Holidays can be quite personal from youthful memories to new beliefs to respect for other religious beliefs. Holidays can vary in importance for various persons and groups. Respect for other beliefs, or, non-beliefs, is integral in civil society. Much of respect is understanding elements, however, thin of how others in our society live and function.
• Hebrew Dedication, with dates of December 18-26 generally has three spellings, Hanukka, Chanukah, Chanukka. It is known as the festival of Lights, or, Feast of Maccabees, is celebrated for eight days. Individuals light candles, the menorah, on each of the eight days. Much of it is historical that becomes religious. It is identified as warmth of hope and light.
• Christmas Eve is December 24 and Christmas is December 25. The celebration of the birth of baby Jesus Christ and the meaning to the beginning of Christianity offers insight into the largest religions in the world today. Christianity is wide-ranging from so-called conservative beliefs to liberal beliefs. The focal point is the acceptance of Jesus Christ as central to the organizations.
• The breakdown within world religions, accepted by Wikipedia from the year 2015: Christianity 32.2%, Islam, 24.1%, Non-religion, 16%, Hinduism, 15.1%, Buddhism, 6.9%, Folk religions, 5.7%, Sikhism, 0.3%, Judaism, 0.2%. The total is close to 100% and leaves room mathematically to few other religious beliefs.
• Ultimately, the Golden Rule is all-pervasive to nearly all religions: Do unto others which you would have others do unto you. Simple. Direct.
• Winter Solstice, December 21, is not a religion, however, the time of the Sun standing still. In the Northern Hemisphere it is the first day of Winter, the shortest day and longest night of the year. The Earth is nearer the sun in January than in June. The Earth leans slightly on its axis. At the Winter Solstice the Sun is directly overhead at noon along the Tropic of Capricorn near Sao Paulo, Brazil. Winter Solstice signifies rebirth. We are always interested in an essence of rebirth, revival, new cycles.