Cultural festivities and food to check out this winter break!
By: Kaitlyn
Since finishing university and transitioning into college life, I’ve become more aware of the diverse ways my friends celebrate winter break. I absolutely love seeing the unique ways different cultures celebrate the holidays, and I’m even more excited to try all the delicious foods that come with them!
While winter break has always been synonymous with Christmas for me, I've come to appreciate that students celebrate this cherished time of year in many different ways—whether through spiritual traditions or simply taking a well-deserved break from the demands of school.
Kaitlyn and her sister at this year’s Toronto Winter Village!
As someone who was born in England, a popular dessert and tradition that my family has brought over to Canada is making a fruitcake each year, along with heading over to the Toronto Winter Village at the Distillery District. I love hearing stories from other SSU staff members about traditions that they have during the holidays!
It’s important to remember that many people don’t celebrate the holidays, and that a number of other important festivities take place around this time of year too.
Cultural Celebrations To Discover This December:
Here are some yummy holiday foods and traditions from different cultures that you can check out!
Kwanzaa is a seven-day celebration! Usually on the sixth day, families and friends come together for a communal feast called Karamu!
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a cultural holiday rooted in African American traditions, now observed across the world, including Canada. This holiday honours African heritage, family, and community values.
There are no rules for food during Kwanza! Although, typical foods served include catfish, collards, and macaroni and cheese, jerk chicken, gumbo, accras (Caribbean fritters) and feijoada.
Popular foods include latkes, pancakes and sufganiyot (doughnuts).
Hannukah
Hanukkah, also called the ‘festival of lights’, is a holiday commonly celebrated in the Hebrew calendar, which lasts for eight nights and days. This holiday is celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting as well as playing dreidel, singing songs and preparing delicious food.
From classic Christmas movies to holiday carols, there’s plenty of ways to celebrate.
Christmas
Christmas is a Christian festival that celebrates the birth of Jesus. Throughout the world, people generally celebrate Christmas through decorating their homes with a Christmas tree, exchanging gifts and eating delicious meals.
Winter Solstice
Also known as Yule, the winter solstice marks the longest night of the year and occurs on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the Southern Hemisphere. Ancient customs surrounding the solstice, particularly the symbolic "return" of the Sun, have shaped many modern holidays, including Christmas and Hanukkah.
Winter Solstice focuses on rich, hearty, and nurturing food. This includes beef stew, chicken and dumplings with mushrooms, and roasted turkey.
Here are some additional traditions that SSU staff celebrating the holidays have:
“During the holidays I exchange gifts, watch movies and go to holiday events with friends!”
“A tradition I have during the holidays is going on a small roadtrip with my friends to one of their cabins to enjoy the winter weather”
No matter which holiday you celebrate or the unique traditions you observe during this festive season, one thing remains true for all - it’s a time when people come together with friends and family! Check out how your fellow Sheridan students are celebrating the holiday season!
Interested in finding out what holiday food you would be based on your personality?
Ease into the holiday season and discover more about yourself through completing our holiday quiz!
Looking for something to read this winter break?
Whether you’re eager to dive into new books or just in the mood for a fun blog post, we’ve got you covered! Check out our latest blog posts for some fresh reading ideas over the winter break.
Are you feeling called to be more intentional in your everyday life? Food can be a good place to start! From aligning food with your values to creating rituals that make eating feel sacred and special, this blog post invites us to explore new practices that can add more joy and meaning to every meal. Read all about it here! ⬇️