    solstice ritual was called Lenaea, the
    Festival of the Wild Women. A man
    representing the harvest God Dionysos was torn to pieces and eaten by a
    gang of women. Then, Dionysos was
    reborn as a baby. By classical times,
    the human sacrice was replaced by
    the killing of a goat and the women
    became funeral mourners and watchers of the birth.
    The winter solstice in 1999 was
    unique. Why? That year the solstice,
    full moon and lunar perigee happened
    on the same date. (Perigee means that
    the moons orbit is closest to earth).
    Here, the moon was full and at its
    maximum size. The last time that
    something like this happened was
    1866.

    Buy 10 Gift Cards


    ($400 value),
    Get 5 Free!
    Limited quantity
    available

    Gift Card

    *Non-refundable. Each gift card ($40) must be used at one-visit. One gift card cannot be used multiple times.

    493 So. Livingston Ave., Livingston (in ShopRite Plaza) 973-533-0015

    Traditions Behind
    Holiday Gifts
    The holiday season is a time to
    celebrate with friends and family.
    Several holidays are celebrated in this
    relatively short time period, making
    this one of the most festive times of
    the year.
    Many holiday celebrations focus
    on the exchange of presents, which
    may be exchanged with relatives,
    friends and even coworkers. But
    are you familiar with the origins of
    exchanging gifts?
    Gift exchanges trace their origins to
    both religious and secular traditions,
    each of which has helped shape the
    holidays into what they are today.
    Christmas
    People exchange gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day all over
    the world. For Christians, Christmas
    celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ,
    who Christians believe was a gift
    from the Creator.
    From a religious standpoint, gifting
    others around Christmastime can be
    traced back to the stories of the Three
    Kings (also referred to as the Three
    Wise Men) who visited Jesus after

    French
    German
    Italian
    Spanish
    Japanese
    Mandarin
    ESL
    ASL: American Sign Language

    Holiday Gift
    Certificates Available!

    Adult Private, Semi-private, Group Lessons


    Conversation Groups Childrens Programs
    Expert Tutoring Translations

    CALL TODAY TO REGISTER!

    973-228-1843

    his birth. Frankincense, a fragrance


    involved in worship; gold; and myrrh,
    an incense associated with funerals,
    was presented. These gifts symbolized
    worship in Christ, that He would be
    the King of Kings, and that suffering
    and death would come to Him.
    Another giver of gifts is part of
    many Christmas celebrations. St.
    Nicholas, a fourth century saint, is a
    beloved gure across the globe who
    has a reputation for giving gifts in
    secret and helping the needy. The
    gure of Santa Claus is based on St.
    Nicholas, and the blending of the two
    has evolved as history has mixed with
    folklore and personal traditions.
    Hanukkah
    Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish
    celebration that commemorates the
    rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. The word hanukkah actually
    means dedication in Hebrew.
    The Jews, including Judah Maccabee, helped drive the Syrians out of
    Jerusalem. In one of Judaisms most
    central texts, Maccabee and others
    witnessed a miracle at the temple.
    Even though there was only enough
    oil to keep a menorahs candles burning for one day, the ames continued
    for eight nights.
    Traditionally, gelt, or money, was
    given as a Hanukkah gift. Many Hanukkah gift givers aim to give gifts
    that are thoughtful and sweet. Money

    is not exchanged as much today, with


    other gifts taking its place.
    Kwanzaa
    Kwanzaa is an American holiday that
    pays homage to traditions and cultural
    inuences from Africa. The holiday
    was developed in 1966 by Maulana
    Ndabezitha Karenga. The focus of
    Kwanzaa is on family and the harvest
    as well as certain principles, such as
    unity and faith.
    Gifts make up one of the seven
    symbols of Kwanzaa celebrations.
    However, gift-sharing is not the central part of this special holiday. Gifts
    are symbolic of the labor and love of
    parents and the commitments made
    and kept by their children.
    Gifts are exchanged in abundance
    this time of year. The traditions behind
    the giving of presents is far-reaching
    and based in religious, secular and
    cultural traditions.

    175 Faireld Ave., Suite 2C


    West Caldwell, NJ 07006

    www.thelanguageinstitute.com

    175 South Livingston Ave., Livingston

    E
    S
    U
    O
    PEN H eekend

    OThanksgiving W nd 27
    r 26 a
    e
    b
    m
    e
    v
    No

    Enjoy
    Coffee & Cookies

    While you stroll in our greenhouse of 20,000 poinsettias

    Our Own Premium Quality

    POINSETTIAS
    Starting at $5.99

    Up to 14 feet

    CHRISTMAS TREES
    Live Trees Available

    Decorated Wreaths Grave Blankets


    Unique Ornaments Holiday Decorations

    Livingston Mall 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ 07039 973.992.2400


    www.tessmorgan.com
    @ShopTessMorgan

    553 New Vernon Rd. Gillette 908-647-3725


    www.GreatSwampGreenhouses.com Open Daily 8-6
    Gift Certificates Available Fri. & Sat. open until 8pm

    You might also like