HOW WE WORSHIP: Hanukkah, feast days and Kwanzaa show there's more to the holiday season than Christmas

There's more than one reason that it's the most wonderful time of year. Many Catholic and Protestant church followers are remembering the coming of Christ through the four weeks of Advent, Christmas Eve and then the 12 days of Christmas.

However, other community members have their own unique holiday celebrations for the season. Here are some of their traditions and how they're celebrating what's special to them this year.

JUDAISM

The Jewish faith has almost concluded observing Hanukkah, which began Dec. 6 and lasts until Monday. Rabbi Larry Schlesinger, of Temple Beth Israel in Macon, said the holiday centers around historical events during which Judah Maccabee and his followers reclaimed the ancient temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks, who had turned it into a pagan shrine. The Maccabean Revolt occurred more than 2,000 years ago, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica.

"This season of the year is a strong reminder of who you are," said Rabbi Aaron Rubinstein, of Congregation Sha'arey Israel in Macon. "The idea of religious freedom as well as the idea of standing up to defend your homeland, those both come out loud and clear in the holiday, as well as ideas of faith and gratitude."

Legend says the Maccabees found enough oil to last only one night in their menorah at the temple, but it burned for eight nights, Rubinstein said. Families often light a menorah at home each night during Hanukkah, and some give gifts at the beginning of the holiday or throughout the eight days.

"Hanukkah, although it is a minor holiday of the Jewish calendar year, its proximity to Christmas gives it extra emphasis and ritual observance," Schlesinger said. "The customs are much in and of the same, exchanging the gifts, special holiday foods."

On Dec. 6, Congregation Sha'arey Israel hosted a Hanukkah family dinner, which included food and the lighting of the menorah. The worship services during the holiday are standard, with a few extra liturgy additions and special prayers, Rubinstein said.

Temple Beth Israel's main Hanukkah congregational celebration was held Dec. 4. Schlesinger said members gathered to light the menorah in the courtyard, followed by a dinner that included traditional foods such as potato pancakes (latkes) and a Sabbath worship service that incorporated some Hanukkah songs and references.

"A lot of people look forward to this and come to this. It's a nice congregational gathering," Schlesinger said. "Hanukkah is really a home observance and celebration, so there's really not anything out of the ordinary during the week."

The next major Jewish holiday will be Passover in April, but the next minor one is Tu B'Shevat on Jan. 25, he said. Also known as the New Year for Trees, the holiday is often observed by planting a tree on temple grounds, in Israel or in the community. Last year, Temple Beth Israel planted one in Tattnall Square Park.

GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

Advent started a few weeks earlier, on Nov. 15, for Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Macon, said presiding priest the Rev. John Stefero. The church has a number of feast days during the season.

The Virgin Mary's entrance to the temple was recognized Nov. 21.

On Dec. 6, the church celebrated St. Nicholas, a bishop in the 4th century known for helping the poor and children, and for whom Santa Claus is named. It is traditional for children to get stockings filled with items at home on this day, and Stefero said he usually gives a children's sermon explaining the saint's role in the church.

Other important dates are Dec. 25, celebrating the birth of Christ; and Jan. 1, a remembrance of early theologian St. Basil the Great, who was known for aiding the poor. The church's feast for the latter on Jan. 3 will include bread baked with a special coin in it, and the person who receives the piece with the coin is said to have good fortune for the year.

Jesus' baptism is honored Jan. 6, when Stefero will visit and bless the homes of church members. Feb. 2 recognizes Jesus' entrance into the temple and concludes the Christmas season for the Greek Orthodox Church.

"The birth of Christ is one of the major feast days of our church," Stefero said. "When we look at Christmas and his resurrection, it's a time to really celebrate the fact that everything is centered around Jesus Christ. Everybody thinks it's a nice time for families and shopping, but for us, everything is the fact that God became man."

It's traditional for the children of Holy Cross to re-enact the birth of Christ through a Christmas pageant, which will be performed this year after morning worship Dec. 20.

At 7 p.m. Dec. 24, the church will have a special Christmas Eve Communion service, followed by the singing of Christmas carols and refreshments, Stefero said. Another annual event is the holiday Greek pastry sale, coordinated by the church's Ladies Philoptochos Society and benefitting four area organizations.

KWANZAA

Since 1992, special events have been held in Macon to celebrate Kwanzaa, which takes place Dec. 26-Jan. 1. The non-religious holiday honors African-American culture and revolves around the seven principles of founder Maulana Karenga: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

"Kwanzaa is a black American observance, but it has value for everyone. Those seven principals are full of extremely beneficial opportunities for us to grow as a people," said Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center President George Muhammad. "The events are really designed to pull us together, to bring the community out to engage and to give thanks for another year, but we always have to be mindful of the purpose. If we don't practice these principles every day, we're missing out in a big way."

The Macon events, a joint presentation by Torchlight Academy Inc. and the Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center, are always free and open to the community and have drawn anywhere from 50 to 500 attendees in the past, Muhammad said.

This year's schedule is still being finalized, but the week will start with a variety arts show at the Douglass Theatre on Dec. 26. Muhammad said the night will feature aspects of fashion, dance, live music, documentary film and story-telling, as well as a traditional Kwanzaa ceremony.

Also at the Douglass Theatre, Youth Night on Dec. 27 will feature about 12 acts involving music, dance, poetry and more from young people in the community.

An event Dec. 30 will focus on education about Africa, but the location is still being determined. The Kwanzaa feast will be Dec. 31 at Homeland Village, and attendees are asked to bring a healthy dish to share.

A community volunteer service project and a forum about community issues are being considered for Dec. 28-29. Check the Kwanzaa Cultural Access Center's Facebook page for the full event details as they become available, or call 478-718-8067.

"I would like for it to be well-attended and for it to raise the consciousness of the people who come to want to put the principles into practice in their lives, instill in them the desire to practice at least some of the principles and strive to embrace all of them," Muhammad said.

This story was originally published December 11, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "HOW WE WORSHIP: Hanukkah, feast days and Kwanzaa show there's more to the holiday season than Christmas ."