It's the season for celebrations! Whether you're relaxing at home or having a big party with family and friends, many people around the world have a reason to celebrate. Last year, we wrote about six winter holidays around the world, and we're continuing that spirit this year. We've done an extensive search to find out which celebrities celebrate these holidays, and here's what we found:
Kwanzaa
December 26th – January 1st
From the Obama family to Oprah, many prominent black people around the world celebrate Kwanzaa. Created to celebrate African and African-American culture, Kwanzaa and its seven principles have grown and spread internationally. In addition to the United States, Kwanzaa is celebrated in the United Kingdom, Jamaica, France, Canada, and Brazil. In 2008, the documentary “The Black Candle” showed how the holiday has evolved by interviewing and tracking African-American rituals and passions. The documentary was narrated by none other than Maya Angelou, who so well put it, “It's a time to come together in the spirit of family and community to celebrate life, love, unity, and hope.”
Pancha Ganapati
December 21st – December 25th
Introduced in 1985, Pancha Ganapati offers Hindu families a meaningful way to celebrate the winter holiday season while upholding their values. The holiday is especially helpful for those living in areas where Hinduism is less prevalent. Gifts are exchanged and Hindus of all ages can connect with non-Hindu friends and family, while each of the five days is focused on a special sadhana (spiritual practice) so they can fully connect with their faith. Indian sitarist and composer Ravi Shankar is also known to have celebrated the holiday, and George Harrison and Julia Roberts are said to have celebrated it in the past, but this is unconfirmed.
Hanukkah
2023 Dates: Thursday, December 7th – December 15th
Hanukkah is celebrated all over the world, and every year many prominent Jews proudly share their traditions with us. Recently, Doug Emhoff made the news as the first Jewish spouse of a Vice President of the United States. He and Vice President Harris celebrate Hanukkah as part of their family traditions, and they were also the first family to have a mezuzah installed in the President's home. Other notables who celebrate Hanukkah include Mayim Bialik, Andy Cohen, and Adam Sandler.
winter solstice
December 21, 2023
As the year draws to a close, so too does the winter solstice, which marks the change of seasons and is celebrated in many cultures, often with festivals and celebrations. Icelandic singer Björk frequently celebrates the winter solstice each year, wishing her fans good luck, and even has a song dedicated to the day, written by her friend and collaborator Sean.
Boxing Day
December 26
In many countries, especially those with a British influence in the past, Boxing Day, celebrated the day after Christmas, is often a day for gift-giving and family. The Royal Family still includes Boxing Day as part of their Christmas celebrations, and often spends the day at Sandringham House in Norfolk. The Royal Family reportedly often eats kedgeree, a traditional British dish of rice, fish and curry powder, for breakfast. The Royal Family spends most of the day relaxing, although it is not uncommon for some members of the Royal Family to go hunting on the grounds.
New Year
January 1st – January 3rd
Shogatsu is a traditional festival held at the beginning of the new year, which has been celebrated according to the Gregorian calendar since 1873. The origins of this celebration are still deeply rooted in the hearts of many Japanese people who celebrate it, and the food, cards and gifts remain strong today. Yoko Ono She said she enjoys celebrating the new year in a traditional way that comes from her roots: “We want to thank each and every family who helped us last year and hope to remain as good friends as they have been in the coming year.”
We look forward to an exciting end-of-year celebration through PEAK6 and a fantastic 2024. Our diverse team is what makes our work and company culture so great, and we're always looking for more people with diverse perspectives to help drive the Fintech industry forward. If you'd like to join us, check out our open positions and apply today!
