Holidays That Glitter Around the World

With the holiday season upon us, it’s time to start thinking about holiday parties, gift giving and being mindful of what we are thankful for.

Just as no two diamonds are the same, holiday traditions are celebrated in many different ways around the world.

The holidays are a great time to create and revive traditions. Whether you spend the day singing Christmas carols, eating special holiday foods or watching your favourite holiday movie, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without them.

I’m Dreaming of a White Gold Christmas

December 25th 336AD is the first documented date of Christmas actually being celebrated. This was during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. Then along came Pope Julius I, who officially declared that Christmas would be celebrated on the 25th of December to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Don’t take the Pope’s word for it though, be sure to create and embrace your own customs. Christmas is many things to many people, and it is important to recognize and honour the various traditions.

While some people celebrate Advent, many of us traditionally celebrate Christmas on one specific day while others embrace all twelve days of Christmas. Great news! There are in fact twelve days of Christmas, just as the song says there is. So why not embrace a new tradition of showering your true love with gifts for twelve days in a row?

This Christmas season, while you can get a lot of mileage out of that little black dress, the right accessories can change your look from casual to Christmas party wear. Accessorize with statement necklaces, white gold earrings and simple yet elegant diamond bracelets.

White and Blue, Don’t Mind If I Do

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by the Syrians.

A Menorah is the centrepiece of the Hanukkah celebration. While the Menorah itself holds nine candles, eight of those candles symbolize the number of days that the Temple lantern blazed. The Shamash, the ninth candle, is used to light the others. While singing songs and reciting prayers, families begin by lighting one candle on the first day, two on the second day, and so on throughout the eight days of Hanukkah.

When the Syrians were in power, the Jews were forbidden to learn the Torah (Judaism’s most important text). Students would meet in secret in order to hold study sessions. If a Syrian soldier found them, however, the children would pretend to gamble with spinning tops, or dreidels, which are also a key part of the Hanukkah tradition.

The Hanukkah colors, white and light blue, represent a subtle message of celebration. We suggest choosing small accessories to accentuate your occasion appropriate outfit. If you’re feeling bold, add in a statement jewelry piece to complete the look.

And Kwanzaa Makes Three

While candle lighting is reminiscent of Hanukkah, and red and green colors suggest Christmas, Kwanzaa sets itself apart.

This week long celebration honors African heritage in African-American culture, and is observed from December 26th to January 1st, culminating in gift giving and the Karamu, or the Kwanzaa feast, on New Year’s Eve. It is a holiday celebrated by millions of African-Americans, encouraging them to remember their African heritage.

Kwanzaa colors are red, green and black. This Kwanzaa season, choose colorful accessories that highlight the culture being celebrated and jewelry that incorporates natural materials such as beads and wood. After all, the feast is a major part of the holiday celebration so you’ll want to have plenty of pieces to accessorize with.

Happy Holidays from Kimberfire

May the days leading up to your holiday be merry and bright, and may all your traditions be one of a kind.

Which traditions are memorable for you during the holiday season?

(Photo Credit: Anthony Quintano)